I was really excited to see this guy as well as the area where he was feeding. I had originally gone to take some monochromatic winter photos, since I live now in a gray area, of the rapids located on the abandoned RR line on the east side of the river. Everything was fine until I arrived at an area that was filled with snow drifts, and therefore impassable. I turned around, changed lens ,and noticed swarms of chickadees deep in the forest feeding and went to see what was going on. Someone had set up numerous feeding stations and stocked them attracting this guy as well as other birds.I'm so intrigued by the idea that I'd like to try and duplicate it in another area.
The White-Breasted Nuthatch is not an especially rare bird but for my area and in the winter is . So I'm pleased that I got these photos. They are generally attracted to deciduous forests, but now will reside in mixed as mine is. They are insect eaters, but will feed on nuts such as acorns and apparently sunflower seeds as they are here. They move up and down trees upside down, and get their name from their habit of putting the nut in the tree bark and whacking away at it with that splendid beak they have.
All information is from the Cornell Lab Site.
A Post to World Bird Wednesday.
What a sweet bird.
ReplyDeleteTo Karen: He/she will also chase away other birds, but I think the Chickadees are just too fast for him. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteGary what a lovely little Nuthatch you have.I had my first ever Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) visit my garden this Autumn.Lovely images of a beautiful bird. My best wishes to you and Boom for the New Year and I hope you have a great 2011
ReplyDeleteTo theconstantwalker: He is a beauty isn't he? I was sitting in the snow surrounded by birds who were so close you could their wings.
ReplyDeleteGreat captures Gary! I see what you mean about shooting in black and white. It occurred to me looking at your pictures how perfectly designed the nuthatch's rear claw is for climbing down a tree headfirst! ;-)WBW
ReplyDeleteHis feet appear almost too big for his body...he's such a cute little bird! Nice shots!
ReplyDeleteHi Springman: Ya, even he's gray, white and black. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteTo EmptyNester: You're right he sure has big feet. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteVery nice shots!!! I have always enjoyed the shape of these birds--they are so streamlined! Thats a great idea to stock a feeder in an area to attract what you dont normally get to see-- say in your own yard!
ReplyDeleteRed-breasted nuthatches visit my feeder, and yes, they chase the chickadees away. But, what comes around goes around when the Steller's Jays arrive!
ReplyDeleteVery similar to our Nuthatches Gary. Lovely birds.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know someone has put food out for the wild birds during the winter weather. I've been doing the same at my local lake; it's so rewarding.
To holdingmoments: They are beauties,and I'm glad to hear you put food out in the wild also.
ReplyDeleteTo Mike: I guess that's what is known as the pecking order.
ReplyDeleteTo Dixxe: Thanks for the visit and kind words.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely little bird. And look at those claws! Wonderful shots.
ReplyDeleteTo JM: Those claws permit him to move upside down on a tree trunk which is something to see. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeletea nuthatcher! It´s a bit different from ours as I can see. Ours have a black band over the eyes. :)
ReplyDeleteTo NatureFootsteps: In most cases European birds are different from ours, except those which were brought over from Europe eg starlings. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteA cute little character with interesting feather markings!
ReplyDeleteTo Greyscale: He sure is, and thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteAll of the nuthatches are such attractive little birds. They flit about so fast, it is hard to get photos. I like the idea that someone put feeders in the woods and is keeping them stocked.
ReplyDeleteTo Mary: The White-breasted lacks that prominent eyebrow. Thanks for the visit.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots of the White-breasted Nuthatch Gary! They come to my feeding stations also and they are cavity nesting birds so I believe they are nesting in the woods around my house. I haven't had them use any of my birdhouses yet, probably because they have plenty of natural choices in the woods.
ReplyDeleteTo Larry: I had seen one before but didn't get any photos,so I was really excited with this effort. Thanks for the visit.
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