Sometimes you feel like a nut... (Yard Bird 13)

Seems like every time I went outside today, there was a nuthatch hanging from a branch or feeder, making their distinctive "yank-yank" calls and trying to intimidate each other.  This is a white-breasted nuthatch, a common year-round bird here, and throughout much of the continental US, and one that is very tolerant of humans.  It's not uncommon that I have to back up a few paces to be able to focus on them when they visit the deck - that's how close they get.  

This particular bird is a female.  The sexes are somewhat hard to distinguish as the only real difference is that the female's cap is a slightly lighter shade of gray and she has a darker band on the back of her neck; the male has a uniform dark gray/almost black cap and neck-back.  And the pose is classic nuthatch - headfirst down the branch.  Anyway, they are quite adorable, as you can see.

I've decided to expand my yard bird challenge and try to post as many different species found in my yard this year as possible.  I'm not going to worry about repeats, but will label each species consecutively as I photography them.  In truth, unless the turkeys put in another appearance, I am going to run out of "new" species in about 3 more days. However,  having 15 or so different species in winter in the yard is pretty good!

Hubs is over at the man-cave working on the new race car.  Not sure if I've mentioned it, but he and his team-mates are building a new car for a guy in Mexico who is going to race it later this year in a weeklong race in that country.  Hubs is really enjoying the ground- up build and is learning so much.  Plus, as his job search goes on, it gives him something else to focus on, which is good!

Clouds have rolled in, once again, and it is dreary outside ...this is making me lean towards curling up with the cats and a good book...maybe having a nap...yawn...

If you'd like to see a rather lovely blue jay set in bokeh, Click HERE

Signing off...

Debbi