Yellow-breasted Chat

I swear, if it wasn't for Jerry Jourdan's amazing blog, I would never know of the good nearby birds.  On Sunday, I saw Jerry's Yellow-breasted Chat post and then on Monday I tried for the bird.  I arrived later than I should have.  Heard singing for sure; but seeing, no way.  I went back this morning much earlier.  Two other photographers were already there.  At first it seemed like it would be a repeat of my Monday effort.  But then the bird flew to a heavily leafed tree, and then to a nearby tall dead tree.  The bird was at the top of the tree and quite far away, but the movie set lighting made photos possible.  Below are my best efforts.   

Irresistible.  One of my favorite birds. 

Some April and May photos

The first eight photos were taken in Celina, Texas - 45 minutes north of Dallas - on 4/30/23.

The photos below were taken at Magee Marsh on 5/18/23.

The Swainson's Thrush above was taken at Rouge River Bird Observatory.

Help with sparrow identification

I wanted this bird to be a migrating Baird's sparrow.  I emailed my photo to two friends, who know much more than I do, for their opinions.  One friend gently humored my Baird's sparrow ID, but then got right to the point as did my other friend.

Before emailing my friends I submitted this photo to Merlin Bird ID and received the following potential identifications:  bobolink, grasshopper sparrow, henslow's sparrow and savannah sparrow.  Of these suggestions I could also see the potential for grasshopper sparrow.      

Apologies for my less than optimal photo.  I had two chances; the first was out-of-focus and the second is below.  Location was a large, weedy wildflower field surrounded by a massive new housing development in Celina, Texas, about 40-45 miles directly north of Dallas.  Date was Saturday, 04/29/23.  Also seen here were Western Kingbirds and Scissior-tailed Flycatchers.  Click on the photo to enlarge.    

The identification independently offered by each friend:  Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis).  My guess of migrating Baird's sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) was magical thinking.