outdoor photography

Field Sparrow Yesterday morning I checked my feeder as I was heading out for work and I saw a strange-looking sparrow on the ground under my feeder. I pulled out my binoculars and saw it was a Field Sparrow. What a surprise! I put out my feeder just after Christmas, and over the weeks since then, the number of birds coming to my feeder has steadily increased. I've now seen 11 species at my feeder, but this one is by far my favorite. I never thought of Field Sparrows as feeder birds, but there it was, along with about 8 Chipping Sparrows, which have been regulars at my feeders. I guess this one was passing through, saw the chippies and decided to rest here on its migration north.  I opened my window and fired off a couple shots before heading off for work.  That afternoon, it was gone.

Lark Sparrow On Saturday I drove out to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to see a Lark Sparrow that had been found there the day before.  It was seen near the gate area, so I didn't do the whole drive. I just walked up and down Lust Rd until I finally saw the Lark Sparrow. Lark Sparrow While waiting for the Lark Sparrow to show up, I also saw a Field Sparrow, which also is a bit unusual in Central Florida. To my knowledge, neither bird was seen the next day, though people did photograph a Clay-colored Sparrow in the same general area. Field Sparrow  

Grasshopper Sparrow Yesterday I went to my favorite little sparrow spot in Seminole County.  It has been fantastic to us this winter, since we've been able to see Grasshopper Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, and even a Lark Sparrow, not to mention our more commons species: Savannah, Swamp and Chipping Sparrows.  However, since early January, it seems that the two places I check had all but dried up.  I haven't seen anything but Savannah and Swamp Sparrows in over a month, which is strange because they shouldn't have left us yet. Field Sparrow But this morning, on my way to one of my spots, I saw about a dozen Savannah Sparrows along the canal beside the road. I decided to pull over and see what I could find.  Among the Savannah Sparrows were 2 Grasshopper Sparrows and 1 Song Sparrow.  Then in the distance I saw my first Field Sparrow in Seminole County.  Field Sparrows are not too common here.  ...

White-crowned Sparrow Yesterday I drove out to Lust Rd., which is a road that takes you very close to Lake Apopka.  It actually can take you all the way to the lake, but at one point it's fenced off, preventing you from entering the restoration area.  But the road near the fence is a pretty great place to look for sparrows.  Yesterday I found 5 species and photographed four: Savannah , White-crowned, Vesper, Field and Grasshopper Sparrows.  The Field Sparrow is the first I've seen in Orange Co., and only the second I've seen in Florida.  Vesper Sparrow Field Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow This is also the area where I found my first Western Tanager.  I see Blue-headed Vireos here frequently this time of year, but this is a species that seems rather adept at preventing me from getting good photos.  I usually end up with a cluttered background behind these birds whenever I get them in my sights.  Yesterday morning gave me my best photo...

Field Sparrow I would be pretty excited to find one of these birds in Florida this year, but they were out in style at Occoquan Bay NWR this past July.  They were a highlight of my time there.  They may be plain-looking, but they have a pretty distinctive call, and I think they're kind of fun. Field Sparrow Field Sparrow Field Sparrow

Prothonotary Warbler This morning I went again to Occoquan Bay.  I was told that the "easy trail" might be very productive, and it was. I got my first photographs of a Prothonotary Warbler and a Field Sparrow, and I also found a couple American Goldfinches and Eastern Towhees that were willing to pose for photographs. Prothonotary Warbler American Goldfinch Field Sparrow Field Sparrow Eastern Towhee