Michael Kiessig and I enjoyed watching a female Common Redpoll??? near the Boat Launch area in Bear Creek Lake Park this morning. The bird was with a large flock of American Tree Sparrows plus a few Song Sparrows and some House Finches. The area is directly east of the road and the paved Boat Launch parking lot. We saw the bird along a path next to a thicket feeding with the American Tree Sparrows.
The bird looked close to the picture of the female Common Redpoll in the large Sibley Guide to Birds with the following exceptions:
1. the small upper white wing bar was missing.
2. there was a striking white streak on the side directly next to the wing (on both sides of the bird), that along with the white wing bar formed a "lazy L". Our eyes picked this up immediately as we studied the bird in our scopes.
3. other than the white streak on the side, none of the brown streaks on the belly or sides stood out.
4. The tiny yellow bill, dark lores, and the small red patch on the forecrown were all distinctive along with the "lazy L".
None of my field guides show this "lazy L".
Mike Henwood
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