ML416326221

Media notes

Playback sort of used. Bird was first heard singing. After it stopped, I played back RUGD, pausing between each note, in order to pretty accurately reproduce this song. It did begin again.

Observation details

*Continuing male, but had already dipped on it mentally after an attempt this morning so I was surprised! First heard singing (!) just after lunch from car parking area. Looked up if RUGD was there, which it sounded very much like (but with longer spacing), and realized I was probably hearing the last MCGD from the flock that had been around in the wet season. Took surprisingly little time to spot the bird fly between bushes along the edge of the yellow flower field and the barren field the tractors had been working, very close to the Museum. Stayed hidden mostly. Dusty blue dove with paler face and purple wing spots forming continuous bars. Poor photos and ok recording.

Additional species

• Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis