It is the first day of winter! To me one of the best crimson displays of the holiday season is the bright red alert patch on the crown of the tiny male ruby-crowned kinglet. The alert patch is only seen when the male gets excited and instantly on guard.
At long last … it will be official … the Bald Eagle will be the National Bird and Emblem of the United States!
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/bald-eagle-about-officially-become-our-national-bird-thanks-man
The dainty Carolina Chickadee was exuberant in hunting its snacks and delighting my heart with its aerobatic explorations.
music Morning Dance by Northwestern
Bald eagles really enjoy cold weather. They’re even happier if it’s a very windy cold weather day. On the left is the female bald eagle and on the right is her mate. They are both eager to get up and out and about and continue preparations for the breeding season.
It is the beginning of bald eagle breeding season at Jordan Lake. Captain Doug and I found this Dad bald eagle trying to work a branch into an area of the nest that needed repair before eggs could be safely laid. He is persistent!
Bald Eagle, Jordan Lake, NC, November, 2024
doc ellen's journey 