ML612876336

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Media notes

Photo of another Purple finch with facial markings.

Observation details

I used a spotting scope, and binoculars to observed at least 24 Purple finch that were mainly feeding on seeds in group of three Green Ash trees that were in a marshy area near a point of land where my trail turned from west southwest to north along a large tule-filled drainage ditch. I had observed this flock yesterday, but did not have my scope with me to better identify and count the birds. Initially only a few were seen before something flushed them and they flew to a tall tree a little farther away. I estimated a couple dozen of birds of the same size flying and then used the scope to confirm that the ones visible in the tree were all Purple finches. The birds flew back to the tops of the original group of trees and I used both my scope and binoculars to count 24 at one moment in time. I mainly used the face markings and streaking on the chest to confirm that it was a flock of just Purple Finch, with a couple of robins mixed in on occasion. No adult males were observed in the flock. The specific habitat is very similar to other locations within the park where purple finches are reliably seen in the winter. I took a couple of photos under poor conditions (foggy and grey) to document the sighting.

Technical information

Model

Canon PowerShot SX720 HS

ISO

200

Flash

Flash did not fire

Dimensions

3769 pixels x 3187 pixels

Original file size

1.77 MB