At about 2:30 pm today, I came across a SAGE SPARROW on LaFrambois Rd in
Vancouver, Clark County. The sparrow was loosely associating with a large
flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Also in this loose
flock was a single LINCOLN'S SPARROW. I managed to snap a few quick photos
before the sparrow disappeared. I waited in the area, continuously scanning
the sparrows from my car, until about 3:20, but never got good looks at it
again, though I thought I saw it in flight twice with my naked eye. I have
no reason to think it left the area.

A relatively bad photo, but sufficient for documentation, can be found
online at: http://www.westerngrebe.com/SageSparrow/

The flock of sparrows was on both sides of the road, and both sides of the
yellow gate and red sign that signify you are entering the Shillapoo Unit of
Vancouver Lake. This is relatively close to the location of the Swainson's
Hawk that Lyn Topinka found last winter.

As some of you may recall, there was also a Sage Sparrow last year in
February at Ridgefield NWR. Steve Nord and I came across that bird on 23
February 2009, though there is some indication that one of the Ridgefield
regulars may have seen that bird the week prior to that.

Perhaps now is a good time to re-examine all of those wintering sparrow
flocks.

Scott Carpenter
Portland, Oregon
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