Sometimes, it takes a “not-seeing” moment for me to realize in the next blink, that I am “seeing” something. For instance, that is Kate standing in her nest. In the 1st photo, look between Kate’s left shoulder and the tree branch and note the empty space there. In the second photo, a small darkness has appeared in that same gap. In the 3rd photo the darkness has become one of her chicks! In the 4th photo, the chick has disappeared again. Neat sequence of Kate’s approximately 5-6 week old chick peeking past her shoulder.

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Sometimes, the 12-year-old heart of me just has to play with a photograph and find new ways to see bald eagles. Such as this 2-year-old bald eagle at the riprap this morning, in all the fog. I hope the changes let you see the concentration of the youngster as he aims for just the right branch for his landing.

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: Remember the ruckus yesterday when the 3-year-old bald eagle knocked the 2-year-old eagle off the preferred branch? The 3-year-old got to spend 27 minutes on the favored branch. Then an adult bald eagle decided the branch was now its sole perch. Another tumble in the chilly wind!

Jordan Lake Dam, Haw River: the weather was changing this morning at the riprap, getting grayer, cloudier and wind was starting to pickup.  All factors that stir eagles into fishing and fighting.  Eagles get a charge out of knocking each other off of a branch. The two-year-old on the left was happily minding his own business when a 3-year-old decided it wanted that particular perch.  Lots of screaming and one tumbling two-year-old but no one was harmed.  Well, maybe the two-year-old’s arrogance factor was paled a little bit … for only a moment, I am sure!