Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast - Part XV

Continuing our series on Wildlife of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast, the last of the Birds photographed since the beginning of the Pandemic.

Turkey Vulture

Verdin

Verper Sparrow

White-winged Dove

Other photos from Las Cienegas

Here are a few other photos from Las Cienegas;

Loggerhead Shrike

Red Tailed Hawk

Rufous Winged Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow

Western Meadowlark

Birds on a Wire: Vesper Sparrow

The Vesper Sparrow population has been in decline in the Eastern U.S. due to habitat loss. It is still common in the West however.

It prefers meadows, prairies, and fields. It is most easily seen along dirt back country roads. 

The Vesper Sparrow forages on the ground looking for insects and seeds. It will eat beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars and moths. Seeds are of weeds and grasses. 

This photo was taken in San Rafael Valley east of Patagonia.

Vesper Sparrow

Birding Pena Blanca Lake

As I mentioned in the last post, I didn't get my target bird: the Rufous Crowned Warbler at Pena Blanca Lake. I stood/sat along the cattails on the south side of the cove 1/3 mile above the boat lunch for two hours but the little guy never showed. However, I didn't come home without a photo. In fact, I got quite a few nice ones:

American Kestrel

Vermillion Flycatcher

Ruddy Duck

Black Phoebe

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

American Coot

Mallards

Vesper Sparrow

White Tailed Deer

Bridled Titmouse

Rufous Winged Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Pyrrhuloxia

Red Tailed Hawk

Marsh Wren

Verdin

Vesper Sparrow

Vesper Sparrow taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Tucson, Arizona:

Vesper Sparrow

The Last from Whitewater Draw

Two more photos today from Whitewater Draw; an occasional winter resident, the Long Billed Dowitcher; and a pleasant surprise a Vesper Sparrow.

Long Billed Dowitcher

Vesper Sparrow