Brown Creeper
with long claws
stiff bracing tail
spirals up oak
curved slender bill
probes for beetles
Suddenly, the Sharp-shin
The small bird is no where
The accipiter has passed
A piece of bark is on the move again
By: Maxwell Corydon Wheat, Jr ©
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Photos ©2006-2008Poem published with authors permission! |
Welcome to the mon@rch nature blog and I hope you join us in some of our nature adventures through the Allegany State Park area!
I am a naturalist, field biologist and nature photographer from the Western New York area. I have started exploring nature writing through this blog and it truly has been fun sharing my numerous adventures with everyone. Thanks to the many other authors that help me with my post and they will be sharing some of their nature explorations.
I have always had a latent interest in birds and photography and have been lucky enough to find time to explore these interests over the last few years. I am very thankful to the Cattaraugus County Bird Club for getting me started, sharing their wealth of knowledge and for their wonderful programs. And many thanks to Tom for letting me share some of my adventures and photos on the Monarch Nature Blog.
Thank you for taking the time visiting and commenting on this blog.
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Mon@rch's Nature Blog 
Top photo is great – incredible detail visible on the feathers.
6 February 2008 at 6:58 pm
I have never been able to get a good picture of these birds as they are usually on the move. They have startled me several times with movement when I did think I was looking at a piece of bark. The poem says it well.
6 February 2008 at 7:11 pm
Perfect combo.
6 February 2008 at 7:41 pm
Great photo. I took a photo of one of these once – but the light was not good under the trees along which it was clambering. You got the colors and poemm just right.
6 February 2008 at 7:52 pm
You are a poet, too! So many talents.
You have an award waiting at my place, if you want it.
6 February 2008 at 7:56 pm
Great poem for a wonderful tiny bird. I just love creeepers. We have one that visits during winter. I don’t see it every day but when I do it almost moves me to poetry. I can see how this little puff of feathers could do so.
6 February 2008 at 8:26 pm
Beautiful bird. Love his beak!
6 February 2008 at 8:41 pm
Wow, Monarch, This is a very cool shot. I never realized how large this bird’s beak was compared to its head. Its eye also looks huge compared to the rest of its head. Very interesting.
Tom
6 February 2008 at 8:46 pm
Lovely poem. Stunning shots.
6 February 2008 at 9:06 pm
Great photo of a bird I’d love to see one day… Very nice poem.
6 February 2008 at 9:28 pm
Beautiful photo…perfect poem…enjoyable post =)
6 February 2008 at 9:46 pm
@ Wren – thanks and is one of my banding photos!
@ ruth – Very funny and they are tough for sure!
@ Barb – thanks
@ Nature Shutterbug – thanks and they never seem to be in the right spot at the right time! Thanks but not my poem!
@ Trixie – Thanks so very much and without a doubt I am not that good of a poet! This was done by an amazing poet that I know! He has done many amazing poems and actually just as amazing of a writer! He wrote something for the very first issue of Bird-Watchers Digest many many moons ago!! I am honored to consider Max a friend in snail mailing me a handful of his nature poems for the blog! I hear he is working on a website and once its done . . . I will be plastering it all over my site!
@ Lisa – Didn’t he capture the moment perfectly?? Probably one of our more common little visitors that we rarely see! In the summer I hear them all over the place!
@ Misti – thanks and isn’t that great!
@ Tom – thanks and they do have a great big bill! We don’t’ normally get to see them up close like this! I remember the first time I caught one in a mist-net . . . I thought what is this!! Stump the bander!
@ blueridgedreaming – thanks for such kind word and Max does such touching poems!
@ Mary – thanks hope you have the chance one of these days! Well, maybe you have already . . . ever see moving bark?
@ Rondi – glad you enjoyed this, thanks!
6 February 2008 at 10:13 pm
Wonderful pictures! How far do you think you were when you took this with your zoom lens (I assume)? Amazing feather detail!
7 February 2008 at 12:01 am
Very nice. I haven’t seen one of these birds. I’ll have to keep an eye out for one now that I know what it looks like.
7 February 2008 at 2:17 am
I love Max’s poetry, and your photos to match! What a great combo!
7 February 2008 at 6:27 am
Let me join in the Brown Creeper admiration society. Which goes to show that it’s more than looks that interests birders.
7 February 2008 at 6:40 am
Love, love, love the Brown Creeper! Haven’t seen any this winter though.
7 February 2008 at 8:22 am
Nice poem and nice shots of this little bird. I find it’s hard to get close enough for good shots.
7 February 2008 at 9:17 am
Piece of bark indeed! Although common here, they’re one of my favorite LBBs.
7 February 2008 at 10:32 am
The Brown Creeper is one of my favorites in the winter, though hard to find sometimes. Nice poetry and wonderful photos!
7 February 2008 at 10:58 am
OMG ~ such gorgeous pictures! Lovely poem, too. 🙂
7 February 2008 at 11:18 am
@ Chicago – This was a banded bird on tip and the bird was right above me on the second shot! I was using my 400mm! Thanks
@ Linda – thanks and do look for them! Maybe this spring you can learn there song!
@ Pam – Doesn’t he do great work? I have lots of other things to include here soon!
@ Vern – Without a doubt, please start one! Thanks
@ Rurality – Do see them because they are such great birds!
@ Adam – They are right! Little Brown Bark?
@ Veery – they are great birds for sure and very hard to find! But, they do pop out from time to time!
@ Lisa – thanks and it is great for sure!
7 February 2008 at 12:24 pm
Ah, one of those birds that I often hear and almost never see!
7 February 2008 at 2:01 pm
Photos & poem are both lovely. 🙂
7 February 2008 at 3:32 pm
Perfect-poem and photo!
7 February 2008 at 4:45 pm
Wow…this is my son’s dream blog. I’ll have to come back and let him browse to his heart’s content. He has always loved animals, and when he was really little he would sit for hours looking through animal encyclopedias. Glad I stumbled across you.
7 February 2008 at 5:36 pm
Nice poem and the pictures are great.
I never see the brown creeper in winter but have seen it every summer. It likes the old trees in the garden. First time I noticed it was looking out a window as it dropped past then scampered back up the tree like some small windup toy.
Have you see ‘Evidence For a Fundamental Shift Away From Nature Based Recreation’ out of UIUC? We need more people like you to lure the population back out into the National and state parks. We should start a ‘Hug a Naturalist Day’ Thank You for your work.
7 February 2008 at 6:00 pm
@ Luis – LOL, for sure I hear many more than see! Thanks
@ Lana – thanks and Max did do a wonderful job!
@ Marg – thanks
@ Sherry – blush, thanks and we do try to keep this site kid friendly! Welcome and hope you visit on a regular basis!
@ Gloria – Thanks and Max is my all time fave poet! They are soo much fun when you find them. Blush and thanks for your kind words! Never heard of the group and if you have not seen, everything is about Allegany State Park here! Thanks for visiting and your virtual hug (wait, did I get a hug or you teasing me?)!
7 February 2008 at 8:39 pm
Wonderful photographs and an interesting poem. I remember seeing a brown creeper back home in Washington. I was looking for a different bird, when something on the trunk moved. Aha!
7 February 2008 at 11:49 pm
Great ending! I didn’t think you’d end it sadly. Good job!
8 February 2008 at 9:52 am
Great photos and poem. I’ve never seen one–will have to listen to bird song CD to see if we have brown creepers.
8 February 2008 at 9:59 am
@ Robin – thanks and isn’t that great when you don’t see and then do! Happiness!
@ Mary – I always try to keep things positive!
@ Joan – thanks and they are very high pitched! Good luck in finding!
8 February 2008 at 6:55 pm
Great photos!!! What type of camera setup do you use? I’m just starting to get into photography (primarily sports) and started out with a Canon Digital Rebel – Got a couple good lenses with it that really seem to make a huge difference.
PS – Thanks for the posts on my blog!
9 February 2008 at 2:08 am
Definitely a “Wow” photo — banding shot or not.
9 February 2008 at 3:29 am
You may have got the photo banding but I voter for the photo over the poem.-great shot!
10 February 2008 at 7:13 am
That first photo reminds me so much of classic Monarch photography. This is where you just shine and your talent just busts out and smacks me on the forehead just like a really great thought. Amazing shots! I always walk away smiling and with a few new personal goals. Beautiful!
10 February 2008 at 2:17 pm
@ i.nconspicous.us – thanks and I have the Nikon D70s and also use a cybershot! The Canon Rebel is a good start camera and can’t wait to see what you end up doing!
@ Marvin – thanks and don’t you love the poem!
@ Lvn – thanks
@ aullori – lol and thanks! You really know how to make someone’s day!
10 February 2008 at 7:11 pm
Beautiful shots of the Brown Creeper. I’ve only seen one of these birds in the last ten years. I used to see them all the time.
10 February 2008 at 10:05 pm
@ Sandpiper – thanks and they are a fun bird! They can be tricky for sure in finding!
11 February 2008 at 5:20 pm
Thanks for sharing the poem.
I was lucky enough last year to have had a Brown Creeper around all winter eating from my bark suet sandwich. No such luck this year.
14 February 2008 at 10:27 pm