Backyard bird encounters

Bushtit

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Purple Finch female

Spotted Towhee

Yesterday I drove many miles searching for "special" birds, but aside from the Pygmy-Owl I didn't find any that I could not have found closer to home. Today I decided to try to create some "close encounters" right in my own yard, and my effort was richly rewarded. A half hour of watching from a semi-hidden place in the shrubbery produced some very satisfying closeup views, complete with a background soundtrack.