Hello All,
I went to the Boat Launch area in Bear Creek Lake Park (BCLP) this
morning to look for an adult Harris's Sparrow that had been seen by my
friends last Friday morning. While there I observed the head of a
bird sticking up above the grass that looked like a Harris's Sparrow
except the side of the face was gray, not tan like an adult Harris's
would be in nonbreeding plumage. When the bird flew up in the tree, I
noticed some orange or rust on the breast and thought I better follow
the bird and get a better look. However, the bird took off with a
flock of American Tree Sparrows before I could get a definitive look.
Later on I found the bird again in a mixed flock of American Tree
Sparrows and Song Sparrows. Still wasn't quite sure what it was, but
thought I need to document this with a photo. After several calls to
folks, I reached Cynthia Madsen and she agreed to come out in the
afternoon and take some photos. To make a long story short, the bird
showed up in the area where I scattered some seed, Cynthia was able
to get some photos, and we identified the bird as a female Brambling.
Cynthia was going to post the bird and her photos on ebird.
Directions:
Bear Creek Lake Park is just SE of C470 and Morrison Road.
After entering BCLP ($5 entrance fee), stay to the left (North Road)
and drive about a mile to the Boat Launch area, where there is a large
parking lot to the south. Please park here and do not park on the
sides of the road.
Just before reaching the Boat Launch area, there is a wooden sign on
the north side of the road that reads COYOTE CROSSING PICNIC AREA. If
you stand here and look about 30 yards to the northeast, you will see
a small wooden footbridge spanning the draw with willows on both
sides. This is the area I scattered some seed and where Cynthia was
able to get her photos between 3:30 and 4:00 P.M. The female
Brambling was in a mixed flock of American Tree Sparrows, Song
Sparrows, juncos, and House Finches. I'm confident that the bird will
visit this area at times, although it and the other birds will wander
some in the surround ing area.
As some of you may recall, the Boat Launch area was home to an adult
and first year Harris's Sparrow last year. Sorry for the late post,
but have been babysitting grandkids since I returned from BCLP this
afternoon.
Mike Henwood
Morrison
Jefferson County
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