Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow- Marquette 10/11

[theowlranch at aol.com]

Howdy folks,

It looks like my earlier message did not get out, so here we go again. 

I found a NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW this morning at the Presque Isle Park Bogwalk. The bird was first seen in the long grass/weed strip that runs along the back portion of the little compost yard. My best looks (of which were many and prolonged) were of it on the rock slab pile. I observed it for a short while, noted key field marks and then ran back home to call other local birders and (tried) to post the bird up.

I shortly returned to the Bogwalk where David Pavlik and I easily refound it. A few more birders arrived, but then the sparrow started getting skittish, and not providing good looks. We chased it around the back half of the bogwalk for a while, following into the open woodlands that run by the pool creek outlet, up into the dune ridge, and back into the main bogwalk swale/ woodland were we lost it. I had to leave shortly afterwards for class, and in talking with David, no one has refound it yet. I along with some other birders will be looking for it again this evening and probably again in the morning. 

Sharp-tailed Sparrow was not the only good bird at Presque Isle today. I also had a 1st year Harris's Sparrow, 1 Le Conte's Sparrow, late singles of Blue-headed Vireo & Orange-crowned Warbler each, and... my first Common Redpolls of the season! I heard also what easily could of been an early Pine Grosbeak as well, but I only heard it once and never saw it fly over. If I was a betting man....

more soon,

~Skye Haas

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