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Post by Chris on Dec 7, 2011 12:54:57 GMT -8
Gord spotted a Swamp Sparrow where the Harris' Sparrow was last year. He won't have access to a computer for awhile so I thought I would post it just in case anyone is interested. Here is a link to where it is. It's just across from the gun club. maps.google.ca/maps?daddr=49.079263,-122.162905&hl=en&ll=49.079741,-122.163076&spn=0.022657,0.055575&sll=49.077155,-122.143764&sspn=0.022658,0.055575&vpsrc=6&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&t=m&z=15
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Post by murraybrown on Dec 7, 2011 15:23:36 GMT -8
Great find Gord. That sure is a birdy location.
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Post by Chris on Dec 7, 2011 16:08:59 GMT -8
I was going to go out to East Chilliwack to look at gull flocks but when I found out that Gord saw a Swamp Sparrow I went there instead. There was one at Island 22 last year that I missed 2 or 3 times. I parked across from the east side of the gun range and walked the creek. Lots of Song Sparrows. Not as many Juncos as when the Harris' was there in February. I was probably there for about 30 minutes before I saw finally saw it, new species for me. I walked the edge of the grass and it was close to the water in thick brush. My pictures of it aren't in focus. There were a few Lincoln Sparrows as well. Pretty good numbers of ducks in the slough, Buffleheads, Green-winged teal and Mallards.
Drove a bit through Sumas Prairie where I saw a Cooper's Hawk.
There is a very good chance it will be there for awhile.
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Post by Gord on Dec 8, 2011 0:19:38 GMT -8
Thanks, Chris, and glad you got to see it! Nicely done. This morning I was running errands but dropped by to see what was happening. Happily, no one was using the gun range. Fairly soon into my quick walk I glimpsed something 'different', and soon was rewarded with not bad views of a Swamp Sparrow. At one point, I wondered if there might have been two as the one I was looking at flew to the right and very quickly after I saw one to my left at a bit of a distance. I never saw two at once so cant say for certain. Like Chris mentioned, there were a few Lincoln's Sparrows. Lincoln's and Swamp Sparrows are sort of similar, but note the streaks on the throat of a Lincoln's which a Swamp lacks. A Swamp's wings are much brighter rufous/brown too. A Song Sparrow is larger, darker and more streaked on the breast. There were very few Juncos around. Last year there were a few hundred. I wonder if the lack of weedy field (the field was planted with corn this summer) is the reason. One did pose for me. A bear and a cub also seem to be in the area judging by the foot prints in the mud. The sow is not a very large bear. The cub The sow I think the bears come out at night as I cant see them coming around in the day especially if the gun range is being used.
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Post by oldfulica on Dec 8, 2011 8:05:19 GMT -8
Very nice Gord. I haven't seen a Swamp for a few years now. Someone posted a bear sighting at Macdonald park (I think that is the name) a few weeks ago too. Very close to the gun club.
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Post by butterfly on Dec 8, 2011 11:06:20 GMT -8
Awesome sighting and photos, Gord!
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Post by martin on Dec 8, 2011 12:14:03 GMT -8
Very cool looking sparrow, nice find. May have too take a trip there this weekend.
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Post by kestrel on Dec 9, 2011 15:39:26 GMT -8
Good find and captures!
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Post by Dave on Dec 11, 2011 22:09:00 GMT -8
Great record. Now for one of these on the Christmas Bird Count Saturday....
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Post by Randy on Dec 12, 2011 10:50:12 GMT -8
Great pictures! Quick question - what would be the key features in distinguishing this from a Lincoln's or Savannah sparrow? I often have a tricky time with some of the more subtle sparrows.
Thanks,
Randy
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Post by Gord on Dec 12, 2011 21:17:07 GMT -8
Randy, a lack of streaks on the throat and breast would be a good start to tell from Savannah or Lincoln's who both have crisp streaking. Asides from a streaky back and bright rufous wings, a Swamp Sparrow is a bit on the drab side with blurry streaks at best on the flanks.
A couple other thoughts to think about. A Lincoln's has a buffy/biege feel with the bit on the 'malar stripe' (sort of like a mustache) and on the upper bit of the breast. A Swamp is predominately grey here. A Savannah is streaky but more brownish straw coloured and lacks the strong face and head patterns of the other two.
Ill have a couple slides on this for tomorrow's presentation and will put it up here after (havnt made it yet...but I will...lots of time. Only 9:15 the night before the presentation! Procrastination at its finest...if I had time to procrastinate that is. hehe) ;D
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Post by Randy on Dec 13, 2011 16:23:41 GMT -8
Ha ha, thanks a lot Gord. I'm looking forward to seeing the slides comparing the two. Even after I looked in Sibley's I think I would have a very difficult time telling in the field without IDing by a picture later. Repetition is key though I guess!
Thanks again!
Randy
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