Jordan Lake: it is the first day of December 2021. I think since it’s also Wednesday, it would be a good time to have a mid-week smile! Up in the sky this morning, I found a ghost merganser flying. I’m not certain whether or not it was a hooded merganser or a red-breasted merganser but definitely one of those very sleek water birds. Smile! Take care, be safe, stay well.
Jordan Lake, Bald Eagle nest report: H&G nest. I watched as Mom Godiva flew past me with some kind of bird in her talons. She had just gotten past me when I realized there was another eagle trailing her. By time I caught up with the other eagle it had started to land in the nest – almost on top of Godiva. It was one of the fledglings from this year‘s hatching at H&G nest. Mom Godiva was not going to have anything at all to do with the offspring. As you can see she promptly threatened it and said no way are you sharing this bird. The fledgling bailed out. Most parent eagles have finished any supplemental feeding of their offspring by about September. This youngster tried for food and it didn’t work. Please remember, nature is never cruel but she is harsh.
Jordan Lake: This morning the jaunty little Killdeers decided to join me and you out here on the lake. They are very talkative little birds: they talk when they fly, they talk when they eat. I love the way they do their little bouncy walk as they go looking for food. Have a blessed day, stay well. Stay safe and warm.
Jordan Lake: Doc Ellen‘s Natural Minute. Brrrrrr is the word for the morning! Do bundle up and get out and enjoy the crisp air. Stay warm, take care. Stay well.
Here is a prime example of my father‘s favorite kind of temperature gauge. I photographed this red shouldered hawk yesterday morning when the wind chill factor was 35°F. Even if I had been sitting in my warm truck, I could have glanced over at this hawk and known that because he is almost as big around as he is tall … the air is cold. He has all of his feathers fluffed up as a nice warm blanket. Also note that he’s got his body lowered so that his feather blanket is mostly covering his feet … just like our warm winter slippers would do.
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