Pileated Woodpecker
Summer Tanager (F)
Belted Kingfisher
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Winged Blackbird
Barred Owl
Osprey
Juvenile Wood Duck
Hooded Warbler (M)
White-eyed Vireo
Great Egret (and turtle)
Great Blue Heron
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1
Out walking through a local park, I saw two little birds flitting back and forth to a certain branch. I realized they were gnatcatchers and thought they might be building a nest. After watching them for several minutes, I realized they definitely were working on a nest. As you can see, this nest is made of spiderwebs lined with lichen. I wish I could say I’ll remember exactly where this nest is and keep an eye on it, but I know it will be hard to find again especially as the leaves continue to come in. The male blue-gray gnatcatcher is the one with the black eyebrow as you see in the first, third, and last picture. I feel very blessed to have watched this pair at work.
“Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.” Psalm 84:3
“Birds are beautiful. After a lifetime of study I still love to look at them and listen to them, even the common species.”
― Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America
Red-headed Woodpecker
Belted Kingfisher
Wood Ducks
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-winged Teal pair
Blue Jay
Eastern Kingbird
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Eastern Towhee (male)
Mama Wood Duck and brood
Eastern Phoebe
Solitary Sandpiper
Red-bellied Woodpecker
“Oh, come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!” Psalm 95:1
“In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” -Robert Lynd
White-breasted Nuthatches
Cedar Waxwing
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Wood Duck (male)
Blue-winged Teal (male)
Barred Owl (napping in the sun)
Hairy Woodpecker
Tree Swallows
Northern Roughwing Swallow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Bluebirds–Not sure if the one on the right is making an offering or just showing off.
Hermit Thrush
Goldfinches
Barred Owl (different one)
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.” Psalm 125:1
“Use your eyes. Use them and have faith in them. Use your eyes and trust them. And go out and listen to the birds. Oh, if we would listen more often to the singing of the birds!” H.R. Sass, On the Wings of a Bird 1928
Red-headed Woodpecker
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Carolina Wren
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
Brown Creeper
Eastern Painted Turtle (Yes, this is a reptile, but you don’t see them out sunning in February very often).
Eastern Bluebird
Dark-eyed Junco
Brown-headed Cowbird
Our snowy morning brought many birds to the feeders. They didn’t all like to share as you can see by this sparrow’s greeting to the bluebird.
Goldfinches and brown-headed nuthatch
Pair of Barred Owls high in a pine tree.
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 119:14
“He taught me the difference between casual “birdwatching” and the more intense, focused “birding,” and urged me to go beyond identifying birds to noting their actions and behavior.”
― Jennifer Ackerman, The Genius of Birds
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chipping Sparrow
Pileated Woodpecker
Ruddy Duck
Pair of Hooded Mergansers
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Flicker
Pine Warbler
Hermit Thrush
Great Blue Heron
Brown Creeper
Brown-headed Nuthatch
“Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the children of Zion rejoice in their King! Psalm 149:2
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hooded Merganser
Northern Cardinal
Barred Owl (napping in a pine tree)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Brown Creeper
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker showing off his handiwork. These woodpeckers always make rows of small holes like this.
The backs of two Barred Owls. I know this doesn’t look like much, but seeing these two snuggled up together lets me know mating season has begun.
Great White Egret playing hide and seek with three mallards
Blue Jay
One of these is not like the other!
“He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by their names. . . .He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that for which they cry.” Psalm 147:4 & 9.
“Hallelujah to him who both feeds the ravens and rules the stars! What a God you are, O Jehovah!” Charles Spurgeon
Song Sparrow
Barred Owl
Downy Woodpecker (male)
Dark-eyed Junco
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Phoebe
Cedar Waxwing
Red-shouldered Hawk (with a little snack)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-headed Woodpecker (juvenile)
Red-Headed Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Young buck trying to blend into the trees.
“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female). An unusual visitor to my backyard as they only pass through in the spring and fall. I saw a juvenile male the next day.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker (juvenile)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (looks like he’s holding a Chee-to, but I suppose it’s not).
Wood Ducks (female)
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Flicker
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Red-Headed Woodpecker
Northern Mockingbird
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (juvenile)
Blue Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Monarch Butterfly
“I exalt You, my God the King, and praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1
“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.”
Psalm 104:12-13
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Bluebird (fledgling)
Eastern Bluebird
Brown-headed Nuthatch
Black & White Warbler
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Cape May Warbler
American Redstart
Scarlet Tanager (male) As you can see, he’s already exchanged his brilliant red for his winter green/yellow. Still a beautiful bird and was happy to see him feasting in my backyard.
Cooper’s Hawk (juvenile)
Red-Shouldered Hawk
Gulf Fritillary–No feathers but striking fall colors.
pmgilmer 