White-crowned Sparrows are common in my area but they’re a favorite of mine and I see far more juveniles than adults so I was pleased to get this handsome adult up close in my viewfinder.
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
The photo was taken three days ago at the entrance to the new Eccles Wildlife Education Center in Farmington. Despite the oversized, unnatural perch and insufficient depth of field to get the tail sharp I like the softly graded light on the bird, the hint of a color change at the top of the background and the bit of breakfast left on the sparrow’s bill.
Apologies for such a perfunctory edition of Feathered Photography this morning (at least the part related to birds) but I have an excuse.
I had a very busy day yesterday so I didn’t have time to work up a post last night and had to do it quickly this morning. I hadn’t seen my younger sister Sheila who lives in Montrose, CO for a very long time but she was here for a visit yesterday and “Baby Sis” took precedence. My homemade cheese manicotti was on the menu and that means this bird photographer transforms into a chef for a day because whenever I make manicotti I make multiple pans of it for future use and as a gift for my good friend and ex-wife Diane Olson who’s addicted to the stuff and has been for decades. It’s a complicated, time-consuming and messy process and when you have to go through hell and high water to find one of the ingredients as I did yesterday it certainly doesn’t help. Long story…
We had a wonderful visit and overate last night. And Sheila brought me a surprise gift – a couple of small boxes of old family photographs and documents that I’m itching to go through. From a few previous blog posts some readers may remember that I have a fascinating, unique and often tragic family history that I’ve traced back through early Mormon Pioneers in Utah, the first landing of Puritans in Massachusetts (there’s something ironic about my ancestors being founding Puritans), Thomas Dudley who was Governor of Massachusetts multiple times and even signed the original charter for Harvard College and two of my direct Dudley ancestors who lost their heads to the executioner’s axe at the Tower of London courtesy of King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. A slightly more distant relative, Sir Robert Dudley, very nearly married Queen Elizabeth I.
I don’t expect to find anything going back that far in Sheila’s boxes but I’m hoping for some old family photos I’ve never seen and/or old documents that I was unaware of.
But mostly I was just happy to see Sheila again. She’s a good “kid” and the two of us are the last ones left out of the five of us so we had a lot of reminiscing and catching up to do.
Ron
Handsome fella, indeed! And what a treasure trove. I hope you find some gems plus a ton of memories.
“Handsome” popped into my head as soon as I saw the photograph.
Did you take any pictures of your manicotti? (Wait, that doesn’t sound right. 😉 ) If you’re ever in need of a post, the manicotti recipe (if you’re willing to share it) would be wonderful!
So glad you had fun with Sheila and looking forward to reading about the contents of the mystery boxes! Over the past couple of years, I’ve become hooked on UK history/archaeology and feel a special connection every time your erstwhile relative comes up. 🙂 If you ever want to get your family history written down, I happily volunteer to transcribe any recordings you might want to make.
“Did you take any pictures of your manicotti? (Wait, that doesn’t sound right. 😉 )”
I haven’t laughed with that much gusto for a good long while, Marty. Thanks for that! Nope no photos, of either…
I’ll try to remember to send you the recipe tomorrow. I’ll type it up just for you. If I don’t, don’t hesitate to remind me. It’s a very good one, IMO.
Marty is not alone in wanting the recipe.
And yes, I laughed at her comment too – as I often do.
Ok, I’ll email it to you too, EC.
Me 3 on the recipe please! 🙂 WAY too funny, Marty – still laughing! 🙂
Now I’m thinking maybe I should include it (the recipe, not a photo of my… manicotti) as an addendum on tomorrow’s post. Either way you’ll get it, Judy.
Family takes precedence 😁 A short but sweet visit ❤️
Hope there are some photos worth sharing ❗️
Doesn’t look like there are, Diana – not here anyway. But there’s a few of them that I’m sure happy to have.
Ths sparrow is a beauty.
I am thrilled that you had such an enjoyable reunion. I hope that my brothers would feel the same. And wonder.
Love that you cooked up a storm and hope that you do discover some gems in that box of photos.
Thanks, EC. I’m all cooked out for a while. May be eating out of cans for a few days… 🙂
🙂 Beautiful photo of the sparrow and GREAT that you got some family time with great food (even if a lot of work and angst over finding the needed ingredient) and old photos/documents to go through. Never know what will show up in those and the memories are priceless….. 🙂 “Sideways” heavy, wet snow night before last and some yesterday – the stuff that makes one nervous about the power lines that are collecting it! I’ll take it over the fires in CA any day! 🙁
Thanks, Judy. We had some snow last night and it’s snowing lightly right now but not much of it is sticking. Yet…
Never met a sparrow I didn’t like and that is such a beautiful picture. Thanks for sharing it. And speaking of sharing… I hope you have some interesting old photos in those boxes to share with us in the future as I have enjoyed all your family history posts in the past!
Thanks, Joanne. I’ve been going through that stuff already this morning. So far I haven’t found anything that would be particularly interesting to my readers but I have found some letters and old photos I’ve been sharing with family friends and classmates from when I was a kid living in MT. And other stuff too that would be important only to my family.
No excuses need, period! I don’t have family left so I’m envious (in a good way) of the joy in yours 🙂
White-crowned sparrows–oh MY! What a luscious song. When I’d hear it in Dallas (along with the chickadees) my face broke out in a smile and I had to stop and listen. Magic! Pure magic! THANK YOU!
Yes, they have a neat song, which I often hear before I see the bird singing it. Thanks, Laura.
Excuse accepted Ron. We are five brothers ranging from me at 81 to the youngest at 70. Each of us wishes we had had a sister to grow up with. Mom lost one at childbirth, but then it was all boys. Very interesting Dudley history and so neat that your sister was able to provide that look back at your family’s history. Even though I lived in Naples Italy for three years I am most likely your only follower who would pass on the manicotti. Reverting back to birds before closing off, we now have flocks of White-crowned Sparrows and Western Bluebirds just about everywhere.
Everett, I had another sister, Mona, but we lost her when she was much too young.
Your Western Bluebirds “just about everywhere” sound… delicious (in a non-culinary way of course).
That certainly is one handsome sparrow. I’m ready for some manicotti right now if there’s any left. Hope your box of photos provides more depth of your very interesting family history.
We are choking on smoke and high winds out here in Sonoma County with the evacuated areas beginning just 8 miles north of my house. Widespread power shutdowns in effect. No current danger for my home but ninety thousand people have been evacuated. A lot of wildlife getting hit too.
You’ll have to arm wrestle me for one of those pans of manicotti, Dave. And my house rules say I get to use both hands.
I was just reading about your fires and wind a few minutes ago. Sounds absolutely dreadful. Good luck! And I hope your power stays on.
A reunion of Dudleys. Quite nice. As is the White-crowned Sparrow. Hope the box of photos inspires a future post.
Thanks, Lyle. I’m looking forward to going through that collection, probably later today. It’s cloudy and snowy this morning so no bird photography for me today and I should have time for it.
Neat photo …this is one of my favorite sparrows. Family is everything! Most times it takes age and loss to bring it to the forefront. So glad you were able to reminisce. It is something one can only do with a sibling…those years of sharing close family experiences that only the two of you can know and appreciate.
Agreed, Kathy. As our immediate family becomes smaller each one left tends to mean even more to us.
Sounds like an enjoyable evening. It is overcast and lightly snowing this morning so you have today to catch up since bird photography isn’t prime.
You’re right on both counts, April. Not much snow here yet but there’s some.