ML54861241

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

All seen along the riparian corridor, flitting around secretively, using shrubby cover, often dense. Not extensively familiar with this species. First impression was of a streaky-breasted sparrow with some resemblance to SOSP, but seemed distinctly different. On this first individual, I specifically noted that the buffy malar really stood out on the face, and that the dark flank streaking was very fine. I subsequently got looks of varying length and quality at 5 more individuals that I was able to positively identify. Characteristics of particular note were a broad gray supercilium; conspicuous white eyering; fine dark streaking on breast and belly, with pale buffy ground color seen distinctly on several birds; and very buzzy, high 'zzeet' call unlike any vocalizations I know of SOSP (heard from 3 individuals). I saw 1 bird near the east end of the stream corridor on the property, utilizing dense branches of dead, fallen shrubs for cover. All other birds were seen above the diversion dam; 2 were together, and all the rest were apparently solitary. All birds I observed made frequent movements from perch to perch in or around dense shrubs, soon flying down into cover and out of sight.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

400

Focal length

357 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire, auto

f-stop

f/6.5

Shutter speed

1/320 sec

Dimensions

3070 pixels x 2304 pixels

Original file size

850.15 KB