A Couple of Brown Headed Nuthatch

These photographs of a pair of Brown Headed Nuthatch were taken one year ago this Sunday at our house in Rockwood. Brown Headed Nuthatch do not go as far north as Knoxville and until Jimmy's job moved to Spring City I had never seen one. I was wandering around the Veteran's Park in Spring City with camera in hand when I saw my first one. (Don't we all remember those lifer days of a particular bird?)
Clearly on the map they just barely get that far north in Tennessee. Rockwood is 10 miles north of Spring City and I was really excited the first time I saw them in our own yard. If the pair stayed there all summer I was not aware of them.

But they brought a smile to my face that day as I sat in our yard in my photographer's blind.

Birds bring such joy to our lives if we just give them a chance.

Maybe this year they will nest there and have their babies. Sorry, Betsy, I think they would be out of range if they are seen on the plateau.

Lynne from Hasty Brook purchased my Chickadee purse from the post below. I have had some inquiries about future bird needle felted purses, so I guess I better get busy knitting and designing. Thanks Lynne for the purchase, it will be shipped today.

Purple Finch at Rockwood

Whoops...did it again. Was not ready for this to post. Took these photos, but was not sure what I had.

So I sent the first 4 photos to Hap from New Hope for help in the id.

Hap suggested I send the same photos to Cornell University.

I did and they answered me this afternoon that the bird is a Purple Finch.

I was so glad....another new one on my lifer list.

Here is the link I viewed before sending the photos.

I felt fairly confident about it being a Purple Finch but still was not sure.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/AboutBirdsandFeeding/finchIDtable.html

Notice the Brown Headed Nuthatch is even trying to check out this new bird to 'his' feeder.

I never even thought I would hear back from Cornell,

so I am pretty excited about this really being a Purple Finch.

Brown Headed Nuthatch at Veterans Park

I thought this Brown Head Nuthatch was building his nest

in this birdhouse at Veterans Park in Spring City.

But now I am thinking maybe he was taking the nesting material to another location to build his nest. Or maybe he was cleaning out the birdhouse because he was going to use it. Either way it does appear he was taking something out, not bringing it in.

I like the way he looked straight at me, then gave me his profile again.

I will try to keep an eye on this box.

Brown Headed Nuthatch

I was so excited to see the Brown Headed Nuthatch

in the yard at Rockwood during the snow in January 2009.

But when he was still there in March I really was pleased.

I hope he decides to stay with us.

The reference books indicate Rockwood is just barely in his area.

The male and female look the same.

All 3 of these photos were taken March 9. Wednesday I went to Veterans Park in Spring City, and had another pleasant surprise, they were getting started building their nest in one of the box birdhouses. The box was a standard bluebird box, but higher off the ground than the bluebirds prefer. So yesterday I made another trip to Walmart for another new bluebird house. When I go back to Rockwood tomorrow we will be putting up the 2nd bluebird house this week. I will take either one that decides to use them.

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Another first time bird for me. This bird was at Veterans Park in Spring City, Tennessee last week. There were several, so not sure all these photographs are the same bird.

They sounded like very quiet woodpeckers.

The book said they are having trouble because they prefer pine trees and as we all know the pine trees are in trouble in the southeast. Not sure about other regions.