Sitta canadensisI quietly opened the door to the house, slipped in, and quickly got my camera. I zoomed in on it through the window and managed to take just one picture before it flew off. Then I got out my Birds of Ohio book to see if I could identify it.
Page 165 has a photo of a Red-Breasted Nuthatch that looks like my little bird posed for it. I skimmed through the information given ― 4½ inches long, climbs down tree trunks head first, wedges seed in crevice and pounds on it to open it, seen in Ohio only in the winter but some winters not at all.
And I'm seeing this bird NOW? It can't be a sign of things to come, can it? I haven't even seen a woolly worm yet. The leaves haven't started to change. We haven't gotten the first ripe tomato from 'Mr. Stripey' yet. We had the air conditioner running two days ago. The kids just started back to school last week. And now I'm going to have to dust off the snow shovel?
I'm depressed.
I'm depressed.
"Bejeweled"
8 comments:
He may be literally an "early bird"! I was seeing Canadian geese flying south for the winter when I was back in Utah last week and thought the same things you've thought. Maybe it IS going to be an early winter. No, no I mustn't think that... Cindy at Rosehaven Cottage
We just had a 90+ degree day yesterday, so who can think of winter? Maybe it is just a confused bird?
Carol at May Dreams Gardens
Great picture! I sure hope winter isn't on the way yet! Loved your post about your pitchfork and your Grandpa.
We've had interesting weather over the last couple months here in NorCal. But just as I said, "Gee, it's been cool this summer, fall must be around the corner," smack! Right into a heatwave. Don't worry. Summer isn't quite over yet.
And your blinky smiley made me laugh out loud. It was perfect!
The red breasted nuthatch is my favorite bird. The white breasted my second favorite. We have a lot of white breasted here and I can hear them making their characteristic calls daily. I've seen a few red breasted but there are definitely fewer of them. I read somewhere that the nuthatches going down the tree head first is an adaptation to get all the insects the going up the tree woodpeckers miss. ;)
I'm with you on that ... I have no desire to dust off the snow shovel (or should I say hunt for it in the garage?)
It is a cute bird ... I like the idea of it heading down trees head first.
Kylee,
Very nice picture of the red-breasted nuthatch. Irruptions of these species are pretty interesting. They are very beautiful birds.
Tom
Thanks, Tom. So is it still called an irruption if it happens in summer?
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