One of a Kind

Nice summary! FYI: Chestnut-Sided Warblers molt into that fall/winter plumage, lacking the chestnut sides. Even the adult males! It's not an immature or female thing.

Lori, this was a continuing wintering bird at Sweetwater last winter that was ID'ed as an immature female by all birders there. Cornell's AllAboutBirds states "non-breeding males have chestnut sides". In any case, at least in the birding community that reported the bird on eBird there was consistent reporting that this was an immature female.

Hmmm. Ok, my bad. My experience has been that wintering birds all lack the chestnut on the flanks. At least I've never seen one with any. But this is from living in the west, and seeing only vagrants. Then seeing them in breeding plumage in the east. Who knew?

I'm always learning too and there is so much to learn.

Love the reflections too! Catching up as you probably know by now:) So calming seeing them in their daily lives.

I noticed. Glad you are checking them all out!!!

I think the Swamp Sparrow deserves a better name! And so does the Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker (who looks a little like a Gila Woodpecker to me). The Russian Thisle is in my “Joy Cue”!

Or perhaps we just need to adjust our attitudes about swamps??? It is a very special bird. Glad the Russian Thistle brings that joy to you.

Love the detail you share!

thank you

Excellent set of photos. Thanks for sharing them.

thanks Randy

I appreciate your descriptions

Thanks Janine

Wow! Great pix and info. Thanks!

Thank you!

I always learn something from your blogs - thanks again! I've never seen a Chestnut-sided Warbler or flowering tumbleweed - didn't imagine they flowered!

Those tumbleweed flowers continue to amaze me. How could I have not seen that ever before?? Nature continues to surprise us.

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