Little Winter Birds at Blackwater NWR

I got a chance to spend a few hours last week at Blackwater NWR on the day after our area had been pounded with frigid cold, gale winds two days prior.

The little winter birds were out and about in full force! Everyone was hungry and excited with the warm sun, no winds, and temps in the low 40’s.

Northern Mockingbird

American Robin

Downy Woodpecker

Red-breasted Nuthatch
(not so great a shot BUT a new lifer for me!)

Song Sparrow

There were so many others I missed! During this time of year, it’s not always so easy to capture our little winter birds who hide so well. So this day seeing their presence and action made my visit even more enjoyable.

Tags: Blackwater, Cambridge, downy, Eastern Shore, Maryland, mockingbird, nature, nuthatch, red-breasted, robin, song sparrow, wildlife, winter, woodpecker

41 thoughts on “Little Winter Birds at Blackwater NWR”

H.J. for avian101 on 02/02/2019 at 10:58 PM said:

Great shots Donna. Congratulations on the lifer, Red-breasted Nuthatch, I had that lifer just last month!
🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/02/2019 at 11:17 PM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ! And thank you for sending him my way! 🙂
  
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Jane's Heartsong on 02/02/2019 at 11:44 PM said:

That song sparrow looks cold, all puffed up. Nice to see the Northern Mockingbird, one made a rare visit to this area a few years ago. We are going into a deep freeze for a couple of days, maybe venture out and see what is out there. Thanks for sharing your images, I enjoyed seeing them.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 8:07 AM said:
  
  Thanks Jane, isn’t he cute all puffed up?! Even though it wasn’t a great shot of the NMockingbird, I still included it because I’ve been lax on showing this bird that is quite common for us year round. He and I exchanged some whistles. 🙂
  
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cindy knoke on 02/02/2019 at 11:52 PM said:

They are so chubby! Love them.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 8:08 AM said:
  
  They are, thank you, Cindy!
  
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John on 02/03/2019 at 12:33 AM said:

Beautiful photos Donna, I love the tiny Song Sparrow. So puffy and cute. 🙏🏻❤️

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 8:16 AM said:
  
  Thank you, John! He was so loving those warm sun rays! 😊
  
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blhphotoblog on 02/03/2019 at 3:37 AM said:

Great shots Donna, that Song Sparrow made me smile, he looks really cold!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 8:18 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Brian! I love how the birds puff up during the winter, makes them that much more adorable! 🙂
  
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T Ibara Photo on 02/03/2019 at 5:04 AM said:

Oh what an amazing series! And twice happy for you that you could view a “lifer.” I agree, that Song Sparrow made my smile — he is so round, he must have been very cold. ❤ ❤

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 8:20 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Takami! You can bet that I did a happy dance with the new lifer! 😉 I love when the little birds puff up round in the winter, makes them twice as adorable! 😊
  
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sir albertus on 02/03/2019 at 8:46 AM said:

Wonderful collection Donna. I actually see most of these song birds at my birdfeeder 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:48 PM said:
  
  Thank you SA! They are a nice combination. 🙂
  
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Susan Hale on 02/03/2019 at 9:02 AM said:

Looks like a great day at Blackwater! We haven’t been there yet this year but hope to get there soon, especially to see the bald eagles. Thanks forsharing!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:50 PM said:
  
  You’re welcome, Susan. You need to get over there soon, the Eagles are in full abundance right now. I wanted to go today but couldn’t, and can’t tomorrow. Was telling hubby we need to go Tuesday! 🙂
  
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brighamstephen on 02/03/2019 at 9:13 AM said:

Sounds like a perfect birding day. Great shots and life bird to boot.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:54 PM said:
  
  It was, little and big birds were abounding with the weather finally improving. I’m guessing I saw at least three dozen Eagles that day!
  
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creatingmindblog on 02/03/2019 at 9:56 AM said:

Beautiful photos!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:54 PM said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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Anonymous on 02/03/2019 at 1:02 PM said:

Nice Donna! Fun to see some of the “little” birds instead of the usual larger subjects!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:56 PM said:
  
  Thanks Reed! It is, I think I smile more with the little ones. 🙂
  
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Anonymous on 02/03/2019 at 1:06 PM said:

Nice Donna! Fun to see some of the “smaller” birds instead of the usual larger subjects!

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Isabel F. Bernaldo de Quirós on 02/03/2019 at 4:33 PM said:

Stunning shot of the little winter birds. Thanks for sharing, Donna

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 6:57 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Isabel, and you’re welcome!
  
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  - Isabel F. Bernaldo de Quirós on 02/04/2019 at 5:15 AM said:
    
    Thank you very much, Donna.
    
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Eliza Waters on 02/03/2019 at 5:50 PM said:

Sweet little things! We only see red-breasted nuthatches in winter here in MA. Apparently, many species are irruptive this year due to a failure in conifer cones in the boreal forests. Yours flew quite a ways!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/03/2019 at 7:00 PM said:
  
  I think the little birds make me smile more. Boy, I am very happy the RBN flew into my life that day!!
  
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  - Eliza Waters on 02/03/2019 at 7:59 PM said:
    
    ❤
    
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Gunta on 02/03/2019 at 8:08 PM said:

Nice to compare the ‘little’ tweets from here to there. We’ve been trying to entice a downy to our suet feeder. So far we’ve only seen him eyeing it, but not venturing to it. The Stellar Jays are the goofy ones in the backyard. Watching them trying to figure out how to hang onto a seed feeder and the suet feeder was a treat while washing dishes. It’s taken longer for any of the smaller ones to come out of hiding. Eric has identified a cute little chickadee (chestnut-backed), but there’s another very similar one without the chestnut back we haven’t pinned down yet. Then there are the usual Juncos and sparrows… not to mention the herons and kingfishers and ducks cruising up and down the creek. Life is good! I’m working at getting better shots, but there’s so much shrubby stuff between me and the birds and the kinglets are incredibly fast!!! Sorry to rave on… I’m just getting excited about the life that is returning to our yard after some years of neglect.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/04/2019 at 5:53 AM said:
  
  Great comparison! And what a nice variety you have, new birds, yes life is good! Spring is definitely around the corner, yay!
  
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montucky on 02/03/2019 at 10:05 PM said:

I bet the birds are happier and healthier now that the frigid weather has moved out!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/04/2019 at 5:53 AM said:
  
  For sure! I am too! 🙂
  
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kyleoyier on 02/04/2019 at 1:51 AM said:

Great post

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/04/2019 at 5:54 AM said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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neihtn2012 on 02/04/2019 at 9:43 AM said:

These little birds are beautifully captured! I saw at least one Red-breasted Nuthatch this year but was never ready to photograph it.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/04/2019 at 5:10 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Hien! I am super happy the RBNuthatch and I met that day! 🙂
  
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belindagroverphotography on 02/04/2019 at 1:19 PM said:

What a great group. I really love that full figured song sparrow😊

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/04/2019 at 5:19 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Belinda! I think that adorable Song Sparrow was so enjoying the warm sun in the chilly temps. I should have titled it, Life Is Good! 😊
  
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aussiebirder on 02/05/2019 at 5:07 AM said:

Congrats on the lifer Donna, it is always exciting to get one, and that song sparrow looks quite amazing in size, possibly due to the cold.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 02/05/2019 at 8:22 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Ashley! Yes, the little Song Sparrow was puffed up pretty good with the chilly temps but warm sun rays. 🙂
  
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