Hamilton county's 2nd LARK SPARROW of the season

[David Brinkman]

French Park

Cincinnati Park Board

Wednesday May 4, 2005

2:20 pm - 3:30 pm

 

Today I found a LARK SPARROW at French Park (Delorme p. 75, C-4, just w. of Deer Park and nw. of Cincinnati).  I flushed the bird into a honeysuckle shrub that lines a creekbed. The white outer tail feathers immediately drew my attention, but I was thinking Vesper Sparrow when it first landed. When I raised my binoculars, I was surprised to find a Lark Sparrow less than 15 ft. in front of me. The identity was confirmed when the bird turned around on the honeysuckle branch to reveal its striking chestnut, black and white head pattern and its large central breast spot. After about 30 seconds, the bird flew toward the open field on the opposite side of the access road. I continued to walk along the dirt trail lining the creek to see what else I could find. The usual permanent residents and only a few neotropical species were detected. However, six straggler White-throated Sparrows were noteworthy. I backtracked to the trailhead and up the hill to the access road to see if I could relocate the Lark Sparrow. I found a Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, House Finches and House Sparrows foraging on the ground adjacent to the road beneath a large oak. Not finding the Lark Sparrow, I retreated back down the hill when the white outer tail feathers caught my eye again. This time the bird was more cooperative as it perched at eye level for more than 3 minutes in a leafless ash sapling along the creek. I was able to inch closer without flushing the sparrow, at first. Then it flew up the hill to a walnut or ash sapling directly across from a "No Parking Anytime" sign. That is the last time I saw it and I left.

 

Directions: From I-75, take the Ronald Reagan Highway (S.R. 126) east to the Ridge Rd. exit. Turn right onto Ridge Rd., crossing its intersection with Galbraith Rd. continue on Ridge Rd. to the next traffic light and turn left onto Section Rd. The park entrance is immediately on the left. Park in the first parking lot and walk along the paved access road that crosses the creek. On the left is a swing set with four swings. The dirt trail that follows the creek is just beyond the swing set. You can see the clump of honeysuckle and other shrubs where I first saw the Lark Sparrow. I also saw it in the leafless ash trees directly across from the swing set on the near shore of the creek. Looking up the hill on the opposite side of the paved road from the swing set is the walnut/ash sapling across from the sign.

 

Good Luck!

 

David A. Brinkman

Cincinnati, OH





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