This is the dead tree the Lewis's Woodpecker was using as its base. If you look closely, you can see the bird flying in the upper left. Another couple was already there photographing it when we arrived.

We had read that the Lewis's was chasing other woodpeckers out of the tree, but it didn't seem to be bothered by the bluebird, nor by some starlings.

Lewis's Woodpecker at Lake Carl Blackwell, Payne County, OK

The woodpecker pecked around on the bark of the dead tree.

Lewis's Woodpecker

A couple that had been observing the bird before we arrived noted that it liked to perch on this horizontal branch.

Mary thought the Lewis's Woodpecker was stashing a Corn Nut.

Lewis's Woodpecker would fly off to other trees, perhaps to retrieve nuts from live ones, then return to the dead tree to stash them.

You can see the green sheen to its back in this photo.

Lewis's Woodpecker about to light on a snag.

The Lewis's Woodpecker seemed to be holding its left wing out often while perched.

In the grass below, a Song Sparrow was hiding.

Lewis's Woodpecker, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

Nearby, an immature Red-Headed Woodpecker was perched on another snag.

Others reported seeing the Red-Headed Woodpecker being chased by the Lewis's, but it kept its distance while we were there.

Immature Red-Headed Woodpecker, Lake Carl Blackwell, Payne County, OK

Immature Red-Headed Woodpecker showing some of its red neck feathers

A squirrel had found a cavity to occupy in a nearby tree.

Lewis's Woodpecker in flight showing color variations

Eastern Bluebird

Interesting tree bark

Lewis's Woodpecker in flight

I walked around to the east side of a ravine below the big dead tree to get a photo from a different angle and the Lewis's Woodpecker obliged by flying to the top of a closer snag.

Lewis's Woodpecker

Red on the face and breast of the Lewis's Woodpecker at Lake Carl Blackwell

Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker

The Lewis's Woodpecker finally flew back to the big dead tree, so I took a few last photos and walked back to the car.

We walked along a dike near the lake store and saw these colorful grasses.

Colorful shoreline grass at Lake Carl Blackwell

The red-eyed "mocker" stayed close to a bramble bush on the dike, but came out for a look at us.

Mary found these ripe-looking persimmons on a small tree near the water.

We didn't clamber down to sample them.

Along another dike, projecting north into the lake, we saw these two Least Sandpipers.

Least Sandpiper, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

Mary liked the shadow of Harvester ant antennae in this photo.

Nightshade fruit along the dike

Low-growing purple flower, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

Low-growing aster-like flower, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

Across Lake Carl Blackwell to the north, we saw 6 American White Pelicans, about 40 Double-crested Cormorants and 60 or more gulls.

Low-growing grass on the dike at Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

There was a lot of nightshade growing along the edge of the dike.

Nightshade, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

More nightshade fruit

Nightshade

We were about to leave when we heard the cry of a hawk and Mary spotted this Prairie Falcon observing, and being observed by, a squirrel.

Prairie Falcon and squirrel, Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

A Prairie Falcon had been reported at Lake Carl Blackwell and we were pleased to locate it.

The Prairie Falcon flew to the big dead tree where we had seen the Lewis's Woodpecker earlier.

Prairie Falcon, Lake Carl Blackwell, Payne County, OK

Prairie Falcon

As the Prairie Falcon flew away, we got a glimpse of the colors in its tail.

As we drove out of the lake area, we spotted this armadillo near where we had seen two of them one of the last times we were at the lake.

This one reared up on its hind legs and sniffed the air as if to get a sense of us.

We didn't seem to bother him much.

Armadillo on the west side of the road into Lake Carl Blackwell, OK

Armadillo

Armadillo

Finally, he turned to leave us.

Armadillo, Lake Carl Blackwell, Payne County, OK

He took one last look before moving on.