A New Woodpecker For Me

I’m not one that keeps a life list of birds that I’ve seen. But when the Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) was mentioned as being active in Batesville (Albemarle County) Virginia, that got my attention. I’ve never seen one in Virginia, though they are listed as living here year round.

Today I got to see a couple of these beautiful birds. Unfortunately, though I did have my camera with me, I didn’t have the proper lens. That will come with me the next time.

The Red-headed Woodpecker is a fascinating bird that will store food, and will cover that insect or seed with wood or bark to hide it. It is only one of four woodpeckers in North America known to store food, and the only one known to cover the food this way. Grasshoppers are one of the foods stored, and these are stored alive. They are wedged into cracks in wood so tightly they have no way of escape. These food items are moved from place to place before the woodpecker finally eats them during the coldest times of the year.

I was struck by their appearance as they flew, appearing to be a bird that was almost totally white. I’ll be back to this location with my proper lens for the purpose of getting pictures of these birds soon, since I see they are nomadic and though I got to see them today, they may not be at this same location a year from now.

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Busy Couple Days In The Garden

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

A very cold Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The temperature fell to -2° on Saturday, Christmas Eve morning, and by Christmas Day the temperature had risen to a “warm” 32° in the afternoon.

Yellow-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

This brought at least 12 species of birds to the garden where I had scattered sunflower seeds. Extra calories to help them stay warm.

A Chickadee (Poecile) with a blur of a Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) in the background

As popular as the sunflower seeds were, the birdbath certainly attracted as much attention.

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

A simple water warmer kept the water in liquid form which was in great demand.

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Mincemeat Pie On Christmas Eve

So many traditions on Christmas Eve. One tradition, carried on for at least half a century, enchiladas. An absolute must. Another, putting the tree up and decorating it on Christmas Eve. That one quickly dropped from the list. Tonight we’re having mincemeat pie for dessert. Not a tradition, but perhaps it will become a tradition to be followed.

Wishing all my dear friends, cousins and readers a Merry Christmas filled with many good things, and a 2023 that will be the BEST of years.

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Just Flurries – So Far

This morning there were snow flurries for a few hours. Perhaps because we had flushed ice cubes last night. That’s good but we’ll still work on it tonight and again tomorrow night, Christmas Eve. This snow stuff requires hard work sometimes, even to get flurries. If you’ve got a snow candle, we’d appreciate your support. This is important stuff.

This photograph is from January 30, 2010. Some of our Christmas trees, during my very favorite winter.

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Flushing Ice Cubes

A little willowy child has come to visit with one request. A request to flush ice cubes each night until Christmas. The weather forecast not quite perfection. No snow on Christmas.

Perhaps we can help. Flushing ice cubes just might help the clouds form. The temperatures plummet. Now, Thursday night. One night, the spell cast. Two more nights left to go.

Ah imagination. A child with imagination and an adult with the imagination of a child.

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Is This A White-throated Sparrow?

This handsome little bird showed up at the bird bath today. It’s a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis).

But this is also a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Same species, but two different color morphs. The first image, a white-striped, and the second image, a tan-striped. A coloration that stays with each White-throated Sparrow for life. About 50% of males are white-striped and 50% are tan-striped. And likewise, 50% of females are white-striped and 50% are tan-striped.

Researchers have found that personality comes into play as well, with these color morphs. They have found that the white-striped White-throated Sparrows are more aggressive while the tan-striped White-throated Sparrows are more nurturing.

Such a complicated world of White-throated Sparrows.

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Baking Season

Seems it’s the season for baking all sorts of yummy things. Keeping the kitchen warm while the oven bakes away, as the season turns from autumn to winter.

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An Afternoon Hello

A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) stopped by this afternoon to say hello, as it was hunting for a dinner of berries.

The second portion of it’s scientific name, gusttatus, is Latin for spotted. It’s one of several that are called the spotted thrushes. During the winter, identification becomes easy since this is the only spotted thrush normally found in North America in the non-breeding season.

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Mistletoe

American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) native to North America, and very common in Virginia.

There are more than 30 species of Mistletoe in North America.

Juniper Mistletoe (Phoradendron juniperinum). Photographed in Zion National Park.

Mistletoe is a hemi-parasite, meaning that it performs photosynthesis, but extracts water and nutrients from the host plant.

If you’re considering using American Mistletoe as an indoor decoration, and have children or cats or dogs around, keep in mind, those berries are poisonous.