ML182532821

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Photo’s. Continuing bird, and an excellent find by Susan Painter a couple days ago. Spent nearly four hours in the area of the original sighting, along with other birders, without detection. Bird was relocated by others while I was distant. However, as I returned it was quickly surrounded/crowded and (in my opinion) unnecessarily flushed from a very small weed patch by several eager birders frantically trying to get photographs. As I approached the patch I only got a glimpse as it flew away to the weeds/field to the south, but did not feel I got a diagnostic view. Very frustrating. I decided to leave and eat lunch, and then reluctantly returned an hour later when there were fewer people present. I met another birder (Debbie) trying to find the correct location of the bird and we walked into the same area together — the original rose bush patch near the paved trail where it meets the ponds. Almost immediately we saw the LeConte’s Sparrow perched very near the original observation rose bush, preening. We stayed back and enjoyed several great views and photo’s, and watched the bird reposition itself and continue preening. Then it dropped down and soon was up again in a different view. Was nice to share a life bird with Debbie. Field marks: small sparrow with orangish head and upper breast. White lower breast and belly. Dark streaking along sides. Grayish nape with very fine darker streaking and a center rusty patch. Light/off-white median head stripe. Short and pointed tail retrices gave it a stiff-tailed look, and it often fanned its tail. Flat look to head and bill. Total observation time was about 4 minutes @ 15-20 yds distance.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

Lens

EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM

ISO

640

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1600 sec

Dimensions

1912 pixels x 1274 pixels

Original file size

831.11 KB