When I go back and review my older photos I often find something interesting that I didn’t notice the first time around.
On October 31, 2019 I spent some time photographing nuthatches and chickadees foraging for Douglas Fir seeds in the mountains of the west desert. In these situations I typically take lots of photos and during the initial review of that many images I sometimes miss noticing interesting little details until months or even years later.
That was the case with this short series that I ‘rediscovered’ last night.
When I initially reviewed these photos I may not have given them the attention they deserve because of the out of focus, light-colored twig behind the cone and the bird’s bill that I find a little distracting.
Here the nuthatch is probing for seeds between the cone scales. This photo and the following two were taken sequentially in a burst with 1/10th of a second between each shot.
This is the image I find most interesting that I somehow missed noticing the first time around. The nuthatch is attempting to catch the falling seed in midair. To be honest I don’t know if ‘he’ dropped the seed during the extraction process or he deliberately tossed it into the air to rearrange it in his bill before flying off with it or swallowing it. I suspect the former but it could have been either one. I was unaware this was happening when I was taking the photos.
So, did he catch the seed?
Damn rights he did.
And he seemed pretty proud of it too.
At this point they sometimes fly off with the seed and other times they swallow it and continue foraging. This time he continued to forage.
Obviously this series only documents a minor event in the life of a nuthatch but it’s still something that the viewer would never notice while watching the bird in the field. It just happens too fast. And the viewer would almost certainly not be close enough to the bird to notice it anyway.
I like seeing stuff like that and I believe many of my blog followers do too.
Ron
An update on yesterday’s events:
Yesterday’s snowstorm was an epic one, especially for here in the high desert of northern Utah. Most locations along the valley floor of the Wasatch Front got 12″ of heavy, wet snow and that’s exactly what I got at my house. The mountains got up to 2′.
My snow blower died a permanent death before I even got it started so I had to shovel my driveway, sidewalks, front steps and back patio (with some help from two thoughtful neighbors for which I’m very grateful). As a result I’m pretty sore this morning. I guess a new snow blower is on my near horizon.
But even though we’re supposed to have more snow today I’m without a vehicle so a new snow blower will have to wait. I’m having some (hopefully minor) transmission work done on my pickup so at the moment it’s at my Ford dealer. I should get it back late this afternoon, but who knows…
That’s life and I’m dealing with it but it still isn’t a lot of fun. The one bit of good news is that the fireplace technician repaired my fireplace insert yesterday so if we lose power from any of these storms I won’t freeze to death. The insert works with or without power.
So glad you rummaged through the archives for these photos. I’ll bet you could do many posts due to second looks.
I think Nutatches and Chickadess may be kindred souls. Take a seed and fly off. Gentlebirds.
Nuthatches and Chickadees. I used to be a good speller. Relley.
“I think Nutatches and Chickadess may be kindred souls. Take a seed and fly off”
And I think you may be prescient, Lyle. I believe that exact point will be made in tomorrow’s post, although I won’t be the author of the words so I’m not altogether sure my memory is serving me well.
I really like the second and fourth shots. I have not had many nuthatches this year and last year very few. With the lack of snow last year I think they stayed higher up the foothills. Maybe with this big storm they will come around the yard.
I am definitely feeling the pain of shoveling today. Due to my job I was very strong, without working I have lost muscle and tone for lifting. I went at the snow like I use to in the past, my body is not happy today!
April, I haven’t photographed a single nuthatch this year and it isn’t for lack of trying.
First, ouch on the backpain (lower part included) from a dead snowblower! Secondly, that is a great catch by the nuthatch and you. 🙂
Thanks x 2, Arwen.
I guess this little fella’s mom never told him not to play with his food. 😉 What a delightful series! I’m also intrigued by the way he’s clutching onto the cone.
Wonder if your independent store would be willing to deliver a snowblower to a long-time, loyal customer. Can’t hurt to ask. 🙂 At least you can make coffee and stay warm.
Marty, I think I’m just gonna wait until I get my pickup back. So far at least the predicted snow for today hasn’t materialized and I should get my truck back sometime later today.
Ron,
I usually go out in the morning (since retirement this year) and walk the dog and watch the birds eat from my feeder. Parenthetically, the birds are eating me out of house and home: 36 doves around the feeder two days ago, and that’s just one species! Anyway, the snow you mention dropped one of my 30 year-old trees on the frond of my house, literally at my doorstep. So no walk yesterday! Good to have snow but sad to see a tree we planted 30+ years ago bite the dust.
I am glad you are still finding pictures to publish on your blog. Old or current, I enjoy them a lot.
Best and Happy Holidays,
Stephen
Thank you, Stephen. I’m sorry about your tree. We often become attached to trees, especially trees we’ve planted ourselves.
Oh Stephen. I have mourned trees with all my heart. I feel for you.
You are sooo right that we would never see those details in the flesh. And nor would we have time to savour them, to go over and over them. Progress is often in my grumpy eyes misnamed. Photography is the exception.
I am v glad that your fireplace was fixed, and hope that you have your car back today too. The snow blower? The third thing which proves the rule.
“Progress is often in my grumpy eyes misnamed”
Believe me EC, I have the same grumpy eyes.
Love this post – you are correct we would never be able to experience this action live because it happens too fast. Thank you for slowing down bird life for us Ron.
BTW – Ace Hardware, Home Depot & Lowe’s all provide home delivery. Just order the snow blower online 🙂
Thanks, Katherine.
I much prefer to buy it from a locally owned small business. There’s one close to me that I’m been patronizing for years.
It’s a pleasure to see these images since we’d never see this level of detail with the naked eye. Great catch!
Thanks, Kathryn.
I very much enjoy seeing these photos of bird behaviors that we don’t see in the field! Here in California we are getting much needed rain and snow in mountains. Hopefully no slides from all the burn areas.
That’s good news for your area, Catherine. You need the moisture at least as much as we do.
Always enjoy these Nuthatch photos. Figured he would catch that seed. Wonder how many seeds he has caught like that. You can learn a lot about birds looking at these continuous action photos.
Surprised you were out there shoveling considering your back, but good that some neighbors helped out. Hope you get the snowblower and the truck back in action soon.
“Wonder how many seeds he has caught like that.”
You can bet it wasn’t the first time, Everett.
I figured I didn’t have much choice but to shovel, bad back or not. If the wet snow had frozen without being shoveled I’d have been in a world of hurt.
Damn right I like seeing posts and gorgeous photographs about bird behaviour! And red breasted nuthatches are such charming little birds. Glad you’ve found a good occupation as you weather the snow storms.
And damn right I appreciate that you like them, Sheila!
Oddly, I didn’t have a foot of snow here. Val used to say we lived in the “snow belt” as we always seemed to get more snow that anywhere else in the valley. Not true this year. Yes, it was wet, heavy snow and it was difficult for the people I pay to clear, but I think there was about 8″ total here. My friends in Cottonwood Heights and Sandy had 15″ to 2 feet.
It is supposed to snow more today, but so far, not doing that here.
Sorry about your snowblower. Shoveling must have been awful. I cleared a path down to the street in front with a shovel in case the mail came earlier than normal, and that was enough for me and my shoulders are telling me about it now.
Sue, to make shoveling much worse the wet snow was sticking to the shovel.
Not snowing here yet either but the wind sure has been blowing. It felt frigid out there when I took the trash can out to the street.
Yes, and there was ice underneath that made it hard not to fall while shoveling too!
Spray some Pam on the shovel.
Great idea, Steven!
I just love the nuthatch!! Such a clever fellow. And you and your camera caught all the action! This series reminds me of kids who toss popcorn into the air to catch it in their mouths. Delightful series, Ron. Sounds like you are having quite a week: truck in the shop, coffee pot died, snow blower too and your fireplace insert needed repair! Geez! Please don’t shovel anymore wet snow!!
Thanks, Melanie. At least I have a new coffee maker and a working fireplace. 2 out of 4 ain’t bad…
Thank you. Indeed, your tool and talent catch behaviors that our naked eye cannot. Good luck with truck and snow blower.
Thank you, Cheryl. I’m going to need it.
Really interesting behaviour indeed. I so envy your organizational skills that enable you to revisit these old photos and pick up on all these missed gems. Next lifetime I will be that organized too. Or so I hope. 😉
Granny Pat, most of my organizational skills are embedded in the software I use rather than in me!
What a fun sequence! 🙂 Hard to catch all that stuff with hundreds of photos to go through! The Nuthatch DOES look like he’s having fun with it. 😉
Glad you got the moisture tho not that your snow blower died 🙁 Always at the worst possible time. Good neighbors are priceless! Take it the fire place insert issues got handled? Sounds like a good day to stay home anyway tho imagine you might not be the only one in the market for a new snow blower.
We got about 4″ – did make a mess of the roads which appear to be better this morning both on the map and by the speed to traffic coming by…… 😉 Sounds like another round tonight and not a fun one.
“Take it the fire place insert issues got handled?”
Yup. See the note at the end of my post.
And yes, I’m worried that there will be a run on snow blowers locally so they may be hard to find.
Missed that part of your note! We have a power plant that will handle the furnace which plugs in vs. hard wired and some inside safe propane heaters – Joe had enough of hauling wood when he put this place together….. 😉
I don’t blame him. Hauling both wood and water would be a royal PITA
Snow Blowers Direct will drop ship SB. Their website tells you all needed about snowblowers. I bought an Ariens from them several years ago.