Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

A little face looking out!

I heard about a family of barn owls in Jackson county on INBIRD. Joy and I went down and spent the evening watching them. We saw four of them come out of the hole in the barn, but none landed in a proper place for a good picture. There were some other cool birders/photographers there and it was fun talking with them also.

Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus)

We visited the parakeet colony in Chicago just of Lake Shore Dr. in March of '05.

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)

I took this picture in April of '04 at West Beach.

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

There were a lot of vireos and warblers moving through the woods near Central Beach on Thursday.

Double-crested Cormorant in Michigan City (Phalacrocorax auritus)

This cormorant was sitting up on the catwalk going to the lighthouse at Michigan City. He posed while I got close for a good picture.

Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)

It was nice to see these terns up close and sitting still. It is a lot easier than when they are flying.

Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

I was excited to find this plover at Miller Beach on a rainy Wednesday.

Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)

Summit Lake State Park, Spring of '05

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Blendon Woods Metro Park this past weekend. I guess there is one good thing about the clear-cut easement through the middle of the park for the gas pipeline.

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

I got lucky in May of '05 with a cooperative Pipit at Summit Lake. I had never gotten to see the color as nicely when I had seen Pipits before.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

To view the picture properly, crick your neck up. (Simulating "warbler neck".) From Southeastway Park

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

From a pond at Cabin Creek Bog

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

There were four of these guys at the Summit Lake south boat ramp. I sat and watched them for a while. I never saw the butterfly in the view finder. Kind of funny.

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

This is from a pretty reliable spot on the north side of Summit Lake to see Kingfishers. I like having a Pied-billed Grebe in the background.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

I felt very lucky to get to watch this Phalarope as it fed in a puddle right near the road at the Lebanon Sod Farm, especially since I didn't have scope. It stayed there for over a half hour before flying to further ponds.