Jordan Lake this morning at 224.16ft was still rising. The Haw River as it was exiting the dam was very quiet. Lake and reforming downstream river were very unlike the water systems to the west of us. As I watched this bald eagle appear out of the distortion caused by the dense fog on the river, I thought of the horrendous impact Hurricane Helene has made from Florida to our NC mountains. I am reminded that Nature is as elegant as the bald eagle and as fierce as a rampaging river.
I think most of us bird photographers try very hard to catch the belted kingfisher in flight and fishing … it is quite a challenge as they are fast and erratic. However, this early morning against the gray moody sky, I spotted this kingfisher quietly perched. What I like about the photo is how well it shows us the tremendous beak this small bird has to facilitate its fishing. There is almost more beak than head.
The crows and I watched as Mother Nature began to dye the silk of her skirts with the liquid golds of autumn. The sunrise of the first day of fall filled air, water and my heart with the changing of the season.
music Midnight Stroll
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It certainly is fun to watch a fledgling osprey catch its fish and then shake all the excess water off of its feathers. The fledglings are working hard and eating as much as they can because the migration journey to South America is not too far down the road. Some of the adult ospreys have already headed south.
Jordan Lake. The phrase “busy as a bee” certainly came to my mind as I watched this common eastern bumblebee literally stuff herself into the blossom of a whitestar morning glory. As you can see the bee was almost bigger than the blossom! Her enthusiasm is certainly on display. BTW the tiny whitestar is a native wildflower.
Up the Haw River yesterday flew a very determined immature bald eagle. I could see as it banked and reversed course at the tail race of the Jordan Lake Dam that the youngster was one of this year’s fledglings. Fly young one fly, learn how to fish successfully and survive.
doc ellen's journey 