Three Lakes 12

Jan. 22, 2026

Yesterday afternoon we were watching the Great Horned Owl nest, observing the female on the nest. The nest is in a live oak tree on property owned by the Overstreet family with no trespassing signs. We can see the nest from the roadside but only because of our long lens. We could hear the male owl hooting so I walked around a little and saw it!! It was backlit so Vic walked around the other way where the light was much better. He had a better angle than I did so these are his (amazing) shots.

Male

His expression says what do you think you are doing, out!

Male from another angle

She came off the nest to meet him for the food handoff. We didn’t see the hand off like we could a few days earlier.

Meadowlark
Kingfisher in flight
Loggerhead Shrike

This bird is also called butcher bird because he impales his prey in order to eat it.

Savannah Sparrow
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Palm Warbler
Kestrel

That’s all for today!

Stay safe XO

Three Lakes 11

Jan. 20, 2026

I really really hope you aren’t getting sick of eagle pictures. Is that even possible lol? We have some beauties to share today.

These were all taken on Joe Overstreet where there is a nest but hidden behind foliage and Spanish moss. They do a lot of flying around gathering food so we get our pictures then.

Immature Eagle
Immature Eagle

It takes about five years for a bald eagle to attain its fully developed feather colors.

This last one is almost mature.

Stay safe!

XO

Three Lakes 9

Jan. 18, 2026

Continuing with the Eagle nest …

Yesterday: While we watched an immature eagle appeared. The eagle parents immediately took steps to run the intruder off.

Immature on top
Defending the nest

It’s hard to convey the drama with a static picture.

Today, we saw the parents flying in and out taking turns bringing food to the nest.

Feeding a chick
Coming in for a landing

Our friend Tom and his wife Beth were at the nest this morning.

Zoe loves Beth

Great day of birding!

XO

Three Lakes 8

Jan. 16, 2026

This morning it was very cold, the low overnight was 20 degrees. We all bundled up and went out to the eagle nest our friend Tom told us about.

Zoe rides in a pet bed on the console.

Tom showed up to join us with his wife and friends Vinnie and Cathy. Tom and Vinnie have been friends for 50 years, how cool is that?

Now, for perspective, here’s the nest with my iPhone.

Lucky for us the nest is clearly visible. Usually there are limbs or foliage in the way.
Eagle parent coming in. Baby barely visible.
Mama Eagle on the right alerted on an immature eagle in the area.
Not super clear but two babies
Easier to see baby
Uh oh I think something is coming

There are so many photos we are making a few posts.

XO

Three Lakes 7

Jan. 16, 2026

This afternoon we went to see the Great Horned Owl nest on Joe Overstreet. OMG people you will not believe these pictures. Remember these birds are tucked back in a tree dripping with Spanish moss so they are hard to see and it’s dark. Most of the time we couldn’t clearly see what was going on but we knew something was happening because they were moving around. You wouldn’t believe the work Vic does to bring out the detail and colors. The technical term for this is called spray and pray haha.

Great Horned Owl (female)
Great Horned Owl (male)

Like the eagles, the females are bigger.

Food handoff

Male on left brought the meal. Female left the nest and came to the male to get it. Then she brought it back to the nest. The male did not go near the nest.

Just to show how pretty the underside is
Female landing

We had a blast this afternoon taking these pictures. Hope you enjoyed the show.

Stay safe everyone! XO

Three Lakes 5

Jan. 14, 2026

Another day of hard work behind the lens! Also praise to the editor 🥰.

We’ve been looking for Caracara and finally found some! They are vultures yes, but beautiful vultures. They will eat carrion but today it was just a plant.

In flight!
Eating a root
Still snacking

We see eagles every day and it never gets old. We think you’ll like these two.

Vic was lucky enough to get this Kingfisher.

Lastly, here is the Great Horned Owl shot of the day.

I don’t know how we will ever leave this place. There is so much to see.

Stay safe! XO

Three Lakes 4

Jan. 12 and 13, 2026

Every morning and afternoon we go out looking for birds. The weather people keep saying there’s clouds and rain coming but haven’t seen it yet.

This is a sequence of an Anhinga feasting on a catfish. He tossed it up in the air and let it drop, then grabbed it. It needs to be well lubricated to be swallowed.

We don’t know what that yucky looking thing hanging off his beak is. Probably don’t want to know!

These Great Blue Heron are sitting in a tree on the property of a man we met (Dana) down at Lake Marion, a campground/fishing marina near us.

Hard to choose a favorite

Next is a morphing little blue heron

And here it is fully morphed

Beautiful little guy

We’ve been going to Joe Overstreet every day to see what the Great Horned Owl is doing. These pictures are from yesterday.

Today we met Tom Pulice, a very likable man we first met a couple of years ago at this same spot. He’s got the bird nerd bug same as us so he is very fun to talk to.

We see eagles every time we drive up and back on Joe Overstreet.

Mature eagle
Immature Eagle

Vic is having to work overtime editing the many many pictures we’ve been taking. There are more to come!

Stay Safe XO

Great Horned Owl

Three Lakes 3

Jan. 10, 2026

This afternoon we went to Joe Overstreet looking for eagles and other birds and we wanted to check a headless palm tree where an owl had nested two years ago. A friend of Vic’s happened to come along. He showed us where an owl was nesting near that headless palm tree. If the owl was looking for a secure, dark, and hard to see nest boy she found it for sure. Spanish moss is hanging everywhere and it was dark back in there.

Great Horned Owl playing peek-a-boo
Looking sleepy

Stay safe! XO