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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 4d

That's mom in the 1st photo and dad in the 2nd one. Eventually Captain Doug and I saw the reason for their outlook… another adult bald eagle way up high, perhaps thinking about, oh I don't know, trying to lay claim to the nest? 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 4d

Bald eagles keep an eye on their nest all year. This pair will not get into the whole breeding sequence until later in the year. However, parents must guard their nest. As you can see they are very alert… 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 10d

What a delightful surprise this afternoon at Jordan Lake: Captain Doug and I found the parents of the Heron Point bald eagle nest sitting side by side ... its about time for this pair to start thinking about the next generation! 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 16d

The eagle hovered then leaned over on its right wing, bent around the tree and was gone. FYI the flight sequence occurred in less than two seconds. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 16d

The eagle was intent upon something way up in the sky. The eagle shifted it's glance and perched thinking. Suddenly it exploded almost straight up off of the branch and into the air. Captain Doug and I both said at the same time "I haven't never seen an eagle launch straight up like that". 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 22d

Oh, but how can it be that this was the last day of summer? Will I still be able to find my favorite sun patch in the kitchen tomorrow?

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · 29d

This bald eagle absolutely ignored Captain Doug and I. I wondered what had her attention. Leaning back, I looked up and up. All I could see was sky and a few clouds. It was obvious, because of her attention heavenward, that there was something that I, mere human, just could not bring into sight. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 9

Placing the fluff in their beaks it becomes a wash cloth to help clean all the fishy leftovers from their feathers. Here you can see some of that fluff at the end of the beak of this great egret. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 9

Egrets and herons, on their middle toes, have a special edge that acts like a comb. They use this pectinate edge to reach up into the special soft feathers on their chest and gather up some of the extra fine fluff that lingers there. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 5

Yes, their diet is filled with decomposing carcasses and that is okay with me. Join me in my thanks to these marvelous birds such as this black vulture at Jordan Lake.

Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 5

September 6, 2025 is International Vulture Awareness Day. I certainly wouldn't want to live in a world without vultures scattered within it. They do such an excellent job of helping our environment stay clean. Vultures help to control a lot of otherwise harmful debris. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 3

The first photo is the left side of the face. The in-flight photo shows you the right side of the face. I think the plumage patterns in the three-year-olds going towards four-year-olds are some of the most spectacular looks on an immature bald eagle.

Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 3

Captain Doug and I were out cruising the lake last week. We found a young bald eagle surveying the shoreline. We could see that it was at least three years old - heading towards four. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 2

My Labor Day sale has taken off, but it ends tomorrow!
Use code LABOR2025 to take 30% off at checkout.
Support independent art and grab something meaningful while the offer lasts.
www.docellensnaturephotography.com
View “Grayced regal and assured” and others in my online gallery to use your code!

Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 1

Labor Day is here, and I’m running a special offer to celebrate.

Take 30% off with code LABOR2025 when you shop my online gallery.

If you’ve been thinking about bringing something home, now’s the perfect time.

www.docellensnaturephotography.com

Today's Art: “Grayced eye reflection”

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Sep 1

docellensjourney.com/2025/08/31/l...
Come, join my Labor Day Memories!

Labor Day Journey

Broccoli seeds from hardware store, cash register ran by fingers gnarled. Farmer plowed garden rows with venerable tractor of sturdy parts made by willing labor in factories coast-to-coast. We…

docellensjourney.com

Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 29

This is the hollering juvenile female osprey that was in my post a while ago. I just got back to scanning that day's work. We can all see why she was screaming. The chunk of fish tightly grasped in her right talons was what she was protecting! BTW average wingspan of an osprey is 5-6ft. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 28

nc.audubon.org/news/you%E2%...
This is an awesome sight! The article lets you search for nearby viewing points. if you are not in North Carolina, go to the National Audubon website and search for your state and see if the migration occurs there and where you might view it. 🦉

You’re Invited: Witness the Magic of Swift Migration

Audubon chapters are hosting Swift Night Out watch parties across the state.

https://nc.audubon.org/news/you’re-invited-witness-magic-swift-migration

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 27

A moment with Grayced the Cat my companion. A friend stopped by a few minutes ago to hand off paperwork to me and a moth snuck in. Sigh. Grayced has spotted the moth. I will leave the light on in the kitchen and hope Grayced doesn't wear himself out looking up at the light for the rest of the night.

Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 23

Here is a close look at the eye color of the juvenile osprey. The eye is a bright orange. Note the white points on the flight feathers of a juvenile. She is a female by the broad brown chest band she has (some females only have a single line of dots) - this youngster has a beautiful necklace.🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 22

As a veterinarian, I know better, but sometimes I swear cats are boneless. Take Grayced, this late afternoon as an example … neck what neck? 🐈

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 21

When we have a hurricane on shore or close to shore - such as hurricane Erin - lots of the birds that live in coastal areas are often pushed far inland. I have seen this with ibises, little blue herons, pelicans, sandpipers. Through the next couple of days, go out and see what you can find! Share! 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 17

Mom Osprey needs to replenish her body and spirits before she leaves for South America on fall migration. Occasionally two ospreys will sight the same fish at almost the same time. Mom osprey got to the fish before the male osprey did. He decides to float up & out. She happily hauls her fish away.🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 12

How to tell a fledgling great blue heron from an adult. Check the head! Adult head crowned with white stripe enclosed in black stripe and a plume or two. The fledgling has solid gray-capped head - no plumes. There are other differences - but for quick ID it's pretty much all in the head. 🦉

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Doc Ellen @docellen.bsky.social · Aug 11

This morning as the sun rose over the Haw River at the Jordan Lake Dam, the ospreys began to fill the sky with graceful flights as they fished for their breakfast. 🦉

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