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Northern Flicker Showing Off Its Yellow
January 29, 2025 A Northern Flicker (yellow shafted phase)(Colaptes auratus) proudly showing off his yellow. Sometimes I’m fortunate and get to see it, other times it is hard to tell why they are called yellow shafted. This a male. You can tell by the presence of that black mustache. He’s sitting at a cluster of…
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Often At The Birdbath
January 28, 2025 A winter resident here. One that thoroughly enjoys the birdbaths. A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Winter or summer they often find their meals as they forage on the ground. Insects during the summer and berries during the winter. No interest in the seeds I put out. But wonderful to see them so…
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Footprints On The Porch
January 27, 2025 Rush hour on the back porch. Footprints of many birds wandering, looking for seeds. _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign up here!
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Not Snow But Gypsum Crystals
January 26, 2025 One of many favorite spots in New Mexico, White Sands. Over many thousands of years many animals that live in this environment have evolved to match the white coloring of the sand dunes. Not necessarily seen during the day, they will often stay in their dens to avoid the heat of day…
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Perhaps The White-breasted Nuthatch Is Becoming An Irruptive Species
January 25, 2025 Yesterday I posted about the White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) and its absence from my garden during these past many snowy and very cold days. I’ve been reading about them today, and it seems there is an interesting and, to me, a surprising explanation. The White-breasted Nuthatch, which had been thought to be…
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Where Have You Been?
January 24, 2025 I’ve gotten quite a lengthy list of birds that have come by during this wonderful wintry weather, both for the birdbath and the food. This White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) is normally a regular visitor, but not during these past two weeks, when there has been much snow and extremely cold temperatures. Seen…
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Peter-Peter-Peter
January 23, 2025 A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor). One of the first birds to show up as I’m putting out hulled sunflower seeds and suet. Unafraid, they sit in the nearby Flowering Dogwood tree (Cornus florida) as I get things set up for them. Not quiet, they’ll let me know they’re there waiting by whistling…
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Quite The Petite Nuthatch
January 22, 2025 A tiny little critter, the Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis). I have to shake my head at the word “red” used as a label for this bird. Who thinks these names up? Don’t they know their colors? Wikipedia uses a perfect word for this Nuthatch’s belly – cinnamon. Another appropriate word to describe…
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There’s A Mnemonic For That
January 21, 2025 A Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), common in much of North America. They do migrate but are found here in Virginia year round. A Sparrow that is for me a challenge to distinguish from the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). Yes there are small but obvious differences but they don’t come close enough for…