The Little Nuthatch

I haven't been out too much lately, either "life" or weather has been getting in the way venturing of outside. I've only had a few little walks outside, but luckily I always find something cool even on those little walks. Here are a few photos from the last week. Brown-headed Nuthatch. I love them! Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. One of the few birds I've seen often around my new neighborhood. The whole family was in the tree chattering the day I took this, but only this fledgling would come down to the low branches near me. Red-shouldered Hawk chilling out in the...

While I was up in NC I had the chance to try out my sister's large set of Copic markers. These are very nice art markers that blend easily and you can change out the nibs and refill the ink, they are also very expensive retailing at $6.99 a marker but you can definitely get them cheaper. I am used to Prismacolor markers but the Copic's are far superior. They make it so easy to color! I colored these two birds from my sketchbook (they are the original sketches from some of my field guide paintings): Common Yellowthroat Indigo Bunting

Here are some photos I took during my week in North Carolina of the backyard birds. Lovey-dovey Doves mating. Brown-headed Cowbird. A couple frequented the feeder and this male would go to the top of tree and do his mating call and poof out all his feathers. House Finch. Goldfinches galore! At one point there were 10 at the same time. Red-bellied Woodpecker. Eastern Bluebird. There were two pairs feeding babies in nest boxes. Besides the birds I photographed, I also saw Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Northern Cardinal, Mockingbird, Indigo...

My last full day in North Carolina we decided to do something exciting, at least exciting to us! My Mom and I went back to the Blue Ridge Parkway, through Craggy Gardens and up to Mount Mitchell.   First we stopped a trail that said it had ruins from old buildings at the end where it meets up with the Mountain to Sea trail. The ruins were just one rock chimney as far as I could tell, although pretty cool! The trail was gorgeous, with a small waterfall right off the road, and the creek along most of the trail...

Day 6 in North Carolina was a stay in day. Well, not so much staying in! Luckily not going anywhere in North Carolina is pretty exciting with beautiful flowers, butterflies, interesting insects, and birds just out the front door, and a short-ish walk down to the river. Fancypants Wild Turkey