Snow Bunting -Lifer!

What a fantastic day of photography and hanging with friends I had yesterday at Bethel Beach near Matthews VA.  Everything came into perfect sync and I was able to not only get this lifer, the Snow Bunting but 4-5 more which I will share over the next several days.

The Snow Buntings breed in the most northern areas of Canada and Greenland and while they do migrate to the US Atlantic states, they rarely make it as far south as Virginia according to the Audubon and All About Bird websites so this was a huge treat to see and photograph.

Northern Flicker in the Snow

We have at least two Northern Flickers living in our woods. I have seen them numerous times high in the trees, deep in the woods and their white butts in the sky as they flew away.  They are extremely skittish and I have not been able to photograph them, until this past Saturday that is. 

There was a brief break in the snow and ice that had fallen all morning when this female yellow-shafted showed up on my feeder of all places.  Her appearance at the feeder was new. I had not seen any of them at the feeders but these lady was not the least bit shy about showing every other bird there that she planned to get a meal.  She continued to hop from tree to feeder for about 20 minutes and I was able to stay still enough to grab these close up shots of her.

More House Finch in the Snow

Chickadees in the Snow

House Finch In the Snow

Red-Breasted Nuthatch in the Snow

This Red-breasted Nuthatch looks none to pleased about the snow and cold temperatures we are having.  After all the come here each winter to escape it.  Our huge flock seems to have gotten much smaller so I am afraid they have started to leave us for their spring and summer homes.  It has been great fun hearing their calls and songs all winter.  Hopefully they know they are very welcome to return next season.

King William County, VA USA
Olympus OMD-EM1X with 300mm