Post by murraybrown on Jul 23, 2008 10:06:17 GMT -8
After reading the report of a singing Black-throated Sparrow in Osoyoos on the B.C. Interior Birding site on July 17th, I contacted the person who reported it and who lives there.
I had missed the two birds in the lower mainland that were seen last summer and thought I might have to wait awhile to see another one.
Although this bird is common in the southwestern deserts I wanted it for my B.C. list, and so headed up there yesterday morning July 22 with Roy Arlt, a Langley area birding friend.
The bird proved to be extremely elusive, and it's song was barely discernible in the strong winds that were buffeting us. Finally after three hours of scrambling through the sagebrush, and up and down the gullies in the extreme heat,we broke out the taped call.
The result was almost immediate. There he was! He had flown in to within less than fifteen meters of where we stood and gave us great looks.
Also seen were unusually large numbers of Lark Sparrows. We estimated no fewer than 40 birds and probably more. Say's Phoebe's were also abundant. Also Western Kingbird and Rock Wren.
Anyone wanting to go for this bird should get in touch with me as the local contact has said he will be happy to take others out as well.
Murray Brown
I had missed the two birds in the lower mainland that were seen last summer and thought I might have to wait awhile to see another one.
Although this bird is common in the southwestern deserts I wanted it for my B.C. list, and so headed up there yesterday morning July 22 with Roy Arlt, a Langley area birding friend.
The bird proved to be extremely elusive, and it's song was barely discernible in the strong winds that were buffeting us. Finally after three hours of scrambling through the sagebrush, and up and down the gullies in the extreme heat,we broke out the taped call.
The result was almost immediate. There he was! He had flown in to within less than fifteen meters of where we stood and gave us great looks.
Also seen were unusually large numbers of Lark Sparrows. We estimated no fewer than 40 birds and probably more. Say's Phoebe's were also abundant. Also Western Kingbird and Rock Wren.
Anyone wanting to go for this bird should get in touch with me as the local contact has said he will be happy to take others out as well.
Murray Brown
