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Featured:

“Killdeer Launch”

I usually hear a killdeer before I catch sight of it. Their sharp kill-dee, kill-dee is quiet distinctive.

Jordan Lake. Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute. Killdeer have a very distinct call. I almost always hear them before I see them. But, this morning this killdeer did his bobbing dance just above the bluff from me so we get to enjoy his morning song and his body work too.

Jordan Lake Dam Birds

I was sitting on top of the dam this morning thinking that I needed to post some birds for all of you.
I was bemoaning the fact that I didn’t have any decent bald eagles to show you …
and then these two bald eagles flew past.
The top bird is a 4 year old and the lower bird is a 5 year old.
They got to about midway between the Haw River and the New Hope River and they each went a different way.

This bright-eyed falcon is a merlin.
I was surprised to see one this early in the migratory season – I usually see a few about the first of November.

There were so many killdeer swooping and calling at the dam that I thought I was at the beach this morning.

Yep, those are acorns – a total of 4 of them (hard to see the 4th one) – all stuffed in the beak of a fish crow!

Its time to see what other birds, um, non-bald eagles are in the neighborhood.
 
Accipiters are fast hawks that chase other birds.
This is an immature Cooper’s hawk.
 
 
Just how many fish does this crow have in its beak?
 
 
Sometimes going away gives a spectacular view – this is a ring-billed gull.
 
 
The waters of the lake make a beautiful backdrop for this male eastern bluebird.
 
 
The American pipit is a winter visitor and a new bird for my Life List.
 
 
I almost always hear a killdeer before I see it and I better be looking quick for they zip past in a hurry.