Gary,
   Actually it is not a late date for a White-crowned Sparrow. It is probably a sign that they have started to migrate. Some are always seen into the middle of May. As always, a quick look at the Yellow Book is helpful.

--
Bob Ringler 
Eldersburg MD 


-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Gary Allport <> 

> Dear All 
> 
> Whilst wandering in to the National Zoo in the early evening last night (on my 
> way to a meeting in the Panda Exhibit hall) I was pleasantly surprised to 
> stumble across an obliging 1st winter White-crowned Sparrow. It was feeding 
> on the ground both outside and within the Sloth Bear exhibit, which is the first 
> enclosure on the right as you enter the Zoo from the Connecticut Ave 
> entrance. Whilst I did not have binocs with me it was easy to watch as it 
> obligingly fed on the ground at short range. 
> 
> I was surprised to find this bird partly because I know they are quite 
> uncommon, and I think it is quite a late date for this species, but also because 
> I have put in quite a lot of effort trying to find them at known localities and 
> have always failed miserably. So it was a very nice surprise. 
> 
> Cheers 
> 
> Gary 
> 
>