The fledgling eagle was enjoying a Sunday morning quiet moment (rare for a youngster to be quiet early in the day) when, well, when, oh why don’t I let you see what happened…
raptor
TagJordan Lake: Bald Eagle Dawn Dive
The dawn was gently layered in pastel pinks and blues. The elegant plunging body of the 4-year-old bald eagle was an arrogant jewel against the soft sky. The silvered spray of her capture was an accent point to the eagle’s successful fishing.
Jordan Lake: Hawk Surprise 09-15-2019
Laugh with Doc Ellen…
Uh, oh. As I watched a hawk zip over my head this morning, I found myself thinking it sure looked liked a “T” in flight and that could make it an Accipiter (Cooper’s hawk or sharp-shinned hawk). But then I glanced at the wings as it zipped past and went to attack a crow that was perched in a tree, and said no, leading wing edge said it had to be a red-shouldered hawk. Then my brain said wait a minute, red-shouldered hawks don’t usually go after something like a crow. And I dismissed all those thoughts because two juvenile eagles went across the sky chasing each other. Then I got home and started looking at this morning’s photos. I should always go with my first thought. It was an Accipiter. Drat that I didn’t notice that LONG tail and its band configuration. The hawk is a sharp-shinned hawk.
Jordan Lake: Bald Eagle Fledgling
During the photography class this morning, we got a chance to watch this eaglet calmly, almost floating, fly past us. Always keeping an eye of all things happening at the lake, this fledgling bald eagle came by to see what was happening in his territory. What a great subject for my students! I thanked the eaglet for helping with the instructions.
Jordan Lake: Surprised Osprey Fledgling 09-08-2019
This female fledgling kept looking down at her talons … almost as if she were surprised that she had caught her very own fish! She was beautiful in the early morning light. The youngster’s red-orange eye color is typical of a fledgling – an adult osprey has a bright golden eye.
Jordan Lake Bald Eagles Playing in the Wind 09-05-2019
Hershey and Godiva are one of the mated pairs of bald eagles at Jordan Lake. This morning, while Hurricane Dorian was still off SC and we were just starting to get some good gusts, Godiva called out to Hershey, challenging him to a chase in the strengthening wind. By the way, Hershey is the light brown eagle (he is named after the chocolate bar) and Godiva is the normal dark brown of a bald eagle.
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