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Subject:

Ft. Bayard Park 10/20: (probable) Gray-cheeked Thrush, Chippies

From:

Jason Waanders

Reply-To:

Jason Waanders

Date:

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:34:02 -0400

As late migrants and winter residents start moving in, this last week I've finally seen some increased action in Ft. Bayard Park.  There have been several thrushes the last two mornings, with one cooperative but still tricky bird this morning that I finally concluded was a (somewhat late) GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH.  

The spotting was not quite as dense and the bird was not overall a clear cold gray as the (only) one Gray-cheeked that I've seen well in the past, but it did not have any good marks for Swainson's or Hermit.  If we weren't well past the late date I'd wonder about Bicknell's, but Sibley notes that Gray-cheeked can show intermediate characteristics.

There was also a nice flock of about10 CHIPPING SPARROWS. This species often seems to occur at Ft. Bayard and the National Mall at the same times.  Yesterday I saw a much larger sparrow flock, which was mostly Chipping (with Song, Field, Swamp, and W-throated) north of the Reflecting Pool.
 
Jason Waanders
NW DC
jwaandersATstarpower.net