At about 8 A.M. Monday morning, Scott Carpenter and Steve Nord, found a beautiful SAGE SPARROW on the River S Unit of Ridgefield NWR.

Subsequently it was seen also by, Clay Davis and his friend Kathy, Barry Woodruff, Al Larrabee, Wilson Cady, and myself.

Wilson Cady indicated it is a Clark County first.

The bird was on the road near the Bachelor Island Wetland plaque. It subsequently moved along the road toward the Observation Blind, though it remained within 75 yarda of the plaque, and the lone tree there. It was a stunning find and was seen in good light considering the showery nature of the morning. I think it was last seen between 10:30 A.M. and Noon. When it rained more than a drizzle, the bird took cover. It was seen along both edges of the road, in similar fashion to what we regularly see with Song, and Golden-crowned Sparrows.

One somewhat amusing tidbit of interest (to me at least) was that at one point while I was within 20 feet of it, and watching it hunting seeds at the road edge, I noticed a 2.5-3 inch earth worm moving next to it and heading back to the grass and out of the road. The worm was clearly seen, and ignored by the SAGE SPARROW that was no more than 3-4 inches away. I was amused as I have occasionally seen other sparrows eat grubs that they happen on. I know Sparrows prefer seed, but this bounty was there for the plucking, yet overlooked.

Will Clemons
SW of Portland
willclemons AT Yahoo dot com