Wilson's Snipe.....

We went to Henderson Slough today and I was thrilled to find some shore birds in a flooded field.  My favorites are the Wilson's Snipe.  This is only the second time I have ever seen them.  We saw them last year about the same time on the other side of the road, but the same area.  (NOTE: I was wrong...we saw them in the spring when we saw them before) They are migrants for this area.

There were maybe a dozen of them....hard to count them because they blend so well with their surroundings and there were some Killdeer and Sandpipers there as well.

That long bill and those stripes on the back are very obvious ways to recognize them.

These three were fairly close to the road and I took several hundred photos (maybe a digital camera is not a good thing for someone like me.....I don't know when to stop!  Mike had to drag me away.)

We watched them dig in the shallow water.

Probably my best side view.

I always post too many photos of birds that I don't see often.

(OK....I admit that I post too many photos of every bird :-)

A view of the back stripes.

Nice day for reflections.

I included this just because he had his foot up.....yellow legs and feet.

The tail feathers have a little rust colored area on them.

Turned around.....the sky was sort of overcast, which I think helped my photos.

"Is she done yet????"

More of a head on shot.

The wind was ruffling the tail feathers :-)

This one sat in the grass for awhile resting.......sure blends in!

More ruffled tail feathers.

OK......I promise....no more :-)

Next post will be the other birds we saw.

Carolina Wren....

I saw this cute....and fat....Carolina Wren at the feeder the other day.

"Where's that seed lady...this thing is empty!"

"Not one crumb left.......greedy sparrows!"

"Now what do I do???"

"Oh, wait!.......she usually has some of that other suet stuff up there!"

"OK....this suet feeder if mine.....so stay away from it!

Fridays Fences.....

I've been wanting to try the new Friday's Fences meme.  Click on the name to see more fences!

So, while we were up on Hemlock Cliffs I remembered to take a photo of a fence!  This was where we began our fall foliage adventure on Tuesday and where we walked for a mile on a trail in search of photos.

A tree covered in fungi.  I thought they looked like pebbles piled on the tree :-)

We went to two lakes....Lake Celine and Indian Lake.  I believe this is Celine.

The shore line.

Canada geese on the far side.

Another fence :-) .....sort of.

A very small island.

This is the old Rickenbaugh House that later became the post office in the area.

Steps leading to the Rickenbaugh Cemetery.

We drove up to Buzzard's Roost....but didn't see any buzzards at that point.  However, the view down at the Ohio River was very nice!

On the way back down we did find some "buzzards"....Turkey Vultures.... sitting in the trees.

A nice pair gazing at the river.

Hiding from me.

Later we saw a bunch more in the middle of a field.  Two were spreading their wings.

A few more had found a dead deer at the side of the road.  They were not happy about us stopping to take photos!

10 Civil War graves.   See story on the sign below.

The sign

And lucky for me, Mike spotted this very hard to see quilt square on a house!

Totally unexpected find, but I am always happy to see and photograph them.

I may have a few more photos of this trip, but am wanting to get back to bird photos.....if the birds cooperate!  I do have a few to post.

Better late than never....

It's about time!  I felt like autumn had passed us by this year.  When you look out at large forests of trees you see more dead leaves than color.  However, if you go looking you can find some pretty ones mixed in.  The Maples have been very slow this year it seems.  Yesterday we drove to the lower part of the Hoosier National Forest where it comes down to meet the Ohio River.  A friend guided us to places like Lake Celine, Buzzard's Roost, and Eagle's Bluff looking for some color.  It's out there.....just scattered among the less colorful already dead ones!

Yellows......

.....green.....

.....mixed.....

....orange.....

....red orange....

.....bronze

.....red....

....reddish purple.....

It's like a color wheel out there right now and it won't last long.