A Bobolink Adventure

[Loupey]

A columnist wrote recently that there were bobolinks in a nearby field so I decided to check it out since I never saw one before.

The exploratory day ended up being a full photo day in search of the bobolink. At the end of the day, I had to laugh as I did everything absolutely "wrong" that day:

Spent 5 hours in blazing near-solstace sun
Nearly 90 degrees, 90% humidity
Hiked/stalked the entire time in office clothes (blistered feet)
No shade, no sunscreen
No water (got light-headed once)

I'm sure there are easier/better ways to photograph a bobolink. But I don't know their behaviors yet. But I do know they travel in groups and when I pick one to stalk and finally get close enough to shoot, one his buddies will decide to fly away which makes everyone fly away.

Still, I feel fortunate as many people couldn't even find them.

[Martin Brazil]

A cool little bird Loupey. Is #3 a female ? It looks like a sparrow.

[Loupey]

Thanks, Martin. I'm 95% sure that that bird is a female Bobolink. She was hanging out in the vicinity of the males. Interestingly, it was the males which flew around as a group. The females (a few here and there) would still fly away from me, but always alone it seemed.

[AgingEyes]

Looks like all the "sacrifices" have paid off !

[paulnj]

That is indeed a female bobolink. I have never stalked them for photos, but would think they have a few favorite perches like most other breeding birds.