Downy and Hairy woodpecker comparison. Here are pics, in similar positions on the same feeder, of a downy and the hairy woodpecker that visited our feeder. 

Fish vs. snake at Dyke Marsh

We were watching this fish and snake literally locked in mortal combat for a good while before they suddenly got quite close to shore. This was the first pic I took, not quite sharp, but they were frozen like this for several seconds.

This was maybe three or four feet from the shore.

Thanks to Glenn and Mary Alice for leading the walk!

Fish vs. snake, continued

Here are more from a series of shots I took this morning of a life and death battle between a fish (perch?) and a water snake. We're not sure which attacked which.
The battle continues...
Finally the fish got loose and the snake rested on this log, sides heaving....

Hairy Woodpecker

A series of pictures of the Hairy Woodpecker that visited our feeder this morning.

We've had fleeting sightings of the Hairy, who never seemed to stay long, but this time he was there for quite a while, long enough for me to get my camera and get in position for some good pics. There's no doubt when a hairy arrives--so much bigger than the downies!

Note the large beak, and the lack of black barring on the white tail feathers, also. The Hairy is about 25-50 percent larger than a downy.