Subject: [Tweeters] Red Fox Sparrow
Date: Apr 21 04:59:26 2008
From: Charlie Wright - c.wright7 at comcast.net


Today on the Foothills Trail, in the bushes near the "REI wetland" I had a
classic, shockingly bright Red Fox Sparrow. I studied the bird for over 5
minutes and it displayed clear wing-bars; bright red on the tail, rump, head
and wings; well-defined red streaks on the white underparts (conglomerating
slightly on the chest); pinkish-horn lower mandible; a long, whitish malar
extending onto lower ear coverts; gray supercilium and nape "shawl;" and a
gray mantle with thick, short red streaks. I also noticed an interesting
orangey-fawn tinge to the white on the throat and upper breast which I have
never seen on a Sooty but I have found on several photos of Red Fox Sparrow.

Plenty of birds on the trail between heavy showers, making wish I had had
more time down there today. Orange-crowned Warblers were everywhere. One
Merlin flying around South Prairie. I also had 6 Hermit Thrushes, a high
count for me on the trail (previous high of 5 on 28 April last year).

Yesterday on the Kent Ponds census we had 3 more Hermit Thrushes, an
American Bittern, and a Vaux's Swift, but relatively few birds around.

In my yard Varied Thrushes are still singing in the morning, and today a
Hermit Thrush was hopping around in the front.

Charlie Wright
Bonney Lake, Washington