Copyright ©2021 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
My neighbor and I have begun taking our cameras on our walks because we’re seeing more and more of the Spring migrating birds passing though. Last week on a longer walk to another neighborhood we spotted this guy eating those Russian Olives. Don’t they look like pearls?
They are the smallest of the Thrashers and love the sagebrush of the western states. We’re on the western edge of its breeding territory. They mimic other birds while they sing. I didn’t hear this one singing though.
I was surprised to see this one up in tree! They usually are hanging around the sagebrush and will hide in it.
I hope you all have a great weekend, and if you’re watching the game I hope your team wins.
Fuji X-T3| Fuji 100-400mm| PS CC 22.1.1
more to come…
Yes, it looks like a pearl! Lovely, Deborah.
Thank you so much, Jennie! 😀
You’re welcome, Deborah!
What a fascinating little bird — and you framed the shot so beautifully. Hugs on the wing!
Thank you so much, Teagan! I’m glad you like the image. Hugs right back! ☺😀
Good idea to take your cameras for birding! She have a big collection of bird images in no time!
Meant to type ‘You will have’ …
No worries! I knew what you meant. 😀
Thanks, Denise! We hope so. 😀
What a gorgeous shot, Deborah!! It certainly does look like he’s holding a pearl. 🙂
I thought so too. Thank you so much, Amy! 😀
How much sage does a sage thrasher thrash if a sage thrasher does thrash sage?
What a tongue twister! It’s great and I can’t do it 3 times without making a mistake! 🤣
I hadn’t realized that it serves as a good tongue-twister. Coincidentally, I’d made up a three-word (and botanical rather than avian) tongue-twister in my post scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Looking forward to reading it. 😀
Lovely shot! The tree and its olives are new to me, and I think it’s pretty!
Thank you so much, Joey! It is pretty in this state, but they are invasive, and have thorns like nails-long, tough, and they hurt you when trimming them. I’m not a fan of them generally.
Ohhhh. Yeah, I can imagine. Best left to the wilderness!
Nice capture Deborah! That’s a plump Sage Thrasher; guess the cold weather makes animals and humans gain some extra weight to keep the chill off.
I went out to Pacifica’s Mori Point last Thursday in the late afternoon hoping to see a whale but was skunked again. I kept looking for something to shoot and a bird flew by so I watched it to see where it would land. The physical image made me think it was something different from the normal seabirds in the area. It landed on the side of the cliff on a very small perch so I took a few shots to see what kind of bird it was. I found the Pacifica Peregrine Falcon! I hoped it would take flight again so I could get a BIF shot but it stayed on that perch for a long time while I took occasional blast shots hoping to get it taking off and while preoccupied the sun started to set behind me. I turned to shoot the sunset as it hit the horizon and wasn’t set up with my wide angle and filters so I was rushing to switch lenses. When I looked back at the falcon it was gone but I now know where its perch is (the guano on the cliff indicates to me that was it’s spot). I still have to pp and image but I’m deleting over a couple of thousand shots first (blast mode with electronic shutter certainly depletes the battery and memory card).
This comment is post worthy, Gordon! I hope you post your falcon and share the story!
Thanks, Gordon!
Thanks Deborah, I posted one of the falcon images on Flickr. I probably have a few better ones to pp later.
I haven’t been to flickr in a few days. Lemme look!
Handsome guy, and those do look like pearls. 🙂 As far as the game goes, we’re conflicted. Hubby was a long-term season ticket holder for the Chiefs, but we have also rooted for Brady for almost 20 years. We just hope it’s a good game. 🙂
That’s a great way to feel about the game.
Thank you so much, Judy! I am going to see my boys today so my world is perfect. I hope yours is too. 🥰
That’s a wonderful photo, Deborah. He’s a cute little guy. I’m glad you decided to take your camera with you on your walks.
Thank you, Dan! It’s been worth taking it lately. I am glad you liked seeing this bird.
Hope you have a great week-end.
I wonder whether they like whatever sort of olives they grew at Queen Creek Olive Mill. 🙂 I really need to take my camera with my next time I go there for shopping and coffee. They have a large seating area under olives trees and there are always sparrow and grackles around but who knows? Maybe one of these cuties will show up.
Lovely shot!
I don’t know. You should find out and yes, take your camera. 😀
Thank you so much, Janet! Have a great week-end! 🥰
Beautiful bird, beautifully composed, Deborah! A new bird to me!! 🙂
Thank you so much, Donna! 😀
Thanks for sharing about this cute little bird Deborah. Enjoy your weekend also.
Hi! Thank you so much! I hope you have a lovely week-end too.
Beautiful shot, Deborah. He is a handsome fella.
Thank you so much, John! I agree he is good lookin.
😊
Sweet little bird 😊. Lovely composition, Deborah!
Thank you so much, Belinda! 😀
What an excellent find and a superb photo, Deborah. The California thrasher is more common in Northern California, so how very exciting to find a sage thrasher. I have never seen one. And plucking at unripe olives, too. Thanks for taking us with you, this was fantastic.
Thank you for coming along, Jet! I’m glad you enjoyed the post and seeing the Sage Thrasher.
This was only the second time I’ve seen one myself. The first time I saw one was in California! 😀
Before I open up your posts now, Deborah, my mouth begins to form “wow!” You take such amazing photos. Each one could be placed on a feature wall. I also understand now, why people become “bird watchers.” This sage thrasher is beautiful and it looks like it has something between its beak….or an illusion.🙂
Thank you so much, Erica, you’re too kind! Your eyes are not playing tricks on you he has a little Russian Olive in his mouth. 😀
Ahhhh, wow (again lol) Precise, exquisite photography and your creative eyes for beauty, Deborah❤️
Thank you!🙏🏻😍
Go Bears! Oh, wait….
I was surprised to see the bird in the tree, as well! Another species eating those darned fruits. hm. I think it is great that you are seeing spring migrants coming through already. Hard to imagine as we plunge into single digits here for the foreseeable future.
LOL! Thank you so much, Melissa!
We’re having some sunny days, but chilly in the morning. Our high will be 42 today.
Stay warm, and enjoy the game! 😀