Posted by John Boyd on January 06, 2002 at 11:48:58:
I saw at least 7 Lark Sparrows this morning at the location previously posted. At least one was singing! One bird had some breast streaking (first-winter), the rest were clear-breasted (adult).
I then headed down to Royal Palm to hunt for the Chestnut-sided, which I had just missed yesterday (twice!). It was a long struggle to find it. I eventually found a first-winter female along the old Ingraham highway (trail), just before the Gumbo Limbo trail crosses it. It was in a loose flock that included an adult male BT Green (also true yesterday). There are only 12 previous reports of this bird in winter anywhere in Florida. Stephenson & Anderson cite 11 reports, while Florida Field Naturalist lists 1 additional present all winter at Jacksonville in 97-98. In other words, this is an extremely rare bird this time of year. The last winter report in our area was one in Miami in 1967! It is the 4th winter sighting for SE Florida. The others were in 1932 (Loop Rd) and 1964 (Miami). I did not find the Blue-winged.
Afterwards, I checked the area around Gate 2 off Research Rd, finding 3-5 Brown-headed Nuthatches and both forms of Short-tailed Hawk.