Sunday, April 19, 2009

A New Sparrow on a Sunday

Check it out all. A new sparrow to add to my list. This pretty little bird is called a Savannah Sparrow. We spent around 20 minutes trying to find this thing which was rather difficult due to the fact we had to distinguish it from the song and field sparrows! Such a pretty bird though. Check out the yellow around its face. Hard to get a photo of because it is quick and blends in well with tree branches!
My first successful attempt at Kildeer pictures. Another birder pointed the bird out to me and it took me 5 minutes to locate it despite her clear directions! This bird blends in very well with the background and I wouldn't have seen it unless it moved.

Another picture. Isn't it adorable!!! This is my new favorite shore bird for the month of April.


One last picture of it. I could have photographed it all afternoon.


I saw the Pileated this morning. He was busy working on a series of dead snags at the cemetery.


A picture of a Black Capped Chickadee. Even though I have seen it all year, this bird makes me smile every time I see it.



And finally some fun Heron pictures. The male heron spent about 20 minutes this morning flying from the nest to a pine tree to get soft pine for the nest.


He would fly over to grab it, and then fly back and drop it in the nest.



She would inspect it and if she like it, she would add it to the nest while he patiently waited. Once it was added to the nest he would fly off again to repeat the process. Very interesting to watch!
Have a great Sunday everyone.

38 comments:

Chris said...

Hi Kallen,
Looks like you are catching up with bird tours ;-) This is an amazing post really.. Congrats... The black cap chickadee looks like our marsh tit. I think I'm goona start to read books about the evolution of birds. Some are very similar between the two continents, but have different names!! Funny!

MaineBirder said...

It's so cool that you get to watch the nest activity of the GBH! Awesome photos Kim!

troutbirder said...

Wow you did really good. Killdeer are pretty much all we have for shorebirds as this part of our state lacks any shores.

Smalltown RN said...

Thank you for visiting my blog....we had heron's nesting at the top of our property last year...amazing birds...

Anonymous said...

I heard my FOY killdeer today, which makes yet another sign of spring

Helen said...

Your pictures were great. I bet it was entertaining to watch those Herons building their nest. Helen

Anonymous said...

Some really amazing photos today! Looks like you had a very successful day and thanks for sharing with all of us.

Tina said...

Kim,
What a great post..you sure had an interesting Sunday!! So jealous..as I cut the grass and laid pavers most of the day..:(
You did a great job of catching that Savanna Sparrow..as they are pretty quick..don't you just love those little killdeer and esp their call!!
Another round of jealousy..for seeing that Pileated up close like that!!
...Wow Wow and Wow for finding a heron nest..what patience or love he must have for her to inspect every branch and twig..just eager to please I guess..what a good husband!! :)

Coy Hill said...

I find your passion for birding inspiring. There is nothing better than finding a passion to immerse ourselves in allowing us to for a moment forget the cares and troubles of the world.

You are having fantastic birding outings. Photographing the heron nesting activity is really cool. Soon you will be following the incubation and the young in the nest. I’ll keep popping back in to see how they are doing.

ShySongbird said...

Great post and photos Kim, loved the Heron story.

Warren and Lisa Strobel said...

Don't you just love spring! We are most jealous that you get to check out the Great Blue Heron as mating season progresses....

On to Monday... glad you had a nice Sunday!

Rich said...

A sunny day and new birds makes for a good day! Great pictures.

Dawn Fine said...

Kim,
How amazing is this...every day a new bird for you..Congrats..
and I truly mean that...
You are a sweet, inquisitive birder..and it is so fun to read about your adventures.
Your pictures are great..
I always love to see the chickadees..one of my mothers favorite birds.

Shelley said...

Those killdeer are such fun - fast moving little guys! Loved these photos! And of course loved seeing the heron's activity!

Rick (Ratty) said...

I always wondered what a kildeer looked like. I've seen herons flying around, but can never see where they nest, so this is exciting. I cant' even get good pictures of the flying ones yet, because they have always been behind the trees.

Alan Pulley said...

Congrats on the new lifer Kim - and great photos of the kildeer! Love the heron shots as well.

Kelly said...

...congrats on the Savannah Sparrow. We have a pair nesting at VOA Park, and I have been chasing him for almost 3 weeks. I hope I find him soon. I'd like to add him to my list too! Love those heron shots......really nice.

Unknown said...

You are so lucky to have the opportunity to photograph nesting Herons. Beautiful

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots. The Kildeer is one I will probably not induce to come into my back yard but I might try it by using some gravel as an edging material. Since they lay eggs in gravel or along gravel roads it might be worth trying. I really like the Savannah Sparrow. I don't think I have ever had one of those. I spent some time yesterday trying to pinpoint a Brown Thrasher in this big high maple and finally did. What songs he sang. Wow.

I really enjoyed your post. I will also keep everyone up to date on the meadowlark. I don't think it will work as my patch is never going to be a field of grass. LOL

Jayne said...

The Kildeer are so funny to watch. Love your Pileated as usual! Congrats on the Savannah Sparrow. :c)

Ginnymo said...

Hi Kim. Great shots!! I can't tell one sparrow from the next but I do have a few around here. What great entertainment to watch those herons!! That is so cool!!! The Killdeer is so cute. I once got a picture of one up on the college lawn. Not sure why they were hanging around there unless they like the reservoir area up there. And the Chickadees are a cute little bird. I've had them all winter here. I don't see them as much now. Must be because of nesting?? Looks like you had a great Sunday shoot!!

Ginnymo said...

I forgot to say how lucky to have gotten those shots of the Pileated!!! Awesome!!

Anonymous said...

Another successful birding day resulting in neat shots!

Anonymous said...

Pretty productive day, Kim. It looks like you have some good places to go.

A Scattering said...

Hi Kim, how in heavens name did you get the Kildeer photo?! Those things move like they're hopped up on espresso! Good for you. The swallows in your previous entries are stunning. Anything on the Cooper's Hawk yet?

Allison said...

Ooohhh!! I have been waiting to see a Pileated! GREAT SHOT!

Leedra said...

Love watching the birds build their nest when they both are working at it. (Really just like watching birds in general.)

The Killdeer are also fun to watch. Did she 'break her wing' for you?

Leedra’s Photos For FunLeedra’s Greeting CardsPhotography By Leedra

Mary said...

You've really been adding to your bird list :-) I love killdeer, too and keep worrying about that one that we almost parked our car on top of...need to go back and see if she hatched babies yet...or if she survived. I always end up taking hundereds of identical photos of every new bird that excites me :-) Sounds like you are like that, too. Love the heron shots and the chickadee and the pileated. You must be closer to your herons then the ones I've been watching....I wish I could see that much detail!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Kim, I cannot believe there are so many varieties of Sparrows... Wow!!!!
Love your Kildeer. Sounds like you had a great week/weekend.

We are glad to be home.. It was a wonderful trip --just getting to see my son and family. BUT--the weather was horrible. Oh Well!!!!

I'm going to check through some of your older blog posts.
Hugs,
Betsy

genie said...

Those kildeer are toughies! I never have caught a good glimpse at them, I mistake them for rocks. LOL


*I Donate To Cornell Ornithology!*
http://www.opticsplanet.net/cornell-lab-of-ornithology.html

Anonymous said...

Just returned to say I saw a Harris sparrow (the one with the beard) on a blog this morning and now I can't remember where I saw it at. That and a lark sparrow. Never heard of either of them.

Living in such wonderful places, so different from where I have lived, you might enjoy a look at The Hamlet of Gordon, Ohio. It is where I was born and raised and it is how small hamlets used to be and this one still exists.

The Hamlet of Gordon

Dawn Fine said...

Kim,
Where are you? I am getting concerned about you...Are you ok? Did you go on vacation? Or just a bloggy vacation? Hope you are ok...miss your bloggy posts!
Take care!

Ginnymo said...

Yoo, Hoo!! Kim! Where are you??? Hope you are okay. Have you heard anything about that injured hawk?? Have a great weekend! Hugs!

Kim said...

Thanks all! I am here! I have just been super busy the past few days! It is so frustrating when work and your personal life interferes with your birding and blogging! ;o)

Larry said...

I can't believe how far behind I am on your posts-you've been on a birding tear! Glad you are enjoying it so much.You've been seeing some great birds.

Anonymous said...

Saw a Kildeer today in Belmont MA. It was at the farm in Belmont and was dusting itself repeatedly.


Saw a peregrine falcon in Belmont a few weeks ago.

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