Golden-crowned Kinglets rarely perch. They flit and swoop as they search for their insect prey which includes springtails, grasshoppers, crickets, lice, bugs, lacewings, beetles, caddis flies, moths, butterflies, flies, bees, wasps, spiders, mites, and some mollusks. Trying to photograph them is a challenge especially as they are about as big as my thumb.

I got a few photos of this individual as I prowled about the upper Bluffs looking for signs of spring.

Here are photos from other days:

The Ruby-crowned Kinglets arrive a bit later than the Golden-crowned and I should be seeing one soon.

Other flyers:

Bluff area views:

Some botany:

MAILBOX

Miles,

Have you seen this video of a drone providing food to a motherless vulture in Israel?

NATURE POETRY

The season comes when, from her three-months’ trance,
The Earth awakens: already her deep heart
Begins to stir, and send its life abroad.         – Thomas Buchanan Read (1822–72)

Miles Hearn