Returned to Bunker to search again for the Nelson’s sparrow. Again stood in reed-bed with other birders hoping for a look. Saw mainly savannah sparrows. Saw a sparrow of some sort fly past me with what seemed like an orange-ish head. Did not see where it landed, but soon after another birder (apparently Dan Steakley) got a photo of the Nelson’s sparrow perched about where the bird I saw was flying towards. Not sure but I think it likely that the orange-ish bird that flew past me was the Nelson’s sparrow.

https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/643000665/embed

Steakley indicated the Nelson’s sparrow to the rest of the group as it flew from its perch across into a low clump of grass, out of sight. This definitely was it, and we all saw it flying, even if we didn’t get to properly look at it. We watched it fly from hiding-place to hiding-place, pursuing it a bit through the reed-bed before collectively deciding it felt harassed and wouldn’t show itself; we all then left the reed-bed, satisfied with the fleeting looks we’d gotten of it flying.

After finding the Nelson’s sparrow (species #192 on my life list) I thought I’d go for #193 and try to find a sedge wren. I returned to the north end of the pond where I’d seen some sort of reed wren on Friday. I hung around there for about 45 minutes until sunset.

I saw a small brown bird fly from the reeds into a red-leafed bush between the path and the road. I heard the correct sort of chirping in there but couldn’t see anything.

I found three swamp sparrows down in the mud at the shore edge of bed of cat-tails. I found a female yellowthroat in a bush next to the red bush.

I heard, clearly but from very far away, the song of a barred owl somewhere in the trees across the pond.

Cackling goose in middle

Cackling goose on far left

Geese started to fly into the pond. One group of 11 featured a cackling goose among the Canada geese; it was notably smaller, shorter-necked than the others, made higher-pitched noise. This is the first time I’ve IDed a cackling goose in the field, rather than upon reviewing photographs.

Sandhill cranes began to arrive near sundown, presumably to roost in the pond; counted 13 as they flew in, probably would have seen more if I stayed later.

I eventually did find the wren in the red bush; even in the dim light its white brow stood out; it was a marsh wren, not a sedge wren. I left as sun set having not seen a sedge wren still.

On the way back to the parking area saw several sparrows: white-crowned, song, field.