Bushtit et al

I love songbirds, and the challenge of finding them and photographing them, but there are few of them to be found in the East during winter. This winter has discouraged wandering outdoors, which makes finding songbirds even more difficult. One of the delights of California last month, was finding different songbirds. A few examples ...

"Pacific" Bushtit

Bushtit

Bushtit

Chestnut-backed Chickadee ...

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

I was delighted to see the Varied Thrush, our most colorful thrush and only a rare vagrant in the East, but a little disappointed that none gave me good photo ops. This was the best I managed ...

Varied Thrush

I love the corvids, and especially the jays. Stellar's Jay is the Blue Jay's closest relative, with a very similar personality ...

Stellar's Jay

The Hermit Thrush is Vermont's state bird. His haunting, flute-like, and ethereal song carries through the forests in late Spring and Summer. On the breeding grounds, the Hermit Thrush is secretive and often very hard to see.

When the breeding season is over, the hormones subside and a personality change occurs. Hermit Thrushes were common, feeding in the open like a bunch of East Coast winter robins ...

Hermit Thrush

Hermit Thrush

Good Birding !!