Date: 10/16/26 2:57 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: [sbcobirding] What I heard (and didn't hear) at Scorpion Oct. 14
The old thread is now so lengthy that I am clarifying on a new thread.
To repeat: (1) I didn't SEE a Calif. Towhee, only thought I heard one.As I recall, it was somewhat behind me as I was looking at a group of three Fox Sparrows feeding with some other sparrows in a shady spot in the Lower Campground.
(2). I do not believe I saw either a Red Fox Sparrow or a Thick-billed Fox Sparrow. The three sparrows in my group looked like typical Slate-backed to me (Red on the wings and tails, heavily streaked breasts. lighter streaks on a dark gray back). The bills were gray upper mandible, yellow lower mandible. They did not have the larger heavier bills of Thick-billed. I tried very hard to get a photo with my basic camera, but they stayed in the shade and I could not get close enough to take anything that would reproduce without spooking the flock
(3) These birds were part of a mixed flock (White-crowns, Golden-Crowns, Song Sparrows as I recall). The call I heard did not come from the flock but behind me. It could very well have come from a Thick-billed Fox Sparrow. But because I assumed it was a Cal Towhee, I did not check it out.
As for the "Red" Fox Sparrows that were reported from the campground, I will be curious to see the photos, "to be added when I return from my trip." Is it possible that I missed Red on the head? I remember considering Red at the time and ruling it out. I am working only from memory so don't have photos to refer back to. And she said there was a Sooty Fox Sparrow in her group for comparison. It is entirely possible that we found different birds. I did not see another birder in the vicinity when I found these birds. And I believe the time on the checklists reflects when the lists were submitted, not when they were seen?
Sorry for this confusion--As I said, sloppy birding on my part.
Thanks for all your input--it will be a great help to me in the future.
Florence
