Jordan Lake: Part of the Gang of 8 decides to chase each other, one of whom has a fish, rather than pester the parent bald eagles … for the moment. By the way, the fish wins the round.
Haw River
TagDoc Ellen’s Natural Minute 02/14/2022
Jordan Lake: This white-breasted nuthatch has found an egg case or perhaps a larval sack and is thoroughly enjoying his breakfast this cold morning. Didn’t take him long to finish off his meal and then off he went looking for other food. Take care, stay safe. Stay very warm!
Big Pine Nest update: Mom Loblolly
Jordan Lake: Yesterday, late morning, Captain Doug and I were out cruising and checking on bald eagle nests. We went to check the Big Pine Nest and there was Mom Loblolly incubating her egg(s) and we could fully see the upper half of her head and her great big beautiful eye. Captain Doug and I went on about the lake checking out other nests and so we came back by Big Pine Nest early in the afternoon. Now we could barely see the top of Loblolly’s head and could only make out a bit of her eye. The difference in the two photos and why in the first one you can see her eye and in the second photo you have to look hard to see the rim of it? That’s because in the late morning photo there wasn’t any one in the parking lot at the shelter. When we came back by in the early afternoon we could see people standing in the parking lot. Mom Loblolly was definitely keeping tucked down into her nest and as out of sight as possible.
Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute 02/11/2022
Jordan Lake: Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute. I happened to come upon a male pileated woodpecker working hard on a branch looking for breakfast this morning. So grabbed a moment to video it and to share it. Take care, stay safe. Stay well.
Big Pine Nest: Mom Loblolly Chases 3-year-old Bald Eagle
Jordan Lake: Here is what I caught yesterday of the interaction between Loblolly and the three-year-old gang of eight member. 1st photo: the three-year-old is sitting up in the tree quite proud of itself. 2nd photo: Mom Loblolly is at about Mach 3 heading straight for that three year old. 3rd photo: the three-year-old has realized that he is in danger and in a very wrong place as he turns and is trying to launch. 4th photo: above the pine branch you can see a blurred Mom Loblolly‘s head and below that same branch you can see the tail of the three-year-old. 5th photo: the three-year-old catching its balance on a branch before it leaps out. 6th photo: the scared and fleeing 3-year-old passed me in a hurry. 7th photo: mom Loblolly is heading back up towards the nest area. In yesterday‘s video you can see mom Loblolly enjoying a bit of a rest and some grooming after the ouster of the obnoxious three-year-old bald eagle.
Big Pine Nest update
Jordan Lake: Three of the three year olds – actually that’s all of the three olds of the gang of eight – have been pestering the nest this morning. Mom Loblolly finally caught one of them not really being on guard and she chased the 3 year old hard. I hope to put up some of the photos of that chase later. But thought I would share this natural minute of Loblolly after she did the chasing and she’s doing a little bit of grooming. Hope you enjoy the little video. #DocEllensNaturalMinute
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