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Posted by Brian Rapoza on 19:05:20 04/21/06
I stopped at A.D. Barnes Park after work today. The most interesting bird seen during my brief visit (4:00-5:00 PM) was a Gray-cheeked Thrush with a noticably rufous tail. The bird was seen in good light, on the paved path on the western side of the area between the Sense of Wonder Nature Center and the elevated boardwalk. The bird spent most of the time in the area where the path splits into a circle, either on the path or perched on branches 1-3 feet off the ground.
In addition to the rufous tail, other field marks noted were grayish face, lack of an eye ring, large-spotted breast, whitish throat and olive back which contrasted with the tail. In spite of the favorable light conditions, I couldn't tell whether the flanks were brown or olive. Recalling Ian McLaren's October, 1995 article in Birding Magazine (Field Identification and Taxonomy of Bicknell's Thrush), I also noted the color of the lower mandible, which at the base was a dull yellowish. The bird never vocalized.
This bird was almost assuredly a Gray-cheeked Thrush, but is possibly of the Newfoundland population that most closely resembles Bicknell's.
The lone Tufted Titmouse, as well as a few warblers (Black-throated Blue, Prairie, Blackpoll, Black-and-white, American Redstart, Ovenbird) were also in the area.
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