Jordan Lake. Over the last couple of days the Riley’s 13 year cicada chorus has mostly faded into history. Now the birds such as this northern mockingbird are snacking on what they can find in amongst the rocks, on the sidewalks and probably in your yards. This mockingbird certainly enjoyed his cicada snack.
mockingbird
TagMockingbird and Cicadas Songs
Jordan Lake. Do you need some bright cheerful song to brighten up the grayness of the day? This northern Mockingbird was very full of itself. Occasionally looked down to make sure that I was actually listening and watching it. By the way the constant hum underneath the mockingbird’s song is the chorus of the cicadas singing.
Face Off Nest Protection
Jordan Lake Dam. At the tailrace this morning with Becky and Louisa we watched a northern mockingbird protect its nest from a red-tailed hawk. Watch carefully at the beginning and you will see one of the mockingbirds sitting on top of the cupola and it dives down inside the tree to its nest as its mate proceeds to harass the red-tailed hawk into leaving the tree.
Ornery Mockingbirds!
Jordan Lake Dam. A pair of northern mockingbirds decided that a black vulture was spending way too much time inside their territory. Being mockingbirds, they decided to harass the vulture. At one point the vulture and one of the mockingbirds seemed to have a quiet moment of contemplation … didn’t last long.
Jordan Lake and Haw River: Mockingbird Antics
When someone mentions a flycatcher, we tend to think of phoebes or swallows or even blue-grey gnatcatchers. But, ha, the northern mockingbird is good at catching insects in flight too. Yesterday, I caught up with a mockingbird, on the wing, chasing his breakfast at the lake.
Doc Ellen’s Natural Minute 04/01/2020
Jordan Lake: I made this Natural Minute on March 26, 2020 but used a different little video to post that day. May this one bring a moment of quietness as we watch the northern mockingbird being busy. You can find other Natural Minutes archived at my blog at
Stop by and visit whenever you need a moment of Jordan Lake.
doc ellen's journey 