A Birder's Life for Me

We strolled around Lake Sabrina in the eastern Sierras this morning looking for Red-breasted Sapsuckers while admiring the surrounding peaks that rise to altitudes of 13,000 feet above sea level or greater.  It was a refreshing 48 degrees when we started.

We found birds nesting everywhere.  A Hairy Woodpecker was delivering a meal to one of its young in an aspen tree.

Just feet away in another aspen, Mountain Bluebirds were also busy working their nest cavity.  I caught the male taking a break from its food-gathering chores.

Mountain Chickadees were working a cavity in a fallen tree.

And, finally, Crystal spotted the Red-breasted Sapsuckers working their nest just two feet below another cavity in the same tree that was occupied by White-breasted Nuthatches.  

Yesterday evening we decided to go in search of Sagebrush Sparrows and Sage Thrashers at Mono Lake.  

Not only did we find them, but they happily posed for photos.  None of these species will win any awards for being colorful or unique.  After all, they are made to blend well with their surroundings.

Sagebrush Sparrow

Sage Thrasher

We also found a Brewer's Sparrow bringing a beak full of alkali flies to its nest.  There are gazillions of these flies all the way around the edge of Mono Lake.  They make what appears to be about a 2 foot wide black line around the edge of the water. These flies were once a major source of food for local Native Americans who would gather and dry them to eat in the winter.

Tonight we had dinner in Lee Vining at a 1960's era diner I like to call Nicely's... mainly because that is the name of the place.  Some foreign tourists asked the waitress, "What is split-pea soup?"  To which the waitress replied, "It's like smashed green beans in a soup."  They did not order the soup.

One thing we did not do during our stay in Lee Vining was get gas.  I don't believe further explanation is needed.

The total bird count for 2025 now stands at 495.  Just 5 away from the goal of 500.  For the trip, we have observed almost 150 total species with 31 being new for 2025.  14 of the 31 have been lifers which has raised my lifer total to 574.