The Purple Gallinule is such an outrageously colored bird, that I have been wanting to see one for a while. They turn up in the Midwest, but they are truly at home at Okeechobee. There is always a pair near the observation pier, and one is always on the nest. Despite being so gaudy, she does well at hiding. It is cool to see their long yellow toes and how well they navigate the floating plants.
Heather and I were checking out a site in Lafayette on Monday, when we flushed out a Sora from a tiny, cattail ditch. He sat in the grass beside the ditch before flying off to the rest of the marsh, giving me incredible views of this secretive bird.
I got to see four members of the Rail family while in the Philippines. This one was the most boldly colored. 
Bee Hunter Marsh
a Least Bittern fleeing the scene
Semi-palmated Plover
Saturday morning, I joined the Sassafras Audubon Society (Bloomington) for a field trip to Bee Hunter Marsh in Greene County. It was excellent weather and birding. I was very happy to see five new birds to add to my life list, plus several I have never seen in Indiana.
Lifers:
Least Bittern - several excellent looks. Maybe saw 5-6 birds.
King Rail - several individuals came out on the mud flats for good looks. At one point in the morning, I had to chose between looking at a King Rail on one side of the causeway and a Least Bittern on the other. I went with Least Bittern, because I had all ready seen the King earlier.
Common Moorhen - Several indivuals, plus one calling.
Sedge Wren - There were many of these guys calling, we got to see a couple, usually perched up in some Big Blue Stem. Supposedly there were Marsh Wrens there, too, today, but I couldn't zero in on them.
Blue Grosbeak - I got to see three individuals and to hear one sing. I had always worried about distinguishing these guys from Indigo Buntings, but they really didn't look alike. BG's are so much bigger, with massive beaks, and even a different color blue.
IN Lifers:
Little Blue Heron - There were many all white juvs. It was fun to learn to distinguish them from the dozens of Great Egrets. There were also several mottled juvs and two dark adults.
Black-necked Stilt
Very Cool Birds:
Great Egrets
Green Herons
Black-crowned Night Heron
Bald Eagle
Bobwhites
Semi-palmated Plover - a very cute plover
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Bank and Cliff Swallows
Dickcissels
