Lincoln’s Sparrow
Melospiza lincolnii
One of my favorites, the Lincoln’s Sparrow ranges over most of the North American continent. These birds breed in bogs and wet riparian areas, mostly in northern and mountain areas. Winter finds them near the west coast of the USA, southern USA and much of Mexico.
I became a fan of Lincoln’s Sparrows in 2005, with the first bird I met in Alaska. I admire the subtle richness of the browns and grays they wear. Later (2014) they solidified the relationship with me when a half dozen individuals settled in my yard one winter and enjoyed the mealworms I offered. In 2020 and 2021, when I travelled to Texas, they were there for me to appreciate until spring migration started them moving north.
There is a “sneaky nature” to this bird. They are often shy and retiring, refusing to reveal themselves to the interested birder. Brushy fields attract Lincoln’s Sparrows, as these places offer suitable cover and feeding opportunities.
Today’s science recognises three subspecies of Lincoln’s Sparrow:
- M. l. lincolnii and M. l. alticola breed in Alaska and northern Canada. Some researchers believe we should unite them as a single subspecies.
- M. l. gracilis breeds in southern Alaska and British Columbia, and sometimes interbreeds with M. l. lincolnii
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 10:48 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X4219-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A bird that spent the winter in my yard in Poway. San Diego County, California USA 2014-03-11. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:11 17:54 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X3918-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
|
Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A bird that spent the winter in my yard in Poway. San Diego County, California USA 2014-03-11. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:11 17:54 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X3914-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A member of a troop of birds that spent the winter in my yard in Poway. San Diego County, California USA 2014-03-11. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:11 17:54 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X3907-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A bird that spent the winter in my yard in Poway. San Diego County, California USA 2014-03-11. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:11 17:34 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X3846-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) Cut-out image of a bird I met in Culp Valley of Anza-Borrego Park, between Ranchita and Borrego Springs. San Diego County, California USA 2008-03-27. |
Date Taken: 2008:03:27 8:17 |
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Location:
Culp Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: Cut_JCD4117LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:26 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4326-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A cut-out image of a bird that spent the winter in my yard in Poway. San Diego County, California USA 2014-03-11. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:11 17:54 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: Cut_D3X3907-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Petersville Road, from Trapper Creek, Alaska towards Denali. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:07 11:52 |
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Location:
Petersville Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: JCD7691LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Petersville Road, from Trapper Creek, Alaska towards Denali. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:07 11:49 |
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Location:
Petersville Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/80 |
File Name: JCD7675LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: (Melospiza lincolnii) A bird I met in Culp Valley of Anza-Borrego Park, between Ranchita and Borrego Springs. San Diego County, California USA 2008-03-27. |
Date Taken: 2008:03:27 8:17 |
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Location:
Culp Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: JCD4117LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2008 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 18:07 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X4540-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:57 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: D3X4487-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:53 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4448-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:26 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X4329-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Petersville Road, from Trapper Creek, Alaska towards Denali. |
Date Taken: 2005:07:07 11:45 |
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Location:
Petersville Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 550 mm, f/5.6, 1/125 |
File Name: JCD7659LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: These are my favorite sparrows. I met this bird at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior (Arizona), a well-known desert oasis, and a great place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:23 9:37 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X3146-Boyce-Thompson-Arboretum |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: These are my favorite sparrows. I met this bird at the Boyce-Thompson Arboretum near Superior (Arizona), a well-known desert oasis, and a great place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2019:10:23 9:37 |
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Location:
Boyce-Thompson Arboretum |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X3140-Boyce-Thompson-Arboretum |
| © 2019 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:49 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X4410-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Chipping Sparrow(Spizella passerina) |
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Description: (Spizella passerina) Juvenile at Garnet Queen Creek Crossing, on Santa Rosa Mountain. Southern Riverside County, California USA 2011-09-10. |
Date Taken: 2011:09:10 10:07 |
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Location:
Santa Rosa Mountain |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2274-ChippingSparrow-Juvenile |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:52 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/125 |
File Name: D3X4444-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Rustler Park in the Chiricahua Mountains. South Eastern Arizona. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:23 16:55 |
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Location:
Rustler Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 330 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D721786-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Discovery Marsh has been reclaimed from the old Tule Lake. This is a reversal of the process that converted this once enormous marshy lake and wetlands into farmlands. |
Date Taken: 2016:04:23 16:03 |
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Location:
Discovery Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D728382-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: 2014 Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:57 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/50 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D3X4487 |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: 2014 Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 10:48 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/200 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D3X4219 |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:59 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/80 |
File Name: D3X4498-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Poway. San Diego County, California. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:22 17:21 |
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Location:
Poway Grove Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 |
File Name: D3X4301-LincolnsSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: The old Sam Nail Ranch homestead in Big Bend, with its old wind-driven well, provides water to a thirsty desert community of plants and animals. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:07 10:35 |
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Location:
Sam Nail Ranch |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X3466-SamNailRanch |
| (C)2019 Jack Daynes |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:35 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D500001-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 9:35 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/400 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D500006-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 10:13 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D500427-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Prior to going to the Convention Center, I visited the Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary and met birds, including this Lincoln’s Sparrow. Last spring I learned how productive South Padre Island can be for birding. This was my first visit in winter, and it did not disappoint. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:19 11:21 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X2414-SouthPadreIsland |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Lincoln’s were the only sparrows I encountered on my first visit to Bentsen RGV SP. The mercury rose to 30°F this morning from 22°F yesterday in south Texas. I had camped only a mile-and-a-half from Bentsen Rio Grande Valley State Park, so despite the cold, I ventured out for a couple of hours, until my hands began complaining of the low temperature. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:16 11:07 |
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Location:
Bentsen RGV State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X2044-Bentsen-RGV-SP |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: I saw Lincoln’s Sparrows several times during my tour, but they all seemed to skulk in the underbrush. I spent a lovely day walking the paths of Quinta Mazatlan, a 20 acre reserve in McAllen (Texas). Late February may not be the best time to chase birds in the area, but those I met pleased me. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:23 11:03 |
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Location:
Quinta Mazatlan |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X4987-QuintaMazatlan_TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Sparrows, such as this Lincoln’s lurked in the brush and undergrowth on the property. For my last expedition while camped in Palmview (Texas), I drove two miles to explore the National Butterfly Center near Mission. I found it was a lovely place to meet birds and some like-minded nature lovers. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:25 13:25 |
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Location:
National Butterfly Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X6451-NationalButterflyCenter |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Lincoln’s Sparrows wintering in Texas will soon head north to breed. Some will travel as far as Canada and Alaska. With spring migration on South Padre Island (Texas) picking up, there’s no other place I’d rather be in April. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:02 11:32 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X9840-SPI_ConventionCentre |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Lincoln's Sparrow(Melospiza lincolnii) |
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Description: Soon these Lincoln’s Sparrows will leave Texas and travel as far as Canada and Alaska. Sunday was a day when the birds and then birders increased their respective presence on South Padre Island. Both are to be expected as spring migration steps up the bird numbers moving through on their way north. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:11 9:00 |
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Location:
Sheepshead Bird Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: LincolnsSparrow_D5X3744-SheepsHead |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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