Seen in City Park ...

This is an American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis). It's a fairly unusual sight this far out on the plains. From All About Birds we see that it prefers "...boreal forests and montane coniferous forests across North America. Because of its choice of habitat, it is infrequently seen by most people."

It resembles, and is therefore sometimes confused with, the Black-backed Woodpecker. The two species often co-exist in the same habitat.

Both species are quite fond of wood-boring beetles, which would tend to explain the attraction of The Smile Hi's elm trees these days.

Swink Homecoming

Gallery is up on Facebook:

Swink Lions Football

We also have galleries up for Tigers Volleyball:

Tigers Volleyball

and Tigers Football:

Tigers Football

Syria

Tired of watching our beloved political leaders and saber-rattlers posture, pander, and generally behave like 3rd graders in a playground snit over the Syrian 'thing?' You can do something worthwhile, even as they are all sipping fine wines and stuffing themselves with wagyu steaks in Geneva and DC:

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries: Syrian Relief

Colorado floods

Want to help?

Salvation Army Provides More Than 10,000 Meals, Drinks, Nutritional Items

Denver, CO (September 15, 2013 7:00AM) –  Salvation Army emergency disaster services personnel have provided first responders and evacuees of the Colorado floods with more than 10,000 meals, drinks and nutritional items in just 72 hours.

Go here to donate:

Salvation Army InterMountain

Cheyenne Mountain State Park 09.01.2013

We hiked the Blackmer Loop and Boulder run up at Cheyenne Mountain State Park on 09.01.2013. Here is a gallery of some of the shots we took:

Cheyenne Mountain State Park 09.01.2013

And a few snappies from the gallery: