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Mimic Catbird
December 23, 2025 It is grouped together in a family of songbirds known as mimics, the Mimidae family, along with our familiar Mockingbirds, and Thrashers. This is the Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). These clever birds have a repertoire that includes calls and songs known to be of the Catbird, but also imitations of other songbirds,…
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A Junco In The Garden
December 22, 2025 Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) sitting on a plant cage in the garden posing for the camera. A winter resident here at the cabin, though at higher elevations, just a few miles away such as in Shenandoah National Park, they are year round residents. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily…
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Shortest Day Of The Year
The seedhead of a Scarlet Beebalm (Monarda didyma), wearing its snow white winter cap. Just waiting for a hungry bird to come along for a meal. And Happy Winter! Yes, today is the first day of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The shortest day and the longest night of the year. _______________________ If you…
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Poison Ivy Drupes
December 20, 2025 These are drupes of Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans). A drupe is a succulent fruit surrounded with a very thin outer skin. Within that succulent fruit is a hard pit that contains a single seed. Other examples of drupes are: Peaches, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Olives, also Avocados. And surprising to realize, Coconuts, Almonds,…
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One Of Many Favorite Birds
December 18, 2025 Carolina Wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus), chittery chattery noisemakers. The female doesn’t sing the beautiful songs that you will hear from the male. The female makes chattery calls, and raspy trills. Joining in occasionally with the male. A duet with her life long mate. They are non-migratory. Such a treasure to have year-round. _______________________…
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Why I Love Winter Captured In A Photo
December 17, 2025 One day in February, some years back, this happened. The forest, and this cone of a Virginia Pine (Pinus virginiana) covered in magic. This is why I love winter. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Drupes Waiting
December 16, 2025 Blackhaw drupes (Viburnum prunifolium) waiting for a hungry bird or two to come along to gobble them up, to disperse those seeds to a new spot far from the parent shrub. Blackhaw drupes don’t get eaten up quickly but later in the winter after the first frost. Aging and frost helps them become…
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Haven’t Seen You In A While
December 15, 2025 Glad you’re back, little one! A Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) finally showed up today. I haven’t been putting out anything for my friends, the birds lately. Many days ago I put out some beef suet, and I’ve been waiting. Some hulled sunflower seeds were scattered on the ground too. Finally, this morning…
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Puffed Up Against The Cold
December 14, 2025 Puffed up against the cold, a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), along with a Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) in the background. The range of the Mourning Dove is impressive, being year-round in almost all of the continental US and Mexico. Quite a popular gamebird, more than 20 million birds are shot annually in…