Three days ago I saw a very pale Chipping Sparrow mixed in with a large flock of Chipping Sparrows, and wondered if it might be a hybrid Chipping x Clay-colored. I posted the photos on the American Birding Association's "What's This Bird?" Facebook page, and got several reports that a hybrid might be possible, and a request to try to get more photos including some of its rump. I also checked the on-line Macauly Library, and only found a few photos of this hybrid combination, but in breeding plumage, and noted the eye-line on that hybrid extending to the bill like that of a non-hybrid Chipping Sparrow. So I was motivated to try to re-locate this sparrow
Pale Chipping Sparrow (January 28)
It was cold and overcast, with occasional snow flurries. I only spotted one Chipping Sparrow, but it was not the one I was seeking, and ended up with 22 avian species.
Chipping Sparrow
Red-shouldered Hawk
Northern Cardinal
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
White-throated Sparrow
Red-bellied Woodpecker
I decided to try again this morning under cold overcast skies, but at least there weren't any snow flurries. I didn't see any Chipping Sparrows, but added a few more species to my two day list, including a few interesting photos of today's birds.
Field Sparrow
Northern Flicker
Hermit Thrush
House Sparrow
House Finches
Song Sparrow
The Common Merganser continues in the golf course pond, and this morning had caught a fish that appeared to be a bit more than it could handle.
Common Merganser
Common Merganser
I also saw an Eastern Bluebird coming multiple times to a bird feeder. I haven't seen a Bluebird eating seed at a feeder since October 2007 during drought conditions.
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Bluebird
And I saw a couple of young deer.
Deer