Adult Song Sparrow foraging in the snow – Nikon D500, f8, 1/4000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I feel so lucky to be able to see and photograph Song Sparrows year round here in northern Utah and to be able to photograph the adults as well as their young. All of the sparrow species I see here have found a spot in my heart and I enjoy slowing down to take photographs of them.
Yesterday morning I headed to Farmington Bay WMA and discovered that there was no way I was going to sneak up any of the birds there because the crusty snow under my tires was loud and annoying so I decided the best way to photograph the sparrows I was seeing was to take what I call a “sit and wait” approach.
I’ve found that with some of the sparrows and small passerines if I see that they are foraging from a distance but take off on approach that if I pull up and sit and wait quietly that eventually they will come back. It takes patience and time but the “sit and wait” approach can pay off, sometimes in big ways. If I hadn’t been using the “sit and wait” approach last August I would never have found or been able to report the 7th confirmed sighing of a Baltimore Oriole in Utah.
I was happy when the “sit and wait” approach allowed me to see this adult Song Sparrow pop up on top of a snow covered pile of vegetation where it proceeded to forage in front of me at a nice distance. The alert pose shown by the sparrow in this photo was because an American Kestrel had flown past and the sparrow kept an eye on it for a few seconds before it went back to foraging for seeds.
It was wonderful to get out into the field yesterday morning because for a change the sun was shining brightly and we had beautifully clear bluebird skies in northern Utah. I didn’t find as many birds as I would have liked but this Song Sparrow made my day.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Song Sparrow photos plus facts and information about this species.
Often your images evoke so much more than the appreciation of a beautiful photo…and this is one of them. Rich in detail, serene and beautiful…not to mention a bit chilly. Wonderful narrative too. Thanks Mia.
Sometimes i am torn between my need for exercise and the rewards of waiting patiently for unexpected delights. Since our local patch is a wetlands there is nowhere to sit, but I can stand until my feet start aching!
I am glad that sit and wait worked for you (and us).
Beautiful, love the shot in the snow!
We have 18″ of snow, drifts covering our small shrubs with more flurries on the way!
Surprised to see a Song Sparrow at this time of year. Later this week I shall take a walk out to the river valley to see what is going on but today is a cold and windy one so will pass on anything more than what is necessary. I like the light on the sparrow and the clean snow untouched by city tires and exhaust. Happy shooting!
Brrrrrr…..sure looks cold…Thanks Mia