smallest shorebird in the world

By neighdoctor May 17, 2015 smallest shorebird in the world

In the hours that happen, more often than not, in between seeing eagles to photograph –
I get to watch the rest of Jordan Lake’s diversity.
So it happened a week ago that I saw a pair of tiny, tiny, wee, small birds.
My first thought was “who put the bent stilts on those sparrows”.
I had a wonderful 15 minutes photographing what turned out to a pair of least sandpipers.
The smallest shorebirds in the world, wow!
For size reference, note that the bird has a foot on a piece of pine straw.
They are common on the coast but very rare at Jordan Lake.
There is a 2m 46s video of one of these “peeps”, as they are called, at my YouTube page https://youtu.be/R1clry4ut9s

eagle family report 5-16-15: Petruchio goes fishing

By neighdoctor May 16, 2015 eagle family report 5-16-15: Petruchio goes fishing

Petruchio, the bald eagle father, went fishing, almost below the nest.
He snagged the fish and made a quick loop up and around and into the nest.
His flight was so quick that the splash he made was still visible when he got to the fledglings.

eagle family report 5-14-15 Wynd’s Jam

By neighdoctor May 14, 2015 eagle family report 5-14-15 Wynd’s Jam

VIDEO: http://youtu.be/AU0WXlefF04
Wynd gets into trouble: she hasn’t yet learned how to judge wind gusts.
In the video: Wynd is way down below the nest. She is to the left of the trunk of the nest tree.
Watch for her bright yellow feet.
She decides to try for the nest. But the wind catches her.
She would make a great gymnast! There is slow motion of the action.
I wish I had had a bigger viewing area but am glad I at least caught the action.

eagle family report 5-13-15 Kate’s escort

By neighdoctor May 13, 2015 eagle family report 5-13-15 Kate’s escort

Size is not always the deciding factor – especially in a territory dispute.
Kate is being escorted out of the established territory of the smaller female above her.
The mature adults will often choose a threat and escort behavior over outright aggression.
Unlike the 3 year old Brassy who wants a fight and looks for it.

eagle family report 5-12-2015: Ice flight

By neighdoctor May 12, 2015 eagle family report 5-12-2015: Ice flight

It is getting harder to locate the fledglings as they daily venture further away from the nest.
I can always find them if I am there when a parent brings a fish to the nest.
The determined look on Ice’s face is there because he has seen Kate heading for the nest with a fish.
All he can think about is the food and he wants his share.

eagle family report 5-10-15 Sticks

By neighdoctor May 10, 2015 eagle family report 5-10-15 Sticks

VIDEO at http://youtu.be/HzB5oGvk9_I
NOTE: wind was gusty and the 2nd video clip shows it!

First Ice brings a stick to the nest – gets it hung up on the rim and he is puzzled.
Then Wynd brings a fat stick to the nest. Gets it stuck on her foot.
Loses interest in the stick and bounces out of the nest and onto the parent’s big roost.
Only she misjudges the distance and ends up right at the end of the limb and can’t figure out what to do with her feet.
Quite a dance she does. She finally bails out.
I wonder if carrying the sticks is good practice for carrying wet slippery fish once the fledglings begin to fish for themselves.
In these photos: 1st is Ice in the very dark early morning; 2nd is Wynd landing with her right foot on the stick and her left foot on the roost.

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