The birder returns! UPDATED!

Foggy morning at Bald Eagle State Park

Well, I finished that big project at work, and I've got soooo much stuff saved up for you! It's been an action-packed last few days around the homefront, and I'll try to give you a little insight into the doings at the Marsh House.

First, on a sad note, I found this last Thursday evening:

Here's his head, with some little red feathers just coming in:

Poor little guy. I gave him a proper burial in the area of the backyard we call the graveyard--where we bury every dead animal we find around the house. Since moving out to the "the country," I've noticed that we find a lot of dead animals. Life is raw and rough out there; death is, however, usually quick.

UPDATE:I had thought the bird was a downy woodpecker, but my birding friend from work Hillel tells me it's probably a yellow-bellied sapsucker. Man, that would've been a new yardbird, too! Poor little guy.

Saturday morning, Gretchen and I did something I haven't done in years: went fishing! Now I know that some people will decry this activity as somehow going against my tender feelings for nature and animals. However, I just can't help myself; I love fishing! Even when nothing is biting, sitting by the gently stirring waters of a lake is good for the soul. And there's nothing quite like the feeling of a swimming lifeform at the other end of the line, tugging and fighting. PLUS--I have always caught and released; I don't eat them! Kat doesn't like it at all; she says I'm hurting their little lips--which may be true. But I can't help it! I love it!

We only caught perch and sunfish that day; here's Gretchen the mighty Perch Master with a typical catch of the day:

This is Gretchen's wonderfully gentle and sweet dog, Domino:
She was so good; she just loves Gretchen, so she doesn't run all over the place causing trouble. She sits and waits or wanders only a short distance away, preferring to keep her mom in sight at all times. Great dog!

We had a great time fishing, despite the heat. It was nice to get out there again and wet a worm.

In the post after this one (so it'll be above it, which is kinda technically before it, but -- whatever!), I'll give you a view of the skies over the Marsh House.