A Red-headed Woodpecker enjoying some sunbathing. This is done by many species of birds to help rid themselves of feather parasites. The sunlight will heat up the feathers to temperatures where it's difficult for the lice to survive.

Green Herons have a high zoop factor - going from no neck to very long neck - and so do Least Bitterns. Least Bitterns will sometimes sway their comically long neck, mimicking a reed as so to blend in with the environment.

A Red-tailed Hawk showing off his/her feathery pantaloons

Noggin feathers up and wings down, a Green Heron heads into the cattails to do some fishing.

For the past two years, a Least Bittern has made an appearance along the local park's boardwalk during the Fourth of July weekend. I had no luck last weekend. But yesterday, as I was walking along the boardwalk, I saw one fly from the cattails and land nearby! My heart rate went up in excitement 😆

The Queen's mate feeds her a sunflower seed. 📷: Northern Cardinals

A Red-headed Woodpecker about to hunt down a flying insect. I don't know what these insects are but they seemed to be a favorite of the woodpeckers, they kept sallying out to catch them.

I was watching this Green Heron and thought "the moss must feel very nice on that bird's feet." And then I wondered how much feeling they have in their feet. I wasn't able to find any direct research, but they likely have less sensitive feet than us as their feet are mostly bones and tendons, 1/2

A tall lily pad makes for a good resting spot for an Eastern Kingbird, who was taking a break from hunting insects over the lake.

A male Common Yellowthroat briefly pops up onto a branch to check things out before heading back down into the grasses.

A male Baltimore Oriole flying along the edge of the woods. 🖤🧡

A young Red-tailed Hawk calling for parents to bring food. This young hawk is still learning how to hunt, and will be dependent on his/her parents for food for a couple of months.

Shop update: I've restocked my shop jocelynandersonphotographyshop.com and added a print of Northern Flickers! Thank you to everyone who has purchased from my shop ♥️🐦

A Blue Jay perches on the side of the tree to be ready for when peanuts will be offered. Love their blues 💙

This Mustard White is a native North American butterfly that looks very similar to the invasive Cabbage White butterfly, which has black forewing spots.

I don't often get to see a Virginia Rail in flight; in fact I'm happy when I get to see one at all. This secretive marsh bird took a short flight from a patch of cattails to land on a lily pad root.

A closeup of a Tufted Titmouse that was perched along the nature trail.

A Marsh Wren brings in a cattail leaf to weave into his nest. Male Marsh Wrens will build several nests and then let the female choose her favorite one.

A Least Sandpiper along the shoreline. Some shorebirds, like this one, are already migrating south from their breeding grounds in the tundra.

A Blue Jay picking up some millet that someone had left on the boardwalk railing. Barn Swallows were very unhappy with the Blue Jay being so close to their nest under the boardwalk and went into dive bombing mode.

A Wood Duck in eclipse plumage - a less colorful plumage to help them blend in while they regrow their flight feathers - gives side-eye to a couple of Painted Turtles that are walking past on the lily pad roots.

A Green Heron goes into maximum neck mode to grab a tadpole and then resets into minimum neck mode after the snack was acquired.

The business end of a Red-tailed Hawk.

Two recently fledged Red-tailed Hawks following each other around and exploring the woods.

A Red-headed Woodpecker watches the nature trail from a nearby perch. This one of the parents that recently fledged two young ones.

Red, white, and blue birdies for Independence Day 📷: Pileated Woodpecker, Great Egret, Tree Swallow

Happy Fourth of July! 🦅 📷: Bald Eagle

A recently fledged Red-tailed Hawk watches a paramotor, which is a powered paraglider and is also known as a flying lawn chair, pass overhead. The large fan is quite loud, which is what may have initially caught this bird's attention.

A Green Heron that flew in and landed on the boardwalk railing before hopping down into the lily pads to hunt for small fish. I have only seen the adults as of late, but hopefully in a couple of weeks there will be curious young ones about.

A female Indigo Bunting with nesting material, taken a month ago. The females have mostly brown plumage, which helps them blend in with their nests that are built close to the ground.