Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow

Early in the morning before sunrise, I waded into ankle deep water about a mile into a saltmarsh on Nantucket Sound. My goal for the morning was greater yellowlegs, green herons and other waders usually most active in the morning. I had not counted on catching a sharp-tailed sparrow. There was a ton of mud caked to the legs of my tripod after this one, but I think it was worth it. The saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow is a very secretive species and is not often seen. These birds are strictly found in normally inaccessible saltmarshes, so not much is known about their breeding habits. The species has a tiny range that tightly hugs part of the east coast; therefore, with the destruction of a large percentage of the natural saltmarshes along the east coast, the population of saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrows is declining. They are now considered a threatened species in most areas.

Buck’s Creek – Ridgevale Beach
Chatham, Massachusetts

September 2, 2009

Canon 50D
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS

Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow belongs to the following groups:

Birds and Creatures of Flight, I Love Birds, Songbirds of North America 2 a Day and The Birds Available for sale as

Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints and Framed Prints