ML21434871
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
Media notes
Foraging right at the entrance to the fields
Observation details
Continuing mega-rarity. 2nd state record. I found it foraging with some House sparrows on the closer edge of the field. Not very shy, within 15ft at the closest. Stayed put even when all the sparrows were spooked away by a passerby. Seen with 2 other observers. Scaled neck and breast conspicuous, bill pinker/drabber than expected (might suggest young female eastern). Spots on wing coverts appear dark brown from a distance, but at close range show bluish-purple iridescence when they catch the light. Reddish iris also visible at very close range, with the back half of the pupil traced yellow. Foraging posture similar to Mourning dove, but squatted all the way to the ground. It took flight 5 times when I was there, each time showing conspicuous rufous on wings. Flew in slight swerves, with very rapid wingbeats. It flew into some low twigs twice, preening. Last seen flying over thicket on the closer field edge, likely landing in the open again.
Technical information
- Model
- NIKON D5200
- ISO
- 500
- Focal length
- 300 mm
- Flash
- Flash did not fire
- f-stop
- f/6.3
- Shutter speed
- 1/4000 sec
- Dimensions
- 4200 pixels x 2800 pixels
- Original file size
- 2.5 MB