Birding - 17 Oct. 09

We had 13 species of sparrows today down around Saylorville and at Harrier Marsh. They were:

Harris's Sparrow (10)

White-throated Sparrow (20)

White-crowned Sparrow (7)

Song Sparrow (5)

Fox Sparrow (8)

Swamp Sparrow (20)

Chipping Sparrow (4)

Savannah Sparrow (8)

Vesper Sparrow (8)

Lincoln's Sparrow (5)

Le Conte's Sparrow (10)

Nelson's Sparrow (1)

Dark-eyed Junco (hoards)

We also had things like:

American Pipit (30)

Franklin's (500), Bonaparte's (20), Ring-billed, and Herring Gull (1)

Merlin (1)

Horned Grebe (3)

Here is a Harris's Sparrow:

... and a White-crowned Sparrow:

... and Ruby-crowned Kinglet:

Sparrows - 15 Oct. 09

I spent a misty, dreary morning working Harrier Marsh for sparrows. There were still plenty around:

Le Conte's Sparrow (25)

Nelson's Sparrow (4)

Vesper Sparrow (3)

Savannah Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Here are some photos of one of the NELSON'S SPARROWS:

Back at home, the creekside edge has been pretty active. We've had:

Orange-crowned Warbler

Magnolia Warbler (1)

Hermit Thrush

Eastern Phoebe

Fox, Lincoln's, White-throated, Song, and Chipping Sparrows

YERA, etc - 13 Oct. 09

I apologize for the lack of blog-updating lately! Classes and teaching are keeping me rather busy...

However, I thought I would mention that Ashley and I got lucky and flushed ANOTHER Yellow Rail back on 9 October at Harrier Marsh! We tried desperately to flush it a second time but we didn't succeed with that.

We also checked out some sparrows as well. The marsh still had good numbers of Le Conte's Sparrows and Nelson's Sparrows in addition to a couple lingering wrens and a yellowthroat.

Here are a few pictures of some Le Conte's Sparrows:

You want a challenge? Try to photograph a LCSP in flight!

Back on the 11th, we found an early BUFFLEHEAD down at Saylorville in addition to a couple RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. Here is one of them:

Otherwise, I haven't been birding all that much. The yard has been pretty active lately though. In addition to all the stereotypical neighborhood birds, we've had:

Chipping Sparrow (5)

White-throated Sparrow (10+)

Dark-eyed Junco (10+)

Fox Sparrow (2)

Song Sparrow (1)

Harrier - 4 Oct. 09

Not too much to report from Harrier Marsh this morning. The "best" bird was probably this late BOBOLINK:

However, the NELSON'S SPARROWS were not to be outdone. We had several this morning. Note the gray median stripe on this bird (it didn't feel like turning towards me apparently).

However, LE CONTE'S SPARROWS are now easily outnumbering Nelson's Sparrows. Here is one tucked deep in the weeds:

YERA & HESP - 2 Oct. 09

Despite the driving rain, chilly temps, and very gusty wind, Ashley and I took our chances and decided to rope-drag at Snake Creek and Harrier Marsh this morning.

Highlights at Snake Creek Marsh included 7 species of sparrows:

HENSLOW'S SPARROW (1, see photo below)

Nelson's Sparrow (2, see photo below)

Le Conte's Sparrow (4+)

Lincoln's Sparrow (1)

White-throated Sparrow (2)

Harris's Sparrow (5)

Fox Sparrow (1)

House Wren (1)

Sedge Wren (4)

Henslow's Sparrow from Snake Creek Marsh:

Nelson's Sparrow from Snake Creek Marsh:

The definite highlight was a YELLOW RAIL that we were lucky enough to flush twice at Harrier Marsh. We tried to flush it a third time for photo attempts but the bird had other ideas! We also had:

Nelson's Sparrow (2, see photo below)

Le Conte's Sparrow (4)

Now if I can only dry off and warm up....