Small in Stature

SMALL BIRD ALERT:

If you're not interested in the common and smaller species...click out now!

Each morning as the pale light begins to paint across the dark heavens

and one by one the twinkling stars bid their farewell,
chirps and pecks echo abundantly, heralding the new day...
like orchestra instruments tuning up in preparation for a universal concert.
Perhaps it's the challenge of capturing the smaller birds in print,
but I get just as excited about seeing a Mockingbird or Cardinal
as I do a Great Egret or Pelican.

I'm not able to get good closeups, but I still enjoy trying.
(And to think I used to make fun of Ms. Hathaway on the Beverly Hillbillies!)

FEMALE DOWNY WOODPECKER

I don't get to see the Downy very often, and with their coloring they kind of

blend in.  Once the trees are fully bloomed it's almost IMPOSSIBLE

to find them...even though you can definitely hear them!

MALE DOWNY WOODPECKER

(Differentiated by the red band on the back of his head.

RED BELLIED WOODPECKER
I'm not sure why they call this Red Bellied since there's zero red on its belly.

I guess they can't call it "Red Headed" because the next photo is named that.

RED HEADED WOODPECKER

Can you spot it?

This is the only one I've ever been able to photograph. 

They're much smaller than the others and aren't common in our area. 

As you can see, its head is all red,

where the Red Bellied just has a partial red patch from the front to the neck.

FEMALE CARDINAL

Pretty, but kind of plain, unlike it's counterpart.

MALE CARDINAL

Would someone please explain to me why the male birds of many species

get to be dressed in all the bright and colorful outerwear?!?!?

CEDAR WAXWINGS

The ever flitting bush and tree berry stripping machine!

KINGFISHER

Ah, my nemesis! This little guy taunts me wherever I go!

I still can't believe I got this picture because he likes to fly around me

until I notice him and then as soon as I ready my camera...off he darts...

only to return moments later. This ritual has become a running joke at our house!

EASTERN BLUEBIRD

Like the Red Headed Woodpecker, this is the only Eastern Bluebird I've ever

been able to capture on film; they're fast little things!

EASTERN MEADOWLARK

I love the yellow belly!

EASTERN MEADOWLARK

This was the first and only time I've seen one on the ground;  typically they perch

on the highest tree branches but this female stayed grounded for a while that day. 

EASTERN PHOEBE

This is another bird I rarely see and try as I did, he wouldn't reposition himself

so I could get a shot of his belly...which is a light green color.

KILLDEER

Talk about fast and skiddish! 

These little birds walk as quickly as I do!

I had never seen one in water;

typically you'll find them along the highway or in fields looking for bugs. 

They're easy to spot by the black face bands and their sound.

GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER

This is the only one I've been able to photo, too.

See how big its head is in proportion to its body; looks like it would tilt over.

RED WINGED BLACKBIRD

I have a lot of photos of these birds but not in focus!

MOCKINGBIRD

I caught him eating a mid-morning snack.

ROBIN

I know you can't see it very well, but I liked the angle, the colors, and the light.

I enjoyed watching him hopping around looking for bugs.

BABY BLUEJAY

His nest was close by and he was practicing his flying that morning.

BLUEJAY

I was closely checking all the trees when I spotted her.

STARLING

I love how colorful they are, especially when the sun shines on them.

BLACK NECKED STILT

I also have something in common with this bird...long, skinny legs!

DOVE

I saved my favorite for last.  That's right...much to my family's dismay who fails to

appreciate the beauty and sun-up to sun-down cooing of the doves.

 May the sounds of nature strum your heart strings.