Male Spotted Towhee peeking out of a Fragrant Sumac – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I didn’t have the best of mornings in the field yesterday and due to a situation that was completely beyond my control. I lost 45 minutes of the best of the light of the morning and probably the most bird activity I would have seen which was disappointing, frustrating and shouldn’t have happened. What should have been a relaxing morning photographing birds definitely wasn’t.
Why? Because the vehicle I was in had a vanity plate. Plain and simple.
Had it not been for that vanity plate two people would not have gotten into a stupid shouting match about a subject that had absolutely nothing to do with me! This just added to my hesitation about ever getting a vanity plate. I will not get one.
I did get to see a flock of about 100 Wild Turkeys, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned Sparrows, American Goldfinches, two Bald Eagles, two Golden Eagles, several American Kestrels, a male Spotted Towhee, one Prairie Falcon, Pine Siskins, a scolding Marsh Wren along with my first of the season sightings of Tundra Swans and American Tree Sparrows. I saw other birds along the way too.
I photographed some sparrows, goldfinches, siskins, juncos and this lovely male Spotted Towhee who was eating the fruit of a Fragrant Sumac tree. When the towhee peeked at me from the sumac I was ready to take its photo in the dappled light. This photo might not appeal to everyone’s tastes but I decided that I quite like it.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to view more of my Spotted Towhee photos plus facts and information about this species.
I am sorry you had a difficult morning – and grateful (yet again) for the beauty you share.
I would probably never see a Spotted Towhee in Niagara but in researching I see that Eastern Towhees are common here. I have never seen one. I an obviously not going to the right spots. They are such a pretty bird. This photo certainly appeals to me!
I am glad that you see the importance of the quite “ordinary” birds, not just the widely photographed popular bird population. These have a beauty all their own and are quite memorable. Don’t be disappointed when you have what seems to be a less than gorgeous early morning. They can be a dime a dozen. Times like these are special, you see birds you would ordinarily not notice! Like you write: life is good!
PS: I always end up spending some time in your albums when I get a newsletter. It is the highlight of my day…..