Many people dislike brown-headed cowbirds as they're brood parasites (laying eggs in other birds' nests). Other birds that do the same thing don't seem to evoke such dislike though (e.g., cuckoos). The male brown-headed cowbird can be quite handsome. #birds #nature #naturephotography #cowbird

We've had our first couple snowflakes this season in this part of central North Carolina. It is quite cold though and the birds are flocking to the feeders like this tufted titmouse. S/he has such a nice bright eye! #birds #naturephotography #nature #tuftedtitmouse

The white-tailed deer are so hungry that they have resorted to occasionally eating bamboo. It will be a tough winter for them. #nature #naturephotography #mammals #whitetaileddeer

Deal with an itch and get a berry as a reward. Cedar waxwing enjoying a snack. #birds #nature #naturephotography #cedarwaxwing

This nut is being devoured now and not stored for winter! #mammals #easterngraysquirrel #naturephotography #nature

Common yellowthroat warbler #birds #warbler #commonyellowthroat #nature #naturephotography

Even the golden-crowned kinglet was foraging in the cedar trees. #birds #nature #naturephotography #goldencrownedkinglet

This yellow-rumped warbler was really enjoying the cedar berries; usually I see the cedar waxwings eating those. #birds #yellowrumpedwarbler #nature #berryeating #naturephotography

I was happy to see this little winter wren pop up during my morning walk today. #birds #nature #naturephotography #winterwren

This golden-crowned kinglet was in a dispute with another one. When it finally left, s/he went up in the cedar tree for a bite to eat. #birds #nature #naturephotography #goldencrownedkinglet

Sometimes I feel like this, too. (Cedar waxwing) #birds #naturephotography #nature #cedarwaxwing

A pair of American crows have been raising families in our neighborhood for many years. I'm always happy to see them come by. #birds #americancrow #crowcawing #nature #naturephotography

The birds have been drinking from my rain-water containers in addition to water features just for them. A cedar waxwing and American robin shared space. #birds #nature #naturephotography #americanrobin #cedarwaxwing

It was a birdy day in the yard today. American goldfinch #birds! #nature #naturephotography #goldfinch #Americangoldfinch

Just love the cedar waxwings who are visiting now. #cedarwaxwing #perchedbird #birds #naturephotography

I already posted this but it also fits with "stare down" for Bird of the Day. Cooper's hawk #BirdOfTheDay #Cooper'shawk #staredown #raptor

Dark-eyed junco; this was last year, they have just returned to our area for winter now #junco #BirdOfTheDay #darkeyedjunco

Just discovered #BirdOfTheDay. Here is my contribution of some coots in North Carolina, USA (this was in January 2025; they haven't arrived back here yet for the winter).

The usual group of does and yearling fawns now are only sporadically coming to the yard since this guy and a couple other young bucks have begun stopping by. #nature #naturephotography #mammals #whitetaileddeer #whitetailedbuck

The cedar waxwings are back in central NC. #birds #naturephotography #cedarwaxwing #nature

The usual yard birds have been vacating the feeders often the past few days as this raptor flies in. Cooper's hawk. #birds #raptors #cooper'shawk #piercingeyes

An "impressionistic" portrait of a chipping sparrow in autumn. #birds #chippingsparrow #nature #naturephotography

Every autumn, when the trees lose their leaves, we get good views of the paper wasp nests. I've never been able to see one being constructed but would love to see that. #paperwaspnest #insectarchitecture #nature #naturephotography

Blue-headed vireo having a successful food hunt #birds #nature #naturephotography #blueheadedvireo

Another ebony jewelwing damselfly back in June 2025. The coloring is wonderful. #nature #naturephotography #ebonyjewelwing #damselfly

This was the Beaver Moon on 7 November 2025 in Central North Carolina. It was a bit of a peachy color at 8 p.m. and was supposed to be orange by early morning. It was expected to be the largest and brightest full moon this year. #science #nature #naturephotography #beavermoon

This is "Leucy", the leucistic Carolina chickadee living in my yard. #birds #naturephotography #nature #carolinachicadee #leucisticbird

In May, I saw this lovely ebony jewelwing damselfly. #damselfly #ebonyjewelwing #nature #naturephotography

Love fungi; this was back in May this year. #fungifriends #fungusonlog

Stepping back in time to June when I saw these lovely dogbane beetles creating their next generation. #nature #dogbanebeetle #beetlesmating #naturephotography

The sapsuckers are such lovely woodpeckers. #birds #yellowbelliedsapsucker #nature #woodpecker

Pine warbler. #birds #pinewarbler #nature #naturephotography

One of the resident Carolina wrens in my yard. #birds #naturephotography #nature #carolinawren

The ruby-crowned kinglets are such active little birds. #birds #kinglet #naturephotography #nature

Love the black-and-white warblers. #birds #nature #naturephotography #blackandwhitewarbler #warbler

Philadelphia vireo; I had not even realized that it was a lifer when I saw it in September! #birds #nature #naturephotography #philadelphiavireo #lifer

Daryll Marie is asking for raptor photos - here is a beautiful one! Red-shouldered hawk just beginning to cover its eye with the nictitating membrane. #birds #raptor #naturephotography #redshoulderedhawk #nictitatingmembrane

This may have been the last migrating ruby-throated hummingbird coming by this year. I kept up two feeders and another yard denizen took advantage of an ant guard. 😀 #birds #nature #rubythroatedhummingbird #greenfrog #amphibian #naturephotography

A juvenile red-headed woodpecker flies overhead. #birds #red-headedwoodpecker #birdinflight #nature

The resident Eastern chipmunks are busy gathering acorns and other food for their winter stores. #nature #easternchipmunk #mammals #naturephotography

The young fawns who came by with their mothers in the spring are now heading to maturity; this young buck has budding antlers. #mammals #white-taileddeer #fawns #naturephotography

A spotted beet webworm moth - first time I have seen one. We still have enough species so that it's possible to discover creatures new to us. #moth #insect #webwormmoth #nature

This morning, the temperature was 47 F/6 C. The resident leucistic Carolina chickadee likes to drink from ant guards (for hummingbird feeders) but this morning used one as a perch for puffing up its feathers to deal with the cold. #carolinachickadee #birddealingwithcold #birds #leucisticbird

A leucistic Carolina chickadee enjoying safflower seeds in my yard. My home-made suet is also a favorite. #birds #carolinachickadee #leucisticbird #chickadeefeeding

The brown thrashers don't always want to share a perch with mourning doves. Despite their crabby nature though, I appreciated one giving his warning signal yesterday so I didn't step on a rat snake at my woodpile. 😊 #birds #brownthrasher #mourningdove #avianaggravation #blackratsnake #reptiles

A pair of common yellowthroat warblers were having a lot of success in feeding at a swampy area. #birds #commonyellowthroatwarbler #warbler #birdsforaging

Love photographing all wildlife, not only birds (who are often easier to spot). This greater meadow katydid stayed still for a minute or two. 😊 #nature #insects #bugs #greatermeadowkatydid

Getting to see a chestnut-sided warbler during migration was a real treat. #birds #chestnut-sidedwarbler #warbler #birdmigration

So glad that the ruby-crowned kinglets have arrived to spend the cold months here in North Carolina. 😊 #birds #ruby-crownedkinglet #kinglet #nature