Matt,
Yes, your memory is correct. This is from the account for Le Conte's Sparrow in John Bull, _Birds of New York State_, 1974, with 1976 supplement, reissued 1985:
"Status: Casual -- two proved records for New York: (1) specimen collected at the head of Cayuga Lake, near Ithaca, Oct. 11, 1897 (Fuertes), CUM 19455; (2) one mist-netted, banded, color-photographed, and released at Tobay Sanctuary, Nassau Co., Oct. 18, 1970 (A. Lauro); color photo by P. Buckley -- on file, AMNH collection.
"In view of its breeding to the north and northeast of New York, and wintering in the southeastern United States, it is surprising that this secretive species has been reliably recorded only twice within the state. However it may migrate both spring and fall primarily by way of the Mississippi valley or, at any rate, west of the Appalachians...."
Also in the account for Sharp-tailed Sparrow, which has since been split into Nelson's Sparrow for 2 inland races and Saltmarsh Sparrow for 2 coastal races, is this tidbit:
"Although there are numerous fall observations of Sharp-tailed Sparrows from upstate New York, it seems useless to give extreme dates, as this species is easily confused with its close relative, Le Conte's Sparrow (A. leconteii), which it resembles closely. Le Conte's Sparrow has been taken once at Ithaca, and it might occur again."
--Dave Nutter
On Nov 19, 2012, at 09:19 PM, Matthew Medler <m...@cornell.edu> wrote:
Hi Dave,
This is based on memory, but I believe that Fuertes saw, collected, and painted the Le Conte's Sparrow here in Ithaca. If I remember correctly, this was a first state record. It should be noted in Bull or Levine, and the specimen (assuming that I remember correctly) should be here at Cornell. Sorry I don't have more details, but this is all off the top of my head. I think I might have posted something about this back when Mike Harvey found a very probable Le Conte's back in the mid-2000s. Hope this at least points you in the right direction...
Matt
From: "nutter.d...@me.com" <nutter.d...@me.com>
To: Matthew Medler <m...@cornell.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 8:27 PM
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Le Conte's still present
Matt,Does Fuertes' label of Ithaca on his painting of a LeConte's Sparrow indicate he saw the bird here, or that it was collected here, or just that he did his work here?--Dave Nutter
On Nov 19, 2012, at 03:14 PM, Matthew Medler <m...@cornell.edu> wrote:Just a quick note to say that the Le Conte's Sparrow was still present as of 2 pm in the same area previously described by others. After a foray over the corn stubble into an area of low green grass, the bird was last seen back in the grasses along the pond. Pretty (if elusive) bird!For those wondering, this species has been seen in the Basin before:http://cidc.library.cornell.edu/Fuertes2000/BirdView.asp?From=sr&QY=Le+Conte&QT=B&Size=2&BirdID=313Matt MedlerIthaca
From: Brad Walker <edgarallenhoo...@gmail.com>
To: Cayugabirds <CAYUGABIRDS-L@cornell.edu>
Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 12:08 PM
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Le Conte's still present
The bird was around the north and west pond edges a few minutes ago.-Brad
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