Still Around

March 19, 2026

A Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). They leave their winter home for their breeding grounds further north, in late March or early April. I did a blog post a couple days ago with a photo that I figured might be the last image of a Hermit Thrush for the season. Apparently not, but maybe this one?

This Thrush has been attracted to a great source of food that attracts many birds. Gobbling up calories for its journey. The berries (drupes)of Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra) ripen in mid to late summer, and if not eaten by wildlife, can last the winter and on into spring. A perfect spot to get ready for the trip.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing a Hermit Thrush or two next autumn.

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Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.