Haw River

Tag

By Into the Air!

Jordan Lake. Mallard ducks, especially the drakes, always seem to launch from the water as if they were exploding into the air! That’s certainly what this pair looked like to Captain Doug and I when we were out on the lake yesterday.

mallard drakes

By Bald Eagle Fledgling in the Wrong Place!

Jordan Lake. A pair of adult bald eagles were perched quietly. One suddenly jumped up and flew over the peninsula. Then bald eagle screaming began on the other side of the trees. Captain Doug got us around the cove to find a fledgling bald eagle who was apparently in the adult bald eagles’ territory. There was about three minutes of fast and furious chase time. All three eagles seemed to be fine at the end of all of the chasing.

By Common Loon Returns

Jordan Lake. This morning with Captain Doug we found our first common loon of the season. It is very early. Usually don’t see the loons till about Thanksgiving. You will notice that the water was rather rough. If you’re at the lake at first light or just before dusk, stop, be still and listen … you may hear a loon’s haunting call.

common loon

By Bald Eagle Territory Dispute

Jordan Lake. This morning, two pairs of adult bald eagles set about trying to decide who owned what part of the lake for the coming breeding season. The first couple, down lower edge of the video, is from the east side of the lake – the other pair is from the west side. My understanding is in these kind of disputes, females go after females and the males go after males. You can sometimes see in the video the size differences. The constant squeaky chirping is the bald eagles talking.