Jordan Lake: Bald eagles can and do sometimes hover over a fish, especially when the fish is in the shallows. This female bald eagle did a powerful hover and then snatched her fish and headed for a tree, fish tucked tightly under her tail.
bald eagles of Jordan Lake
TagToe Puzzle
Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I had thought that the bald eagle was standing a little awkwardly because maybe she was standing on a fish. But, no, a fish wasn’t involved in the stance at all … nope, there was an embarrassing toe problem…
Noticed…
Jordan Lake, Monday, August 2, 2021. Lake level was at 216.09 ft. I was talking with one of the Rangers this morning, when this three-year-old bald eagle showed up. She glanced over at us. Didn’t see anything about us that seemed to worry her and so she turned her head away and kept right on flying. She is carrying what appears to be a very small catfish for her breakfast.
Watching
Jordan Lake: as we have all sensed and endured of late, the heat and humidity is just about unbearable. But something other than heat was on this bald eagle’s mind. He was watching something way out of our human sight. Then he launched, gathered the hot humid air under his wings and left we humans behind.
Study in Molt Patterns
Jordan Lake. A study this morning in the process of molting in birds. To molt means the bird is changing out damaged and old feathers for a brand new set. All birds do this – in several different patterns. It just so happens that both the bald eagle (1st photo) and the Broad-winged hawk (2nd photo) do what is known as a sequential molt. They molt out the same section of flight feathers on each wing at the same time. Note that on both birds on each wing there are sets of feathers that are sticking out on the trailing edge with a matching set on the other wing. Not all birds do a sequential molt, it really depends upon the species. In this case it also helps me to know that the bald eagle is two-years-old. The Broad-winged hawk is an adult. The molt patterns do make them both look rather raggedy, doesn’t it! Oh and did you see the fish the eagle is carrying?
2-year-old Bald Eagle
Jordan Lake: the shadow in the deep shade swiftly became the form of a two-year-old bald eagle in full flight as she traversed the hot mid day sunlight in a gap in the trees. Oh, my.
doc ellen's journey 