A Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), a member of the Corvidae family.
They make a lot of noise. Imitating sounds of human activity around them and sometimes even imitating the sound of the human voice. Other birds are part of their quite accurate repertoire, hawks, chickadees, catbirds, goldfinches to name a few.
Some would say that the word “raucous” would be an appropriate descriptor.
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I am often awestruck by the beauty of things in nature. Mushrooms come to mind when I’m thinking of what is beautiful around me.
These saprobic fungi are a good example, reminding me of something made of delicate lace. Saprobic fungi, meaning they break down organic matter. Lovely to look at and they help the environment too.
These are Evasive Agaric (Crepidotus versutus).
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Outside on a very quiet afternoon. No sounds at all except for a call that is not familiar at all to me. Sort of a quick nasally mewy sound. I’m hearing this sound maybe once every couple minutes. Finally I see the source of the calls.
It’s a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) further up in the woods making the sound. They’re here for the winter. Drilling sapwells into trees that provide sap for their consumption and those sapwells also trap insects which they eat too. Another bird that benefits from these sapwells, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird will also sip the sap in early spring before there are many flowers in bloom.
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Looking through the trees at the horizon. An incredible display of color reveals itself this evening as the sun is setting. The clouds reflecting the color of the sunset to the ground, and me.
A matter of just a few minutes later it is gone. Poof!
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A friendly little critter that sings to me and scolds me without fail. I have read that this is a shy bird. Hmmm. That doesn’t sound like this bird.
This is a Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), a bird that is always around chattering away. One that doesn’t hold back. It is said that the male Carolina Wren sings, but not the female. Well these guys are, for sure, chatterboxes. Whether I’m hiking up the mountain or working right here around the cabin, there is one telling me all about what has been happening in its world.
Musical stories that I love to hear.
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This morning. First morning light and I was elated to see an exquisite dusting of snow over everything. Perhaps a promise of more to come over the next few months.
Above, delicate snowflakes clinging to a crystalline spiderweb. Captured December 9, 2017.
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A Common Raven (Corvus corax), looking rather disheveled. A flock of Ravens is called an unkindness. Oh dear, that would be hard to take.
The length of the Common Raven is between 22 and 27 inches inches and a wing span of 4 feet. They have a distinctive low gutturall croak call, quite different from the caw-caw of a Crow.
I was really pleased to realize this bird was a Raven. And pleased also to get photos of it. I’ve thought there were some up here but I’ve not been certain. Now I know for sure. Seems I live right at the edge of their range.
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Yesterday was a big day for birds, with a list of birds I saw, much longer than usual.
There was one though that was a BIG bird. Considerably larger than I usually see. A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). The second largest hawk found here in Virginia. A species of bird with so many subspecies, that my head spins. Fourteen in all. And then there are the variations between juveniles and adults. Total confusion.
Here in Virginia this hawk is a year-round resident. And is found in nearly all parts of North America.
If you are like me, used to seeing dainty little Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s Hawks, and see a very chunky hawk, be thinking maybe it is the Red-tailed Hawk.
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Mighty cold out there today. But of course it is. It’s the first day of meteorological winter. The temperature here today reached a high of 42º. Some of Skyline Drive, in Shenandoah National Park, has been closed due to icy conditions.
Winter, I’m mighty pleased to see you.
This picture, ice on Blue Spruce (Picea pungens), taken December 9, 2013.
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The Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe), a small bird that is here all year. During the warm months I love to see the little Phoebe as it consumes lots and lots of insects. As the seasons change and there are fewer insects, the Phoebe will eat berries and small fruits.
I’d love to see more of them around in part because the Phoebes are so unperturbed by my presence, but also for insect control. But this bird is a loner. Even mated pairs spend little time together.
Phoebes will often return to the same nest year after year. This has happened here, returning to a nest site under the eaves of our wood shop. The female builds or repairs the nest using mud, moss, and leaves mixed with grass stems and animal hair.
And not a shy bird. It’s one that I’m able to get pictures of, quite easily.
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