At 3.30pm today, I had a henslow sparrow giving excellent views at Humber bay
East . The bird flew up from the thick grass just beyond the cattails fringing
the most eastern edge of the final pond close to the public path and water
overflowcistern. It flushed 5 feet up into a mostly leafless bush alongside
the public pathway, giving excellent facing views for perhaps 30 seconds. It
dropped down but soon flushed again into the same clump of bushes this time it
gave a side view including a portion of its back in view, for another 20 to 30
seconds. All field marks were evident in superb light with the sun behind me.
The very obvious rufous edged tertials, white scaling on the back, white eye
ring. The side streaks were strong w/narrow breastband streaks, whitish throat
w/dark bordered throat stripe. The malar region quite richy buffy yellow
rather stronger yellow buff than head region it seemed to me. The bird then
flew toward the base of the sumach hill & the spiky short tail well seen. I
did not pursue the bird as I was perfectly satisfied with the definitive views
i was fortunatel enough to get. With a bit of luck it may not fly out tonight
and perhaps found again tomorrow. Also seen 2 early tree sparrows, a great
egret & a pintail 12 green w. teal etc. in the catchment area.
Humber bay east is directly at the base of parklawn
drive south of the Queensway Take qew to parklawn exit south. South etobicoke
area
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
