ML609320619

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Scarce migrant through the Lake Champlain Basin, however, I've always envisioned finding one at this location during fall migration. It's probable that they are annual here but super difficult to detect based on the vast habitat and their secretive behavior. Today's sighting represented one of the two recognized interior forms based on appearance and presumably representing A. n. alterus rather than the nominate form. Similar in appearance to the Nelson's Sparrow I discovered during the Fall 2022 season in Essex County at the mouth of the Boquet River (https://ebird.org/checklist/S119740013). Eventually driven off by a territorial Swamp Sparrow. Fortunately, I managed some distant photos. Short-tailed Ammospiza with bright buff-toned bib extending down flanks and neatly outlining a pale belly. Blurry yet somewhat defined dark streaking contained within the buff and appearing more defined and crisper towards flanks, suggesting a non-subvirgata type Nelson’s. Not as crisp as seen in nominate race but not quite as broad and blurry as seen in many subvirgata. The throat was medium buff but not as pale as the subvirgata-type Nelson’s I’ve observed along the coast during fall migration. Median crown stripe gray and becoming wide towards center of crown and contrasting with brown lateral crown stripes. Pale gray to white back braces. The bird’s bill appeared to be quite small further indicating an interior-type Nelson’s. Intermediate combo of features between the nominate race and subvirgata suggests A.n.altera.

Technical information

Model

NIKON D850

Lens

300.0 mm f/4.0

ISO

1000

Focal length

420 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/1000 sec

Dimensions

2619 pixels x 1746 pixels

Original file size

5.4 MB