reflections on a Grasshopper Sparrow

On reflecting on the Grasshoppeer Sparrow's appearance in our marsh, I decided it wasn't quite as surprising as I first thought. Like most of the Ammodramus spsrrows, A.  savannarum is a grassland species and what is a Spartina marsh but a particular kind of grassland. Most of the sparrows that inhabit wetlands are particularly adapted to that habitat (Seaside, Nelson's, LeConte's, even Henslow's) and prefer wetlands for breeding. Grasshopper likes dry grassland for breeding -- there is a major colony of these birds at EPCAL (ex-Grumman) where they breed in the grassy edges of the old runways. But, of course, in migration they use a greater variety of habitats while still preferring the closest thing to their favored field habitat. When they are not singing, they can be difficult to find; as I mentioned in yesterday's post, this was only the second time I have ID'd the bird around here. Fortunately, this particular specimen was kind enough to perch out in the open on a grass stem!

Not much activity this morning. Northern Waterthrush, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird and White-breasted Nuthatch are still with us and a few Royal Terns were flying up the creek where there are runs of bait fish and splashes from Blue Snappers (baby Blues).

Eric Salzman