Male Orchard Oriole

This Orchard Oriole was really far away when I first saw him, but I decided to get the best photo I could without scaring him off. I thought he was eating some sort of fruit on the tree, but when I had a chance to zoom in on the picture, it looks he was catching insects.

White-eyed Vireo

I was stunned by the penetrating eye of the White-eyed Vireo the first time I saw one. I felt like the bird knew everything about me from one glance. I still get excited every time I see this bird, and now I pay more attention to every bird's eyes.

Male Blue Grosbeak

I usually post closeups of birds, but I thought you might like to see a more distant photo. This Blue Grosbeak was both a joy and a disappointment. He was across an inlet on a lake, and I couldn't get closer but decided to take a photo anyway.

Bay-breasted Warbler

I love how this Bay-breasted Warbler in nonbreeding plumage appeared to lean into the photo, emphasizing this bird's trim posture. You might think all of the photos I take are of birds on open perches, but few are.

Female Pyrrhuloxia

When I passed a certain brushy area on a trail, this Pyrrhuloxia flew to a cluster of small branches, but she was too fast to get a photo. It was the start of spring, so she may have been building a nest. On the way back, I made sure I was ready.

Male Ruby-crowned Kinglet

This Ruby-crowned Kinglet seems to have a clear idea of who was causing a disturbance. I didn't mean to bother him, but I think he is extra cute when he's upset.

Female Downy Woodpecker

I had driven to the end of the road and stopped to turn around. There I spotted this little Downy Woodpecker working her way up a dead tree. I had to move quickly to get this photo just before she flew off.

Red-winged Blackbird

As I listened to the Red-winged Blackbirds make their evening calls, this male stood out with his bright red shoulder patches. Note how his left eye reflects his left patch. Help me caption this one with what he might be thinking.

Swainson's Thrush

Something similar to this photo of Swainson's Thrush is what I most often see through my camera's viewfinder. I think of these scenes as "peek-a-boo" moments when I see the bird one second, and it has disappeared behind leaf and limb the next.

Scott's Oriole

I drove several miles through the desert looking for birds and only saw a few too distant to photograph. Just as I turned a corner, I saw this Scott's Oriole with his back to me. He was also far away, but I got this photo before he disappeared completely.

Lark Sparrow

Sparrows can be so confusing that many birders put off learning to identify sparrows until later. However, one of my favorites, the Lark Sparrow, is easy to identify, and about two-thirds of the nation has the possibility of seeing one.

Virginia's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler was named after a person, not the state. This bird is on a conservation watch list because it breeds in a scattered range of western states. You may not be familiar with it as it's not often posted on Twitter.

Curve-billed Thrasher

The Curve-billed Thrasher is one of my favorites when it comes to songbirds. This western bird has a short call you are likely to hear when in their range, but they also sing extended songs. You can listen to their calls here: https://bit.ly/39huESG

Juvenile Double-crested Cormorant

This juvenile Double-crested Cormorant will soon transition to black plumage. It's exciting to see these birds in the water chasing fish, but I'm so glad I found this one in a tree showing off its whole body and that fantastic emerald eye.

Willits in the rain on the beach

These Willets were waiting in light rain for the next wave. It had been a dreary day, with only a few people around, but some distance away. Being practically alone with the birds and experiencing the same rain gave me a sense of oneness.

Lesser Goldfinch

Early in my birding journey, I took the name "Lesser" Goldfinch to imply it wasn't as pretty as the American Goldfinch. laughed when I learned it meant "a little smaller." While it is a little smaller, the Lesser Goldfinch is still a beautiful bird.

Eastern Kingbird

The Eastern Kingbird always looks well-dressed with its black and white plumage, like a bit of prim and proper royalty. They seem to act the part as well. Like most flycatchers, they like to perch near an open area, fly out to catch insects, and return.

Female House Sparrow

I think the female House Sparrow is as attractive as the male. This female "little brown job," or LBJ, has the warm colors and the markings I like. I found this one followed closely by her mate, but they didn't stick around after this photo.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

This juvenile Little Blue Heron moved methodically from one mound of earth to another, looking for something to eat, and even came close to an alligator who was also looking for something to eat.

Turkey Vulture

It is the setting that makes this photo for me. A Turkey Vulture in a dead tree on a bleak and overcast day paints a picture and tells a story. Vultures clean up dead animals, so they conjure up images, whether perched alone or circling with other vultures.

Juniper Titmouse

There are so many dead trees and bushes in the west that it's no surprise that the Juniper Titmouse blends in with its environment. This one seemed to be announcing to the world that it had just found some sort of Juniper Berry.

Long-billed Curlew

I haven't seen many Long-billed Curlews, so I tend to spend more time observing them. When this one came out of the mudflats moving faster than I expected, I realized I had better get a photo quickly, or I would lose it in the deepening grass.

Black-necked Stilt

The Black-necked Stilt strides purposefully through the water as it probes for small invertebrates. I found this one near sundown, and the bugs were more than a nuisance, but I was determined to get a photo. Later I was glad I persisted.

Female Tennessee Warbler

The Tennessee Warbler is a foliage gleaner that feasts on caterpillars and feeds them to their young. I've only seen this warbler in Tennessee when they migrate to or from their breeding areas in Canada. They are always quick and hungry.

Horned Lark

The Horned Lark is a year-round bird of open fields for most of the US, but I've only seen them in winter and spring. I'm curious if you have seen this bird. If so, and you care to share, let me generally know where and in what season.

Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I think lichens enhance almost any nature photo, so I was excited to find this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on a lichen-encrusted tree. I think she was checking it out as a possible sap-well. I love the way the foreground and background colors show off the bird.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird

I love to photograph hummers in flight as well as perched. They absolutely shine in the right light. Some people call them jewels with wings, and I wouldn't argue with that, given this Ruby-throated Hummingbird taking a break from defending "his" territory.

Western Kingbird

Even though it appears to me to be a basic human tendency, I'm sure many of us would agree that we should not attribute human traits to animals. But dang, just look at the attitude of this Western Kingbird.

White-crowned Sparrow

The White-crowned Sparrow is widespread, but you may not always find one. And when you do, it may vary quite a bit from others you have seen. The bill can be orangish, yellowish, or pinkish, and immatures have brown stripes on a gray head.

Clark's Nutcracker

Clark's Nutcracker is a corvid, which means they are bold and intelligent. I've mentioned that picnic areas are often good places to find corvids. I found this one looking for leftovers as it landed on a picnic table where a family had just left.

Mountain Chickadee

When I first saw this Mountain Chickadee, I thought it was looking at me, but then I realized it was carefully looking over every leaf and limb looking for insects. I love to see these little "bandits" flitting through the trees doing what they do best.

Dusky Flycatcher

This bird is an example of a group of grayish flycatchers that are challenging to identify. The Dusky and Hammond's Flycatchers are so similar this bird could be either of them. I'm going with Dusky based on location, call, and field marks, but it's still an amateur's guess.

Male American Redstart

The American Redstart is one of my favorite birds. I love the yellow of the female and the male's orange and black plumage. This one stopped only briefly, but I've learned to get the best shot I can while this bird is in sight because it won't be there long.

Reddish Egret

I watched this Reddish Egret spend time grooming. I was amazed at how it used its beak to select and straighten one feather at a time. After the grooming was complete, it stood like a statue. There was no way to get closer, so I got this photo.

Yellow-throated Warbler

The Yellow-throated Warbler is one of the most exciting songbirds we have with its energy and bold, colorful markings. When I have had multiple birds available to photograph, I've tended to spend more time with the Yellow-throated than the other birds.

Field Sparrow

Even though the Field Sparrow is a year-round bird in many states, I don't always see them. However, I'm always looking for sparrows. These birds are in steep decline, at least partially due to habitat loss from continuous development.

Loggerhead Shrike

Nicknamed the "Butcherbird," the Loggerhead Shrike often impales its prey on thorns or other spikes to help subdue it. The bird may leave their catch for later, creating a larder. Shrikes are skittish, so it can be challenging to get close to one.

Female Townsend's Warbler

I love watching birds as much as photographing them. I'm fascinated by the way warblers, like this Townsend's, move through trees and brush looking for insects. I've learned that a good time to photograph them is when they occasionally pause to look under leaves.

Fox Sparrow

This photo broke my heart. The Fox Sparrow is one of my favorite #birds. I love the bold markings and how they kick up the dirt looking for insects. So, I was excited to see what a lovely photo I got of this one until I noticed I had cut off its tail when I took the picture.