Subject: [Tweeters] Re: White-throated Sparrow, Semiahmoo, Blaine
Date: Oct 20 12:01:59 2017
From: Barry Ulman - ubarry at qwest.net


I would say the sparrow is a juvenile White-throated Sparrow. It has a white throat and a yellow spot in front of the eye. Adult White-throated Sparrows would have clear breasts; the streaks indicate a first-year bird. Nice sighting.

As for the geese: there is a possibility that they could be Canada X White-fronted Goose hybrids, but I suspect that they are feral barnyard geese.

Barry Ulman




> On Oct 19, 2017, at 4:46 PM, Eric Ellingson <abriteway at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Despite the wet weather, at least it was not windy, I checked the water and area around Semiahmoo Resort.
> Normally I do not check sparrow flocks too closely but I'm working on getting better at quickly telling White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows apart ... in their more similar looking plumage. One bird stood out as different. The broad bright eyebrow really separated it from the other sparrows.
> Snapped a few shots from my car window, most were blurry. Putting the window up to keep the rain out I scanned my birding apps and could not find a great match right away. Only when I got home could I 'positively' ID it after finding a few less blurry shots. This was only my 3rd viewing of one. The other viewings were of the white form with much more distinct white throat and facial markings.
>
> Also of interest, at least to me, a couple of Greater White-fronted-ish Geese. Maybe hybrids, domestic or in transitional plumage? They were in a huge mix of waterfowl at Birch Bay. photo link below
>
>
>
> https://flic.kr/p/YvDQcE <https://flic.kr/p/YvDQcE>
> White-throated Sparrow <https://flic.kr/p/YvDQcE>
> Tan form. Feeding on the ground with a mixed flock of Juncos, Golden & White-crowned Sparrows. Semiahmoo, Blaine WA
> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/37091538684/>
> https://flic.kr/p/ZxzWzq <https://flic.kr/p/ZxzWzq>
> Greater White-fronted-ish Goose <https://flic.kr/p/ZxzWzq>
> I'm not sure if these are hybrids, domestic or in a transitional plumage.
> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/37769769442/>
> Birding in the rain from my car.
>
>
> Eric Ellingson