Sparrows and Berries

I know, I know — I post WAY too many song sparrows. But I like them, and they’re terribly obliging, when it comes to posing for pictures.

It was funny, though: Mother and I were out just before noon, and we couldn’t find anything with wings (well, unless you count a crow that flapped so close to our heads we felt a mild breeze). We were standing about listening for chickadees, and I was telling her about that hissing thing — you know, that pssh-pssh-pssh-pssh-pssh you do with your lips, and suddenly you’re mobbed with small passerines (in theory, anyway) — and as I was talking, a song sparrow ran past us, and into the underbrush.

“See, though, it doesn’t really work,” I said. “Pssh-pssh-pssh-pssh — hey!” And wouldn’t you know it: several sparrows appeared, as though by magic, rising up from the bushes and into the trees. I hissed again, and even MORE appeared. And here are some of them:

A moment later, it reached out and pecked the berries.

A moment later, it reached out and pecked the berries.

Check it out...two in the bush!

Check it out…two in the bush!

For trash birds, they're awfully cute.

For trash birds, they’re awfully cute.

Aww.  Look at that, all puffed up.

Aww. Look at that, all puffed up.

Birdie tuchis!

Birdie tuchis!

I’m going back, later. Perhaps I’ll return with a brand new bird. Hope springs eternal!

Trash birds…are staring at me!

Happy birthday (bird-day?) to me! I’d hoped to get a new bird for my birthday, but Mother snuck off with my keys first thing in the morning, and didn’t return till the light had gone. Birds spotted, on this most auspicious of days:

* Western gulls
* Glaucous-winged gulls
* Western/glaucous-winged hybrid gulls
* One MASSIVE herring gull
* American crows
* A big, fat American robin
* Anna’s hummingbirds
* Black-capped chickadees.

Mother also told me a story about having seen three regal-looking brown birds, which had small heads, and were standing up tall, like begging dogs. This was the entirety of her description. I can’t begin to imagine what those were, but colour me jealous.

TRASH BIRDS ARE STARING AT ME!

TRASH BIRDS ARE STARING AT ME!

This hummingbird is too far away to photograph well.  So far, my feeder has gone undiscovered.  My neighbour's hummingbird monopoly continues.

This hummingbird is too far away to photograph well. So far, my feeder has gone undiscovered. My neighbour’s hummingbird monopoly continues.

At least it's pinned down as an Anna's hummingbird, now.

At least it’s pinned down as an Anna’s hummingbird, now.