Tendrils

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 just once a couple days ago.

They usually are in pairs hanging out with Chickadees (Poecile) and Tufted Titmice (Baeolophus bicolor). The Chickadees and Tufted Titmice certainly have been plentiful but not these Nuthatches.

This species of Nuthatch doesn’t migrate and is found in most of the United States as well as southern Canada and well into Mexico.

I’m looking forward to seeing more of them soon.

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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 their song of peter-peter-peter.

They’re birds that don’t migrate, living in the eastern half of the United States. They eat seeds, nuts, berries and suet and during the summer insects are added to their menu.

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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 the color that I’ve seen, buff. But not red!

The Red-bellied Nuthatch doesn’t come through every winter. Every now and then, thanks to fluctuations in their winter food supply, they are forced to leave their normal wintering grounds sometimes ending up here. This is called an irruption.

Their call is quite entertaining. A yank-yank, sounding like the horn of a little toy tin car.

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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 me to check out those differences and of course they don’t stay still. My camera is a great help for me.

Another help is their song. Males sing more frequently, particularly during the spring but they are still vocal in any season. To help identify their song there is a mnemonic which can help us recognize what they are singing. It is: Maids-maids-maids-put-on-your-tea-kettle-ettle-ettle.

Not the most memorable mnemonic. But perhaps it will help.

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A Favorite Tree Bark

January 20, 2025

Out in the snow this morning enjoying the scenery of the season, the woods carpeted with white everywhere. It’s been this way for two weeks now, with nine inches of snow falling along with the temperatures plummeting during the two weeks, going well below what is normal for this wintery time of year. And then three inches of fluffy snow to fall upon the totally frozen styrofoam like snow, within just the past couple of days.

During my adventure into the snow I came upon one of my very favorite tree barks, Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). A tree with a most unusual bark. I guess that is what appeals to me. So many tree barks look similar to each other but this one, I know what it is immediately with no hesitation. Randomly bumpy, with ridges that make me think of a topographic map.

And that’s in winter. Spring, summer and autumn there are so many other wonderful things to love as well, more than just the bark.

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Red Against New White Snow

January 19, 2025

A count of eight Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) while more snow was coating everything today. Crimson dots looking for hulled sunflower seeds as things became more and more covered with white.

Perhaps two inches of snow had accumulated by this evening. Winter carries on.

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A Regular At The Suet

January 18, 2025

A regular my the suet feeders. A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Found in eastern United States year round. It’s about the same size as a Robin, 9 to 10.5 inches long, with a wingspan of 13–16.5 inches.

Its name comes from a subtle, not very often seen reddish patch on its belly.

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The Solitary Towhee

January 17, 2025

The Eastern Towhee’s (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) native range is eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south to Florida and west to eastern Texas.

A solitary bird that has been out looking for seeds to eat with the many birds that are showing up in my garden these snowy days. Just one though, with no Towhee buddies.

There is a white-eyed phase of the Eastern Towhee which can be found in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South and North Carolina and a small bit of southern Virginia along the Atlantic coast.

What a shock that would be to see. Their dark red eyes are such a distinctive feature.

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Cardinals Gathering

January 16, 2025

A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) yesterday, about to join in with friends enjoying the hulled sunflower seeds I’ve put out.

During the winter they’re gregarious birds. Both yesterday and today there were six Cardinals gathering the seeds along with many other species.

They’re birds that don’t migrate. Staying put in southeastern Canada, the eastern US from Maine to Minnesota to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern California, south to Mexico, further to Belize and Guatemala.

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One Robin In The Cold

January 15, 2025

One Robin (Turdus migratorius) at the birdbath getting a drink this afternoon as the temperature is beginning to fall from the day’s high of 30º. It’s been mighty cold the past many days. Snow that fell more than a week ago still covers the ground as if it just fell, though by now it is rock-hard.

No other Robins are with this one. No Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) with it either. They often move about in groups eating berries.

The Robin certainly not a sign of spring. We’ve got lots more winter to come. Good thing. I’m certainly not ready for spring yet!

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