Some folks might wonder why I would celebrate a Lark Sparrow but for me this classy looking (for a sparrow at least) songbird was a bit of a milestone.
Because of issues with my bad back and related factors I hadn’t been out shooting for 8 days! and it was driving me bonkers. In the last ten years the only other time I remember going that long without my camera in my hand and birds in my viewfinder was when I flew to Florida to be with my daughter Shannon in the hospital after her traumatic brain injury (TBI).
But yesterday morning there was a chance for decent light (we’re in the middle of our monsoon season so clouds are always iffy) and I thought I could do it so I just did and my chosen destination was Antelope Island. It was very hot and birds were slow but this Lark Sparrow and one other bird saved my morning.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
And he was a ‘happy’ little bird, singing away in the oppressive heat. I quite like this photo – the light on the sparrow is evenly distributed (although it wasn’t before he turned his head to this angle), the detail is good, the background is clean, I have a nice catch light and I think it’s a lovely singing pose. And I adore the harlequin face of this species. My one significant nit was that the Tintic Quartzite perch was too bright so I selectively brought down it’s exposure during processing. Nope, the piles of bird poop don’t really bother me. Poop happens.
I’ll admit that one of the reasons I chose to go to the scorching island instead of into the much cooler mountains is because two days ago there was a report of a Brown Pelican on the periphery of the island. I was skeptical of that report because a Brown Pelican in Utah would be extremely rare (check out a range map and you’ll see what I mean) but with birds you never know and this pelican was reported to be a young one and youngsters can more easily go astray. So even though I seldom chase rarities that report did figure into the equation when I was deciding where to go.
But I didn’t see hide nor feather of that pelican so I’m sure glad I spotted this Lark Sparrow.
Ron
Glad the lark sparrow brightened your day. Sure made me smile.
Good thoughts for your back. Diana
Hi Ron, thanks for another great photo experience. I’m fascinated by how this bird has his beak wide open yet his upper and lower mandibles are almost parallel. I’m a novice so I don’t know – do all birds do this? Separate the mandibles (apparently) to sing, and maybe swallow large bites of food? Sorry about the bad back – it’s hard to find the balance between resting and staying limber by moving – at some point the body tells you in no uncertain terms you have to rest. And then you go bonkers and have to go out anyway, and it may or may not help your back but it helps your spirits for sure. Hope it’s muscle and will heal. As a 75 y/o with increasing creakiness in the bod, I empathize!
Great image of the Lark Sparrow. We found them nesting near our home in NE Illinois, which is at the edge of their breeding range. It was the first confirmed breeding of this species in Kane County. They returned last year, but now that we have sold our second home to become full-time Floridians I probably will not get to see one again. They really are distinctive and handsome birds. Hope your back pain goes away and that careful exercise helps. Doctors used to prescribe back rest but inactivity just makes it worse.
Thank you, Ken.
Whoa, not only did we miss this Lark Sparrow on Antelope Island, but we failed to id a Feathered Photographer.
I asked you a couple of months ago from Oregon if there were UT birds to see in mid-July heat. And you said yes.
Can’t believe we were on the island when you were. Glad you got to get out there. My favorite best sighting (no photo) Tuesday was a Loggerhead Shrike feeding two fledglings on a small tree in the campground. Also, five Chukars under a picnic table.
Sorry I missed you, Linda. I drove slowly through both campgrounds too.
Ron, even after 3 surgeries and 4 lumbar fusions I suffer from chronic lower back pain. Yesterday, after getting off the pain Dr’s table from an epidural caudal spinal steroid injection he advised me to look into a system developed by Boston Scientific that they call SCS (spinal cord stimulation system) As a medical professional (veterinarian) their literaturu makes sense to me and may make sense to a science teacher such as yourself. My pain specialist Dr. seemed genuinely enthusiastic about the procedure and you can find it on-line at ControlYourPain.com/SCS.
I’ll definitely check it out, David. Thanks very much.
I think he was singing for you Ron. They do have a beautiful son. Wonderful picture!
Thanks, Jean. Maybe he was, who knows… 🙂
Woo Hoo. Consider me happy dancing (and be glad that you can’t see it). I am so glad that you got out in the field again, and love that subtle charmer.
Thank you on both counts, EC.
This is truly a beautiful bird. The combination of brown with white accents is so attractive.
Glad you got out of the house, but think that it wasn’t so easy. I know first hand.
Thank you for your efforts, Ron
Thanks very much, Alice.
That face!!! What a lovely bird — full of vim and vigor! Just beautiful. The poop definitely gives the quartz perch some texture and interest and breaks up that bright surface a bit. There’s even one bit (on the back edge of the rock under the bird’s tail) that looks a little like a LBJ because it is “standing up” with some sort of undigested bit of something and has multiple tones — a lighter “chest” and darker “head” and “back.” How’s that for anthropomorphizing? (Avipomorphizing?)
Hope you’re not paying too steep a price for yesterday’s foray into the wilderness.
I noticed that particular poop pile too, Marty. I thought it looked a little like some small critter emerging from the top of an egg… Yes, I have imagination too!
What we have here is a beautiful portrait of this guy. I also like the singing pose. I don’t think I even noticed the bird poop until after you mentioned it – the bird totally dominates the photo. A good thing. Glad to know you were able to go out shooting, and I hope that continues.
Interesting that you didn’t notice all that poop, Susan. I like that. Some folks would see it instantly and not like it at all.
One of the nicest pictures of a Lark Sparrow ever!!!
Thanks very much, Patty.
I have never seen a lark sparrow, thank you. This is quite near a perfect shot IMHO for showing someone a bird s/he has never seen. Many thanks.
I’m lucky to see them often on the island during summer, Martha. Not only are they a beautiful sparrow but they have some of the most interesting mating rituals of any songbird. Fascinating stuff but I’ve only been able to photograph that behavior a time or two.
Beautifully detailed shot Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Happy you finally got out, I understand how stir crazy staying home is. The spring I had a TIA, my family would not let me out and about for 3 months. Often people have a stroke 3 to 6 months later. They did not want me in the back woods alone and have a problem.
Lark sparrows are a lovely sounding and looking bird but a brown pelican would be something to see.
Wow, 3 months is a long time to be confined, April. But you made up for it big time with your recent trip to Oz!
Beautiful shot of a happy bird! 🙂 Perch must be used often….;) Sure glad your health allowed you get out and about yesterday – hope things continue to improve for you. 🙂
Yes, Judy. That perch is used by a variety of birds including Lark Sparrows, Sage Thrashers, Western Meadowlarks and Chukars. Others too.
Nice photo Ron. Lark Sparrows are among the more attractive sparrows. In our area our most prolific sparrow is the White-crowned. Are they plentiful in your area? Sorry about the back. I have a friend here who has been enduring that problem now for about a year and as you know, with backs – fixes are not easy to find.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Yes, we have a lot of White-crowned Sparrows during some times of the year. I love photographing them, partly because juvies and adults look so much different from each other. Thanks, Everett.
That is a perfect specimen! Kudos! The background is a perfect color to show him off. I love the face of this bird…each little touch of color looks painted on. This sparrow is a bit of a rarity this far east in Wisconsin but not unheard of. Unfortunately I have not seen one yet but I stop for every sparrow because you never know. Last fall I photographed a Harris’s Sparrow, a first-ever for me.
I agree, Kathy – this is a good looking bird. We’re lucky to have a lot of them on the island during the breeding season. And yes, there’s something about that face…
Forgot to add…Glad your back is better…nothing more uncomfortable than twisting and turning for a photo with an achy back! Being back doing what you love is healing in it’s own way…and good for us all around! 🙂
Thanks, Kathy, though it really isn’t better. I just decided to tough it out.