Doc Ellen
@docellen.bsky.social
Nature photographer. The balance of nature between humans and all that surrounds us drives my journey. The behavior of living entities - such as those with feathers, scales, fur, leaves or skin - fascinates me. http://docellensnaturephotography.com/
when I wrote this in 2018, I had no idea at all that seven years later, our country would be even more divided, more fearful, and, regretfully, with very little contentment or peace to be found
October 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
when I wrote this in 2018, I had no idea at all that seven years later, our country would be even more divided, more fearful, and, regretfully, with very little contentment or peace to be found
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… 🦉
October 10, 2025 at 12:30 AM
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… 🦉
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! 🦉
October 3, 2025 at 10:28 PM
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! 🦉
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". 🦉
September 28, 2025 at 12:44 AM
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". 🦉
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?
September 22, 2025 at 12:28 AM
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?
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. 🦉
September 14, 2025 at 5:41 PM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
September 9, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
September 5, 2025 at 10:18 PM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
September 3, 2025 at 8:55 PM
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. 🦉
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!
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!
September 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
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!
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!
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”
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”
September 1, 2025 at 5:36 PM
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”
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”
docellensjourney.com/2025/08/31/l...
Come, join my Labor Day Memories!
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
September 1, 2025 at 12:12 AM
docellensjourney.com/2025/08/31/l...
Come, join my Labor Day Memories!
Come, join my Labor Day Memories!
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. 🦉
August 29, 2025 at 1:39 PM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
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
August 28, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
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.
August 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
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.
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.🦉
August 23, 2025 at 3:03 PM
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.🦉
As a veterinarian, I know better, but sometimes I swear cats are boneless. Take Grayced, this late afternoon as an example … neck what neck? 🐈
August 22, 2025 at 11:49 PM
As a veterinarian, I know better, but sometimes I swear cats are boneless. Take Grayced, this late afternoon as an example … neck what neck? 🐈
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! 🦉
August 21, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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! 🦉
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.🦉
August 17, 2025 at 8:50 PM
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.🦉
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. 🦉
August 12, 2025 at 12:39 AM
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. 🦉
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. 🦉
August 11, 2025 at 2:25 AM
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. 🦉
Breakfast flights at the Jordan Lake Dam. Thought I’d let y'all get a taste of how active the birds are being. 3 times I saw groups of 15 ospreys in the air. 11 great egrets. 6 great blue herons. 1 green heron! Even if you do not have binoculars or a telephoto lens, bring your chair and just watch.🦉
August 8, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Breakfast flights at the Jordan Lake Dam. Thought I’d let y'all get a taste of how active the birds are being. 3 times I saw groups of 15 ospreys in the air. 11 great egrets. 6 great blue herons. 1 green heron! Even if you do not have binoculars or a telephoto lens, bring your chair and just watch.🦉
A reader of my posting of the rescued bald eagle made a valid point - I had forgotten to put up a web address where one could make donations to the Carolina Raptor Center. Here is address for donations carolinaraptorcenter.org/support/ I took this photo at initial intake & exam at the raptor center🦉
August 2, 2025 at 8:13 PM
A reader of my posting of the rescued bald eagle made a valid point - I had forgotten to put up a web address where one could make donations to the Carolina Raptor Center. Here is address for donations carolinaraptorcenter.org/support/ I took this photo at initial intake & exam at the raptor center🦉
When you cannot get close enough to an osprey to see its eye color (red/orange fledgling & yellow adult), and is it adult or fledgling? See the back of the bird! Fledgling has white points at the end of its feathers! Adult has brown flight feathers (adult left, fledgling right) see the difference! 🦉
August 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
When you cannot get close enough to an osprey to see its eye color (red/orange fledgling & yellow adult), and is it adult or fledgling? See the back of the bird! Fledgling has white points at the end of its feathers! Adult has brown flight feathers (adult left, fledgling right) see the difference! 🦉
We know a ruby-throated hummingbird as it dashes madly about. There is another hummer at Jordan Lake - the hummingbird moth. Get close to the moth and realize its an insect, not a bird! I found both of these critters recently and wanted to share. Enjoy their beauty and their zipping sipping flight!🦉
July 29, 2025 at 5:23 PM
We know a ruby-throated hummingbird as it dashes madly about. There is another hummer at Jordan Lake - the hummingbird moth. Get close to the moth and realize its an insect, not a bird! I found both of these critters recently and wanted to share. Enjoy their beauty and their zipping sipping flight!🦉