At various times in the past our yard has played host to three different species of Chickadee – The Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Black-capped Chickadee. ~ Mountain Chickadee, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Black-capped Chickadee captures © Jerry L. Ferrara
In the quietude near a woodland pond, a Mallard drake takes a moment to rest. ~ Mallard capture, Quietude © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Voice of the Bobolink The voice of the Bobolink is often described as ‘bubbly’. The significance of its prattle, though, is much deeper than that and double-edged in its message. Caught in this frame, a male Bobolink sounds off saying ‘Here I am!” to the ladies and at the same time is sternly warning ‘Steer clear of my domain!’ to would-be claim jumpers. ~ Anecdote and Bobolink capture, The Voice of the Bobolink © Jerry L. Ferrara
Guess Who Won? An American Robin tugs tenaciously at a reluctant earthworm. Guess who won? ~ American Robin and Earthworm capture, Guess Who Won? © Jerry L. Ferrara
Centering attention on a non-wildlife subject a few days ago, I put a new lens to the test in preparation for an upcoming Mountain Gorilla trek. If it had been lightly raining or sprinkling that day, I might have titled the take “Crocus in the Mist”. 😀 ~ Anecdote and Crocus captures, Crocus © Jerry L. Ferrara
A female Northern Flicker is caught giving a look into the camera. ~ Northern Flicker capture, Giving A Look © Jerry L. Ferrara
The Pileated Woodpecker Considered our largest native U.S. woodpecker [unless you believe the “Holy Grail” of birds still exists], a Pileated Woodpecker eyes the camera. While these magnificent woodland creatures are avid consumers of insects and larvae they also relish fruit and seeds and, according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, will even consume such from poison ivy! They are fond of suet, too! ~ Anecdote and Pileated Woodpecker capture, The Pileated Woodpecker © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Diminutive Bundle of Energy The Black-capped Chickadee is a diminutive bundle of energy seemingly in constant motion as it searches its surroundings for meals to fuel its active lifestyle. We have a constant ‘banditry’ of these characters in our yard. ~ Anecdote and Black-capped Chickadee capture, A Diminutive Bundle of Energy © Jerry L. Ferrara
Mini-Sprite The energetic and diminutive Red-breasted Nuthatch is a four-plus inch impish North American songbird. A tiny stick of dynamiteBrings to mind this mini-spriteIts aura boasts it has much mightTo watch one is quite out-of-sight ~ Anecdote, poem and Red-breasted Nuthatch capture, Mini-Sprite © Jerry L. Ferrara
A Brewer’s Blackbird, with wings stretched wide, acrobatically lifts from a Mullein plant. ~ Anecdote and Brewer’s Blackbird capture, Stretched Wide © Jerry L. Ferrara