One of the activities that has promoted my sanity and activity during Covid has been walking and bird watching, combined with involvement with iNaturalist. In the past I would always have been excited about seeing a peregrine falcon, but a small and inconsequential bird, like a white-crowned sparrow, was meh. However, now I'm excited about seeing any bird and determining the differences between different species, such as sparrows, is fun, and a thrill when I find a new species.
I'd previously identified and photographed two Say's phoebes, but a few weeks later, on November 28, got better photos of another Say's phoebe. An Audubon map indicates they are common year-round residents in our area, but I've only seen three in many months of walking.
I love the delicate coloring. The feathers on the breast are so fine that they almost look like fur--at least in the top photo.
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