The Little Nuthatch
Painted rocks.
I had accumulated a number of rocks so yesterday I got out acrylic craft paint and quickly painted little creatures on them, or made them into doors. I ended up with about 20 and then took them into the woods on a walk. I had fun placing them, like deciding on which tree trunks, roots, or stumps would make good fairy houses. Where I put them they are not likely to ever be seen, but I think this might be fun to do again and put in public parks and places that might make people smile!
Cavity dwellers.
downy woodpecker pileated woodpecker red-bellied woodpecker
The woodpeckers (and other cavity dwellers) have been very active. My Red-headed Woodpecker nested and has now been gone for a few weeks. And what moves into it's nesting hole? The Pileated Woodpecker, our grandest woodpecker around. A pair has been working diligently on the hole, making it larger and cleaning it out. The Brown-headed Nuthatches nesting in another old pine are NOT pleased. They have been chasing the Pileated Woodpeckers away, which is pretty funny because the Brown-headed Nuthatch is super tiny in comparison! The Brown-headed Nuthatch does not mind the Red-bellied Woodpecker though. They are nesting in the...
Lizards, snakes, and skinks.
The lizards, snakes, and skinks have been everywhere lately!
Little paintings: Spring.
Bob White's have been calling. I spooked a group when I was walking and they were hiding in the tall grasses. A few days later I saw some in the open walking across the street in a row! Great Crested Flycatcher appeared on April 1st. Prairie Warbler. There was a lizard on the hummingbird feeder. The hummingbird didn't know what to do about it, just kept flying around the feeder looking at that darn lizard.
Little paintings: Spring.
On the first day of Spring I was so excited about all the new things I was seeing out in nature. This is an ongoing feeling, but in any case it being the first day of Spring and the start of a new chapter I decided to do some little paintings of sightings throughout the season. Something to compliment my photos and remind me of things I've seen. Here are a few I've done so far... Blue Jay squawking at an indifferent Crow Swallow-tailed Kite Cedar Waxwing Ruby-throated Hummingbird Field Mouse/Meadow Vole? Not sure exactly,...