This afternoon at about 2:45 p.m., I saw a Lark Sparrow on Pope’s Island. The bird was on the southeast part of the island, hanging out with a bunch of Song Sparrows in some of the bushes along the edge of the water. I “pshhed” and it came out to have a look at me — I got a very nice look from about thirty feet away.

For those of you who are not birders, this is an unusual bird to see in our area. To see it in the middle of an urban setting, about a hundred yards from a busy four-lane highway, was a very nice winter solstice present.

Field notes:

The bird was about thirty feet away, down inside a bush covered with bittersweet. Temp. about 50 F., mostly sunny (low slanting light).

General impression: distinctive head pattern; overall color significantly paler than nearby Song Sparrows; overall somewhat slimmer than Song Sparrows.

Head: bright reddish brown (chestnut) crown (black right above eyes) with white central stripe; white malar; throat white or pale gray outlined with black; auriculars white and chestnut pattern; gray bill; broad white supercilium; black eye line; lores black.

Breast: pale grayish-white, central spot of medium gray.

Back and wings: patterned, but not boldly. overall color medium to light grayish-brown, with a faint rufous tinge.

Tail, legs, feet: Hidden by bushes.