{"id":6266,"date":"2017-07-12T12:47:26","date_gmt":"2017-07-12T16:47:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=6266"},"modified":"2017-07-12T08:47:53","modified_gmt":"2017-07-12T12:47:53","slug":"richardcissels-dickcissels-at-milton-velodrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/richardcissels-dickcissels-at-milton-velodrome\/","title":{"rendered":"In Search of Richardcissels (Dickcissels to Their Close Friends) at the Milton Velodrome"},"content":{"rendered":"

I never knew the town of Milton had a Velodrome although I should have since it was used for bicycle events for the PanAm Games. When the invasion of the RichardCissels of 2017 began, I didn\u2019t ever expect to see one: I don\u2019t go far to look at birds. Then the reports started flooding in about several being seen at the Milton Velodrome\u2014and I realized I would be chauffeuring one of my brood and friends to a camp rendezvous fairly close by in west Oakville. So one chilly morning, I sallied forth and went searching for a \u201csparrow\u201d with a bright yellow bib and some other unusual colouring.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

What Does a Dicksissel Look Like and Where Might I Find One?<\/h2>\n

I remembered my \u201cTree\u201d Sparrow fiasco<\/strong><\/a>, where I went looking for one without knowing its size, its preferred habits and its favourite food. I had, laughably, thought the name \u201cTree\u201d meant I should look for it in trees. So I went to a nearby park, and spent ages staring at trees with no luck. Of course, when I finally found my first ones, they were feeding happily on the ground and on goldenrod seeds in a meadow. Go figure.<\/p>\n

This time, I did a bit more early research:<\/p>\n

I found the males at the Velodrome were most often seen perching on top of weeds to sing. (This was gleaned from eBird photos and from Luc Fazio\u2019s informative video<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n

(The female or females are being rarely seen so I didn\u2019t have any expectation of seeing one. And I never did.)<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nHe struck a noble pose. And is this a Gingko sapling he’s perched in?<\/em><\/p>\n

I also had some idea of the song from the video, and from the AllAboutBirds website<\/strong><\/a> where the song was similar but noticeably different. Knowing my habit of getting distracted by other birds\u2019 songs (Savannah Sparrows and Song Sparrows are in the same field) I wrote myself the cheat sheet reminder: tweet, tweet, tweet, fzzzzzizzzziz. (You can see why Peterson\u2019s has not hired me to write the catchy lyrical versions of bird songs for easy memorizing in their field guides\u2026.)<\/p>\n

Of course, I forgot to check what size they are, though I knew their bill was supposed to be larger than a Savannah Sparrow\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nSavannah Sparrows have a yellow eye line but no yellow on their front and no big patch of rufous on the wings. Their bills are also smaller than those of Dickcissels.<\/em><\/p>\n

Luckily, I brought a field guide with me, and looked it up while I was in the parking lot: They are a bit smaller than a House Sparrow and should be noticeably larger than a Savannah Sparrow. They are about 75% of the size of a Meadowlark but to me they seem much smaller.<\/p>\n

Are Dickcissels Sparrows?<\/h2>\n

Despite the fact I keep comparing them to sparrows, Dickcissels are not actually sparrows. Right now, they are listed in the same group as Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings and Tanagers.<\/p>\n

What Is This Miniature Meadowlark Singing from the White Sweet Clover in the Uncut Field?<\/h2>\n

Dickcissels remind me, and many other people, of Meadowlarks. That\u2019s because the males have a yellow shirtfront with a small black \u201cbowtie\u201d similar to the yellow front and black V mark on a Meadowlark.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nThis is a male Meadowlark.<\/em><\/p>\n

They both have some yellow near the eye, too, but a Meadowlark has a black eye line and a Dickcissel doesn\u2019t. Meadowlarks also have streaky brown, black and white sides but Dickcissels don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nSeeing the rusty patch on this far away Dickcissel through my viewfinder was the first clue I had that I was focussing on the sought-after bird!<\/em><\/p>\n

Dickcissel males do have a nice bright rusty patch on their sides, though. That helped me be sure I was seeing one while looking at a bird far away as the Sweet Clover it was one bobbed and swayed in the wind, hiding then revealing the bird perched on it.<\/p>\n

Did I Find the Mysterious Invaders?<\/h2>\n

Yes! In fact, I saw one perched in a sapling beside the parking lot when I first arrived: but I didn\u2019t know (for sure) what it was, and a car drove by and flushed it into the meadow almost immediately.<\/p>\n

\"Photo
\n<\/a>This somewhat fuzzy shot shows the front colouring. Often the black is one big triangle. I’m not sure if this is a younger male still growing in the full patch?<\/em><\/p>\n

Then, after prowling around, I saw one for sure near the driveway entering the area. It was way back in the field but singing and visible. Its song was not the tweet, tweet, tweet, buzz I was listening for, of course, but it did have a buzz. And it was noticeably different than the more plentiful Savannah Sparrows.<\/p>\n

Then I saw another one very clearly near where I had parked just before I had to leave.<\/p>\n

So the next week, while back on chauffeur duty, I visited the Velodrome again. I decided just to stand near-ish to the saplings where I had seen the one singing the first time I visited.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

Patience was a virtue. I was passed three times by someone walking laps around the cycle loop. I counted over 13 Clouded Sulphur butterflies and 3 Cabbage whites.<\/p>\n

I could HEAR one singing but it remained stubbornly out of view behind a small berm.<\/p>\n

Then it flew into the sapling near me! And I got great looks at it, even if I didn\u2019t get great photos. (Holding a 600mm lens steady in the wind is not as easy as it might seem. That\u2019s my excuse and I\u2019m sticking with it.)<\/p>\n

Are Dickcissels Common in Southern Ontario?<\/h2>\n

Not particularly. According to eBird articles, though, they have \u201cirrupted\u201d into southern Ontario in 2012 and 2005. The reason for irruptions don\u2019t seem to be fully understood.<\/p>\n

Why Are All These People With Binoculars and Big Cameras Standing Around the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton?<\/h2>\n

\"Photo<\/a><\/p>\n

When I first visited the Milton Velodrome area, I was asked by 3 people passing in cars what I was looking for or taking photos of. They had seen several people in the area over the past few days but I guess I looked more approachable, or was standing closer to the road on the cycling loop outside the building, and therefore could be contacted.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nI enjoyed watching the butterflies like this Eastern-tailed Blue, too, while I was stalking Dickcissels.<\/em><\/p>\n

I explained that there were several of an unusual sparrow-like bird around. The birds look like a sparrow with a bright yellow splash on its front. They only come up to Ontario every 5-10 years; they normally live further south in the US. The passersby were pleased to know what was going on and merrily drove on their way.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>The Dickcissel spent his time always watching the overgrown field of Goldenrod, Asters, Chicory, Black-eyed Susans and White Sweet Clover. He never perched to look away from that area towards the parking lot or the Velodrome.<\/em><\/p>\n

I wonder if any of them took a closer look later to find a Dickcissel for themselves? I hope so! They are attractive birds.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n