American Redstart

One bird that gets me oh so excited is the American Redstart. I was working some of the backroads and pulled off to plan the time I had left. Soon I saw this male flashing through the lower branches of a tree and snapped away, knowing he would soon be gone.

Sanderling

It was a bit of a foot race for me as I had to hustle down the beach ahead of this little sanderling to keep the sun behind me. I was afraid I would scare him off, but he was more intent on probing the sand behind the retreating waves for something to eat.

Bay-breasted Warbler

This Bay-breasted Warbler was another migrant I just barely got. Although they are plentiful in Canada where they breed, they are less common on migration. They also forage lower in the tree in the dense foliage. So, I was fortunate to capture her as she popped up from behind a dense bow.

American Avocet

The American Avocet tends to forage in the open. It's a nice change from many other birds that hide within or behind vegetation. The challenge with this bird is to catch it in the right light and not too far away. While it doesn't hide, it also doesn't come close either.

Carolina Chickadee

When I'm birding Tennessee, I often see the Carolina Chickadee. It checks out any disturbance in the area. If I keep moving, it may not appear, but I stop, I'm likely to get a stern look or even a few scolding squeaks. This one stuck around until I moved on.

White-breasted Nuthatch

I came to a deeply shaded spot down a one-lane gravel road and decided to stop and cool off for a while. A few minutes later, I spotted this White-breasted Nuthatch coming down an Oak tree across the road. I quickly got this shot just before he moved on.

Tennessee Warbler

The Tennessee Warbler got its name when first spotted in my home state, but it breeds in Canada. It's a migrant I look for every year but don't always see. So, I was excited to capture this one recently. Just a reminder that migrants often only stay one day.

Killdeer Chick

I found this cute fuzzball Killdeer (Plover) chick running around as fast and confident as an adult. Its parents were watching closely, not far away. Both the adults and the chick surprised me by staying relaxed while I took a few shots. We were all soon on our way.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

I was driving down a gravel road when I saw a small bird working a bush, gleaning for insects. It turned out to be this Blue-gray Gnatchater. His pose was a surprise. I wasn't expecting a staredown, but it does show off his most striking field marks.

Clapper Rail

I still hope to get a shot of the Clapper Rail out in the open, but it wasn't meant to be when I saw this one. At one point, it was only about twenty feet away, and I was as still as a statue. After giving me this shot, it moved further into the tall grass and reeds.

American Crow

The American Crow is black, and I have photos of them that are clearly black. I've also run into a couple that seem to have a brown tinge. Even though their plumage can be irridescent in the right light, the reflected colors are typically blueish or purplish but not brown. Have you seen any crows like this?

Pine Siskin

I used to take the Pine Siskin for granted. I've come to learn they are a common bird in steep decline, and their migrations are not completely predictable. They don't necessarily return to the same areas each year. Now I photograph them every chance I get.

Western Meadowlark

I often see the Western Meadowlark too far away in the middle of a field to get a good shot. But they also like to land on high limbs in a tree or a fence post where they really turn loose with their calls. This one was singing for all the world to hear.

Yellow-throated Warbler

As I walked along the edge of some woods, a few birds scattered ahead of me before I even saw them. I was beginning to think I wouldn't capture any birds when I saw this Yellow-throated Warbler. I was so excited to get this shot before it took off.

Claret Cup Cactus

I was on a drive back from birding when I spotted these Claret Cup Cactus blooms on the side of a cliff. It was a bonus in addition to everything else I saw that day. I wouldn't have been able to get this shot without the telephoto lens I use for birds.

Red Admiral Butterfly

It was early evening, and I was still out birding when I came across this Red Admiral Butterfly. The sun was setting, casting dark shadows, but it still lit its wings nicely. I love the contrast with the weathered green leaves nibbled on by countless insects.

Male Vermilion Flycatcher

I caught this male Vermilion Flycatcher in some attractive light. He was on a small tree in the late afternoon sunlight. Across the road, a taller tree hid much of the sky beyond, creating a dark natural vignette. I was thrilled to get this shot before he took off.

White-winged Dove

I had seen and photographed several White-winged Doves that day. This one was alone and in the inner branches of the tree. It also wasn't moving. I got excited when I remembered they build minimalist nests in the shade. I got this distant shot and then backed away.

Female Northern Flicker

I went to a lake and ventured out onto a narrow peninsula, following the shoreline. I didn't see anything interesting until I started back. Then I saw a pair of Northern Flickers, my spark bird! The male escaped me, but I got this shot of the female.

House Finch

This male House Finch is undoubtedly a favorite with the females, who chose their mates on those bright red markings. True vegetarians, these birds feed their young only plant foods, unlike other vegetarian species that supplement their chick's diet with insects.

Canada Jay

The Canada Jay is a little ball of cuteness that lives primarily in Canada and the western mountains of the US. That's where I caught this beauty in excellent light. These wise birds store food in trees above the snow line for the bitter winters they endure.

Immature Maile Ruby-throated Hummingbird

When I first saw this Ruby-throated Hummingbird, I thought it was a female. Then it turned, and that emerging ruby-colored gorget revealed that it was an immature male. These hummers are starting their migration, and most will be out of Tennessee by late October.

Swainson's Thrush

With a mouth full of food, this Swainson's Thrush most likely has young nearby. I found this one near a stream under a dense canopy with an opening just large enough to light the scene. From here, I watched it fly into bushes and low-hanging trees.

Cattle Egret

I usually see Cattle Egrets in the middle of a distant field. While little white specks in a larger scene can occasionally yield a pleasing photo, I prefer closeups. That's why I was thrilled when this one walked by totally unexpected and totally what I needed that day.

Blue Jay

I often hear the piercing calls of a group of Blue Jays in the wild before seeing one. Other times, they will be silent. But once they start calling, everyone in the area will show up. Even then, it can be hard to get a shot because they prefer to be heard and not seen.

Pine Warbler

I was birding in a mixed pine and deciduous forest when this Pine Warbler worked his way through the area. I was afraid I would scare him off. After he called, he got busy hunting for food, disappearing into clumps of pine needles and branches.

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers like to be on the other side of a tree from humans. However, I knew from experience that he might eventually come into view if I sat still instead of moving about. This time it worked before he eventually flew away.

Northern Waterthrush

A lot of people are not aware that waterthrushes are actually warblers. This Northern Waterthrush had been dipping into nearby water, looking for something to eat. It would come out and perch for a bit, disappear for a while and then return, sometimes with worms.

Little Blue Heron

I'm showing the environment in which this Little Blue Heron was hunting so you can see one of its common habitats. I love being in these wild places and watching wildlife such as this. It's one of the blessings of being a birder and a photographer.

Harris's Hawk

I've seen a few Harris's Hawks but never been able to get close. They were usually in an inaccessible area or flew off when I headed in their direction. Still, I decided to take this very distant (~100 yards) cropped shot. Note the bands on both legs.

Chukar

I love wandering through desert canyons in the early evening. It's a little cooler, and more critters are likely to be about. Imagine my surprise at finding this Chukar, a game bird introduced from Euroasia. They move quickly, so I knew I didn't have much time.

Marsh Wren

I looked for the Marsh Wren for years near every puddle of water I could find. Part wet and dry, this one is a scruffy mess. It is also a perfect example of the photographer's dilemma. We know it is just a little brown bird to you, while to us, it is an exciting triumph.

Curve-billed Thrasher

The Curve-billed Thrasher is one of several western thrashers. They need that long decurved bill to dig with and deal with larger insects that don't respond well to getting captured for dinner. This one is perched on an ocotillo plant (pronounced oh-koh-TEE-yoh).

Female Northern Cardinal and Female Pyrrhuloxia

I watched this female Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus), a desert bird on the right, and thought, "Wouldn't it be nice if a female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) landed beside her." The photo tells the rest of the story.

Female Anna's Hummingbird

Hummingbirds have several distinctive characteristics. One is the beak, a carrying case for their equally impressive tongues that reach deep into the throats of flowers to get the nectar. This Anna's Hummingbird demonstrates by showing off part of its long tongue.

Western Kingbird

A Western Kingbird was but a speck in the distance when I first saw it. This first shot is fully zoomed in, showing how its colors and long lines blend in with the surrounding vegetation. It was only when I severely cropped it that you can see a little detail.

Western Kingbird

A Western Kingbird was but a speck in the distance when I first saw it. This first shot is fully zoomed in, showing how its colors and long lines blend in with the surrounding vegetation. It was only when I severely cropped it that you can see a little detail.

Female Red-winged Blackbird

I often post female birds even though I know they are not as popular. But there wouldn't be all those pretty males without a few females in the mix.😊 This female Red-winged Blackbird struck a lovely pose on a branch sticking up out of a large marsh.

Male Downy Woodpecker

Sometimes I look for a spot out of human traffic where I won't bake in the sun. Then I just wait to see what shows up. This Downy Woodpecker came to a nearby tree and started working along this long limb. When he got right in front of me, I took this shot.