Lifers part two.

It is pretty mind-numbing going through my old photos from 2010 trying to enter data into eBird.  I'm not doing this for the benefit of science either, just my own sick OCD of wanting data organized and complete.  Today I turned up some interesting birds from a trip in August 2010 to Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge, about 3 hours east of Portland in Umatilla County.  I blogged about this trip previously but left out quite a few photos (out of ID fear I assume). 

The first bird is one I'm pretty sure is a Solitary Sandpiper:


Then there was this bird that looks almost like a Vesper Sparrow to me, but not really sure... Thoughts?


And lastly, a blurry little gem I am dying to call an Ovenbird:


Whaddaya think?! 

Comments

  1. IM convinced on all three! I tried for months n months to see an ovenbird, kept hearing him call and FINALLY did spot one about one foot off the ground in a turkey oak.

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  2. I like the 1st and 3rd IDs but am not sure about this Sparrow. It seems to have too much spotting going all the way down its breast, belly, flanks, and under-tail coverts, whereas with Vesper it's usually just the breast. From what I can tell, the white and black on the chin and mustache are lacking too much as well.
    I'm thinking Savannah Sparrow on that one, but will be interested to hear further input.

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  3. That is an interesting sparrow, how about juvenile Chipping? It seems to have dark lores.

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    1. Yep. The first angle is suggestive of Vesper but the second reveals its true identity.

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  4. I'm jealous of your Ovenbird, Jen. That's a rare bird anywhere in Oregon. It is likely a first county record, too.

    The sparrow is a juvenile. Thus forget about the streaks on the breast. Concentrate instead on that face pattern, especially the wide white arc under the eye that is unique to one species.

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    1. Thanks, Greg, I can't believe I had an Ovenbird hiding in my photos! I see the Chippy-ness of the sparrow now..

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  5. I quizzed myself with a field guide and your sparrow photo. Max and I concur on juvenile Chipping for the same reasons listed above. That Ovenbird is so cool!! Nice Solitary Sandpiper too. Your life list has got to be getting pretty long at this point.

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    1. It's growing for sure- pretty happy that I managed to get a lifer today without actually doing anything...

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  6. These are all great photos! Love the Ovenbird...cool bird, not that I've seen one though:)

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  7. Great birds and photos, Jen! Congrats on your Ovenbird, they are neat birds! I love to hear them sing too. Happy Birding and have a great week ahead.

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