[Birdnet] Sparrows remain at Willard Bay

[Roostertael at aol.com]

forwarded from Kris Purdy
 


This morning two of the three "good" sparrows seen  last week at Willard Bay 
SP in Box Elder County were present again in the  same locations as before. 
The tan-striped morph of the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW  was at Willow Creek 
campsite #1 and the HARRIS'S SPARROW was at campsite #15. I  did not see the 
white-striped White-throated Sparrow.
 
This White-throated Sparrow is a real skulker. I  have never seen this bird 
out in the open. Today it was on the briar-covered  hill just east of the 
barbecue grill at campsite #1. I've never seen it at the  feeder or even on the 
grass at the edge of the brush. I have, however, seen it  on that little hill 
before along with White-crowns, juncos, Spotted Towhees and  House Sparrows.
 
This sparrow's lateral crown stripes are very wide  and tan and that's what 
has caught my attention each time. The median crown  stripes and eyelines are 
dark; that color pattern distinguishes the bird from  the juvenile White-crowns 
and the female House Sparrows. The White-throated is  also the only bird I've 
seen in the briars on that hill that has a gray bill.  Song Sparrows don't 
seem to use that hill and all the other species have  different color bills. I 
saw the bird three times  before it disappeared into the brush for good; 
despite watching for another half  hour, I didn't see it again. 
 
No birds were present at campsite #15 when I  arrived. But I waited about 10 
minutes and finally White-crowns began to emerge  along the northwest edge of 
the campsite. The fourth bird to come out of the  brush was the Harris's 
Sparrow. The Harris's later switched to the east side  across the road with many 
other birds. I don't know if the cracked corn has been  replenished or not, but 
there seemed to be plenty on the east side. Many  sparrows, several Red-wings, 
and even a chubby-cheeked squirrel was eating the  corn. California Quail use 
the northwest side and a male was sunning there near  the sparrows today. 
 
Last week I failed to mention that this Harris's is  a first-winter bird. It 
has very little black on its face. The bird's chin  and throat are white 
bordered irregularly with black on each side. It has some  fine black smudges on 
its upper breast. . The bird barely has a smudge of black  on the forehead just 
above the base of its upper mandible; the black crown  feathers are so heavily 
edged in pale it looks like the crown sports a pattern  of find 
black-and-white polka dots. The rest of the head is buffy, of  course, with chestnut 
patterns like this: < or this: > pointing backwards  and outlining the back of the 
auriculars. This is the only sparrow you'll see  there that has a white breast 
and belly.
 
I hope the additional info helps future  sparrow-seekers. 
 
Today I also saw the funniest Marsh Wren I've ever  seen north of the park. 
It was missing its tail. Gee. What a little chunk it  was. 
 
Willard Bay State Park is located at I-15 exit 357.  It's best to park in the 
day use parking area and then walk north to Willow  Creek Campground because 
parking along the entrance road near the closed  campground gate is 
restricted. 
 
Kris

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