eagles of Jordan Lake

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By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: H&G nest, 5 photos 06-14-2019
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle nest: H&G nest and Shadows
This morning Hershey, like me (see earlier post), found his own shadow.
His face was bisected by the leading edge shadow of his wing.
Hershey then flew out of the shadow on the next wing beat.
Flew into the shadow of his wingtip which cradled his face.
Flew out again.
The last I saw of him, his wingtip shadow was edging across his chest as he flew into the shadow of the tree at the bend of the shoreline.
He was headed toward his nest.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: Ranger Cove, Ranger Dad and a Squirrel 06-08-2019
Ranger Cove Bald Eagle Nest
Ranger Dad brought a squirrel to the nest this morning.
The squirrel was so heavy that Ranger Dad had to slide in sideways to the nest and slam on his brakes.
The unfledged chick was still in the nest and it promptly pounced on the squirrel.
This made the eaglet fledgling, who was up top on the right hand trunk, pretty darn mad.
So mad that he flew/fell/crash landed down into the nest.
Then it was a free-for all for possession of the squirrel.
 Ranger dad stayed out of the fight until he decided that he should be the one to parcel out the food.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Fledgling: H&G Nest 06-01-2019
Well, Dad Hershey had made this landing look easy and so his fledgling gave it a try.
But sticking a landing on a small round jagged top of a snapped-off tree trunk is an exercise that takes a lot of practice.
Just where do you place your feet when there is no limb which you can wrap your talons around?
This fledgling finally got both feet on the snag and was very proud of himself.

By Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest: H&G Nest, 10 photos, 05-30-2019
H&G Nest
 
Mom Godiva had been lurking on a high perch when she jumped and streaked to just above water level.
Her direction was taking her straight down the shore line.
I heard a great blue heron give its grumpy annoyed don’t-you-dare-disturb-me yell.
Floating behind the heron was a dead fish.
I realized that the eagle’s flight path was straight for the heron.  Both birds wanted the fish.
I wondered if a collision was eminent.
But, no.  Godiva lifted up over the heron, glanced down at the fish and kept moving past.
I continued to track Godiva and when I looked back to the heron, it had flown almost out of sight, fish dangling from its beak.