The American Dipper

If there's one species you can count on seeing in the waters near the Eagle River Nature Center just about any day of the year, it's the dipper, or water ouzel. They are quick moving, jittery little birds that bob up and down when they stand in one place and dive into ice cold water in search of fish eggs, salmon fry or aquatic insects to feed on. I photographed this dipper earlier today while tracking a pair of river otters, the muted colors reflected in the water created a nice background.