This American crow was quite delighted as he perched upon the pipe and presented his breakfast goodie for my examination. The presentation did not last long however before he flew up and into the trees where the rest of the crow clan could not steal it from him.
Jordan Lake this morning at 224.16ft was still rising. The Haw River as it was exiting the dam was very quiet. Lake and reforming downstream river were very unlike the water systems to the west of us. As I watched this bald eagle appear out of the distortion caused by the dense fog on the river, I thought of the horrendous impact Hurricane Helene has made from Florida to our NC mountains. I am reminded that Nature is as elegant as the bald eagle and as fierce as a rampaging river.
I think most of us bird photographers try very hard to catch the belted kingfisher in flight and fishing … it is quite a challenge as they are fast and erratic. However, this early morning against the gray moody sky, I spotted this kingfisher quietly perched. What I like about the photo is how well it shows us the tremendous beak this small bird has to facilitate its fishing. There is almost more beak than head.
It certainly is fun to watch a fledgling osprey catch its fish and then shake all the excess water off of its feathers. The fledglings are working hard and eating as much as they can because the migration journey to South America is not too far down the road. Some of the adult ospreys have already headed south.
Up the Haw River yesterday flew a very determined immature bald eagle. I could see as it banked and reversed course at the tail race of the Jordan Lake Dam that the youngster was one of this year’s fledglings. Fly young one fly, learn how to fish successfully and survive.
I am in awe as the great egret comes to land on the face of the riprap at the Jordan Lake Dam. I can’t begin to imagine controlling all of those feathers. Some of the flight feathers going in very different directions than the others and yet, all working together to bring the egret safely to the edge of the Haw River. I am sometimes all thumbs with my 10 fingers. I can’t begin to even roughly sketch the multitude of nerves, muscles and tendons needed to put each feather exactly where it should be placed for a perfect landing.
doc ellen's journey 