bird 10

red-breasted nuthatch
sitta canadensis


a rather grey (but warm) day here today.  perfect weather for pulling a kitchen chair out on the porch and watching the birds.  the usual favorites were here today.  nothing exotic.  my adored yet elusive red-breasted nuthatch showed up.  i had photographed his cousin, the white-breasted nuthatch back in november 11.1.14.  the white-breasted is larger, slower and rather tame.  the red-breasted is fast, skittery and more than a  challenge for me to catch on film.  

(please don't laugh.)  today i overcame a hurdle in my photography.  i had reached such a frustration point with trying to photograph this adorable little bird that i actually came inside, got out my manual and figured out how to use the automatic focus on my camera.  i settled back in on the porch just as mr. nuthatch landed on a nearby branch. i kept snapping and snapping (glad it's digital) and i got one!

mr. red-breasted nuthatch, thank you.  for a very small bird, you have made a very big difference.