G'day,
The Brewer's Sparrow first seen yesterday, was present to at least 10:15
today near the sewage outfall "boathouse" on east side of Clover Point in
Victoria, BC. The bird is loosely associating with Savannah and House
Sparrows in the gravel and weedy areas around the building. It apparently
also hangs out on rocks and also in grassy field in middle of circle drive.
Excellent photos of bird were obtained by at least three observers
(including myself).There is also a lot pedestrian, canine, and vehicle
traffic down there, so hopefully this bird will "stick" awhile longer!
Personally, despite early reports, I am confident that this is NOT a
"Timberline" race/split as it does not have a Clay-colored Sparrow-like
collar or dark streaking on mantle/back. Instead, it appears a "typical"
Brewer's; a rather drab/non-descript 'Spizella' (small size and long tail --
easily ID'd even in flight compared to chunkier Sav's nearby, and Chipping
Sparrow is uncommon to rare down at Clover Point area).

Good luck to those that chase this bird (only second record for Victoria)...

Very kewl Victoria and Vancouver Island lifer for yours truly!

David Allinson
President, Rocky Point Bird Observatory
572 Atkins Avenue
Victoria, BC
V9B 3A3
Ph. (250)478-0493

Web site: www.islandnet.com/~rpbo
273 species and counting!
Look for a bargraph checklist coming soon.

"Not everything that can be counted counts,
and not everything that counts can be counted."
Albert Einstein