I hiked close to home here in Old Trail, and saw 35+ species during two hikes. The sparrows have really moved into the area, and I saw at least eight sparrow species: Chipping, Field, House, Song, Swamp, White-crowned, White-throated, and Dark-eyed Junco. I also got a quick view and one photo of a sparrow that could be a first winter Clay-colored Sparrow. I saw it in the marshy wetlands near the end of the gravel path down from the lodge. This bird had a buffy supercillium, a tinge of buff on its breast, a gray nape, and its eye stripe does not appear to extend from its eye forward to its bill, but it may instead be a Chipping Sparrow with my view and the photo affected by the low sunlight.
First winter Clay-colored (?) Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Well, there were other avian species in addition to the sparrows!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Part of a flock of about 50 Cedar Waxwings
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
Canada Geese
Red-shouldered Hawk
Pileated Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
Hermit Thrush
I enjoy taking a series of wildlife photos that tell a story. A male and a female Eastern Bluebird were checking out a bird house when another male Bluebird flew to see what was going on, only to be shouted away by the female.
Eastern Bluebirds "Let's take a look."
Eastern Bluebirds "Well, whatcha think?"
Eastern Bluebirds "Needs a little work."
Eastern Bluebirds "Go away! We got here first!"
Eastern Bluebirds "Okay, okay. I'm leaving."
Eastern Bluebirds "Good riddance."