PYGMY NUTHATCHES ALONG THE RIVER TRAIL THIS MORNING

 Pygmy Nuthatches are tiny birds, only 4 1/4 inches tip to tail, that crawl around on branches and are often seen feeding upside down or walking down tree trunks in search of food.  An interesting thing I read was that they breed communally in groups of two to five consisting of a mated pair with unmated male helpers!

While these aren't Nuthatches, they do have wings.  They flew over me as I started up the river trail this morning.

Working upside down

Walking down the tree trunk

This one flew out from the tree and caught some type of insect and took it back to the tree where it had a feast.

MORE ICE SCULPTURES BUT ALSO SOME BIRDS

Mallard drake

Male House Finch

Townsend's Solitaire

Beaver chewed that tree

ANOTHER COLD SNAP

 With the cold weather my birds seem to have mostly disappeared so I thought I would show off some more neat ice formations in the river.

DOWNY WOODPECKER AND EAGLES

Downy Woodpecker on the underside of a branch

Downy Woodpecker

Can you spot the immature Bald Eagle along with the mature one?

Spotted these two Bald Eagles over by the gas station as we were driving by this morning.  The male is on the left and the female on the right.  Females are the larger of the two.

The female after the male left

The female getting ready to depart

 

WHAT I SAW ON MY DRIVE TO PENTICTON THIS MORNING

 I didn't see anything of interest on my walk up the river trail this morning but I sure made up for it along by Vaseux Lake.  When the hawk finally flew, he drifted over a large group of bighorn sheep.  The eagle was still enjoying the sunshine when I left.

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Look at those talons

Look at those talons

Bald Eagle

EARLY VISTORS

 I think this is quite early for Western Bluebirds to be moving north but I saw several on my walk this morning.

Male

Male

Male

Female

Downy Woodpecker