Red-breasted Nuthatch checking out a Douglas Fir cone – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’m an Army Brat and once an Army Brat always an Army Brat. What does that mean exactly? That meant I was always moving to new locations as a young child and teen, like it or not PCS (Permanent Change of Station) orders meant a move either across the country or to another country. I got used to seeing new horizons and eventually that became a need or a deep seated desire to see new areas to experience new views and to go back to places that I felt deserved more exploration.
I grew up not caring for routines because if I ever got set into a routine it was about that time another move happened and my routine became worthless. For a time I was also an Army wife which meant more moves and more places to explore. I learned to be spontaneous, to roll with the punches, to be adaptable, to look forward to new locations and to not get stuck in ruts.
Last year in November I felt like I was in a photographic rut so I took a chance on exploring a canyon I had been to before but had never really spent the time exploring it the way I felt it needed to be so I went into the canyon, drove slowly and once I reached the point where I couldn’t go any further I used my “sit, wait, listen and watch” approach to locating birds and it paid off.
Red-breasted Nuthatch high up in a fir – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As I sat there I saw and heard Red-breasted Nuthatches moving around in large Douglas Fir trees in the area and even though that day I didn’t get the photos I wanted of them getting out of a rut helped me get these photos and the photos I took of Red-breasted Nuthatches last year.
Red-breasted Nuthatch trying to swallow a seed – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Carefully checking out that canyon also has given me the opportunity to add other new species to my portfolios but it was seeing those nuthatches in the Douglas Firs that made me realize that I had been missing out on photographing a bounty of forest birds.
Eye level Red-breasted Nuthatch – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Now I love to check out that canyon whenever I can. Some days the bird activity is slow but other days I have come home with hundreds of images. I was there yesterday and I only took 3 photos but I also know that today or tomorrow there could be so much bird activity that I could easily take a thousand images or more.
Red-breasted Nuthatch hanging upside down with a seed in its bill – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/2500, ISO 500, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The weather, the hunger of the birds, how quickly the seeds of the cones ripen and the time of the day all factor into just how much bird activity there is. For instance, if the birds had a really cold night to endure they might be more active first thing in the morning to acquire the calories they need to stay warm.
Female Red-breasted Nuthatch with a Douglas Fir seed – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
On other mornings they might wait until the sun has risen and warmed up the air around them before they get busy and forage for food.
Male Red-breasted Nuthatch in a Douglas Fir tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
If I hadn’t decided to get out of a rut and check out the birds in a canyon I had only been to a few times before I would have never have known just how birdy it actually is and I wouldn’t have these Red-breasted Nuthatch photos to share today.
I proudly credit being an Army Brat, me, on discovering a great location to photograph these Red-breasted Nuthatches and other woodland birds.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Red-breasted Nuthatch photos plus facts and information on this species.
Glad you went out to get out of that rut! I love these red breasted critters! I frequently get the white breasted nuthatch at my feeders, but have to drive East to find the red breasted. Thanks for sharing these little acrobats with us!
Awesome pics! This comes from a missionary brat who has moved a lot also. I want to know how it is nuthatches can swallow upside down so the food is moving up instead of down! Did she flip to swallow to aid the digestive system or do they have a way of swallowing up the digestive tract? Love the detail and your narratives. Thanks!
Lovely images of an often overlooked little bird, Mia! Second-most-traveled to Army brats, are teachers’ brats. We moved often and I learned to love it. I am never comfortable standing still for long, as I still love to explore new places. I always enjoy your posted photos – and wonderful, from the heart commentary, Mia. Thanks! I hope to run into you in the field sometime when I visit my son who lives in Utah.
Delightful images. I love watching this bird, I even experienced one landing in my hand to access some seeds along with some chickadees at a trail look-out. So light!
What a terrific series of pics of a beautiful and fascinating bird! The colors and contrasts you captured are just incredible. Thanks Mia.
An amazing series.
I am very grateful you got out of the rut – that I couldn’t see.
Dear, Brat–In’m so glad you have that itch to go new places and see new things!!! I love ALL OF your photos!!! Thanks for taking me along!!! This little guy is one of my favorites, even if he/she is always upside down…these are great!!!👍👏❤️
Beautiful series. I have nuthatches in my yard year round but more birds in the fall and winter. I am in a rut too. But I need time to explore and working does not always allow for it.
So great to get an eyeful of nuthatch this morning. We do not see them so often these days — don’t know why? Maybe changing habitat or maybe they are one on the many species of song birds in general decline. Good to see them feeding as if in play. Love their life-upside-down adaptations. Thanks!
Thanks for another great post Mia! I also find sit and wait and excellent way to find woodland birds. As always, your images are gorgeous! Luckily for me, I now have a Red-breasted Nuthatch visiting my property. I have White-breasted Nuthatches year round as they breed here, but this is only the third time a Red-breasted Nuthatch has shown up. I hope it stays all winter!
As always, great shots. I have them at my feeders this weekend also, but would prefer to see them while exploring in the canyons like you did. Blessings to you for the joy you bring to us each day.
One of my favourite birds. Wonderful series of photos.
Excellent post! Great shots of an elusive bird.
7 years in the Service, brought back memories!
I love these little birds! They are so animated. A pair actually nested in my bluebird house this summer. It was fun watching them.