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Dickcissel,sparrows, Santee NWR Sunday



Sunday,6 Feb. Cuddo Unit Wildlife Drive, Santee NWR, Clarendon County, SC:

The amazing Sparrow Winter continues.  With minimal effort you can find
LeConte's Sparrow in almost any weedy field around the Santee area this
season--so far I've found this species in eight different spots, both inside
and outside the NWR, without even once visiting the Pine Island Unit where
they have been found some previous winters.  A few Henslow's are also in the
area, but much more difficult, generally, to see well.  Here's today's list
from a few frosty morning and predawn hours:

DICKCISSEL 1 male (with about 50 Savannah Sparrows, first long, weedy fields
after entering gate, seen twice, about 8:30 AM.  This is a very uncommon
species in winter, especially inland)
LeConte's Sparrow 3 (these were in fields further in toward the lake than
Donna's birds Sat.)
Henslow's Sparrow 1 (excellent flight view of this one for about 5 seconds,
a side shot in good light showing the dull greenish head color well; right
hand field near woods.)
Fox Sparrow 4 (pine woods, closed road first right off main drive)
Song Sparrow 30+
Swamp Sparrow 20+
Savannah Sparrow 80+
White-throated Sparrow 25+
Chipping Sparrow 20+
Field Sparrow 15+
Eastern Towhee 3

Nice sparrow list!

Also:

3 Am. Woodcock (one calling, two fly-bys, at dawn, en route to Cuddo)
4 Great Horned Owls (2 seen, near Cuddo)
  (--no response to either Saw-whet or Long-eared tapes at the spot where I
heard the mystery owl a couple weekends ago)
N. Harrier
Sedge Wren 2
Rusty Blackbird 2
Red-winged Blackbird 30
E. Meadowlark 40

Also (caution-NOT about birds):

A close encounter with a Bobcat in the edge of the first left side field at
Cuddo, about 8:00 AM.; and a loudly calling Spring Peeper, apparently with
antifreeze in its veins, from an ice-edged ditch.  A great day to be out!

Tim Kalbach
Columbia, SC
grebe@mindspring.com