Sherborne Nat'l Wildlife Center - a few birds

We went to Sherborne National Wildlife Center yesterday at the worst possible time - 11:00am - 2:00pm on a hot sunny day.
In spite of that, we saw quite a few species and heard many more, bagging 6 identifiable new species for my life list with photographs.
They included: Black Tern, Eastern Meadowlark, Field Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Lark Sparrow, and Eastern Towhee.
I'm sure another bird I photographed as it was flying off was a Brown Thrasher (which I also need) but Merlin refuses to recognize it from the photo.
Here's a few example shots.

Field Sparrow

Eastern Towhee (f)

Sedge Wren


Dickcissel

Eastern Meadowlark

Black Turn

We'll definitely return to SNWC to try for more new birds.

A nice set Jim! We had a rufous sided towhee in the drive way years ago. It was taking refuge under the edge of the car in a snow storm. Have not seen one since.

Andrew

Great bird shots, Jim. I like the wren for action and the towhee for color. I think you should have waited for the other wren to finish its business. 🤨 Rich

A nice set Jim I particularly like ur wren a lot like ours but with more markings and the same we tail sticking up in the air

Nice set, Jim That Eastern Towhee reminds me that our pair hasn't stopped by in some time .... Moved next door about a decade ago and we don't see then much anymore maybe when it gets colder and they're looking harder for food! .... or need water for a bath ... Most of the others I don't see locally but I don't get out in the fields very often anymore. .....

WhyNot

I think I just missed them doing their business - I shot a burst with this as the first shot and they both flew up and rested on a nearby branch. He lit up a cigarette to relax which I took as a give away for their prior activity. 😉

Thanks Paul. We first heard it out in the bush and ID'd it using Merlin on my wife's iPad. Then she played it's song back several times to draw it out into the open where I could photograph it. Worked a charm. I think we'll have to be doing that some more (though some places prohibit the practice).

Thanks WN. The Eastern Towhee was far less timid than most of the birds and hung around close to the path for me to take lots of photos of her. I felt very fortunate with that one.

Thanks Andrew. Those colors would look great in a snow storm but that sure wasn't our issue Friday! The temps were in the upper 80's and the sun was blisteringly intense. Picked up the Grandson later that afternoon and just gave him back to his parents 1/2 hr ago - 6.5 yr olds are exhausting! Lots of fun, but tiring. Off to bed for me.

Towhees in general, I think, are less timid birds. When the weather is nice we sometimes leave the kitchen door open. Hearing a scratchy sound one day, I went to check and found a California Towhee right in the middle of the kitchen. He just looked at me like, "And what do you want?" I had to actually shoo him back out the door!

Lynne