LearningLibrarian

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Nest Building: Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers

Out walking through a local park, I saw two little birds flitting back and forth to a certain branch. I realized they were gnatcatchers and thought they might be building a nest. After watching them for several minutes, I realized they definitely were working on a nest. As you can see, this nest is made of spiderwebs lined with lichen. I wish I could say I’ll remember exactly where this nest is…

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My Favorite Reads of 2025

These are my favorite reads of 2025. Most lists that you read or hear of deal only with books that were published in 2025. Since I’m not a professional blogger or book seller, only a few of these books were published this year. I chose my top ten by going to the books I read each month and picking out my top ones of the month. Several months had two or three 5 star books though October had none.…

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Favorite Bird Pics of April '25

“Birds are beautiful. After a lifetime of study I still love to look at them and listen to them, even the common species.”― Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America Red-headed Woodpecker Belted Kingfisher Wood Ducks White-eyed Vireo Blue-winged Teal pair Blue Jay Eastern Kingbird Pileated Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Eastern Towhee (male) Mama Wood Duck and…

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Favorite Bird Pics of March '25

“In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence.” -Robert Lynd White-breasted Nuthatches Cedar Waxwing Red-Shouldered Hawk Pileated Woodpecker Wood Duck (male) Blue-winged Teal (male) Barred Owl (napping in the sun) Hairy Woodpecker Tree Swallows Northern Roughwing Swallow Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Eastern Bluebirds–Not sure if the one on the right is making an…

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Favorite Bird Pics from February '25

“Use your eyes. Use them and have faith in them. Use your eyes and trust them. And go out and listen to the birds. Oh, if we would listen more often to the singing of the birds!” H.R. Sass, On the Wings of a Bird 1928 Red-headed Woodpecker Golden-crowned Kinglet Carolina Wren Tufted Titmouse White-throated Sparrow Brown Creeper Eastern Painted Turtle (Yes, this is a reptile, but you don’t…

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Favorite Bird Pics of January 2025

“He taught me the difference between casual “birdwatching” and the more intense, focused “birding,” and urged me to go beyond identifying birds to noting their actions and behavior.”― Jennifer Ackerman, The Genius of Birds White-breasted Nuthatch White-throated Sparrow Ruby-crowned Kinglet Chipping Sparrow Pileated Woodpecker Ruddy Duck Pair of Hooded Mergansers Red-bellied…

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Favorite Bird Pics of December '24

Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Hooded Merganser Northern Cardinal Barred Owl (napping in a pine tree) Ruby-crowned Kinglet Brown Creeper Yellow-bellied Sapsucker showing off his handiwork. These woodpeckers always make rows of small holes like this. The backs of two Barred Owls. I know this doesn’t look like much, but seeing these two snuggled up together…

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My Ten Favorite Reads of 2024

I read over 150 books this year, and these were my favorites. Most lists of top reads are books published in the current year. None of these books happened to be published in 2024; this is just the year I read them. I don’t often read books when they first come out. I did read several books from 2024, but none of them made my particular list. I read across many genres as this list will attest.…

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Favorite Bird Pics of November '24

Song Sparrow Barred Owl Downy Woodpecker (male) Dark-eyed Junco Golden-crowned Kinglet Eastern Phoebe Cedar Waxwing Red-shouldered Hawk (with a little snack) Red-bellied Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Red-shouldered Hawk Red-bellied Woodpecker Red-headed Woodpecker (juvenile) Red-Headed Woodpecker White-breasted Nuthatch Young buck trying to blend into the trees. “For unto us…

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Favorite Bird Shots of October '24

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (female). An unusual visitor to my backyard as they only pass through in the spring and fall. I saw a juvenile male the next day. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Red-headed Woodpecker (juvenile) Red-bellied Woodpecker (looks like he’s holding a Chee-to, but I suppose it’s not). Wood Ducks (female) Pine Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Northern Flicker Red-Shouldered…

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Favorite Bird Photos of September '24

“Beside them the birds of the heavens dwell; they sing among the branches. From Your lofty abode You water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work.” Psalm 104:12-13 Yellow-billed Cuckoo Eastern Bluebird (fledgling) Eastern Bluebird Brown-headed Nuthatch Black & White Warbler Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird Cape May Warbler American…

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Favorite Reads from August '24

“The only ethical principle which has made science possible is that the truth shall be told all the time. If we do not penalize false statements made in error, we open up the way for false statements by intention. And a false statement of fact, made deliberately, is the most serious crime a scientist can commit.”― Dorothy L. Sayers, Gaudy Night Gaudy Night Dorothy Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey #12)…

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Favorite Bird Shots of August '24

“It can be difficult to accept the fact that a lot of birds have to be identified as “possible” or “probable.”― David Allen Sibley, Sibley’s Birding Basics Green Heron Green Heron (sporting his mohawk) Red-headed Woodpeckers–Parent showing the newbie the ropes or how to find the best bugs Little Blue Heron Barn Swallow White-eyed Vireo Ruby-throated Hummingbird–one of my white spotted…

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Favorite Reads of July '24

“As she reads these pages, something verging on magical happens, making her think for the very first time that books might be better than real life.” Clara Reads Proust Stephane Carlier You may have thought by now that I didn’t finish any books in July, but, au contraire, I did complete quite a few books. Here are a few of them: Poster Girls Meredith Ritchie. Historical fiction based on the…

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Favorite Bird Shots of July '24

“Watching birds is good for mental health, the research tells us; it reduces anxiety, stress and depression and builds a well-being connection that might remain for life.” Miriam Darlington in Owl Sense. Red-tailed Hawk White-eyed Vireo Barred Owl Yellow-throated Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Barred Owl (doing a little fishing) Pileated Woodpecker Great Crested Flycatcher (Another) Barred…

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Favorite Reads from June '24

“the strongest couples I know have grown together, supporting their partner’s changes rather than harnessing or fearing them. It’s a bit like growing roses—you don’t get to choose exactly which way the stems unfurl, but if you help them climb you get the pleasure of watching them flourish.”― Olivia Ford, Mrs. Quinn’s Rise to Fame Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (The Neapolitan Novels #3)…

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Favorite Bird Pics June '24

“And here is where nature mocks you absolutely. Birds don’t work on your schedule. They don’t care an iota for your plans or desires. They ridicule your fantasy that you are in control of what it is you see. They appear when they want to and disappear accordingly.” Julia Zarankin in Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder Baby Barred Owls Daddy Downy Woodpecker feeding baby Eastern…

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