Early in to work this morning so early home. Gusting winds with a tornado watch in effect took me out to secure some loose items that were blowing about. A rather large group of Yellow-Rumped Warblers hunting insects on some vines first caught my attention. I tried a couple of shots but with the dark conditions and high winds moving the vines, no good shots.
What next caught my attention was a little Brown-Headed Nuthatch. It flew to the feeder, took a seed and up to the limb. As I was looking through the lens adjusting the light, to my surprise another flew in. What followed was I feel certain courtship ritual between the two.
At first they just sat side by side. That was followed by much self preening and feather fluffing. Again they just sat for a bit. Slowly they kept turning as if looking at each other. Lots of head cocking and turning. Next one began to preen the other then after a bit they reversed roles. After a bit more feather fluffing. Finally there was either a simulated or true copulation act. After another brief quiet moment, they flew to another tree and the ritual began again. It was beginning to sprinkle so I called it an afternoon.
Normally the little Brown-Headed Nuthatches are such speedy never sit still birds that it was sort of cool to be able to watch them closely for a while.
Early in to work this morning so early home. Gusting winds with a tornado watch in effect took me out to secure some loose items that were blowing about. A rather large group of Yellow-Rumped Warblers hunting insects on some vines first caught my attention. I tried a couple of shots but with the dark conditions and high winds moving the vines, no good shots.
