COMING NEXT WEEK: A NEW TWIST!

Beginning next week, my Daily Photo series will take on a new dimension. Each week, five photographs will share a common theme. Sometimes it might be a particular destination, sometimes a color in a bird’s name, and sometimes something completely unexpected!

The photographs, natural history, and personal stories will continue, but now there will be a new connection to discover each week.

Five days (sometimes 6 or 7). Five photographs (sometimes 6 or 7). One theme.

I hope you’ll join me for the adventure!

​​Sitta canadensis

Sittidae — Nuthatches

Click photograph to view full size

A photograph is worth a thousand words, but the story makes it worth a few more.

BACKSTORY

This fall is shaping up to be one of the stronger mountain-bird irruption seasons in the Central Valley in the past decade, with Red-breasted Nuthatches among the species appearing away from their usual higher-elevation haunts. This bird along the Lodi Lake Nature Trail was my first of the year in San Joaquin County. Fortunately, it did more than simply make an appearance—it paused long enough to pose beautifully in some very nice light.

IMAGE DETAILS

LOCATION INFORMATION: Lodi Lake Nature Trail, San Joaquin County, California · August 25, 2026
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION: Canon EOS R5 · Canon RF 100–500mm + RF 1.4x Extender
SETTINGS INFORMATION: 661mm · ƒ/10 · 1/640 sec · ISO 2000