Chipping Sparrow

I just spent a week in the pine lands of southern New Jersey. Chipping sparrows there started singing at dawn and kept on until the sun set. I saw dozens of them. This one was gathering material for a nest. 

The chipping sparrow, Spizella passerina, is easily identified by its red cap, gray face, black stripe through the eye, and white eyebrow and throat. Click on the photos to enlarge. 

Spring is slowly waking in the woods. Click here to hear the chipping sparrow sing. 

Tent Caterpillars

I am in the New Jersey pine barrens taking photos. Here's an eastern tent caterpillar. Click to enlarge.  

More coming soon!

The First Real Day of Spring

One of Brooklyn's white-throated sparrows, Zonotrichia albicollis.  Click to enlarge. 

One thing signals the start of spring to me -- when the white-throated sparrows start to sing. So, according to me, spring started this past Wednesday when I heard the first one right outside my window. Today they were singing all over Brooklyn.

The song is distinctive and once you know what it is you will easily pick it out above the city noise. Click here to see and listen to some white-throats singing. 

Happy Easter

I took this photo during Easter week last year in Saint Augustine, Florida. It's a snowy egret, Egretta thula, in breeding plumage. Very stylish!   Click to enlarge.