Brewer’s Sparrow & Phoebe Tuyttens Sept 7

[Gord]

Tuyttens Wetlands seems to be the place to be this fall with several nice sights. Along Whorley Road about 100m before the end/turn around was a Brewer’s Sparrow this afternoon. Now there could be other tailless sparrows around too but this one does not have one. Tricky guys to identify at times from drabber Clay-coloured Sparrows; I was lucky to see it a second time briefly after almost giving up so I could be sure. Hard to see it as it was in and out of the cornfield and weeds with a mixed flock of sparrows and an Orange-crowned Warbler pretending to be a sparrow.

Black Phoebe continues about 200m from end of Cutler this time.

Saw my first Sharp-shinned Hawk of the fall and a neat leucistic Yellow-rumped Warbler whose numbers are picking up now. A Vesper Sparrow that might be starting to get a bit late for them? Maybe another week before we start to say that. Two young Peregrines (probably brother and sister based on size) were horsing around together and flew past me low and fast. Beautiful birds.

[Gord]

Bit of a ratty-looking Brewer's Sparrow

_0231307 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231313 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Leucistic Yellow-rumped Warbler who's a good hunter

_0231248 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231283 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Western Wood-Pewee posed nicely

_0231258 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Commemorating my first fall Sharp-shinned Hawk

_0231314 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Over at Harrison Lake lagoon along the east side was another first of the fall Lapland Longspur

_0231324 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231340 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


Also two Horned Larks nearby

_0231364 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


And a young Chipping Sparrow

_0231331 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr

_0231333 by Geordie LaForge, on Flickr


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