BREWER'S SPARROW, HAMMONASSET 11/24

When news came that a Clay-colored Sparrow (keep reading) was at Hammonasset State Park in Madison, I thought "what a cool bird!". Then, Jory Teltser sent an email out to the state listserv that it was a BREWER'S SPARROW! Holy Geez! 

Today:

Heavy rain for most of my time there, sun showed up for like 10 seconds, then drizzled. 

So I walk on to the boardwalk and bath houses with at least 7-10 birders. They said the sparrow flew behind the bushes (typical sparrow behavior). So I talked to someone. My camera was hid between my shirt and jacket, and my new binoculars were getting wet. I was going to hide under the bath shower roof, then someone calls "Brewer's Sparrow!", so I ran 10 feet to end up with a new lifer, and state bird. I got some crappy, 1-star photos. And decent binoc views. It was a fine looking bird. This is the state first of Brewer's Sparrow, and only the third for New England (MA, 1873, ME 2014, and now CT 2019). The subspecies was confirmed thought to be of the nominate subspecies brewster. This was probably the most least expected rarity. Funny enough, someone found the 11th state record of LeConte's Sparrow, and now as I am writing this, Stefan Martin found a Western Grebe at Cove Island Park! Connecticut is on fire! Massachusetts, well, we probably won't catch up. 

Also to note: I also got my lifer Snow Bunting today

Let's see what's next! Townsend's Warbler?

-Tony