Large Waders and Tiny Swallows: September 2021

I went to Col Sam Smith Park this morning hoping to photograph a variety of migrating warblers. I did get one:

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

There is a constant stream of swallows in the air near the water here and I keep wondering where they rest in between flights. After some searching a found a spot frequented by Barn Swallows:

Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow

A Barn Swallow measures about 7 inches in length. Great Blue Herons are about seven times larger (42 – 52 inches).

Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron

Great Egrets are slightly smaller (38 inches).

Great Egret
Great Egret
Great Egret

When I was a child I had a puzzle which showed several birds close together in a marsh in a way which I have never actually seen in the field. Today this scene made me think of my puzzle.

Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)
Great Blue Heron, Great Egret and Black-crowned Night Heron (juvenile)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Other birds:

Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Northern Cardinal (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Northern Cardinal (juvenile)
Rock Pigeon
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Pekin Duck
Double-crested Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorants
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Wood Duck (female)
Mallards
Double-crested Cormorant
Canada Goose
Double-crested Cormorants

MYSTERY BIRD

If you looked this black-throated sparrow up in a field guide, you might identify it as a Harris’ Sparrow; a bird of the south central United States which is exceedingly rare here.

This is a male House Sparrow.

House Sparrow (male)

NATURE QUOTES

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress. – Charles Dickens

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Large Waders and Tiny Swallows: September 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Got it! A live House Sparrow, not being eaten!
    Wonderful bird pictures. How fantastic, getting those three different “Waders” together. Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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