Jordan Lake: I think “startling” is the best adjective for this display of a pair of yellow-shafted northern flickers this morning. The female is the one flying off to the right. The male had thought to visit with her, their chattering had filled the woods and the cove, but she had other thoughts. The golden-yellow color of the shafts is only seen when the flickers are in flight … making it a challenge to photograph them as they flicker about the woods.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest
This is the other chick in the nest. Like its sibling from yesterday, it is pouting … Mom Kate (in the second photo) came zooming in from the main lake and passed right by the nest to go and harass some ospreys. The chick is centered in the nest and it is looking to the right. You can see it has a lot of white feathers across its upper chest. I don’t know yet if this is what is known as a “white belly”. Kate and Petruchio have had other white belly chicks.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: First Nest
The chick is very, very interested in the food that dad Petruchio is studying and thinking about feeding to the chick
Much to the annoyance of the chick, Dad takes notice of something … other than the food the chick wants and is pointedly showing Dad where his attention should be.
Dad explains to the chick that watching for possible dangers comes first, yes, even before food.
The chick takes to pouting and Dad goes back to observing.
Jordan Lake: I was driving slowly near an embankment when I heard an osprey screaming. I threw the truck in park and jumped out trying to get my iPhone set to do a video. An adult bald eagle flashed through the trees. Because of the osprey scream, I thought the eagle was probably chasing the other raptor. But, no, the bald eagle was chasing double-crested cormorants. I don’t know if the eagle was after breakfast – they will take cormorants – or as eagles are prone to do, it was harassing the other birds. Not quite a full minute, but, oh boy, is the video full of action.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagle Nest report: LL&H nest. It has been quite a while since we have seen the LL&H nest. Wow! Look at the size of that chick!!! I think it is between 8-10 weeks old, but we don’t have a hatch date, so I am guessing. Almost all the eagles, herons, cormorants and ospreys were responding to the heat today by panting like this chick is doing.
Jordan Lake: I am always happy when I can share with you how a bird got its name. In this case, you can see the crests that give the double-crested cormorant its name. The feather crests are only visible during breeding season and the eyes turn a very brilliant blue. I must say I was tempted to comment about the cormorant having a bad hair day…
