Birds seemed to be everywhere yesterday, foraging for food in the water, on dry land, 0r sometimes in between the. The latter was the case for two little brown birds, pecking for food in the still-green vegetation in the shallow marsh. Sometimes it seemed like they would stop and drink the water or gaze intently into the water, as though fascinated by their own reflection.
I am still not very good at identifying most birds on the spot, but my research skills are improving and I am pretty confident that these birds are Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia). Gradually I am starting to see the distinguishing characteristics, like the color on the top of the head, the markings on the breast, and the shape and size of the beak.
This growing sense of the broad diversity among birds serves to magnify their beauty, as I see them as individuals, not merely as nameless little brown birds. Who knows, maybe birds appreciate it if you can call them by their names.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
love the first one, they sure are cute little fellas 🙂
Thanks, VIcki. I too really like the first one, because the bird is active doing something, and not merely perched on a branch.
Nice shots, Mike. Sometimes Song Sparrows have a dark brown spot in the middle of the breast that helps ID them.
Thanks, Sue. I appreciate any and all identification tips. I tend to try to photograph almost any bird that I can get to stand still within range of my lens (and I sometimes try to get them in motion if they won’t).
Outstanding!
Thanks. The birds were cooperative yesterday.
You have a knack for finding cooperative subjects. Enjoyed.
I don’t know if I have a knack, but I am very persistent (and not too choosey about which birds I will photograph).