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.

 

Great Blue Heron, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. 

Brown Thrasher, immature. Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. 

Early morning Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. 

Swamp Hibiscus? Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. 

Carolina Wren, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. Singing away! 

Water lily, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax County, VA. 

Turtle, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co., VA. 

Common yellowthroat, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co., VA. 

Bullfrog, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co., VA. 

Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co., VA. 

Ruby-throated hummingbird, Huntley Meadows, Fairfax Co., VA. 

Red tail hawk, female; Ft Ward Park, Alexandria, VA. See below and here for pictures and more of the story of this female hawk and her chicks.

Red tail hawk, female, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. This mockingbird was harrassing the female red tail hawk as it perched in this tree about 50 yards from the nestlings pictured below. 

Red tail hawk chicks, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. 

Red tailed hawk chicks, Ft. Ward, Alexandria, VA. Local birders are working to arrange a rescue of these two chicks. The mother was hit by a car while hunting; she has since been rehabilitated and returned to the area. She had fed the chicks a few times, but not enough. While she was in rehabilitation, the male fed the chicks for awhile but has not returned for some time. No one knows what happened to him. Today, the female was sitting in a tree about 50 yards away from the nest. These chicks were calling but not moving much. 

Racoon, Huntley Meadows Park, Alexandria, VA. Last week, another visitor told me that racoons were living in this tree. Today, I was pointing it out to someone else when I realized that a racoon was looking at me from it!