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Jordan Lake at dusk



Last evening at about 7:15 I got out on Jordan Lake at the Farrington Road
boat ramps and paddled a mile up that little north arm of the lake toward
Lystra, Jack Bennett and Big Woods Roads. Best bird I saw was a gorgeous
adult bald eagle perched on a dead pine limb where it overhung the water.
The eagle stayed there till I was within 40 yards. Then it flew, and I found
it later perched in another dead tree just over the road (Jack Bennett, I
think) in an impoundment. It would have been clearly visible to any and all
drivers whizzing by.

There were ospreys perched out there too, and it was interesting to compare
the shapes of the bald eagle and the osprey. The perched eagle looked
incredibly broad shouldered. Its shape was an inverted triangle. The perched
ospreys all looked thin through the shoulders. From the front they appear to
be narrow birds. 

There were a fair number of little sandpipers out there too, hard for me to
identify with assurance, but they were calling a lot and made me realize
I've got to get out the tapes and learn their vocalizations.

Even though I had to race back to beat the darkness, it was a good time to
be on the lake, because I had the impression that the ospreys -- and maybe
that bald eagle -- were finding perches for the night. Easier to get close
to them.
Ginger_Travis@unc.edu
Chapel Hill, NC