Springtime sparrow

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Springtime sparrow

March 23, 2020 by Mike Powell

Each spring I try to get shots of birds perching in blossoming trees, but the birds rarely cooperate with me—they all seem more interested in foraging for food than in posing for me. On Saturday, though, a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge paused for a moment and I was able to capture this image.

I chose not to crop this image any closer in order to give you a better view of the delicate white blossoms of a tree that I am not able to immediately identify.

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Nature, Photography, spring, wildlife | Tagged blossoming trees, blossoms, Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, white-throated sparrow, Woodbridge VA, Zonotrichia albicollis | 13 Comments

13 Responses

on March 23, 2020 at 7:40 am | Reply Ann Parziale

Thank you for continuing to share your photos during this difficult time. It’s comforting to see your email each morning.
- on March 23, 2020 at 7:44 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks so much, Ann. So far the parks and refuges where I take most of my nature photos have remained open, although the visitor centers are closed. My photo walks definitely have a therapeutic effect on me and allow me to wash away some of the stress that threatens to overwhelm me when I watch too many news reports. Spring is the time of new growth and new hope and I am happy to be able to share my photos with folks who are not able to get out and see it for themselves.
on March 23, 2020 at 8:05 am | Reply Dan Antion

You gave us a beautiful composition, Mike. Nicely done.
on March 23, 2020 at 8:44 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Very Nice Mike! Stay Safe!!
on March 23, 2020 at 8:57 am | Reply mitzybricker

Very pretty capture. Hopefully the tree is a cherry tree and not the awful Bradford Pear.

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- on March 23, 2020 at 9:17 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy. I fear that it might be the awful Bradford Pear tree. It seems like they are everywhere in the area in which I live.
  - on March 25, 2020 at 1:43 pm mitzybricker
    
    We cut down every single one that appears on our farm.
on March 23, 2020 at 12:08 pm | Reply Michael Scandling

I’m glad you take the opportunity to get out every day. And I must say that sparrows, in my view, are highly underrated.
- on March 23, 2020 at 12:12 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I am not managing to get out every single day, but I am try to get out as often as I can. Restrictions are increasing in many places and it is possible that we could move to a lockdown scenario at any time. As for sparrows, I try to photograph them as often as I can, though I confess that I do have trouble identifying the different species that are quite similar in appearance.
  - on March 23, 2020 at 2:00 pm Michael Scandling
    
    So far, we can go for walks and many parks and recreational areas are still open. We take advantage of that but of course maintain quite a distance between ourselves and others.
on March 23, 2020 at 8:53 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

A wonderful image of spring, Mike – it conveys much joy!
- on March 23, 2020 at 8:54 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Eliza. I like the light, airy feel and the vibrant colors–the image speaks of spring to me as well.
on March 24, 2020 at 12:36 pm | Reply Molly Lin Dutina

Love those throat feathers up close in the breeze!