Feathers of Four

Here are four more birds I recently photographed at Prime Hook NWR.

First up, a Greater Yellowlegs – you can see why they got their name. These medium to large shorebirds are common and widespread; but with their tendency to breed in unpleasant, mosquito-ridden bogs & swamps, it makes the Greater Yellowlegs one of the least-studied shorebirds on the North American continent.

Greater Yellowlegs

Next, a Downy Woodpecker – a fairly small woodpecker at 5-7 inches in length, found across the United States year round. The male has a red spot on its head. I found a female.

Downy Woodpecker (female)

Next, a Brown Thrasher. These birds are accomplished songsters that may sing more than 1,100 different song types and include imitations of other birds.

Brown Thrasher

And finally, a Savannah Sparrow. There are many subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow across the United States. Similar in all are the yellow patch by the eye, small head, and short tail.

Savannah Sparrow

With the busy holidays approaching, everyone please be safe in your travels!

Tags: autumn, brown thrasher, Delaware, downy woodpecker, nature, photo, photographs, photography, photos, Prime Hook, savannah sparrow, Yellowlegs

30 thoughts on “Feathers of Four”

avian101 on 12/10/2017 at 10:00 PM said:

Excellent captures Donna! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/10/2017 at 10:35 PM said:
  
  Thank you HJ! 🙂
  
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sunnydaysinseattle on 12/11/2017 at 1:12 AM said:

Wow. I’ve learnt so much from your bird postings. Thank you Donna! Great captures.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 9:03 AM said:
  
  You’re welcome, and thank you for following along with me on my love of birds! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on 12/11/2017 at 4:17 AM said:

Love your shots of very interesting birds we never see. Your shots are so clear and give such a beautiful appreviation of these birds. Your Brown Thrasher is stunning.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 9:06 AM said:
  
  Thank you Ashley! Yes, the Brown Thrasher is a beauty of browns, and then that eye, WOW! It was the eye that I spotted in the grass. 🙂
  
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Ingrid on 12/11/2017 at 8:24 AM said:

Thanks for my bird fix. Come January, I will truly be missing my birds along the Gulf Coast, BUT already have my RV reservation for 2019!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 9:18 AM said:
  
  You’re welcome, Ingrid! Oh, by 2019, things hopefully will have come ‘back to a norm’ along the Texas Gulf Coast for the birds. Their adaptive ways and resilience are strong…..and for sure, they love their Aransas NWR home for the winter! 🙂
  
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Ellen Jennings on 12/11/2017 at 8:39 AM said:

Nice set! The Yellowlegs are interesting to watch, always so intent. The Thrasher is a gorgeous bird and nicely captured tucked in the green grass.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 9:21 AM said:
  
  Thanks Ellen! I followed the Thrasher for a little while, trying to walk down a path he was foraging along. He just kept running & staying ahead of me, yet I only got the one great shot with his eye. He wasn’t in the posing mood, lol. I finally got past him to give him back his space!
  
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Cornell on 12/11/2017 at 3:20 PM said:

I was wondering why it is called Savannah Sparrow, and I discovered that ‘name comes from Savannah, Georgia, where one of the first specimens of this bird was collected’. Interesting.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:49 PM said:
  
  You are correct, Cornell. And most likely, the Savannah Sparrow was discovered during its fall/winter migration to Georgia, as it is not a year-round bird in that area. It breeds much farther north in the United States and Canada in spring and summer.
  
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Gunta on 12/11/2017 at 4:10 PM said:

Once again some awesome photographs of these feathers! We plan to have our travels over with by the end of this week and then settle in for some relaxing time! Perhaps catch some more colorful sunsets.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:50 PM said:
  
  Thanks Gunta! Relaxing and catching sunsets sounds really nice. 🙂
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 12/11/2017 at 4:41 PM said:

Nice photos, Donna. Next to the Greater Yellowleg’s elegance, I like the fact that it is one of the few shorebirds I can actually recognize.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:51 PM said:
  
  Thanks Tanja. Those legs really do ‘pop’ yellow for IDing. 🙂
  
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Susan Hale on 12/11/2017 at 5:39 PM said:

Donna, these are beautiful! Lucky (and talented!) you, to have seen and photographed them, and lucky us that you are sharing them!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:54 PM said:
  
  Thanks Susan, I do get lucky when I perform stillness and patience. Something that’s just awesome with birds and photography for me!
  
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tootlepedal on 12/11/2017 at 5:59 PM said:

The greater yellowlegs is a fine looking bird.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:55 PM said:
  
  He sure is with his beautiful plumage and bright yellow legs. 🙂
  
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neihtn2012 on 12/11/2017 at 7:09 PM said:

I always come to your blog expecting to see stunning photos, and I was not disappointed today! Great captures, and very informative post.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/11/2017 at 8:57 PM said:
  
  Awwwww Hien, you are so kind! I too enjoy your blog and expect to see awesome photos that you deliver as well! 🙂
  
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Tiny on 12/12/2017 at 8:26 PM said:

Very beautiful pictures, Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/12/2017 at 11:00 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much, Helen!
  
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anotherday2paradise on 12/15/2017 at 9:24 AM said:

They are all so gorgeous, Donna. Love the Downy Woodpecker. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/16/2017 at 8:30 AM said:
  
  Thanks Sylvia!
  
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Jet Eliot on 12/16/2017 at 9:41 AM said:

Wow, Donna, each one of these avian friends are beautifully captured here. Terrific post.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/17/2017 at 9:20 AM said:
  
  Thanks Jet!
  
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Carol R Fordonski on 12/26/2017 at 9:05 PM said:

Lovely. Donna, thanks!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 12/27/2017 at 8:01 AM said:
  
  Thank you Carol!
  
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