Walking the winter woods

Quiet and stillness drift through the empty woods in winter, leaving a gentle calmness behind that reminds us to slow down and listen to the winter sounds. One sound that always makes me smile is the soft, muted call of a White-breasted Nuthatch. Nasally and insistent, its voice seems to wrap itself around the bare trees and linger in the air before revealing where the little bird is hiding...

For such a gentle and soft call, it never goes unheard...

This little fellow was part of a small flock foraging in the trees along the Little Miami River. Five were flitting back and forth, chasing each other and foraging at the same time. Normally I don't see that many hanging together.

...always busy, this little nuthatch was constantly flipping up tiny bits of moss and bark, gleaning the tree for small bugs and spiders tucked away for the winter.

One of the five nuthatches was more intent on saving seeds and hiding them in the bark. I watch as he grabbed several maple seeds and tucked the seed and papery tail into a small crack in a crook of the tree. Unfortunately, he was a little too far away to photograph, so I had to be content to watch him through my binocs.

...I love it when they give you that look, which pretty much says, "Move on now, human, you have enough photos..."