ML144938561

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

The sparrow flew off the road in front of the car and landed off to the side of the road. I spent about 10 minutes trying to get photos; 3 are attached. I was within 10 - 50 feet of the bird for about 10 minutes. It was foraging in the open area between roadside weeds, and would occasionally run, with tail held straight up, between weeds. This species is a very rare transient in late winter and early spring and in fall. Probably annual but not seen every year, and the last report was in Sept. 2015. I look for them every late winter/early spring in the open habitats SW of Pendleton, and the last time I saw one was March 4, 2014. Probably a fairly common former breeder in Umatilla County before the conversion of sagebrush habitat to crop land. May currently breed sparingly, but no recent records. Birders reporting this species in Umatilla County should provide details and/or photographs of their sightings.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

100

Focal length

178 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

2601 pixels x 1789 pixels

Original file size

3.14 MB