ML163717681

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Photo courtesy of David W. Nelson.

Observation details

We had driven all the way to Lanfair Road, and were starting to head back west on Cedar Canyon Road. We had only gone one tenth mile west of Lanfair when David heard some unusual high pitched, fast paced (excited) chipping right next to the road on the south side of Cedar Canyon Road. We pished a little bit, and the bird re-located, but stayed hidden from our view. Eventually it sang a couple of times, and it was a match for the Cassin's Sparrow song. After a while, it flew to the north side of the road into a large bush, and then into a large, dead(?), bare-branched tree. This is where we got got views of it, and David was able to get 3 or 4 good photos. It did one "skylarking" flight display while we were there, and was still singing when we left. By then it had moved a little farther north of the road. This sparrow was larger than most other sparrows. It had s long tail with a rounded end, and the outer corners of the tail were whitish. Its bill was also larger than the bills of most other sparrows. Overall this bird was drab dark streaked upperparts, and pale lower parts and chest that were mostly un-streaked. I apologize for this belated report as I have been very busy with end of the school year duties, and a couple of graduations. But David has already submitted a report to the CBRC.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF400mm f/4 DO IS II USM

ISO

400

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/9.0

Shutter speed

1/1250 sec

Dimensions

1398 pixels x 1830 pixels

Original file size

1.44 MB