Savannah Sparrow foraging for prey, Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Centennial Valley, Beaverhead County, MontanaSavannah Sparrow foraging for prey – Nikon D7100, 1/2000, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not baited or called in

Earlier this month while I was in Montana I spent time photographing some Savannah Sparrows at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Quite often I hear these beautiful little sparrows before I see them and I don’t need to see them to know that they are around. Their songs can be heard here.  The Savannahs that I photographed were foraging by the shore of the Lower Lake on the refuge and several times I saw the adult feeding a fledgling or flying to a hidden nest and feeding the nestlings there. The sparrows were quite unafraid to come close to the vehicle and at times even with my limiter turned off they would come so close I couldn’t focus on the quick moving bird.

I have only processed this one Savannah Sparrow image because I have been very busy but I do have some that I will post later of the prey the sparrow found and some of the fledgling begging or being fed. I liked the way the sparrow was looking at me in this frame, it’s pose and the great eye contact. I wish I could have gotten to a lower angle but that is hard to do when you are inside a “mobile” blind.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to view more of my Savannah Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.