Jordan Lake. The air is delightfully cool and dry this morning! What a delight to be out in this freshness, hearing the crows chatter, listening to the lake and watching graceful shadows. Have a blessed day. Take care, be safe. Stay oh so well.
Haw River
TagBald Eagle Sunday Interlude
Jordan Lake. After the bald eagle quarterly count this morning, a pair of bald eagles came by. That is mom eagle that you first see on the left. She takes a little dip and then a stroll. Dad bald eagle shows up and proceeds to have a snack of fish. This is my first real attempt at using the new camera for video … I can foresee lots of needed practice … but the still photography remains my priority.
Osprey Skipping Behavior
Jordan Lake. Hard Luck osprey nest. Sometimes ospreys get their entire front – from beak to their feet pretty cruddy with the leftovers of fish. The best way the ospreys have found to scrub is to skip themselves – like a stone that you might skip across a pond. The motion of skipping and rubbing against the water acts like a very stiff brush and helps loosen up the debris. I get to see this action every couple of years at the lake. I see it more in the summer and I have to wonder if the heat and humidity in the air makes the fish leftovers stick tighter. This is the longest sequence I’ve ever been able to photograph and I am very happy to be sharing it with you. Enjoy!
Star-spangled July 4, 2022
Jordan Lake. Like our emerging nation in 1776, which wrapped itself in the Stars of Freedom, this fledgling Bald Eagle of 2022 is also wrapped in the stars of freedom. May we all cooperate to share our fragile democracy equally … with loving kindness toward all. Have a blessed and safe Fourth of July.

Osprey Chick Wing Wapping
Jordan Lake. Hard Luck Osprey Nest. You may remember that last year the parents at this nest lost their offspring to a bald eagle and then they lost the tree and their nest in a storm. This year the parents, at a new tree and nest, have a chick that’s gotten to the stage of wing wapping and it’s thinking hard about flying in a few weeks!




Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute 2022/07/01
Jordan Lake. It is Friday, July 1, the beginning of the long weekend towards Monday, 4th of July. I have brought us all, I hope, a minute of tranquility and peace as we start the celebrations of country, contentment, family and friendships. Take care!
