May 22, 2005
CASSIN'S SPARROW!
This Central Valley mega-rarity was found by Ed Pandolfino in eastern Sacramento County today. The bird had been singing and 'skylarking' in the early morning. By the time Marcel Holyoak and I arrived in the early afternoon, only a Horned Lark or two was singing and bird activity was low. However, within half an hour of arriving we spotted the bird sitting quietly on the fence, allowing us to get some reasonable record shots. At one point we even got a couple of phrases of sub-song. The bird appeared somewhat drabber than its illustration in Sibley, although most of the diagnostic features are evident in the photographs (distinct throat stripes, eye-ring, spotted appearance to upperparts). Thanks for a great find Ed!
