Adult male Bushtit looking for food hidden in a dried leaf
Psaltriparus minimus
Capitol Lake
Olympia, WA
April 21, 2015
This morning, I spent about twenty minutes watching a pair of Bushtits feed. The bright sun of the past few days has given way to overcast, which makes it easier to photograph without getting deep harsh shadows. Bushtits are always a small challenge to photograph, because of their diminutive size and the way they flit about as they forage.
I was especially captivated to watch as this male wrestled a dried leaf off a branch and snatched his mid-morning snack.
It was only after the Bushtit pair departed that I noticed their nest less than 10 feet from where I was standing. The nest is in full view from the path and barely camouflaged with foliage. It was a wonderful reminder to look carefully and pay attention.
