VA BIRDers,
Gorgeous! Incredible! Explosively Bright! Vivid in the morning light.
Beautiful! Amazing!
The image of the LeConte's Sparrow, found yesterday by Larry Cartwright and
Paula Sullivan at Occoquan Bay NWR and spotted by myself today within 20
feet of the photos you saw, still presses against the nerves of my eyes like
an after image, bright orange-yellow with deft streaking on the breast, an
abrupt line above a white belly, purplish nape and a back pattern which
exhibits lines and curves of white on gray-black. A great find of a very
cooperative animal, dancing on grass stems and twigs just 20 feet before me.
I have spent many years seeking sparrows in North America, hearing their
songs and chip notes and watching them and their young from the Mexican
border to the northern edges of New England. I have always enjoyed the
ammodramus genus for its bright colors in interesting habitats. The bird at
OBNWR is a rare find for our area and provided fine views of these oft-time
secretive species. A great treat. Thank you.
I visited OBNWR this morning, arriving near 0800. I walked along the
Bayview Trail/Rd around the "square" of meadow grass with the single tall
pine tree inside its perimeter - Savannah Sparrows flew into its branches.
I moved up the trail to the location reported yesterday but found nothing.
I continued on to Charley Road, walking down to the pond and stream (you
know, one of the King Rail breeding areas). Lots of sparrows, all the usual
kinds Towee, Field, Savannah, Song, Swamp, White-throat, White-crowned, and
even a few Juncos. But, no LeConte's. I retraced my steps and, as if by
magic, the bird pops out of the straw-colored grass where it edges the
trail. It perches near the end of a grass stem, delicately eating seeds. I
watch it - brilliant in the sunlight rushing over my shoulder. Then, it
flies to a nearby short Sycamore that was barely 8 feet high; its leaves had
that parched green appearance we see in the late fall. The LeConte's moves
up and down the twig-like sapling, dancing on the leaves. It stopped and
did a bit of feather housekeeping. Then, back to the meadow grass. Another
minute - it flies in front of me, east across the trail to another tree. I
left it there, walking away.
I saw Paula and Paul Kane and told them of my meeting with the bright
wonder. Then, off to work. Schedules and reports were in front of my eyes.
But in the back, in the back was bright orange-yellow..
Kurt Gaskill