Hershey came by yesterday.
Gave me a gift: his majesty and artistry as he landed above me.
I am delighted to share it with you.
– please have your audio turned up –

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.

This morning at the Jordan Lake dam was a rarity.
I often see several species…but today was extremely varied:
 
 I saw a bald eagle fledgling, the largest bird at the lake.
 
A ruby-throated hummingbird stopped by; the smallest bird at the lake.

 
A male osprey caught a fish for his nestlings.
 
 
Some immature little blue herons flew past.
The youngsters are not blue at all, 
but are white with black tipped wings, yellowish legs and dusky bills.
At first glance they look like great egrets!
 
 

Today the eastern kingbird had the audacity to up the ante.
He spied Hershey again crossing the cove.
The bald eagle understood what the smaller bird was up to.
So Hershey rolled up on his side to deny the kingbird a landing place.
Yes, landing space on the eagle’s back.
When that didn’t work Hershey rolled back flat and reached for a higher gear.
No dice.  The kingbird had the groove, the draft from the bigger bird.
In the little bird flew and got his piece of defiance with a sharp peck!

When you have babies in the nest, 
your size and that of the potential predator doesn’t matter.
The parent eastern kingbird felt Hershey flew too close to the nest.
The small bird escorted the bald eagle all the way across the cove.
Hershey simply ignored the much smaller kingbird.
 
Size reference: the king bird is about the size of a robin.