Haw River

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By Jordan Lake Dam: Great Blue Heron, immature
This is the immature heron that was in this morning’s Facebook video greeting.
He is probably a year old as he has developed head plumes and is beginning to change his head markings.
If you look carefully, you can see some fishing line wrapped around his left leg.
The fishing line bothers me a great deal, but thankfully it doesn’t appear to be bothering him.

By Jordan Lake: Ace the Daredevil Osprey 04-19-2019
Ace, the Daredevil Osprey!
In all the low light, incoming rain and wind that was starting to blow this morning, Ace put on a show.
 Ace was flying a dangerous path down the length of the fishing pier.
He skimmed the top of the railings and dove immediately into the river after a fish.
He missed both the railing and the fish.

By Jordan Lake Dam: Falcon! The Merlin, 4 photos, 04-16-2019
Falcon!  The Merlin.
 
This small raptor is slightly bigger than our American kestrel.
I am used to seeing a few merlins each winter at Jordan Lake.
But, oh my, this morning at the dam, a merlin came in and made my day shine!!!
Note that in the last picture he was quickly leaving me and my camera behind.
Like all falcons the merlin is a speedy raptor!!