'Ipswich' Savannah Sparrow, NJ

Folks, here's a photo of an 'Ipswich' Savannah Sparrow I took this past Saturday at Barnegat Lighthouse jetty, Long Beach Island, NJ. This Savannah Sparrow variation winters along the north Atlantic coast and breeds on Sable Island in Nova Scotia. It is overall slightly larger that normal Savannah Sparrows and substantially lighter in color.

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Nice to see, they don't allow anybody on sable island so your shores would be the only place to capture the Ipswich.

Well done,

That is a lovely composition and clarity.
Thanks for sharing
SteveP

What a beauty! I keep looking for a day to get down to Barnegat, and haven't found one yet.

That is a nice shot. I always love seeing this bird too. Good place for it.

Very nice shot of a bird that is high on my wish lits. Very very nice!

Thank you all for your very kind remarks. This was a true find for me. I've seen regular Savannahs down in Cape May but this is my first Ipswich.

It was a great day for birding with Harlequin ducks, Long-tail Ducks, Surf Scoters, Red-necked and Horned Grebes, Brant, Red-throated and Common Loons, Red-breated and Common Mergansers, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone and both Ring-billed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. I'll post a few other photos when I have them ready.

If you haven't been to Barnegat it should be on your to do list. I'm having a great time this year birding all up and down the Atlantic coastline of NJ from the northshore at Sandy Hook down to Cape May Point.

Thanks again.
John