It's a beautiful day in Portland. Cloudless sky, 55 degrees. Our whole winter has been unseasonably nice. It's a little disconcerting. Susan and I made another pilgrimage to Smith & Bybee Lakes this morning, where we saw this dashing Belted Kingfisher:

A common waterside resident throughout North America, the Belted Kingfisher is often seen hovering before it plunges headfirst into water to catch a fish. It frequently announces its presence by its loud rattling cry.

The photo leaves a lot to be desired. I love my newish Sony DSC-V3 digital camera, but lately I find myself wishing I had long lenses in my arsenal.