Brown Creeper

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 02:14:29 +0000

Brown Creepers are so difficult to photograph - they are tiny, very well camouflaged for climbing tree trunks, and they never stop moving, LOL! I quickly snapped this one on our 109th annual Audubon Bird Count in the Snakeshead area, NW of Calgary recently. I had spent too much time photographing a Downy Woodpecker on someone's feeder and then suddenly noticed this Creeper. I turned round to call to the three friends I was with, but no one was there. I was worried that they must all be waiting for me in the car, which was the other side of the farm house. I knew I'd better get photographic "proof" of this bird as it was the first one on this count. Sorry, Tony - I was in such a hurry that it never occurred to me that you could add this bird to your new Winter List - sorry you missed it, but hope you've seen one elsewhere since then : ) Oh, forgot to add that I've posted this photo, despite it being somewhat blurry and I didn't capture that long, curved beak, but I so rarely get photos of this species. At least it gives an idea of the beautiful feather pattern. These birds are uncommon year round in Alberta.

Brown Creeper

nobody@ipernity.com (Anne Elliott) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 02:36:37 +0000

Anne Elliott has posted:

To quote the first sentence in the "Birds of Alberta" book by Fisher and Acorn:

"Creepers are downright hard to find".

Intent on its feeding, the creeper spirals up large tree trunks, myopically plucking hidden invertebrate morsels from bark fissures with its tweezer-like bill. When it reaches the upper branches, the creeper takes a short flight down to the base of a neighbouring tree to begin another ascent. When Brown Creepers are frightened, they freeze and flatten against tree trunks, becoming even harder to see."

Uncommon year-round in Alberta. Saw this one (and two others) at Bebo Grove, Fish Creek Park, this afternoon. Very difficult birds to photograph, as they move so quickly! When I do see them, they are usually climbing up a tree, not feeding on the ground. Wish I could get one in sunlight - they are always deep in the grove of trees, so light is poor and hence not a good image : ). Camouflage for these small birds is amazing when they are against the tree bark.

Photos, videos and docs of Anne Elliott, with the keywords: "Creeper"

Brown Creeper

Brown Creeper