Harris’s Sparrow - 3/8/20269

     Late Saturday afternoon I saw reports of a Harris’s sparrow in nearby southeastern Monmouth County.  It was too late to go look for it so I reconciled with myself that if it hung around into Sunday then maybe I would go for it.  The vagrant bird was spotted again Sunday morning, so after catching up on some other things I decided to take the ride.  

This bird didn’t exactly meet my personal criteria for chasing a rarity.   Normally, a target bird would have to be a potential life bird and one that I may not have another opportunity to ever see.  Harris’s sparrows only breed in Canada and winter in the central United States.  I have seen one Harris’s sparrow before, in February 2023, the last time one showed up in New Jersey.  I had distant and brief looks at that one.  That bird was about 30 miles away in Mercer County.  The current one was about half the distance.  For that reason, I decided to try for better looks and better photos.  Had the bird’s location been in western Monmouth County, I would have passed on the chase.
Harris's sparrow, 3/8/2026.  © S. Weiss

When I arrived at the parking area for the open space location where the bird was reported to be, I applied the fourth principle of Zirlin’s Laws of Birding - Don’t look for the bird, look for the birders.  As I approached the small group of about four birders, I knew the bird was in view because they all had either binoculars or cameras to their faces.  It took me about a minute or so to pick up the bird myself as it was foraging in a field of old, mowed corn stalk stubbles.  As soon as I got my eyes on it, it flew off into the nearby hedge row.  It didn’t take long for it to pop out again on the other side of the hedge row.  It didn’t seem to mind the growing number of people gathering to see it.  It foraged on the ground with some song sparrows, occasionally darting back into the hedges.  A few hawks flying overhead now and then seemed to be more of a concern to the birds than the group of humans standing around watching them.

The times that I get to walk up and almost immediately spot a chased bird are probably countable on only one hand.  Instead of futile searching, I made use of the extra time and nice weather by staying for nearly two hours observing and photographing the bird.  The more photos I take the better chance I get of at least one of them being a decent shot.  (Thank goodness for digital cameras.)  

Harris's sparrow, Mercer County, NJ, 2/2023.  © S. Weiss

Harris's sparrow, Wall Township, Monmouth County, NJ, 3/8/2026.  © S. Weiss

During that time, I helped some newcomers get on the bird.  I want to pay my successes forward when I can.  Karma can be a bitch sometimes, so I try to stay on its good side.


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