Blue Day

This Eastern Bluebird, sialia sialis, was on our deck today, hassling the Carolina wrens.

Eagle Osprey Creek Reservoir

Yesterday evening, my wife and I were sitting on the back porch when we saw a very large bird flying straight toward us. I thought it was an improbably large gull-like bird of some kind at first, but as it passed directly overhead at treetop level I could see clearly that it was an osprey. I've seen ospreys in Indiana before, but never so close. And me without a camera!

Since the bird was headed directly toward the lake when we saw it, I figured we would go on a little bird-watching expedition along the lake shore this evening, and if we got lucky, maybe we would see it again. If we got really lucky, I might get a clear photograph of it.

As we were walking along the shore, I saw a large, dark bird dive into the water. The fish hawk was actually fishing right in front of me! And this time, I was ready with the camera.

I can't be sure from the pictures, but I think there was a fish in its talons when it came up. In any case it didn't dive again, but flew off to the south. By that time it was getting late and we were all ready for dinner ourselves, so we headed out. My wife, who had the binoculars, said she saw a second one. If it's a mated pair and they decide to stick around - well, I'd just have to have a better telephoto lens and a lighter tripod, that's all.

Downy Woodpeckers

These little woodpeckers are building a nest in the dead fork of a tree in the neighbor's yard, but it looks pretty precarious to me. Somebody has pecked away at the base so much that I can't believe it's still standing.

Apparently they aren't concerned about it falling, though.