White-breasted Nuthatch

Going through older photographs, I came across this image of a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis).  It is not a bird that you will see very often locally here in the Concho Valley.  We were spending a few days at Davis Mountains State Park in July of 2010.  We were at their bird viewing area spending some time.  After awhile I looked across the street where there is a open picnic area.  I noticed that there was a post in the ground with a spigot on it.  It was dripping water and there were several birds around it.  I picked up my tripod and 500mm lens and traipsed on over there.  Not very soon after setting up my equipment, this nutchatche showed up and I was able to get some nice photos.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Sibley’s describes it as our largest nuthatch. This species is found in open woods with mature trees, most often oak and pine trees, where it’s nasal calls are heard frequently.

Friday, January 7, 2011.   27 species

Northern Shoveler     12
American White Pelican     30
Great Blue Heron     3
Northern Harrier     1
Cooper’s Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk     1
American Kestrel     1
Killdeer     2
Greater Yellowlegs     6
Least Sandpiper     20
Ring-billed Gull     100
White-winged Dove     4
Mourning Dove     2
Blue Jay     1
Black-crested Titmouse     3
Bewick’s Wren     1
Northern Mockingbird     12
Curve-billed Thrasher     1
Spotted Towhee     1
Canyon Towhee     1
White-crowned Sparrow     12
Northern Cardinal     8
Pyrrhuloxia     8
Red-winged Blackbird     100
Western Meadowlark     4
House Finch     12
House Sparrow     6

Happy Birding!!