While camping at Washington Park this weekend I accidentally caught a bird in
our 9'x9' awning. Our awning was placed over the picnic table last evening
and when I awoke this a.m. I heard some thrashing around outside and wondered
why the raccoons where still up. I peeked outside and saw a bird fluttering
about inside the awning. He or she must have crawled under the bottom. I was
able to get a good ID before unzipping the awning so it could fly away. It
had Spotted Towhee colors and markings but was very slim and had a Redstart
looking tail. When it perched on the side of the awning the tail flared out
to 4 inches or so. It's beak appeared longer than a Towhee. The colors near
the breast were deep orange to an almost red. I'm quessing this was a Towhee
since there where quite a few in the area, it's the tail that I'm
questioning. I quess I've never seen a Towhee "flare " it's tail. Could this
have been a Painted Redstart? Oh yeah the birding was fabulous and the
highlight of today where two Black Oystercatchers.

Jeff Smith
jpsdiver at aol.com
Parkland