Savannah Sparrow – CrazyM Bird & Nature Photography

Teal, Goldfinch & Yellowlegs

While personal matters have kept me away from the blog for a while, figured it was time to try and get back into the swing of things. So why not start with Reifel where I usually try to spend my Sunday afternoons helping out on the trails. This time of year can be quiet on the birding and visitor front, but I did manage to find a few cooperative subjects. First up,

… were some Blue-winged Teal that are still hanging around the outer ponds. The west marsh had lots of American Goldfinch activity. They were busy feeding in the tall grass,

… and on the cat tails.

They were also showing up adjacent to the trails as the thistle is blossoming. The only shorebirds around,

… were some Greater Yellowlegs still showing some of their breeding plumage.

To round out the afternoon was this Savannah Sparrow.

Shore & Song Birds

Another brief walk along Boundary Bay was not turning up too much.

This lone Greater Yellowlegs seemed quite content to hang out around the pilings,

… and was quite cooperative on the photo front.

The other consistent shorebirds of late have been the Pectoral Sandpipers. With not much else showing up I headed back along the dyke.

Along the way I came across some Savannah Sparrows,

… and a small group of Yellow-rumped Warblers.

All were busy foraging for insects in the vegetation, with the warblers being a little less camera shy.

Bushtit, Savannah & Swallow

A little windy, but still nice when I headed out for a walk late this afternoon. While doing my first loop through the North 40 I heard a Bullock’s Oriole. While trying to locate it,

… I got sidetracked by a flock of Bushtits busy foraging for insects. Then while checking some of the tree lines along the north side,

… I managed to get this Savannah Sparrow as it took off. Still not having any luck locating or photographing the Bullock’s Oriole,

… this Tree Swallow did cooperate landing atop an old snag briefly.