Heading For The Bird Bath

An image of a Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) preparing to catapult to the bird bath, taken just a few days ago.

Tufted Titmice are birds that are here throughout the year. Fun little ones that know me and will come close to the feeder as I’m filling it, calling to them. Not shy birds!

As I was looking up information about the Tufted Titmouse I was surprised to find this bit of information on the allaboutbirds site: “Generally found at low elevations, Tufted Titmice are rarely reported at elevations above 2,000 feet.” This is particularly interesting because my cabin is at the 1,800 foot elevation and these birds are not rare here. Perhaps just a few hundred feet higher they are!

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One Of Many

A favorite bird. Technically one of many favorite birds. There are too many to narrow it down to one favorite! This is a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). Four days ago. It was in my yard getting ready to splash around in the bird bath. The Hermit Thrush is a bird that I only see during the winter months.

Every few days one will show up for a dip in the bird bath. Their diet while they are here is fruits and berries which are found here in the woods. They seem to have no interest in the feeder, though I’ve been putting out raisins.

This very same day, four days ago, but several years before, with several inches of snow on the ground I was fortunate to capture 6 Hermit Thrushes in the bird bath, doing what they need to do, taking care of their feathers, cleaning them.

Birds with a beautiful mesmerizing song. Such a special treat, to have them visit each winter!

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Snow Showers This Afternoon

A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). One of many birds trying to ignore the snow that lasted more than hour this afternoon. A high temperature of 50° earlier in the day. I happened to look out and see so much snow coming down I was totally blown away.

Despite the fast temperature drop, it only dropped to the middle thirties. Not cold enough to allow the snow to last. Just enough to bring back childhood BLISS as it came down. Pure JOY!

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Checking On The Birds At The Feeder

Suddenly all the birds were gone from the garden. Only one, a Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) was left to look around. Left to see if any of the little birds had not gotten the urgent message that a hawk had arrived at the scene.

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Sometimes I See One

At the bird bath, a Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) gets my attention. Similar to the White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis). A bird that makes me thankful for my camera and the images that it produces so I’m able to see for sure that I’m seeing a Song Sparrow rather than a White-throated Sparrow. Song Sparrows don’t show up every day but White-throated Sparrows are there two or three at a time every day. So I watch for the ones that aren’t regulars.

One difference in telling them apart — Song Sparrows are here year ’round. That helps a lot, at least during the summer!

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Colorful But A Moth Not A Butterfly

A Grapevine Epimenis (Psychomorpha epimenis), a mighty colorful creature, but it is a moth and not a butterfly. A small one too, with a wingspan of just 3/4 to 1 inch. Another thing that might trip you up in identifying this as a moth, the Grapevine Epimenis enjoys puddling, which is a behavior that usually is done by butterflies.

And I’m showing you this moth right now because they’ll be out and about before you know it, adults flying around. This particular photo was taken on March 7th, a few years ago.

Their caterpillar food source is the leaves of native grapevines, and Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), which is in the grape family. Adults eat nectar from flowers.

An early spring moth to enjoy!

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Winter Dream

Going through my photographs of winter. Winter from my childhood. Winter from just a few years ago. Winter that seems correct. This is one of those images.

Winter, February 22, 2011. Hoarfrost decorating the edges of marcescent White Oak leaves (Quercus alba).

Winter beauty.

Turkey Tracks

Wild Turkey tracks (Meleagris gallopavo) on the lane coming in to my cabin. I knew right away what the tracks were since they were so large. Wild Turkeys are a common visitor around here.

They’re mighty big birds that leave a footprint of 3¾ to 5 inches long.

BIG BIRD!

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Seeds For Goldfinch

Goldfinch (Spinus tristis). These two are male Goldfinches. A little hard to tell it is a male without its trademark black forehead, which appears during the summer. Now dressed in their winter feathers. Birds that molt twice a year. At the end of summer, and then again at the end of winter. Each time growing in a complete set of new feathers.

The Goldfinch at the top is at a Nyger seed feeder, a favorite seed. Taken yesterday morning, with an inch of snow on the ground.

Another Goldfinch, another favorite seed, Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida).

Seed heads left in the garden to feed the little birds as they come through the yard during the winter.

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An Inch Of Snow Overnight

It was not a surprise. I was looking forward to having a bit of snow fall overnight. As daylight arrived there was still a bit of the snow coming down. An inch managed to cover the ground. I’m delighted.

Here’s a female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). One of many that have been coming to the yard. During the winter I’ll see several of them at the feeder, others waiting in nearby trees. As many as 8 or 10 at a time. Mating season is quite a different situation when they become territorial.

And oh their color, the male with its brilliant scarlet or the more subtle female, both add much to the landscape.

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