I finally managed to get at look at one of the Clay colored Sparrows at Honey Pot this morning in overcast conditions and occasional light rain. I initially was not going to try again but when I woke up and saw it was not raining as much as expected and after hearing Joe had one again the previous evening I made the trip back. I also figured there was a chance of shorebirds being forced down by the weather (this turned out to not be the case). I managed to get a couple second view of the sparrow not long after arriving and then it did not show again for me for an hour and a half. I then decided to check other areas around the Honey Pot before giving it one more try. This time the sparrow was much more cooperative and I was able to get some great looks and some photos plus got Scott and Julie on the bird before I left. Another new species for the year in the books. Despite the drizzle at times I headed to a few areas to look for warblers and found a few pockets of them.
Yesterday I made my first attempt to find the Clay colored Sparrow(s) at the Honey Pot found by Joe and Aaron the day before without any luck despite spending well over an hour in the area. A bunch of other sparrows were in the area including my highest count yet for the fall of Lincoln's Sparrows. I made a few other stops on my way and turned up more migrants but nothing unexpected.
To start off the third week of September I stayed in the Belchertown/Pelham area and had a number of notable species including Virginia Rail, Warbling Vireo, yet another Yellow bellied Flycatcher, loads of Red breasted Nuthatches, 14 species of warblers including another Connecticut Warbler and a very early Orange crowned Warbler. It was another sunny and beautiful day and a great start to another week.
I also got some sad news yesterday evening when I got a phone call letting me know my uncle Ed had died at home out in Washington. He had an eventful and varied life including a full career in the navy and we shared many of the same outlooks on life and I always saw a lot of myself in him. We always had a great connection and I will sorely miss our messages back and forth regarding so many topics. He had an exceptionally sharp mind and certainly lamented the mess this country has become at the hands of those who want to take away our freedoms. We were scheduled to meet up with him this coming summer when we would be going out that way on vacation but that plan has changed.
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