ML21514741

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Very late. I heard a loud rustling from a row of bushes (right by the edge of Route 63) and assumed it to be the Fox Sparrow that has been hanging around for the last several days. I decided to check it out anyway, so I stood still and, after a minute or so, was able to see the bird doing the rustling. It was faced away from me at this point, but I noticed that its reddish back wasn't quite the right shade for a Fox Sparrow. I pished a little bit, and the bird turned, revealing its thrush-like build, its black-spotted white breast, and its white eye ring. It then flew up and perched near the top of a bush, but also on the opposite side from me, making it very difficult to photograph. Nevertheless, I was able to get the photos below before the bird flew away (it made a low flight across Route 63 into a small patch of woodland). The second photo here seems to be more useful than the first: the second photo clearly shows the reddish-brown coloration on the back, the crisp white underparts with black spots (not streaks), the white eye-ring, and a little of the blackish feathering behind the eye. The first photo doesn't show much at all--I took it right before the bird adjusted its position a little bit--but I included it just because it is my only other shot of the bird. I only got to watch the bird for about a minute before it flew away, at which point I left the area, hoping that the thrush would come back. About 15 minutes later, I returned. I could hear the bird rustling around, so I tried pishing, staying absolutely still and silent, and walking around trying to get a vantage point. None of the tactics worked, so I was never able to get a second view of the bird. Despite the fact that my view was very brief, I am quite confident in this identification, as I got a very good, although brief, look at the bird. The second photo seems to be diagnostic, as it shows basically all of the key field marks for the species, especially the spotted underparts.

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot A4000 IS

ISO

200

Focal length

40 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/5.9

Shutter speed

1/160 sec

Dimensions

1508 pixels x 1036 pixels

Original file size

788.99 KB