Author: Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.

Purple Finch

A bird that I rarely see. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus). Not an unusual bird, but one that just doesn’t show up here on my mountain. In all my years of capturing images of birds, I’ve only had two occasions to photograph a Purple Finch. Once in 2010 and once in 2017.

The Purple Finches that spend their summers in Canada, seek warmth during the summer in the central and southeastern US. Those that live in the northeastern US and on the Pacific coast choose to stay put year round. Sure wish they’d swing by here more often. I’d love to see more of them.

Downy Woodpeckers Love Suet

Suet at the bird feeders here insures that Downy Woodpeckers (Picoides pubescens) show up. They’re cute little things, about the same size a Dark-eyed Junco or a White-throated Sparrow. The smallest woodpeckers in North America. The Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) is quite similar in its markings but a good bit larger — the size of a Robin. The proportional size of its bill to the head is a good indicator too, in telling the two apart. The bill of the Downy is about a third the size of its head. The bill of the Hairy is nearly as long as the woodpecker’s head. I love seeing these handsome little ones. I’m about out of suet, I’ve gotta get busy and mix up some more to keep those Downies happy.

GrandKitty Camp

It certainly is a wonderful time of the year. It really helps too, that for the past few days it actually has been a bit cold. Much like it should be at this time of year. And other things are happening here at the cabin to make things merry and bright. The big happening for a few days is GrandKitty Camp. My buddy for watching the birds, munching on yummy snacks and sleeping the day away has arrived to participate in the festivities. GrandKitty, Betelguese, got her name from the red supergiant star in the constellation Orion NOT Beetlejuice as in the movie!

Winterberry Revisited

At the very top of my favorites for wintertime shrubs — Winterberry (Ilex verticillata). A deciduous species of Holly. Native to eastern North America, and is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Winterberry is a dioecious bush that gets tiny inconspicuous flowers in June and July that attract bees and butterflies and is the host plant for one butterfly in particular, Henry’s Elfin Butterfly. Birds love the brilliant crimson berries which cling to their leafless branches in winter. I love them too, for their elegant beauty.