Sagebrush Sparrow perched on a dead greasewood branch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday I went back to the location on Antelope Island State Park where I photographed the Yellow-rumped Warblers, Spotted Towhee and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher hoping that some of those migrants would still be around. Some of the birds were there but a cold, sharp wind coming from the north seemed to be keeping them down, at least while I was there. My best sightings of the morning were an Orange-crowned Warbler and a Hermit Thrush but much to my dismay they were both too far away to get high quality images of them.
The cold north wind reminded me that I need to stick my gloves in my camera backpack again. My hands hurt because they were so cold yesterday.
Yesterday when I posted all the small birds I found on Antelope Island (and a few from Farmington Bay), I held back on sharing a few of the species that I saw flitting about, gleaning insects, eating seeds and hiding in the bushes.
One of the birds whose images I held back on posting was a Sagebrush Sparrow that I saw pop up and perch on a dead branch of a greasewood. Since I moved to Utah I have had this species in my viewfinder a mere three times and they have become my tiny nemesis birds. When I saw and photographed the first one I was ill prepared because I was only carrying a 70-300mm VR lens attached to my camera and the bird was just beyond the reach of that lens. The second time I had one in my viewfinder it was also too far away and I had a horrible light angle to boot.
When this Sagebrush Sparrow popped up I had to take photos of it even though I would have liked it to have been a little closer than it was. It didn’t stay there long but I was happy that I was able to photograph it at all.
Sagebrush Sparrows are very territorial and come back to the same location year after year so what I need to do is find one of their territories next year and go there and just wait for them. You can’t find these birds while zipping down a road at 35 mph, not even with my keen eyesight. It just doesn’t happen.
I think the Sagebrush Sparrows are beautiful, elegant birds and I want more photos of them than I have! They are heading south now with the other migrants so maybe I will have more opportunities with them before they are gone for the winter.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Sagebrush Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
Rather than “beautiful” I think these little birds are cute as heck!!!
I agree, beautiful little bird.
Sparrows are beautiful (and sadly underesteemed) birds. Thank you.
Congratulations on a nice shot with an interesting pose of your “nemesis.” 🙂 I like the slightly disheveled look of this little guy.
This is an entirely new species for my awareness! Wish there was more sage around here, but we’ve got PLENTY of greasewood–mostly everywhere!
Such a sweet little bird.
It really is an elegant little bird