Boat-tailed Grackles are always angry.
Ever notice when they sing they close their eyelids?
This bird is definitely not reserved.
On the rocks at Federal Point even the clappers were forced onto high ground.
Plenty of godwits but still no Hudsonian for me.
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
The tide was so high I could not get to Cut 3 and parked my truck and walked back to the marsh. It took a while to find the sparrows but I did eventually find a huge group.
Nelson's Sparrow - best field mark is the coloration contrast between breast and malar, or in the case of Nelson's no contrast.
Also the bib is fairly neat or clearly delineated.
This bird had no tail (in molt) and was probably a Saltmarsh but this is one of those tough ones as it has traits of both species. The head and malar is of a differing intensity which indicates Saltmarsh. However the light streaking is more indicative of Nelson's.
This one is clearly a Nelson's.
Another in between bird.
Seaside Sparrow is a much easier ID.
One of the best Saltmarsh candidates I have ever seen. Super dark streaks, ill defined bib, tons of contrast in orange intensity on malar and breast. Some field books point to bill size and this bird does seem to have a longish bill.
Can your Grandfather do This?
What a pretty bird....
I am blessed to live in this corner of NC. Now if I could only get a Le Conte's Sparrow.
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