First Nest had a visitor … one of last year’s triplets! I matched the plumage markings to the fledgling photos of last spring. The visitor was the smallest of the triplets. I have seen three times at the lake when a yearling showed up and visited its home nest and was tolerated. This is the first time I’ve seen one get closer than 50 feet to the nest! My goodness!!!
immature eagle
TagIntruder at First Nest
Jordan Lake. First Nest. An immature bald eagle tried to invade First Nest in hopes of stealing the eggs. Dad Bard was the one incubating the eggs. The youngster – about a three-year-old – came barreling in straight at the nest and realized it had made an error. A very very fast encounter – all of about 30 seconds! Everybody was fine … including the youngster who I saw pop out on the other side of the tree line and go barreling up the lake. Whew!
First Nest First Fracas of the Season
First Nest Update. Mom Kate was a half mile away from me when she realized a 3-year-old bald eagle was too close to her nest. Watch what happens. A wild beginning to the 2023 – 2024 bald eagle breeding season at Jordan Lake.
3-year-old bald eagle minute
There is nothing quite like the arrogance of a 3-year-old bald eagle. This one is showing the definitive 3-year face stripe that is almost a mask. It’s beak still has some smudges of darkness as it goes towards the bright yellowing of an adult. Raptors often rest with 1 foot up like this one is doing. If it were cold that resting foot might have been tucked up against its tummy. Hope you enjoy this part of the cruise that Captain Doug and I took yesterday at Jordan Lake.
Floating Past…
Jordan Lake. On yesterday’s cruise Captain Doug and I came upon this fledgling bald eagle, one of this year’s babies. We ever so gently floated past it. For its part of the interaction, the youngster seemed to decide that we just weren’t a probable food source and so we got ignored. Which was just fine with us.
The Chase is On!
Jordan Lake. Watch lower left hand corner! A pair of 3-year-old bald eagles realized an osprey, sitting across the cove, had a fish. Of course the eaglets were certain that they should have that fish. The chase was on. First clip in video is at normal speed and is followed with a very slow speed so you can actually see the osprey! What a wild chase.
doc ellen's journey 