John told me that there were red-winged blackbirds down at the pond--a bird I've not heretofore seen on our place. So yesterday afternoon we took a bottle of bubbly down to the pond and settled in to enjoy the place and to get some photos.
There are worse places to wait . . .
And after a while, the female showed up. She looks like a big sparrow--good camouflage for someone who nests in the cattails low to the ground.
Meanwhile the male was elusive--flitting from tree to tree and once swooping close to check us out--but I wasn't quick enough with the camera to capture him.
Finally he settled on a cattail and gave us a good view of his handsome epaulets.
Another time, I'll try for the bluebirds that I've seen at this nest box when I'm driving in or out.
