raptors

Category

By JL Neighborhood 6 photos July 31, 2017

Big birds, little birds, plain brown or black birds and one of startling color!

4-year-old bald eagle with a small fish for a pre-brunch appetizer!


The tiny brown-headed nuthatch has snagged one of her favorite sources of protein:

a spider from the web below her.


This brilliantly yellow bird is a prothonotary warbler.

They come for the summer nesting season.


A northern rough-winged swallow:

a tiny speed demon that loves to consume flying insects such as mosquitos.


There is WAY more branch here than osprey!

I would have loved to have been able to see him get it into his nest.


Closeup of a beautiful black vulture.

I really appreciate their contributions to the cleanup around the lake.

By Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge trip 8 photos 7-27-2017
A trip to Lake Mattamuskeet needs to be on everybody’s  list.
 
It was at Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge that the Bald Eagle was re-introduced to NC.
 
The Bald Eagles then made their way inland to Jordan Lake.
 
Try your hardest to get there at sunrise – they are almost always spectacular from the causeway!
 
Adult bald eagle way across the front impoundment at Mattamuskeet.  
This time of the year the eagles can be hard to find at Mattamuskeet.
 
The lake and its surrounding area has beautiful cypress trees.
 
 
The still waters of the lake and the impoundments often give reflections that are wonderfully detailed.
Great Blue Heron fishing.
 
 
The insect life at Mattamuskeet is very diverse – with many different dragonflies.
Did you see the dragonfly shadow?
 
 
The white-tailed deer really enjoy the browsing at the lake.  
 
 
The yellow-billed cuckoo is also found at Jordan Lake.
 I hear rather than see them most of the time.
 
 
The zebra swallowtail butterfly is the only swallowtail in our region with white stripes.
 

By JL Neighborhood, black & white photography
Some days there is nothing like black and white photography to show details.
 
Unknown 4 year-old-bald eagle.  Oh, so, self-assured.
 
 
A pair of ospreys.  The female is the upper bird.  Note her bigger bulk.
 As in all raptors, the girls are bigger.
 
 
A glare that would be worthy of a bald eagle.
The eastern kingbird certainly seemed to be issuing an edict about whose territory I was on.
 
 
Male osprey taking home a fish for his chicks who are close to fledging. 
 
 

By JL Neighborhood updates. 5 photos July 17, 2017

I want to say Thank You for all the wonderful responses to my 2 new eBooks and to the interview with Frank Stachio on The State of Things. During the eagle lecture at the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday there were all kinds of good questions and the sharing of each other’s interactions with eagles.  All of you helped make last week full of blessings and gratitude!

Lady Lake cruised past me, elegant and sure of herself.  
I didn’t see Heritage her mate but I am sure he was close by.


This bright American goldfinch was way at the top of a tree. Usually I see them in the tall grasses.


American crows, caught in the right light, are iridescent. This one had a bite of fish for his fledgling.


The male ospreys are working hard to feed their chicks.


Nests always need repair. Ospreys tend to like branches all twisted and with lots of forks.

By Bald Eagle Lectures this summer

JL Bald Eagle Lecture dates:
I will be giving a bald eagle lecture at the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on two different dates this summer. The lectures are free and fun for all ages. Info at https://www.ncparks.gov/jordan-lake-sta…/events-and-programs
Dates: July 15 & August 12, Saturdays at 2:00 PM
Location: Jordan Lake State Recreation Area Visitor Center at 280 State Park Road, Apex NC 27523

4-year-old bald eagle photo was made yesterday at the dam during the quarterly bald eagle count.