Jordan Lake Dam. At the tailrace this morning with Becky and Louisa we watched a northern mockingbird protect its nest from a red-tailed hawk. Watch carefully at the beginning and you will see one of the mockingbirds sitting on top of the cupola and it dives down inside the tree to its nest as its mate proceeds to harass the red-tailed hawk into leaving the tree.
photography
Category4th Toe
The backward pointing toe of the bald eagle is the hallux. The hallux works in a fashion similar to the thumbs in humans and it allows the eagle to grab and carry its prey with its feet. In the female bald eagle the hallux can be as long as 2 inches while in the male it’s only 1.25 inches. You can certainly see the size of the hallux on this female!
Ornery Mockingbirds!
Jordan Lake Dam. A pair of northern mockingbirds decided that a black vulture was spending way too much time inside their territory. Being mockingbirds, they decided to harass the vulture. At one point the vulture and one of the mockingbirds seemed to have a quiet moment of contemplation … didn’t last long.
July 4, 2023
Split Second Decision
Jordan Lake. Split second decision / capture launch / or turn / to see / what had fledgling’s attention / face dirty / yet regal / I took the shot
1 Osprey and 2 Fish
Jordan Lake Dam. The male osprey has caught two fish. I can’t tell you whether the small fish was in the process of being caught by the big fish when the osprey caught both fish. Or did the osprey’s talons catch the small fish as it’s talons caught the large fish. I don’t honestly know … an interesting puzzle.
doc ellen's journey 