Harris sparrow

On Tuesday a birder I know from Lehighton parked across the road at the trailhead to Christman Trail.  I told him and his friend about three rose-breasted grosbeaks at our bird feeder, and they walked up our driveway to see them.  The grosbeaks were still there, but the birder exclaimed, “There’s a Harris sparrow!”

I didn’t see the sparrow, but he said that it was a midwestern bird not native to Pennsylvania.  To see one was a special occasion.  

Fifteen minutes later another birder I know from Palmerton knocked on our door and said Dave called him about a Harris sparrow.  He looked out our kitchen window at our backyard but couldn’t spot it.  He went outside and fifteen minutes later knocked on our door with a photo he had just snapped of the Harris sparrow.  It’s a rather plain bird with a black-colored face and an orangey bill.

He asked if we minded if he told other birders.  We said that would be fine.  Today, when I was returning from the chicken coop, a guy had set up a scope in our back yard. It turns out he drove up here all the way from Delaware County just to see the sparrow.  He was here until 5:30, but the bird never reappeared.  It is probably half way to Canada by now.  He did see the Baltimore oriole that’s been hanging around.

Even though Linda and I didn’t see the bird, we are adding it to our life list.  After all, we saw the photo of it sitting in the tree in our back yard.  I think that counts.