Le Conte's Sparrow still at E. A. Vaughn

Miliff@aol.com
Tue, 4 May 1999 23:35:13 EDT


Hello all,

Dipped on the ibis today but did have luck refinding the Le Conte's Sparrow 
at E. A. Vaughn, much to my surprise.  The bird was flushed from the same 
area where it was first seen, along the south margin of the main pond.  On 
Sunday Jim Stasz and I flushed it, with much effort, a total of 8 times 
before it flew to an island in the center and we gave up.  We never saw it on 
the ground or perched, but eventually got good looks in flight.  

Today it flushed from the same area and t must prefer that particular patch.  
Though I was equipped with a camera today, I was still unable to see the bird 
on the ground at all.  I flushed it 5 times today before it flew to the 
center to be lost again (I elected not to wade out to it...).  I think the 
bird tends to be easy to flush from the 15 foot wide grassy strip when you 
make your initial approach.  After the first flush though, I think it goes 
into "concealment" mode and becomes very difficult to flush.  I was able to 
flush it without difficulty the second time.  Then I went for my camera and 
when I returned 5 minutes later it flushed easily.  After that though, it 
became VERY difficult.  I worked the grass slowly and twice saw something 
running mouselike ahead of me only about 5 feet away.  I am certain this was 
the bird, but when I moved towrds the area I found nothing.  I expect the 
bird crouched under a clump and hoped I didn't trample it.  Fortunately, I 
didn't!  Of course, what I saw also could have been a mouse!  I eventually 
flushed it again, but that was only after about 8 minutes.  I think by that 
time the bird became at ease again and moved out of "concealment" mode and 
started feeding more in the open again.  And so, it was flushable again.  
Then it vanished after being flushed and the same ordeal was repeated except 
that it took close to 15 minutes to flush it again, and then only after 
coursing the entire strip several times.  

For those looking for it check first the patch of tall broomsdge about midway 
down the south side.  It might be a good idea to have a weighted rope to drag 
if you have two people.  

Not too much else today, I was most pleased to get two life butterflies: 
Brown and Frosted Elfins.

Broad-winged Hawk again off Colbourne Mill Rd., and, oh yeah, the impoundment 
off the Green Dumpster Rd. at Deal Island is drawn down and there were a LOT 
of shorebirds there today.  Worth a visit!

Best,

Marshall Iliff
miliff@aol.com