Haw River

Tag

By Landing Intricacies 

I am in awe as the great egret comes to land on the face of the riprap at the Jordan Lake Dam. I can’t begin to imagine controlling all of those feathers. Some of the flight feathers going in very different directions than the others and yet, all working together to bring the egret safely to the edge of the Haw River. I am sometimes all thumbs with my 10 fingers. I can’t begin to even roughly sketch the multitude of nerves, muscles and tendons needed to put each feather exactly where it should be placed for a perfect landing.

By Crystalline Water Vase

In the moment that I push the shutter button I know probably 95% of what I have just seen and captured. Sometimes, to my great joy, I get home, put the day’s work up on my monitor and get surprised. The great egret dipped for a fish and made a crystalline water vase about its bill and face. Then it shattered the vase and shook all of the water aside so it could try for another fish.

By Yardstick Great Egret

A great egret stands about 3ft tall. That makes this great egret a good example of how deep Jordan Lake got in certain areas during the recent flooding … 216ft is normal pool and where the egret is standing the flooding was at least twice the height of the bird! All of the environment surrounding the egret was underwater at one point and the leaves couldn’t tolerate being under water and most of the plants died.

By Double-Crested Cormorant Rookery

Talk about hyperactive daycare … While out cruising with Captain Doug we found a double-crested cormorant rookery. A rookery is a collection of nests. There are at least four nests that you can see in the video. The parents were feeding their chicks. The parent carries a fish back to the nest within its neck pouch and allows its chick to poke its head into the parent’s throat and pull the fish out. Not the way I would want to feed a youngster but then I don’t have feathers and I’m not a cormorant. Jordan Lake.

By First Nest Fledgling & Mom Kate

Jordan Lake. Captain Doug and I were out on the main lake today – first time since the flooding had occurred. We got to First Nest cove and there was one of this year’s fledglings. Looking like he owned the whole cove. Mom Kate seemed to be happy to ignore her youngster and simply survey the area. Great seeing both mom and offspring! PS some of the Lake’s areas are open… and some are not. If you want to go I suggest calling ahead to make sure the area you want to enter is open.

First Nest Fledgling
Mom Kate

By Osprey Golden Hour

Jordan Lake. This fledgling osprey and his catfish catch certainly show the glory of the morning golden hour. In photography the golden “hour” is the short moment of time just after sunrise or just before sunset when the light is infused with red and gold tones.