121120 Fall Sparrows at Boomer Lake, Junco Subspecies Highlight

 120420                                                    Sharp-shinned Hawk

This guy was wary and knew that I was behind him, the first sharpie that I could ever photograph.  Multiple Northern Cardinals and Juncos were flying low and hiding in the brush beneath the small hawk.  It was later discovered over the nest few days that we were looking at least seven cardinals, but reality really kicked in when ten of them were seen out in the open beneath bald cypress trees where they could be counted on the ground.

120820                                                   Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon)

This beauty appeared in the company of four slate colored Dark-eyed Juncos.  It was the best photo that I could get.  Imagine how surprised I was when this Oregon junco showed off those beautiful colors.

          

 120920                                             Dark-eyed Junco (cismontanus)    

This subspecies was a real surprise.  While they are not too common anywhere, they do have a broad winter range, most of which happen to be around the Colorado front range.  Also known as the Cassiar junco, this is a special subspecies to come up with while it hides among the slate colored Dark-eyed Juncos in winter.