Jordan Lake: It is a glorious December morning. Late autumn and most of the leaves have come down. Looking towards the winter time. Enjoy this moment of as much tranquility as I could bring to you. Peace and grace, Doc Ellen.
Jordan Lake State Park
TagMultitude of Double-Crested Cormorants
Jordan Lake: We have a resident population of double-crested cormorants here at the lake. The residents stay here all year around. However, come the cool weather of late fall and through the winter, we have hundreds of migratory double-crested cormorants that gather at the lake. Here are just a few of them. It is awesome to go to one of the boat ramps or fishing piers early in the cold mornings and look at the hundreds of these birds standing there piled up shoulder to shoulder.

Do I Really Look Odd?
Jordan Lake: Sometimes I admit that I wish I could read a Bald Eagle‘s mind. For instance, this two-year-old bald eagle, this morning, looked at me as if I were some how or other an odd object on the shoreline. I am certain this youngster has seen humans before! But, I did wonder what she was thinking about…

Wednesday Smile
Jordan Lake: it is the first day of December 2021. I think since it’s also Wednesday, it would be a good time to have a mid-week smile! Up in the sky this morning, I found a ghost merganser flying. I’m not certain whether or not it was a hooded merganser or a red-breasted merganser but definitely one of those very sleek water birds. Smile! Take care, be safe, stay well.

Mom Godiva and Fledgling Encounter
Jordan Lake, Bald Eagle nest report: H&G nest. I watched as Mom Godiva flew past me with some kind of bird in her talons. She had just gotten past me when I realized there was another eagle trailing her. By time I caught up with the other eagle it had started to land in the nest – almost on top of Godiva. It was one of the fledglings from this year‘s hatching at H&G nest. Mom Godiva was not going to have anything at all to do with the offspring. As you can see she promptly threatened it and said no way are you sharing this bird. The fledgling bailed out. Most parent eagles have finished any supplemental feeding of their offspring by about September. This youngster tried for food and it didn’t work. Please remember, nature is never cruel but she is harsh.





Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute 11/28/2021
Jordan Lake: This morning the jaunty little Killdeers decided to join me and you out here on the lake. They are very talkative little birds: they talk when they fly, they talk when they eat. I love the way they do their little bouncy walk as they go looking for food. Have a blessed day, stay well. Stay safe and warm.
