After all these years of photographing birds I don’t get a new ‘lifer’ very often but I got one yesterday.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 500, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
It was a White-throated Sparrow mixed in with White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches as they all foraged for seeds in a greasewood bush in Davis County. I’d never seen this species before, much less photographed one, so I was delighted to get some pretty decent photos of this one. This pose is a good one for highlighting their distinctive yellow eyebrow stripe and white throat patch edged with black.
For many of my readers White-throated Sparrows are a common sighting but Utah and most of the rest of the Great Basin are out of their normal range, which explains why this bird was a lifer for me. I’m not a traditional birder (I don’t keep lists) but experiences like this one sure help me to understand the excitement of birders when they find a species they’ve never seen before. For me it was almost like Christmas in early November.
And I’ll tell you what. I was immensely relieved that my photos of this lifer were as sharp as they should be, as were all of the photos I took yesterday. I’m becoming more convinced that my recent lens repair solved the softness issue I’ve been having with my lens.
A double Christmas, more than six weeks early.
Ron
Late addendum:
I’m adding this highly cropped version of the same image in response to a request by Art in his comment below.
Re: the cropped version. Am I seeing a tiny second eye catch about 5 o’clock from the big one? Nice detail of the eye ring, and the pupil/iris really stands out.
Now someone give him a napkin to wipe that beak. Looks like me eating a messy sandwich. Tofu, of course.
Lyle, to me that looks more like a tiny speck of debris than it does a catch light but of course I can’t be sure.
Well, this is one hell of a return to the field! Congratulations on a lifer! Woot! Woot! 🎉 Definitely worth the wait on that lens repair. I feel like I can see the insertion point of each feather of that beautiful white throat!
“I feel like I can see the insertion point of each feather of that beautiful white throat”
Marty, you ought to see the high res version of that image. Resolution makes a huge difference in showing detail. Thank you.
I would like to see said high resolution version. Perhaps you could crop a piece of the plumage at full resolution for us photogs. Extra credit! 🙂
Art, see my addendum above. It isn’t quite “full resolution” but it’s fairly close.
Now I want that extra credit…
300 points of Extra Credit and a roll of Smarties (you are what you eat) from this retired teacher. 😉
Marty, I’ll take the extra credit but you can keep the Smarties. I never liked those things…
Wild. Thanks! I sometimes forget how good this Canon gear is. I shoot with much the same gear as you and love to be able to zoom in close and admire the complexity of birds and life in general.
Your credit is my ongoing appreciation and if we ever get around to getting together – a fine cocktail.
Wowzers! I’m on my phone and blown away by that hi-res image. Can’t wait to get home and get on the laptop!
I’m with Lyle, let’s all yell “woo-hoo!” So good to have you and your camera back in the field (rather than a saddle) again — that interlude was thankfully briefer than you (and we) may have feared.
What a handsome bird you have captured here, keep hoping to spot one among all my white-crowned friends in the yard, but not yet. Congrats on a lifer and a properly working lens!
Thanks, Chris. Keep looking amongst the White-crowned – you just might get lucky like I did.
When we lived in New Jersey, a big flock of White-throated Sparrows and Juncos reliably arrived the last week of October and spent the winter. What wonderful birds they were to watch, scrabbling around under the bird feeders until early spring. When we had snow, their tiny delicate feet made tracks that would just melt your heart. Now in central Washington, we still get juncos, but the WTS have been replaced by a few White-crowned sparrows (also fun to watch). I’m so glad you got to see this wonderful little bird. And such a lovely portrait!
Thank you, Carolyn. Sounds like it was tough for you to leave your WTSP’s behind when you moved.
TWO wonderful Christmas presents. Presents which leave socks and underwear for dead – and don’t require dusting either…
“and don’t require dusting either”
For me that’s a huge plus, EC. I was mortified to find as many dusty areas in my house as I did when I basically tore it apart when I had my new floors installed.
What a joyous ‘welcome back’ to the field! The birding gods are rejoicing your return with a lifer. Very appropriate 🙂
Thank you, Kathleen.
Great photo and glad everything is working again. White-throated Sparrows are a winter bird here but in very low numbers so I seldom see them. I more often see the tan-striped form than this white-striped form, although both are here.
I don’t do well with labels so I don’t care if I’m called a birder or not. Like you, I don’t keep lists and I don’t chase rarities but it is nice to see one if it happens to be where I am. As a bird biologist I’m much more excited about seeing a new behavior in a very common bird than a bird simply out of range. But that’s just me and I certainly don’t want to put down anyone else’s fun. We each have our own way of enjoying nature. These sparrows are definitely a beautiful bird to see. Thanks for sharing it.
I like your philosophy, Dan. I don’t chase rarities either, although I’m always delighted to find one,
Ron’s back in the saddle again,
with a lens that’s better than new,
The White-throated sparrow
is sharp as an arrow,
and a lifer,
Let’s all yell woo-hoo!
Apologies to Ray Whitley
Thanks for the Gene Autry ear worm, Lyle!
Happy Lifer Spotting! Do you keep a list? I really do adore sparrows.
Nope, no lists for me Arwen. Although I do know which species I have and haven’t photographed just by looking through my photo files.
Nice photo of a wonderful bird! I love these sparrows – they come through here in the Spring and Fall and hang out in our Hackberry Tree. It’s always a pleasure when they arrive! Glad you finally got to see one. I’d love to do some bird photography out West and see all the birds that you find common!
Joanne, this wouldn’t be a good year to be looking for birds out west. I’ve never seen birds so slow as they are now – not even close.
Happy early Christmas, Ron! Your celebration is ours too. The photo of the sparrow is wonderful and, more importantly, the image is crisp and clear. I need to have my long lens repaired. You have inspired me to look for a company that can do it. Happy birding. It is so good to have you back in action!
Melanie, my suggestion would be to wait no longer to get your lens repaired. When its done I suspect you’ll ask yourself why you waited as long as you did, which is exactly how I’ve felt in the past.
Congratulations on a new bird!
And it seems good news about that lens, too. This example is certainly sharp!
The White-Throated Sparrow was one of my first birds I identified by song right after joining a bird club in Maryland. Pure, clear: “Ohhh, Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada”.
That’s when I discovered “birding” was a competitive sport and I regressed to being a simple “bird watcher”.
Beautiful post this morning!
“That’s when I discovered “birding” was a competitive sport”
That’s part of what turned me off to birding too, Wally. In some folks it brings out their worst. But then I guess something similar could be said about some bird photographers.
That is awesome Ron. I have never seen a White-throated Sparrow either. We show them as rare here. We always have tons of White-crowned. We I see them I probably take a close look to see if a White-throated might be among them
Everett, I’ll be looking for them more often now too.
Awesome! White-throats have one of the sweetest songs of all the birds in North America, IMHO. I grin every time I hear the first bird of fall. I love walking a trail on a cold winter day as WTSPs provide back-up vocals! Great news on your lens, too!
Thanks, Diane. I wish they were more common here, partly for their song and calls.
So glad that you received a prompt “reward” for your wait . What a pretty
marking…..I’d never before seen it–a bird with a “soul patch” ! It’s really nice
to see your posse growing daily with new people who appreciate and obviously
enjoy what you offer generously of time, expertise, and knowledge– I think
of it of the best kind of “missionary” work–on behalf of the NATURAL world !
Ha, that’s the first time I’ve been referred to as a missionary! I’m glad you added the qualifier, Kris.
Congrats on your lifer Ron. I delight in seeing these sweet sparrows in fall and winter here in Eastern Ontario. So glad your lens is functioning up to your standards again. Looking forward to seeing the results of your next outings.
Thanks, Sheila. I’m afraid the results of my “next outing” weren’t so good. I was essentially bird-skunked this morning but I can’t blame that on my lens.
Welcome back Ron. Looks like your camera is performing well and the shots are beautiful. I’ve never seen a white throated sparrow before. Nice catch!
Thank you, Brett. It’s nice to be back.
Hi Ron. I have been following your blog for about a year now and immensely appreciate you taking the time to post your photography and writing. Your posts inspire me in my beginner’s journey into photography and I enjoy hearing about your stories in the field. This is a kick ass blog and that’s all there is to it!
Beautiful photograph of the White-throated Sparrow. Congrats on your sighting— seeing new birds is quite a thrill.
Kind regards,
Tori Wiley
Welcome to commenting, Tori. It’s nice to know that you’re out there.
And thanks so much for the very kind words. I love being the author of a “kick ass blog”. 🙂
I must dispute the notion that traditional birders keep lists. I consider myself a pretty traditional birder, and I don’t keep lists; it’s optional, not definitive (IMO). Lists take all the fun out of what should be a joyful activity. You see a bird, you’re interested to know what species it is (because birds are cool) and you figure it out. Admit it Ron – you’re a birder!
Nope, not going to admit it Stephanie, at least not in the traditional sense. If you’re a birder and you don’t keep lists it’s my experience that you’re the exception rather than the rule.
It seems you deserved a double shot of good luck, and I agree with Nancy that your photos (and narrative) are a regular gift to us all.
Thanks, Cathy. I was too the point that if I didn’t get a ‘double shot of good luck” I’d have to resort to a double shot of something else, probably in liquid form.
Nice! 🙂 Don’t know that I’ve ever seen one – looks like migration would be about it. It’s a pretty little bird…. 🙂
Glad the lens fix seems to have solved the problem – sure hope so! We all “suffer” when you’re out of commission for whatever reason tho certainly not as much as you do! 😉
Judy, I’m sure that that migration is what this bird was trying to do but apparently it got lost.
Congratulations, Ron, on your lifer! I’m thrilled, too, that you seem pleased with the lens repair. You deserve an early Christmas after all of your recent troubles. Thanks, too, for providing all of us with a special present almost every day!
Nanci, one time when I sent one of my lenses in for repair it didn’t fix my problem. It turned out to be a camera issue rather than a lens issue so I had to start the attempt at a solution all over again. I’m sure glad that didn’t happen this time.