Wild Bird Wednesday - More Birds from Idyllwild

I'm still sorting through all the photos I took on vacation.  It's a good thing I only spend a couple of hours each day sitting on the deck photographing the birds...if I'd done any more, I'd be sorting photos 'til Christmas :-)

Dark-eyed Juncos fall near the top of my list of "common, easy-to-find, but devilish hard to get a good photo of" birds.  It's bad enough they have those dark eyes against dark head feathers, but they also are fast movers and typically like to hang out on the ground at the base of trees or bushes which means they are perpetually in deep shade.  I managed to get one quick shot of this guy up on a brand and ALMOST in the light.

Last week's post already had the Oak Titmouse in it, but darn it...they are so cute that I couldn't resist a few more photos!

Especially since he condescended to pose so nicely for me with no branches in the way or anything.

Prior to this trip, I'd seen exactly ONE White-Breasted Nuthatch...and that was over at the Tucker Wildlife Sanctuary in the Saddleback Mountains.  I don't ever see them over here closer to the coast.  They sure were out in abundance in Idyllwild, though.

And very happy to help themselves to sunflower seeds and they try to conceal them in the tree bark.

There were at least 4 of these birds all running up and down this tree trunk just of the edge of the deck.  They have high squeaky little voices like you would expect from a mouse.

Here's one showing off the classic Nuthatch posture.

KJ