Registrar: Miriam Rakowski
Participants: 10
Weather: Cloudy, changing to light rain, 52-57 degrees F, ENE winds 1-4 mph
Bird Species: 34
The day began with many Yellow-rump and Kinglet sightings, because of northwest winds the night before. While it drizzled, we waited by the marsh hoping for a glimpse of the Nelson’s or Saltmarsh Sparrows. We were all rewarded with good looks, not only at the Nelson’s, but also at what appeared to be a Saltmarsh Sparrow.
Upon later close examination and inquiry, the Saltmarsh Sparrow appears to be a hybrid. The latest DNA research shows that fifty-two percent of Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrows are hybrids. The sparrow picture below shows a bird with an orange breast and definitive streaks, which extend beyond the breast. This strongly suggests a hybrid Saltmarsh/Nelson Sparrow.
Species Lists
Birds
Brant
Canada Goose
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
crow sp.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Winter Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Nelson’s Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Butterflies
Monarch
