Berries and Birds seems to be my theme this week along with smoky, hazy skies. The haze wasn’t nearly as bad yesterday morning up in the canyons of the Wasatch Mountains but it was still there. I spotted lots of birds, quite a few young birds too.
Immature Chipping Sparrow in a Chokecherry Tree – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I spent a few minutes yesterday morning focusing on young Chipping Sparrows foraging in a stand of Chokecherry trees, there were several of these juveniles flitting around in front of me in nice light. I think that adult Chipping Sparrows are handsome birds and that the young ones are adorably cute. The young Chipping Sparrows yesterday didn’t make a sound while they moved around in the chokecherries, I wish they had because I would have liked to hear their calls.
Juvenile Chipping Sparrow perched on a Chokecherry branch – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
After seeing and photographing an adult Chipping Sparrow with nesting material earlier this year I hoped I would see some of the young sparrows and I am delighted that I did. As a crow flies I photographed these young sparrows were about 3/4 of a mile from where I photographed the adult in mid June.
I was glad that this young Chipping Sparrow perched on top of branch with a nice clean background and that a few of the chokecherries were in the frame.
Juvenile Chipping Sparrow with berry juice on its bill – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And I was even happier when this juvenile Chipping Sparrow came in a little closer than the other birds had because in this frame I can see that there are berry or cherry juices on its tiny bill.
Spending a few minutes watching and photographing these young Chipping Sparrows was a truly a pleasure.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Chipping Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
As a kid birder these little ones caused me some confusion as they did not look like anything in my 1939 Peterson guide!
Beautiful, beautiful things.
I like your pictures today, with the chokecherry bush. Brings back memories of those berries, and when Mother and I would gather them up for quarts of juice to make. Lots of fun.
So perky and cute! The context of leaves, branches and berries add such nice detail…sparrows are curvyvand cute…always a favorite…
I think if I saw one I might think it is a young house finch. Are these a stouter bird than a finch?
Nice.