A Barking Bird!

Madera Canyon held a few more surprises for us during the few hours we spent there.  You'd think an Elegant Trogan, a Painted Redstart, A Bridled Titmouse, an Acorn Woodpecker, and dozens of Mexican Jays would be more than enough for any birder - especially since every one was a life-lister for both of us.  But soon after the Trogon left I heard what sounded like loud barking coming from high in the trees above.  A moment later I caught sight of a HUGE bird in the tree, and whatever kind of bird it was, it was definitely the source of the barking!

By the time I saw a second monstrous bird hidden in the foliage, my mind was jumping to outrageous conclusions at the speed of sound.  "it must be a Crested Caracara,' I thought, 'or something else equally exotic and rare!'  After all, it was a MASSIVE bird that was making the strangest and loudest sound ever heard!  Imagine my surprise to finally get the bird in focus and discover it was a very familiar looking Wild Turkey.  Evidently the Wild Turkeys in Arizona don't make the 'gobble gobble' sound we're used to hearing in Massachusetts.  In Arizona, the turkeys BARK!

There were other familiar birds that acted much more normally.  We saw plenty of finches.

We saw a nuthatch or two.

And our last life-lister for the day was a Lesser Goldfinch.  This isn't the greatest picture of one, but I can personally attest to the fact tat they are much smaller than regular goldfinches.

And throughout the day we had to marvel at the unparalleled beauty of this gorgeous place.  It was pretty close to being in paradise!

Ever since I left Arizona, all I can think about is going back!

Winter Woods Birds

Even the Sudbury River near Carmel Terrace was frozen on Saturday! We did manage to get some pretty active Downy woodpecker action in the woods on the steep river bank, though.


Not quite sure why he's going into the black hole. (Black hole! Pretty funny, huh?)


You don't see them like this everyday! He's flying straight up from one branch to another!


He is peeking at something through the branches. I love the black and white eye ring - it gives him such a sweet looking expression.


Tom managed to capture this White-breasted Nuthatch. He also snapped a shot of a Red-breasted Nuthatch, but it was too blurry to post. I never even saw the guy!

Funny Feeder Birds!

Funny Bird #1:
Upside down Nuthatch in front of the last lingering foliage.


Funny Birds 2:
Happy looking House Sparrow, House Finch, and Tufted Titmouse chowing down.


Funny Bird #3
Female House Sparrow staking out her feeder spot.


Funny Bird 4:
Spinning Black-capped Chickadee.

Cold Weather Backyard Birds

He's checking me out - and not overly pleased with the result.


Throwing water down his throat.


Just a house sparrow, I know, but pretty nonetheless.


I saw my Red-breasted Nuthatch yesterday, but couldn't get a photo. The White-breasted performed nicely.


There were actually three White-breasted Nuthatches eating suet yesterday.

Red-breasted Nuthatch or Red-bellied Chickadee with a striped head?

Another irruptive species from the North Woods is the Red-breasted Nuthatch. They are supposed to come south much more frequently than species like the Evening Grosbeak, but I haven't seen one for decades.


The Red-headed Nuthatch usually makes it to Massachusetts every other winter. I never saw one in Sharon, though (maybe too south?), and this is the first year I've seen them in Framingham.


The two species are so similar in size, shape, and perching behavior that it's seems pretty obvious that they are related. I feel foolish admitting that when I first saw a Red-breasted Nuthatch last month, I was extremely puzzled by what I thought was a red-bellied Chickadee with a striped head!


Had I seen it in this typical Nuthatch pose, I probably would have caught on sooner. The Red-breasted is a little stockier than the white-breasted Nuthatch, but they still look remarkably similar.

White-breasted Nuthatches in action

An unusual perspective on a White-breasted Nuthatch.


Check out the bug he just caught!


A much better view of the bug he caught. Also, check out those FEET! And the wicked claws on his feet! I never even noticed before.


A classic nuthatch pose. This was taken by my husband with the D100.


My photographer husband also took the next two photos, which are utterly amazing. Look closely . . .do you notice that captured in MID-AIR as he ran up the tree?


How about this amazing shot? He is mid-hop with the big BUG in his mouth!


We both got shots of a flying nuthatch that morning. This is mine . . .


Tom took this one.

Gray Nuthatch on a Gray Day

It stopped raining for a few seconds yesterday while I was near the river, so I went into the woods to see what I could see. The river was overflowing it's banks and flowing very fast. No ducks in sight, but I did catch a glimpse a White breasted Nuthatch.


A gray little bird that blended in well with the overcast sky and foggy forest.


Nuthatches are striking birds, but like everything else they look better with a little more light than was available today.


Kinda nice profile shot.


This was a poor imitation of a dramatic/artistic shot until it was much improved by colographicalchemy, a flickr photographer with artistic talents and superb post processing skills. Thanks again, colographicalchemy.


I ended with a magical photo where everythong glitters like diamoands. (That would be nice!)

Sunday on the Sudbury

A Sunday stroll near the river only resulted in one decent picture - so, of course, it must have been shot by my husband! Nonetheless, it was my first Nuthatch image this year!


The nuthatch went up, down, and around the tree - as nuthatches tend to do.


Believe it or not, you are looking at the nuthatches tail from below. From this angle his tail looks red, not white.


Both of us captured dozens of chickadees on camera. I like these images because of the contrast with the tangled vines.


Chickadee preening. They must feel safe among all the protective vines.


I think these buds are a sign that spring really is approaching!