LeConte's Sparrow at Indian River Inlet
KurtCapt87@aol.com
Sat, 5 Dec 1998 21:56:13 EST
Folks,
Todd Day and myself came across a LeConte's Sparrow in the south marshes, near
the road from the campground to the new housing development, just south of
Indian River Inlet, Delaware today, 5 Dec 98 at about 1100, approx 1.5 hours
past high tide.
The sky had light diffused clouds (no direct sunlight, but very bright
illumination) and there was minimal wind (0-5 mph).
The bird was found during observation of several Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sharp-
tailed and Seaside Sparrows just off the road approx 150 yds west of the
treatment plant near the campground. Observation was from the west at about
15-20 yds through 8 and 10 power bins. The bird appeared and reappeared 4
times from several angles, being in clear view for 10-30 seconds each time for
a total of over one minute. Each time a Sharp-tailed Sparrow was in the same
field of view as the LeConte's, sometimes only inches away. The bird was
perched on some low shrubs about 2 feet high within 10 feet of the brackish
water and spartina grass of the south Indian River Inlet marsh.
The bird was in very good plummage, the brownish-white and black lines
extending from the nape over nearly the entire back to the tip of the
primaries was clearly evident (somewhat Snipe-like in patterning) and
completely different from the gray backs of many of the Sharp-tailed
subspecies present, or the dark gray/black back of the nominate Nelson
subspecies. Also the 4-5 short white angled barring found on all the Sharp-
tails was missing. The coloration of the upper breast, mustachial areas, and
supercillium areas of the LeConte's was decidedly more yellow in hue than the
flat orange of the Sharp-tails present. This coloration is described as
yellow-orange. This coloration ended abruptly at mid-breast. The central
region of the breast was only lightly streaked - if at all, but the flanks
were more heavily streaked, somewhat similar to the streaking on the Saltmarsh
Sharp-tails present. Under the yellow-orange coloration of the breast the
balance of the breast and belly was white (and unstreaked except for the
aforesaid flanks). The crown of the bird had a white (somewhat flat in color,
not bright) median stripe, bordered in black, which began just above a line
drawn between the eyes of the bird, and ended at the top portion of the nape.
The gray of the post-ocular region was lighter in shade than the gray of the
Sharp-tails, and slightly smaller in area - the eye was ringed. The head was
somewhat flattened, similar to other Ammodramus sparrows. The bill was not as
massive as the Saltmarsh Sharp-tails present. No vocalizations were noted.
When the bird moved, it dove deep into the bush and was out of sight, but when
it reappeared, it moved to an exposed perch.
Todd Day may later add (or correct) some details to this posting which I am
quickly typing. The balance of our trip report will be reported separately.
(It was very good today in Delaware!)
Kurt Gaskill, kurtcapt@aol.com