October 31, 2010
Zimmerman, MN
In an earlier entry for today entitled "Serenity" I mentioned that this was a very quiet day on the Wildlife Drive. In the chill of this frosty morning even the usual small winter birds were hiding somewhere. I thought the water fowl and a few raptors would fill out the mornings birding.
But as has been said so often about the natural world, "You never know what's around the next bend." Today it was a wonderful surprise: snow buntings. . I felt the thrill of discovery. These birds are not even included in the "Uncommon" column of the Sherburne Refuge bird list even though my field guide says they are common in this area.
A group of these small sparrow-like birds was pecking in the gravel road just beyond the Big Bluestem Pool. In my four years in the Zimmerman area I have seen only one solitary snow bunting. That in itself was unusual because, like juncos, they usually travel as a flock. Now at last I was seeing a small flock.
As I tried to slowly drive closer to them to have a better view and take a picture they would burst into flight, then settle back into business as usual further down the road. Finally I took my foot completely off the accelerator and idled very slowly toward them at a snails pace. This time they ignored my approach until I was reasonably close.
Snow Bunting, Side View
Snow Bunting, Rear View
I pulled off to the side then sat and watched these buntings doing nothing more than hopping around and pecking at the gravel. It was a very relaxing fifteen minutes until a car came by at full speed (twenty per) and scattered them into the distance. The people in that car were probably not aware of what they were missing as they hurried on. But once more I found joy in the small stuff.
Zimmerman, MN
In an earlier entry for today entitled "Serenity" I mentioned that this was a very quiet day on the Wildlife Drive. In the chill of this frosty morning even the usual small winter birds were hiding somewhere. I thought the water fowl and a few raptors would fill out the mornings birding.
But as has been said so often about the natural world, "You never know what's around the next bend." Today it was a wonderful surprise: snow buntings. . I felt the thrill of discovery. These birds are not even included in the "Uncommon" column of the Sherburne Refuge bird list even though my field guide says they are common in this area.
A group of these small sparrow-like birds was pecking in the gravel road just beyond the Big Bluestem Pool. In my four years in the Zimmerman area I have seen only one solitary snow bunting. That in itself was unusual because, like juncos, they usually travel as a flock. Now at last I was seeing a small flock.
Snow Buntings Through The Windshield
As I tried to slowly drive closer to them to have a better view and take a picture they would burst into flight, then settle back into business as usual further down the road. Finally I took my foot completely off the accelerator and idled very slowly toward them at a snails pace. This time they ignored my approach until I was reasonably close.
What handsome birds they are with their buffy cheeks, white breasts and contrasting brown and black wings. This first impression would probably fade into familiarity if flocks of snow buntings were common here. But they would still be handsome.
Snow Bunting, Side View
Snow Bunting, Front View
Snow Bunting, Rear View
I pulled off to the side then sat and watched these buntings doing nothing more than hopping around and pecking at the gravel. It was a very relaxing fifteen minutes until a car came by at full speed (twenty per) and scattered them into the distance. The people in that car were probably not aware of what they were missing as they hurried on. But once more I found joy in the small stuff.
