I'm almost certain this is a juvenile female Purple Finch. I also saw an adult female at the same location. These finches may migrate a short distance south of us, or they may remain here for the winter. They are especially fond of black oil sunflower seeds.
Now this was a lucky happenstance, to get two birds with one shot. I was focusing on the Yellow-winged Warbler when the Gray Catbird flew into the bush. I wasn't even aware it was around. The catbird should be leaving shortly, but the warbler will probably stick around for awhile yet.
The shrubs that border the trail that runs by the sailing school were alive with birds this morning, including this bird, which I think is a juvenile Song Sparrow. Positively identifying many birds at this time of the year is an art in itself. I'm afraid I have a lot to learn.
I'm pretty sure this is a Swamp Sparrow. It happens to be the first one that I have noticed at the marsh, although other people have seen them here. It could be some time before it heads south.
(Sorry, I couldn't resist adding a little levity.)
This juvenile Pied-billed Grebe was swimming all by itself this morning, looking for all the world like a miniature sea monster with that sinuous neck. A couple of days ago, I saw 17 of them in a loose group. I expect they will be around for a while yet.
It was foggy and overcast this morning, but I upped the ISO setting on my camera and headed for the marsh. According to experienced birders, when the next cold front moves through, migration will be in full swing, so I wanted to try to 'capture' as many birds as I could before they departed. The first one I found was this male Red-winged Blackbird feeding on a cattail head. His feathers looked different yet again from the one I saw yesterday. Pieces of the cattail fluff were stuck to his head.
The Red-winged Blackbirds were feeding in a big patch of cattails this morning. These two shots of a male show the buff colored edges of the black feathers that apparently are present in the new feathers that come in after the August molt - in some birds to more of a degree than others. Then these edges are worn off through the winter, leaving the total black look of the bird in spring. Also evident here are the ocher-colored band of feathers (median coverts) just below the scarlet-colored ones, which give the bird its name.
These butterflies are seen almost everywhere at this time of the year, including the marsh. It is a Clouded Sulphur, one of our most common butterflies, closely related to the Cabbage Whites, which are also very common. They feed on flower nectar, and also may be seen collecting moisture from puddles, etc.
This Bluejay was agitated about something this morning, as only bluejays can be. It was squawking away when I approached along the path, with another responding back in the trees.
