After a rough start to my week, I very much needed some time out in nature yesterday morning. Nature, in turn, gifted me with a surprise Grasshopper Sparrow.
Grasshopper Sparrow at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was definitely surprised to find a Grasshopper Sparrow in the marshes of Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. That isn’t the kind of habitat where this sparrow species is typically found at all. They are usually found in prairie grasslands, old weedy fields, grain fields, hayfields, pastures, and in Florida, palmetto scrub.
The Grasshopper Sparrows I have seen in Utah have been on Antelope Island State Park. I have taken a few documentary images of this species on the island. Mostly, I just hear them there. That area of the park only allows walking on the trails, so I haven’t been able to walk out to try to get better photos of this sparrow species there.
Grasshopper Sparrow in the marsh at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
But it is spring migration time, and as I have told friends over the years, birds can show up in strange habitats during migration. It was strange to see this Grasshopper Sparrow right next to a wetland area.
While I can’t say that this Grasshopper Sparrow was a lifer for me, I can say it is the first time I have gotten decent, close-up images of this species. I do wish that I could have had this colorful sparrow in my viewfinder a bit longer.
After soaking in the views, relishing the birds, and relaxing at the refuge, this surprise Grasshopper Sparrow was a wonderful, unexpected gift. My mind, heart, and spirit needed that gift and the trip to the refuge more than even I knew.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see my new Grasshopper Sparrow photo gallery. I hope to add more photos of this species soon.
Absolutely extraordinary shots! The detail and colors you captured are marvelous. Thanks Mia.
Echoing Marty (as I so often do).
EC, Marty’s comments are great!
It is a pretty little bird. It was fun to visit again. Watch out for random Highway Patrol, maybe he was a birder too?
April, it was fun to see and visit with you yesterday. That Highway Patrol pickup was a head scratcher!
I love these little birds, but I can’t tell if that’s the Eastern ssp. or the Western one? Western by range.
Derek, I am not sure which subspecies this individual is, I think there are about twelve of them?
From Birds of the World:
Four subspecies breed in North America: A. s. pratensis (Eastern one), rather small with a heavy bill and dark mantle color; A. s. perpallidus (Western one), separable from A. s. pratensis by somewhat paler coloration, long wing and tail, and more slender bill; A. s. pratensis and western A. s. perpallidus, overlap in e. Great Plains,; A. s. ammolegus (southern one), with bright rufous streaks on back and uppertail-coverts and much brighter than A. s. perpallidus; and A. s. floridanus (only in Florida), with dark back.
That is right, Derek, I believe the other subspecies I was thinking of breed in the Caribbean, Mexico and Central and South America.
I can imagine that this little charmer was the balm you needed. Sending gentle hugs. 💜
Thank you Marty. The sparrow my my journey into nature yesterday was exactly what I needed and seeing April was a bonus!
Thank you for introducing me to the Grasshopper Sparrow!—Jeri
Cool.🙂
My pleasure, Jeri!