Island in the Net by Khürt Williams
Technology and Photography Musings. Established circa 2000.
Welcome to my bird photography posts! You'll discover an array of avian beauties, including Warblers, Finches and Sparrows, Blackbirds and Orioles, Thrushes, Cardinals and Buntings, Goldfinches and Hummingbirds, Woodpeckers and Nuthatches, Wrens, Ducks and Swallows, Jays Sparrows, Chickadees and Hawks.
With its standout style, the vivid red male Northern Cardinal was recognisable even before I consulted Merlin Bird ID. Even in winter, their captivating colour, conspicuous presence, and unchanging plumage make them a constant spectacle. Females, though brown, have an attractive crest and reddish highlights. Cardinals are non-migratory, and their melodious whistles herald the summer mornings.
Did you notice the Blue Jay sitting on the branch above?
Updated 2023: I recently identified Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) wrens in my backyard using the Merlin Bird ID app. I found some older photos in my Adobe Lightroom catalogue and updated this post accordingly.
The Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) is a medium-sized songbird in North America’s eastern and southeastern parts. It feeds on insects and constructs nests in tree cavities or manufactured structures.
During summer in the eastern United States, the woods are filled with the delightful sound of the Carolina Wren.
I've been using the Merlin Bird ID app to identify a bunch of birds hanging out in my backyard and even got some decent photographs of them. This morning, the app picked up the chirping of a Carolina Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch. The Carolina Chickadee is on the feeder, and the White-breasted Nuthatch is on the tree.
The Carolina Chickadee is a small, chubby bird with a large head that is a common sight in woodlands and backyards of the southeastern United States. It is the only chickadee found in most of its habitat. Its overall colouration is grey, with a distinct head pattern: a black cap, white cheek, and black throat. Its bill is short and stubby, which it uses to crack open seeds. It is often seen in mixed flocks of other songbirds and can be spotted at bird feeders.
White-breasted Nuthatches are familiar avian visitors, sporting distinct black, grey, and white patterns. These small and nimble birds are keenly interested in insects and sizable seeds. Their name originates from the peculiar behaviour of wedging sizeable nuts and acorns into tree bark, utilising their sharp bills to "hatch" the seeds. Despite their diminutive stature, White-breasted Nuthatches emit robust vocalisations, and their persistent, nasal yammering is a reliable guide to locating them.
Updated: I recently rediscovered this post and edited it with a new title, content and tagging. In 2017, I had no clue these were Carolina Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch.
