Savannah Sparrow on fence railing – Nikon D200, tripod mounted, f6.3, 1/320, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 321mm, natural light
A Savannah Sparrow singing can be listened to here.
(Other birds heard in this recording are Western Meadowlarks and Wilson’s Snipes)
The American Robins are singing again which in some parts of the country even the sight of a robin means spring. Utah has robins all year long. Some people think seeing bluebirds is a sign of spring, here in Utah we have Mountain Bluebirds all year long too so the sight of them doesn’t say “Spring” to me.
More often than not what does say “Spring” to me are the songs of the birds including Savannah Sparrows. Savannah Sparrows have been recorded all year long in Utah and I have seen them during the winter here myself but in the spring they start to sing and I delight in that.
On my last two trips up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge I have heard Savannah Sparrows singing “sit sit sit sit suh-EEEEE say” from somewhere in the marshes. As the days grow longer and get warmer I know I will hear them more often here in Utah and in Montana when I am able to get up there to photograph the birds and wildlife. The photo I have included in this post was taken in 2011 at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge‘s lower lake campground.
I’m hoping that soon I will see a Savannah Sparrow singing while perched on top of a fence, a cattail or some rushes to photograph.
Happy first day of Spring!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Savannah Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
Terrific shot. Love the textures and the background sets everything up perfectly. Thanks Mia.
Great image and yes, wonderful to hear the song-birds again. Thanks for adding the song link.
And on this first day of spring I have seen my first brown mosquito; they seem to hangout in the lawn.
How I love bird song. I have recently invested in a CD of the song/calls of birds in my area. Over time I hope to be able to identify some of the birds I have never (rarely) seen.
So happy Spring is coming!!! I really liked that beautiful picture of Savannah Sparrow!!! Thanks for sharing:)
Spring o me is heralded by the Chickdees, and other year round residents, singing their Spring songs, by the sound of tiny frogs called Spring Peepers and by the emergence of skunk cabbage…We often have year round robins, but we do see more of them in Spring…
Ahh, I think this is the bird I could hear and only see flit away on Saturday when I was in the Rush valley. I have been looking or should I say listening through Cornell’s on line references trying to find what it was. You found it for me. Thank you.
Beautiful photo, Mia. Spring is quite welcome.