A Bald Eagle soars against a clear blue sky near the tree tops along the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina. The eagle's wings are fully outstretched and its legs out, but still mostly in line with its body. The bird is moving left to right across the Fram and looking down and to frame right. in the lower left corner of the frame, you can see part of the winter-bared top of a tree that grows along the riverbank below.

A Bald Eagle soars against a clear blue sky near the tree tops along the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina.

#BaldEagle #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BirdsInFlight #Raptor

A Bald Eagle soars against a clear blue sky above the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina. It's wings are almost fully outstretched, with just a hint of downward curve, and the long feathers at the end of the winds are splayed out.

A Bald Eagle soars against a clear blue sky above the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina.

#BaldEagle #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BirdsInFlight

A Juvenile Bald Eagle surveys the landscape from his perch 30 feet up a sweetgum tree. Its feathers are brown with a smattering of white and black. The sky behind the eagle is clear and blue. The eagle is just off center and up, on the left side of the frame, in profile, looking off the left side. The branches of the Sweetgum are bare - it's winter - and lead from the lower right of the Fram to the eagle. Shot along the Haw River in Moncure, NC.

I'm Too Sexy for This Tree

A Juvenile Bald Eagle surveys the landscape...and its feathers were perfect. Haw River in Moncure, NC.

#BaldEagle #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BirdsAtRest #GratuitousMusicalReferences

Bald Eagle doing a fly around over the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina. The eagle is framed by a light blue sky. It's sidelight from the right side of the frame by the golden light of the late afternoon sun. The wings are outstretched but bent, in anticipation of flapping.

Bald Eagle doing a fly around over the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina.

#BaldEagle #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BirdsInFlight

A Great Blue Heron flying past the winter forest on a late afternoon along the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina. The bare trees are golden in the late afternoon light. The heron's wings are full outstretched, legs straight out behind it, neck tucked in a graceful S-curve. The heron is banking to the right and angled slightly so that the head is just a. little bit further from the camera than the feet.

A Great Blue Heron flying past the winter forest on a late afternoon along the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BirdsInFlight

A Great Blue Heron moves slowly in a shallow portion of the Haw River in the Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace in Moncure, North Carolina. The river level is low - the water doesn't quite reach the bird's knees. The heron is facing upstream. The near leg is straight, while the rear leg is lifted, with the toes dragging in the river, creating a small wake in the water rushing past.

Strike a Pose

A Great Blue Heron moves slowly in a shallow portion of the Haw River in the Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace in Moncure, North Carolina.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #WadingBirds

Full moon rising over treetops in a deep blue late afternoon sky. The treetops are blurry, a result of focusing on the moon and taking the photo with a 1120mm lens.

Late Afternoon Moonrise

Moonrise over the winter-bared trees along the Haw River in Moncure, North Carolina.

#Moon #AstroPhotography #LandscapePhotography #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #mirrorlessPhotography

Immature Bald Eagle flying against a blue sky.

This immature bald eagle kindly posed on a sweetgum tree for a while, and then flew off downriver to check in with some other eagles.

#BaldEagle #ImmatureBaldEagle #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography

A Great Blue Heron fully deploying its wings to cut velocity and drop onto a fallen tree trunk that's leaning into the Haw River, just below the Jordan Lake Dam Tail Race, Moncure, NC. The photo is taken from slightly behind the bird. The wings are outstretched and the feet are deployed for landing on the leaning log visible in the lower right of the image.

Time to Stick the Landing

Great Blue Heron fully deploying its wings to cut velocity and drop onto a fallen tree trunk that's leaning into the Haw River in North Carolina.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography

Lift Off! A double-crested cormorant launches off the water to fly downriver. The water is reflecting the orange and blue of the late afternoon sky. the bird is moving left-to-right across the frame. At the far left side is an arcing splat of water from where the cormorant erupted from the river, with a short trail of water drops leading to its feet. The bird is a foot above the water, wings outstretched and slightly down, with the wingtips flexed upwards. Taken at the Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, Moncure, NC.

Lift Off!

A double-crested cormorant launches off the water to fly downriver.

Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, Moncure, NC.

#DoubleCrestedCormorant #Birds #BirdPhotography #BirdsInFlight #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #naturePhotography #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

Great Blue Heron soaring towards the tree tops - Haw River, just below the Jordan Lake Dam Tail Race, Moncure, NC. Its wings are outstretched with a slight curve downwards at the wing joint, neck tucked back in a graceful S-curve. Tree trunks and bare branches - it's winter - are in the background.

Great Blue Heron soaring towards the tree tops - Haw River, just below the Jordan Lake Dam Tail Race, Moncure, NC.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography

A double crested cormorant holding the catfish it's having for dinner by the head in its beak. The fish's body is almost straight out, slightly curved as it thrashes, parallel to the water. The bird's neck and head are clear of the water, which reflects the blue and orange tones of the late afternoon sky, while its body is mostly submerged. The bird and the fish appear to be able to look each other in the eye. Taken at the Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, Moncure, NC

Dinnertime Face Off

A double crested cormorant has a face-to-face moment with the catfish it's having for dinner. Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC

#DoubleCrestedCormorant #Birds #BirdPhotography #Catfish #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #naturePhotography #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

Eastern Bluebird perched on a branch against a blue sky, framed by another branch curving gracefully over its head. The bird is looking over its left shoulder, as if surveying its domain.

I Claim This Branch!

An Eastern Bluebird looking regal on a tree branch in my Durham, NC, backyard.

(Bsky doesn't allow editing: had to delete and repost)

#EasternBluebird #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BackyardBirds

Dark Eyed Junco (I think) photographed in Durham, North Carolina. The junco is perched on a wooden fence, looking at the camera, with its head tilted to its right side.

Say What?

Dark Eyed Junco (I think) in my Durham, NC, backyard.

#DarkEyedJunco #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BackyardBirds

Female Northern Cardinal photographed in Durham, North Carolina. The bird is sitting on a pine tree branch that runs diagonally from the lower right corner of the frame to the tree trunk about midway up the left side of the frame. The cardinal has turned her head to her left, in a pose whose human-equivalent that might be considered coquettish .

Oooh - Be Sure to Get My Good Side

Female Northern Cardinal poses for the camera in my Durham, NC backyard.

#NorthernCardinal #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BackyardBirds

A Carolina Chickadee perched on a budding tree branch against a blue sky. The chickadee is looking at the photographer and has its mouth open, making it look as if it's addressing the picture-taker. Durham, North Carolina.

Dude! I'm Eating Here!

A Carolina Chickadee with something to say. From my Durham, North Carolina backyard.

#CarolinaChickadee #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography #BackyardBirds

Great Blue Heron in flight. Haw River, just below the Jordan Lake Dam Tail Race, Moncure, NC. The heron is flying 10 feet or so above the river. The river and the far riverbank with tree trunks and knotted roots extending into the water are visible in the blurry background. The heron's head is tucked back towards its shoulder, neck in a graceful S-curce. The wings are extended, up, and have a slight downward curve. The legs are straight back, in line with the body.

Great Blue Heron in flight. Haw River, just below the Jordan Lake Dam Tail Race, Moncure, NC.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography

From left to right: a grumpy Great Blue Heron looks on as its fellow does the toss, catch and swallow with a small fish it had snatched from amidst the tree roots stretching into the Haw River in central North Carolina. The heron on the left is standing in the water a foot or so from the river bank. The heron in the right is standing on the edge of a tangle of tree roots that extend out over and several feet into the river. At this point, The Great Blue Heron on the tree roots was on its fourth or fifth fish from that location, while its irritated fellow had managed to score none.

"Daaaaaaamn it! How does George Always Get to the Best Fishing Spots 2 Minutes Before Me?!

Taken at the Haw River in central North Carolina.

#GreatBlueHeron #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #naturePhotography

Male Pine Warbler on a tree branch, framed by other tree branches in the background, with a blue sky behind, looking head on at the camera.

Is That Huge Thing...Your Beak?

A Pine Warbler seems intrigued by the huge lens I'm pointing at him.

#PineWarbler #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63. #backyardbirding

Turkey Vulture in Flight - the bird is flying high, with an aqua blue sky in the background. Its wings are outstretched to their impressive full length, and it has tilted its bare, red head to look at the photographer with its right eye. The vulture is lit by the warm rays of the sun just before sunset. Taken at the Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC

Turkey Vulture in Flight

Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC

#TurkeyVulture #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

Double crested cormorant eating catfish, Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC. The cormorants head and part of its neck are above water, the body is mostly submerged. The cormorant has the catfish, which is thrashing vainly, firm gripped in its beak, head first, preparing to lift its head up and gulp the fish down. The late afternoon sun and sky are reflect on the water. Water droplets are flying around the bird's head from the struggle.

Chow Time!

With the catfish positioned correctly, it's time to swallow it. Double crested cormorant eating catfish, Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC.

#DoubleCrestedCormorant #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #PlayingWithDinner #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

A double crested cormorant tosses a catfish as it works towards swallowing its piscine prey. The bird is partially submerged in the water, with its long neck and head out of the river. The image is in mid toss: the fish is airborne and the cormorant's beak is just about to slam shut on in it again. Taken at the Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, Moncure, NC

Working the Ol' Toss and Catch

A double crested cormorant tosses a catfish as it works towards swallowing its piscine prey. Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC

#DoubleCrestedCormorant #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdsofNorthCarolina #PlayingWithDinner #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

Defiant Dinner A catfish fights to avoid becoming a double-crested cormorant's dinner. The cormorant has the catfish in its beak. The catfish is flailing around and curled its tail around the cormorant's head. The water reflects th gold and blue of the late afternoon light. Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC .

Defiant Dinner

A catfish fights to avoid being a double-crested cormorant's dinner. The cormorant won in the end. Haw River, Jordan Lake Dam Tailrace, NC .

#DoubleCrestedCormorant #Birds #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NCBirds #CatfishItsWhatsForDinner #NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63

Ring-billed Gull flying off as it swallows the fish it just plucked from the Haw River just below the Jordan Lake Dam in North Carolina.

Dinner on the Fly

Ring-billed Gull flying off as it swallows the fish it just plucked from the Haw River just below the Jordan Lake Dam in North Carolina.

#NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #RingBilledGull #NCBirdPhotography #Birds

A Great Blue Heron lands on a field, wings dramatically outstretched.

I Am Vengeance, I Am The Night!

A Great Blue Heron dramatically sticks a twilight landing at Lake Betz in North Carolina.

Yes, that shaded hillside in the background is covered in snow and ice.

#NikonZ9 #Nikon800f63 #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #GreatBlueHeron #NCBirdPhotography #Birds

Half-moon photo, black-and-white.

Half Moon

I actually shot this on a clear morning, but decided this looked better as a dramatic black-and-white.

#NikonZ7 #Nikon800f63 #Moon #HalfMoon #BlackAndWhitePhotography

A Male Bufflehead duck rises up from where it's sitting on the water and stretches out its wings in a morning sunbeam against a black background.

Morning Stretch

A Male Bufflehead duck stretches out its wings in a morning sunbeam after eating breakfast in Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC.

#Bufflehead #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NikonZ8 #Nikon800f63 #Birds

I Need Some Space A Male Bufflehead duck flies off past its fellows at Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC. The bufflehead has lifted and extended wings and is trailing water droplets. It is framed by a female and male bufflehead in the background.

I Need Some Space

A Male Bufflehead duck flies off past its fellows at Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC, in search of a section of the lake with more food and fewer ducks.

#Bufflehead #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NikonZ8 #Nikon800f63 #Birds

Male Bufflehead duck taking flight at Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC. It's running as it launches, leaving splash trails in the water. One foot is resting on the water's surface and you can see the reflections of the ripples on its chest.

We Have a Runner!

Male Bufflehead duck taking flight at Lake Betz in Morrisville, NC. Buffleheads spend their summers raising families in Central/Western Canada and Alaska. When winter comes they migrate south.

#Bufflehead #BirdPhotography #WildlifePhotography #NikonZ8 #Nikon800f63 #birds