John Chestnut - April 3, 2014

This park used to be called Brooker Creek when I was young, so I often still want to call it that.  The new Brooker Creek park is about ten miles away and is another good spot to visit. The first thing I spotted from the parking lot was a red-shouldered hawk.

 After a few warbler and vireo sightings (shown in another post), I saw a pileated woodpecker.  In this picture, you can see his tongue out as he probes the tree.

Saw several of the tufted titmouse.  Here is a close up of a curious one.

Also saw several iris in bloom in the swamp areas.

 Here is a strange worm hanging from a tree.  He did not seem very comfortable dangling from the small thread, and was probably soon to be eaten by the many birds in the area.

 This coot was taking a bath and I got this good shot of him with wings back.  Birds taking baths is an adorable sight.  They always look like they are having a good time.

 The blue jay below caught a green anole.  Seems like a shame when there are so many of the non-native brown ones around and only a few of the green.  Actually saw two get eaten today.

 male cardinal above and female below

Finally, a red-bellied woodpecker doing what they do