Tweeters,

Paul Hicks asked me to forward this message:

"Tweets,
Monday 8:30am on Mull Rd near Tenino I observed a most interesting Fox
Sparrow: patterned like a "sooty" except the overall color of upperparts was
nearly entirely/uniformily reddish-brown/rusty, comparable to the warm
reddish-browns of the adjacent Song Sparrow, or roughly the color of the
dead maple leaves. Upperparts had very little by way of prominent markings:
no streaking on back (it was solid/uniform), no wingbars apparent (though my
view may not have been sufficient to tell for sure), and (this surprised me
the most) little-to-no gray background color or tinges evident, even on
nape, crown, head or face--all were quite plain/unpatterned (except for
eyering and fine whitish lines ("spokes") in face). As expected, the
tail-base was brightest/reddest/most saturated; at least two tertials had a
generous portion of approximately the same color. The flanks were a paler
shade of the same reddish-brown of the upperparts. My view of the underparts
was limited, but the "streaks" looked darker and browner (closer to
chocolate), crisp and spaced about the same as a "sooty." White throat
patch, but only a hint of a pale malar stripe. Lighting was not great, but I
observed the bird at least 5 minutes, some at very close range though not
totally unobstructed. It occurs to me that "new" individuals could be moving
through, since I had not seen this one before.
A second Fox Sparrow ("sooty" probably) was present with "lower half" (wings
& tail) quite rusty-brown, the "upper half" (back and head) a contrasting
dull-grayish. A third Fox Sparrow present was the "red" previously reported:
overall paler; bold rust-stained-white malar; contrasty white background
underneath; flanks washed pale grayish; bright reddish-brown tail-base and
tertials; rusty streaks on dull-gray or gray-brown back; rusty tinge on
dull-gray-brown nape and crown.
Directions: East of Tenino via SR507; left on Mull, past the bridge; on the
left (west) side from the second Oregon Ash (may be close by) to the corner
fence post (can be further out in the mowed or moist areas). Sparrow
activity seems to drop by 9 or 9:30.
Good birding!
--Paul Hicks
Tenino, s. Thurston Co
phicks AT accessgrace.org"

Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus at scattercreek.com
Tenino, Washington