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The surgeon has released me back to the wild – albeit at a slow careful pace! I arrived shoreside and was able to record a tale in my Jordan Lake Myths. 🐢 It had been a very rough, very stormy night that lasted into the morning. The ancient timber lizard – not seen in a millennium – was actually tossed into the water! The pond turtle came to see if it could help the lizard. “Yes”, said the ancient timber lizard, “my eyes got bruised, and I can’t really see”. “Well”, said the turtle, “I will just climb up on your back and help give you directions.“ It was a slow paddle, given the damage to the timber lizard legs, and even its snout. Eventually, the ancient timber lizard reached land and as it slipped into the shoreline shrubs, it said “thank you dear turtle, thank you“.
Jordan Lake. “Dear cormorant,” said the turtle, “if you don’t mind would you please tell me what you see above all the trees? There must be more than just sky which is all I can barely see.” “Dear turtle,” replied the cormorant, “yes I will share what my sight reveals as we rest here on sunny log.” Captain Doug and I drifted past and so didn’t hear the bird’s tale, alas.
Jordan Lake. I watched for over two hours as the northern mockingbird did its best to say no to the black racer snake. Neither animal was hurt but both were very frustrated. Yes black racers will get into birds’ nests. Yes black racers sometimes become a meal for hawks, bald eagles and other snakes. I always try to remember that nature is never cruel but she is harsh.
Jordan Lake. The four-year-old bald eagle saw the fish jump. The race was on! I will probably never ever get another chance to photograph a bald eagle literally chasing a jumping shad. BTW the fish won. Hope you enjoy the race.
Jordan Lake: The autumn air warmed enough this morning for me to share a moment with a delightful critter. Here in the southern US we call this lizard a chameleon because it changes colors depending on the surface it is upon. However, it is not a true chameleon (which lives in parts of Africa and other Old World sites) which can change more than between green and brown. Properly, our color changer is known as a green anole. I hope you enjoy its ramble.
doc ellen's journey 