[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2015] – The 2015 fall bird migration has started off pretty slow in Point Loma and the past few days only a handful of regular western migrants could be found at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery. Things picked up today though with a few good birds putting in an appearance. I was lucky to catch up with a confiding female or immature male Dickcissel Spiza americana that was found earlier in the morning by Sue Smith just east of the Committal Shelter at the fence line. After a very brief glimpse, when first found, later on I found it perched on the fence line in the southeast section allowing some more detailed photography of this colorful sparrow-like bird.
Other good sightings this morning included a bathing Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida, a nice buffy chested individual and the first of this species I have seen here in Point Loma this fall. Also two wandering White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica flying around the cemetery favoring the area of the eucalyptus grove and “wall”. Other expected western migrants were in small numbers and included a MacGillivray’s Warbler along the west fence line near the administration building.
Dickcissel – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Dickcissel – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Dickcissel – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Dickcissel – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Clay-colored Sparrow – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Clay-colored Sparrow – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Clay-colored Sparrow – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
Clay-colored Sparrow – Point Loma, San Diego County, California 06 Sep 2015
The absence of a median crown-stripe seems problematic for Clay-colored.
Hi Jim, the bird has a wet crown which is obscuring the median crown stripe, but it can just be seen at the front of the head which is drier. It can be difficult to see the narrow median crown stripe of some sparrows. The rich buffy chest and sides are not found in any plumage of Brewer’s Sparrow and really only in Clay-colored Sparrow. In fact Brewer’s Sparrow has become very rare here in San Diego, and I see about 5-10 Clay-colored for every Brewer’s when these sparrows come through in the fall. Last year there was only one Brewer’s seen at the cemetery all fall! See here http://www.sandiegobirding.com/?p=4534
I added one more photograph which shows the richer colored more rufous brown back striping and more rufous edges to the wing feathers characteristic of Clay-colored.
Hope you are convinced! Gary.
Great photos of the Dickcissel! So glad you refound it..
Thanks Sue! One of my favorite fall rarities to find in Point Loma. When I saw it again around 9:45 am it was calling quite frequently too which was great to listen to.