04 May 2011

May is here...

I was going for more of an artistic style with this SNOWY EGRET:

Back in our yard in Ames, sparrows have been everywhere.  We have recently had:

5 White-crowned Sparrows
2 White-throated Sparrows
1 Harris's Sparrow
2 Lincoln's Sparrow
1 Swamp Sparrow
5+ Chipping Sparrows

In fact, hardly 5 minutes goes by without hearing WCSPs singing.  It's really quite nice!

Here is a WCSP by our porch that is just plain embarrassed:

... and one that was willing to turn around:

Here is a close-up look at the back of a LINCOLN'S SPARROW:

This SWAMP SPARROW is rather distant in this photo but that's what happens when it was on the other side of the creek:

Some sightings from local marshes include this AMERICAN BITTERN:

... and a BOBOLINK that was singing away this morning:

Time to relearn thrush ID.


If you want a bird that isn't difficult to ID at all, try a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER: