ML426695611

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

California Bird Records Committee Rare Bird Documentation Species: Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) Date: 20 February 2022 Location: 277 Bell Lane, Quincy, Plumas County, California Optical Equipment: Zeiss 8X32 binoculars Circumstances: Linda Terrill and I arrived around 07:15 on 20 February 2022 and there were already 2 birders there who had briefly seen it, but it had flown off. About 20 minutes later we observed the bird in a different yard across the street from the 277 Bell Lane feeders it frequented. It then returned (usually quite briefly) to the feeders at 277 Bell Lane several times and provided good views and photo opportunities. Description: (Please see attached photo). Structurally, a relative unique passerine in North America, closely resembling the widespread and common Palearctic species, the Common Chaffinch (F. coelebs). A somewhat elongated finch with a peaked crown behind the eye and relatively stout pale legs and feet. Longish tail deeply forked. Noticeably smaller than adjacent Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) and slightly smaller that adjacent Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca). The grayish head and back were mottled with black flecking, densest around the eye and bill area. There were also blackish streaks on the crown and nape. The throat, breast, scapulars and flanks were a continuous rich, orange-rust, as were the tips to the greater coverts. The wings and tail were black with some narrow light buff edgings to the remiges. There were some dark spots on the lightly rust flanks. The undertail coverts and rump were white. The stout finch-like bill was yellow with a grayish tip with a very straight culmen and sharply pointed tip. Discussion: Linda and I have seen flocks of literally thousands of Bramblings in Germany in winter. In California, I have seen two Bramblings previously: one in Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County that wintered 12/15/1990—2/16/1991 and one that wintered in Arcata, Humboldt County 11/10/2014—3/12/1991. A nice find for anywhere in California, and a bird high on the attractiveness scale.

Technical information

Model

DSC-RX10M4

Lens

8.8-220mm f/2.4-4.0

ISO

250

Focal length

216.7 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/4.0

Shutter speed

1/250 sec

Dimensions

2137 pixels x 1870 pixels

Original file size

992.47 KB