PHOTO POST
One morning last week two of the less-seen sparrows visited our front yard together.
White-Throated Sparrow
White-Crowned Sparrow
These two sparrows, plus the Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, American Tree Sparrow, and the Dark-Eyed Junco, often search for food in the lawn and gardens. The Savannah Sparrow and the Swamp Sparrow occasionally allow themselves to be seen in a nearby meadow and marsh.
Wouldn’t it be fun, I thought, to do a post just on the various sparrows in this neighbourhood?
Well, it probably was fun … for the sparrows. I frantically tried to be everywhere at once, searching all the right habitats, while of course also moving as slowly and as close to soundlessly as I could manage. All while scanning the ground and thickets with great care, and equal futility – since I never saw the tiny bundles of camouflage until the second they darted for deeper cover.
Keeping an eye on the sparrow is easier said than done.
Was the exercise a waste of time? Not at all. When you go outside and you pay attention to what’s right around you, you’re likely to see and hear things you didn’t expect.
Stairway to Heaven
A Grackle showed off its colours, and I got glimpses of a Brown-Headed Cowbird, a Yellow-Rumped Warbler, and a Yellow Warbler. And one evening a soft squawk caused me to look a long way up, where I spotted a larger bird shape.
It was a Northern Flicker hollowing out a nest near the top of a dead tree. The nest was on the east side of the trunk and the sun was setting in the west – but at least I knew where to focus in better light.
The next morning I was back, lying on the forest floor with a convenient tree root serving as my pillow, watching a drama unfolding close to the sky.
Based on what happened next, I’m guessing the nest was nearly ready for eggs.
Flicker Duet for Spring
The embrace was brief, but brought on spectacular fireworks.
Northern Flash
When I returned my gaze to earthly matters I saw that a few fiddleheads were unfurling.
Soon, Ferns
In the very shallow water at the outside edges of the marsh, where it’s almost impossible for wind or waves to disturb the placid surface, I puzzled over tiny floating seedlings. This is one effect, I think, of the gentle rise and fall of the marsh as it equalizes with every slight fluctuation in the level of Lake Ontario.
Sprout
Even occasional tufts of moss had detached from land and were sinking down to become part of the rich muck – but not before creating some beautiful ripples.
Moss Makes Waves
And just when I thought I’d see everything except sparrows, one ventured out on a rotting log along the creek bank.
Swamp Sparrow by Evening Light
Composite at top of page, clockwise from top left: Swamp Sparrow, White-Crowned Sparrow, White-Throated Sparrow. (Click here for full-screen view)
