Yesterday morning, while at the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental
Stewardship walk sponsored by the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, we found a Lark
Sparrow
amongst the Indigo Buntings, Field, Song, and Swamp Sparrows in a wet, brushy
area near a power line cut. We had been trying to pish up an imm. Swamp
Sparrow seen just moments before, when up popped a Lark Sparrow, to our
amazement!
This wasn't the imm. Swampy we just saw. The first thing I noticed was the
obvious black spot on the clear, white breast. I think the bird was a first
winter, as I saw brown ear-coverts vs. the chestnut in the adult. The bold,
white
submustachial and black malar were very distinctive. I didn't see streaking on
the breast indicating imm. but Sibley says that many 1st winter birds are more
like adults. After brief looks, we were unable to relocate the bird, but I
think we had enough field marks to call the bird. I had just seen my life Lark
Sparrow two weeks ago on Hatteras Island, right before the mandatory evacuation
due to Hurricane Isabel.
Finding a Lark Sparrow on my birthday..priceless!
I'd like to thank Joe Coleman, Jon Little, and Tom Bjorkman for leading a
most enjoyable walk.
Laura Catterton
Manassas, Virginia
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