White-crowned Sparrow feeding on Rabbitbrush seeds – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last week while on Antelope Island State Park I was able to get some White-crowned Sparrows in my viewfinder, some were pretty far away but some of the sparrows came in close, almost too close. The rabbitbrush on the island has gone to seed and the sparrows were landing on top of the fluffy bushes to eat them.
One of the adult White-crowned Sparrows came in so close that I had trouble fitting it all in the frame and I also had to turn the focus limiter off on my lens so I could focus on it.
I like that I can see some of the rabbitbrush fluff in its bill in this photo and that the bird turned its head towards me briefly which not only gave me nice eye contact with the bird but also a great view of the sparrow’s white crown.
I’m not sure I like the crown of the out of focus bird in the background showing but I think it is out of focus enough to not be a real distraction, still I wish that bird weren’t there.
I checked the weather a bit ago because I can hear the wind howling outside my window and was surprised to see that it is 60°F and here it is the middle of November.
Yesterday the weather was mostly cruddy, it will be cloudy and rainy today and there is a chance of snow for tomorrow as the temps drop and the front moves in.
The change in weather may bring in some more winter birds, I sure hope it does.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my White-crowned Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
Add me to the list of those who simply didn’t notice the second sparrow. I was too busy ogling/marvelling at the first. And even when I scrolled back, it still wasn’t a distraction. At all.
Stunning photo
Like Patty and Liz, I didn’t notice the background sparrow at all. I was far too focused on the sheet beauty in front along with the fluffy rabbitbrush (and thanks for helping me identify this flora!!). I also had to go back and look again. I’m delighted to have found white-crowned sparrows here! I just love their songs!
Beautiful little winter visitor…love the variety of textures!!! didn’t see the second bird at first…the overall effect is super nice…
I had to actually go back to look at the background of this photo to see that, yep, there really is an out-of-focus White-crowned Sparrow in the background. I don’t know that I would have even noticed it if you hadn’t mentioned it. I was too much into oohing and aahing over the detail of the one in the foreground to notice anything else. Except the beautiful fluffiness of the rabbit bush.