BIRDQUEST2004

Sparrows, little brown jobs.  Some easy, some tough.  Like them or not they take up numerous pages in our bird guides.  Over the last ten years I have managed to photograph 31 of the 35 species of Sparrow.

Some like the Eurasian Tree Sparrow can only be found in St. Louis, Missouri and others across North America.

Some respond to pishing and others stay buried in the grasses, occasionally showing themselves.  Getting a photo is pure luck for many of these birds.

The four species I still need are all found in the Texas, New Mexico and Arizona area.  Cassin’s Sparrow, Botteri’s Sparrow, Brewer’s Sparrow and Baird’s Sparrow (also found in western Canada in summer).

Ciao for now….

After reading in Ontbirds, that Ray Holland had found a singing Western Meadowlark, near Ottawa…I just had to go and get this beautiful bird for my Ottawa List.  Yes, I keep an Ottawa List.  Probably a lot smaller than most but I can only keep trying.

Arriving at the Junction of Panmure and Upper Dwyer Hill Road, the first thing I heard when I rolled down my window, was the sweet sound of the Western Meadowlarks call.  LOLOL…I couldn’t locate it though, I looked left then right but forgot to look up.   I had parked under a telephone pole, that it was on top of.   It sang for quite some time, then flew off into the field.   It must have gone for some food, singing must make you hungry.  This gave me time to set up my 500 and 1.7 tc.

It flew back a few minutes later and I was ready when it landed on a fence post.

It is a very tame bird, I got as close as I dared, soon to be joined by a local tour group also interested in seeing this Bird.

My 300mm lens came back from Nikon today, I hope my D7000 comes back soon. My D70 is doing a fine job for now.    A lovely addition to my list..til next time.

Ciao