Jordan Lake. Heron senses / flight / gathering twilight / muses / day of fish / heeds call / sleep awaits / she and I / slip / into the night
Doc Ellen’s Evening Note
great blue heron
TagGreat Blue Heron Brunch
Jordan Lake. 3 great blue herons were trying to share a section of the riprap while they were having brunch. These herons are always territorial even if it means trying to defend maybe 8 feet between itself and its neighbor. You’ll get to see that defense here.
Bald Eagle Tries to Steal a Fish…
Jordan Lake. Very occasionally I see an immature bald eagle think about trying to take a fish from a great blue heron. The juvenile eagle gets within about 6 feet of the heron’s long beak and backs out. I have never seen before what happened here. The adult bald eagle went after the great blue heron’s fish. Wow!
Belly Button
Jordan Lake. It seems this immature great blue heron is trying to see if he has a belly button. Birds do have belly buttons, however, by time they’re hatched, the navel scar is so tiny you would have trouble finding it. Alas, I’m sure this youngster won’t be able to see his own navel.
Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute 09/20/2022
Jordan Lake. A pair of great blue herons are trying to decide just who owns this section of shoreline. To win the game you have to stretch up taller than the other heron. A very stately dance for making a decision about fishing privileges.
Follow-Up on Great Blue Heron and It’s Meal
Jordan Lake. Follow up on the eel versus lamprey photos that I shared with you. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission is leaning somewhat more towards an American eel. The NC Museum of Natural Sciences scientists are more certain that it is an eel. Since none of us had the critter in hand it does leave open some questions but I wanted to share you what we knew at this point. Enjoy this video of the same great blue heron eating its eel taken with new camera!
doc ellen's journey 