A few folks have asked for more specific directions to the Henslow's spot: I'd recommend parking at Owen Park/Ponds, which shows up as 895 Warren Wilson Road, Swannanoa, NC 28778 on Google Maps. This is just east of WWC, and just west of Bee Tree Road. You can follow the signs to WWC from the Porters Cove Road exit off !-40 (I think this is marked as the Swannanoa exit, but I do this so subconsciously that I can't remember). Park at the west end of the ponds (unless you want to look for the Marsh Wren!), and follow the path westward over the footbridge through the woods. This will soon spit you out at the small, plowed field I mentioned earlier. The "Native Plant Sanctuary" sign will be just ahead, on your right. Below are a few really bad docu-shots from yesterday of the Henslow's and Vespers (and a Rusty...just because they're so darn pretty!). Two scenery shots also show the described Henslow's spot. Thanks, Steve Ritt Asheville, NC / San Diego, CA On Mon, Mar 24, 2014 at 2:16 PM, Steve Ritt <stevenmritt@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I was quite shocked to refind what must be the same Henslow's Sparrow that > I found on 10/30/13 at Warren Wilson College this afternoon, but it has > moved to the east end of the ag fields. The spot is next to the old > archeological dig. There is a small, plowed field there that has the > remnants of a small native plant sanctuary on the north side. To be exact, > there is a sign that reads "Native Plant Sanctuary". The bird was > originally in the five-ish elderberries near this sign, then hopped up to > the overhanging River Birch with the Virginia Pine above it. Just like last > fall, the bird is incredibly cooperative once found. I got a few very poor, > but ID-worthy cell phone shots. I believe this is the first time one has > overwintered in WNC. > > Other sparrows: > Vesper - 4 just south of the pig farm. > Fox - 2 (1 just west of the pig farm and behind the farm office. 1 just > east of the lotus pond by the WWC barn.) > White-crowned - just 1 > White-throated - 8 > Savannah - 40 > Field - 12 > Swamp - 18 > Song - plenty > (A nine-sparrow day in WNC ain't bad!) > > Other birds: > Rusty Blackbird - 20-ish continue all around the pig farm area > Fish Crow - 2 near Owen Ponds > Osprey - 1 at Owen Ponds > Belted Kingfisher - 1 across the street from the entrance to Owens Ponds > > And...a possible Marsh Wren was at the east end of Owen Ponds. Marsh Wren > is an extremely common, year-round resident in Southern California that I > am very familiar with, and I can't imagine what else this may have been, > but this is WNC, I got brief, poor looks at this bird, and it would be > really nice if someone else could go confirm this. It showed itself briefly > towards the center of the east end of the easternmost pond while scolding a > flock of Yellow-rumps, and then disappeared. I spent an hour trying to > refind the bird (with some help from Bob Rhodes), and finally threw in the > towel with frustration. Eh, birding. > > Oh, and a photographer might want to just shoot away at the large icterid > flock by the pig farm, and see if they can pull out a Brewer's Blackbird. I > scrutinized many of the Rusties, but didn't have enough time to do it > justice. > > I will be leading a weekend birding retreat at the Sunnybank Inn in Hot > Springs, NC 25-27 April. Contact me off-list if interested. > > Thanks, > > Steve Ritt > stevenmritt AT gmail.com > Asheville, NC / San Diego, CA >
Attachment:
HESP
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
HESP
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
HESP1
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
HESP2
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
HESP3
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
VESP
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
3
Description: Binary data
Attachment:
RUBL
Description: Binary data
