Savannah Sparrow at Lynde Shores: July 2021

My grandfather once told me that the Savannah Sparrow is probably the most abundant breeding bird in fields, bogs and other low growth throughout Ontario. They are, however, not as noticeable as Song Sparrows which have louder songs usually sung from a prominent perch.

As a result I have taken hundreds of Song Sparrow photos but few of the Savannah Sparrow.

I found one this morning concealed in a willow shrub at Lynde Shores:

Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it art the end of the post.

Other birds:

Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Ring-billed Gull
Bank Swallows
Song Sparrow
Bank Swallows
Bank Swallows

Lynde Shores:

Some botany:

Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
Wood-sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Spearmint (Mentha spicata)
Bird Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Red Soldier Beetles on Queen-Anne’s-lace
Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
Red Raspberry (Rubus strigosus)

MYSTERY BIRD

Certainly one of our most beautiful birds with its thick pale bill, and a large triangle of rose-red on the breast – a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (male)

NATURE POETRY

Beyond me in the fields the sun
Soaks in the grass and hath his will;
I count the marguerites one by one;
Even the buttercups are still.                           – Archibald Lampman (1861–99)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Savannah Sparrow at Lynde Shores: July 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I should have remembered the “mystery bird” (It did look VERY familiar), it having been finally identified for me by a previous post of yours, years after I remembered seeing it inside a thicket on a hike I took with a friend! I never forgot it, but was unable to identify it at the time—until your post!
    I will also never forget the trip five (or so) of us took to Lynde Shores for a late winter/early spring (?) bird walk, with its wonderful variety of terrain (woods, fields, meadows, pond, Lake)! These beautiful pictures are also a wonderful reminder of this place. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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