Fox Sparrow - Walden Ponds - Boulder, County

[JBreitsch - Denver]

Key Species Seen:  Fox Sparrow

Location – General:  Walden Ponds, Boulder

Location – Specific:   Going west from the parking area, there is a row of junipers that runs along a fence that abuts a private pond.  The bird started off on the east side of the path, then flew into the junipers and stayed on the ground under the cover of the trees until I left.

Time:  Approximately 9:00 am.  Seen for at least 15 minutes.

Distance:  10-40 feet

Vocalization:  None made that I noticed

Observers:  Just myself

Photo Documentation:  Yes.  Link below signature

Additional Information:  I drove up to Boulder to catch the Tundra Swans (still at Baseline when I went by there).  I stopped by Walden Ponds since I was in the area.  There was nothing unusual except for the Fox Sparrow.  My guess is that it is a Red Fox Sparrow, and if I were to take a wild stab, I'd go with Passerella iliaca zaboria as the sub-species.  I tried to get pictures from several angles to catch the different field marks, but I was shooting through a myriad of tiny branches, so none of the pictures are as clear as I'd like for that specific of an ID.  Also, I don't know what I'm talking about, so it is truly a wild guess as to the sub-species.

 

Its a good week to be a birder in Colorado.

 

John Breitsch

Denver, CO

http://www.flickr.com/photos/breitschbirding/?saved=1