Photo of the Week: Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Small white-throated green bird with long bill caught in mid-flight as it flies toward bright red salvia flowers, muted green leaves and chain link fence in background.

Years ago, we would be delighted to see an occasional Ruby-throated Hummingbird buzz by a neighbor’s overgrown evergreen bushes.

When our neighbors cut down their 12-foot tall Eastern arborvitae, we wondered if we would see them again.

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Photo of the Week: Vesper Sparrow

Large brown sparrow with short bill, half obscured by green leaves, perched on a brown tree branch with blue sky in the background.

This weekend was one of the few times I’ve actually seen a Vesper Sparrow, instead of only hearing it singing its distinctive song of whistles, trill, and buzz.

As you can tell from my photo of the half-obscured bird, it’s not one of my better photos.

I could barely make out the large sparrow with thin white eyering, short bill, crisp brown streaks on its breast, and long tail in the mass of green leaves.

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Photo of the Week: Eastern Towhee

Large sparrow with thick bill, long tail, black head, brown flanks, and white breast perches on a brown tree branch. The bird has its mouth open as it sings. Shadows and green leaves with muted blue sky in the background.

I could hear the unmistakable song of “drink your tea” from a distance at one of my favorite local birding locations.

The sound was coming from a lower branch of a tree bordering the trail.

As I approached the area of the bird’s song, I peered up into the tree leaves and shadows, searching each branch until I finally found the black-headed brown and white bird.

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