Red-breasted Nuthatch and Barren Creek sights

It has been rainy and a bit cooler yesterday and today (around 60F today, with a low of 54F tonight forecast). It occurred to me that the rains seem different in the forest than what I am accustomed to; for some reason you get more of a feeling of invigoration than it being dismal, you can almost see everything turn a bit greener before your eyes.

David was able to get out yesterday for a little while around Barren Creek and get a few photos in while having a bit of a fish in between rains.

We're actually not sure what this bird is yet, I have some checking to do!

 

Here it is, zoomed in a bit...if any readers out there can offer suggestions, we're all ears! (UPDATE: A friend from Southern Illinois Birding on Facebook reckons this is a female Red-winged Blackbird)

A tricky thing is to get a good photo of the Great Blue Heron, a year-round resident here. As soon as you stop your car, they normally fly off! With a length of 36 - 40", a height of 4' (including head and neck) and a wingspan of 6' they are an awesome sight, in flight or not.  It spears fish or catches them by using its bill like scissors. It also feeds on frogs, snakes, mice and birds.

A Great Blue Heron may slowly stalk its prey or stand motionless waiting for something tasty to come within reach. Even though its bulky, it can float like a goose and take off from the surface of the water.  

They nest in colonies, usually in tall trees.
 

Next, at some distance away, David captured (on film!) what we think is a female Ring-necked Duck; from what I can see they supposedly are just a winter visitor here, although looking at a map of their territories, we are close to the breeding range, and this one fits the female's description. Their length is 15 - 18", with bill bluish, with white ring, black tip, and white at base; male with purple gloss on head, black back and white bar on side; female brown, with white eye-ring and streak to nape. 

Now, for turtles! Many times you must pick one up to truly identify it but I'm going to venture a guess and say this is Snapping Turtle! If we are right, you don't want to be picking one of these up (although many will still give you a nasty bite). Their shell length is 8 - 20"; they have a big head, with powerful jaws; carapace brown, often covered with algae or mud; long tail. They enjoy quiet mud-bottomed waters.

The head sure appears to be one:

 

Now, for a short blast from the recent past, another winter visitor to our area is the Red-breasted Nuthatch, one I had never seen before moving here. They are 3 1/2 - 4 1/2" in length.

This photo was taken on February 18th by David on our front deck while the little darling was getting a snack.

As you can see, they have a white line above the eye; black cap; blue-gray back; reddish underparts. They enjoy coniferous forests; mixed woodlands (mainly in winter).

On March 14th, David was able to photograph one a few more times, again on our front deck:

From what I can see, our last photos were taken on March 23rd on, you guessed it, our front deck:

It's such a joy being here every day, and we love discovering what's next! Until next time...