This morning I decided to try to get better photos of the stakeout LeConte's Sparrow in Half Moon Bay. I arrived shortly after dawn and met Abe and Joe Borker. As the sun rose, Savannah Sparrows started moving and there was a lot of activity in the Baccharis bushes but no sign of the LeConte's. George Chrisman arrived about 9am. About 9:05 AM I spotted the LeConte's Sparrow in the middle of a small bush. It eventually sat up in the sun and Joe Borker got many photos. At this time I took the bottom two images. The bird dipped down into the ditch briefly and then disappeared into the back of the bush. After the other observers left I was able to get excellent close-up views and photos (top two images) taken about 9:40am after which the LeConte's Sparrow flew out into the field well to the south.
Distinguished from similar Nelson's Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) by whitish, not gray median crown stripe, faint purple streaks on nape, stronger eyering and lack of dark lateral throat stripes.
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS