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