Mount Scott Rufous-crowned Sparrow

Last Saturday, Laney and I took a trip to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Fort Sill Oklahoma. The afternoon was warm and the scenery was wonderful.

If we had more time, we would have walked to the top. As it was, we explored around the summit. Here you can see Laney taking in the view.

The refuge looked like a great place to spend more time exploring. As we were hiking, I heard a sparrow singing. I was hoping to find a Rufous-crowned Sparrow at the refuge.

Laney and I worked our way closer to the sparrow. We got a nice long look, as the sparrow was more interested in singing than us.

The Rufous-crowned Sparrow is a southwestern sparrow, with the refuge being on the eastern edge of its range. Overall, the refuge seemed to fit more with the southwest than with the prairie ecosystems.

Laney was more interested in the cracks of the boulders and looking out for squirrels, though.