Yesterday was a great birding day. I started @5am at Beavertail in Jamestown to participate in the Ocean State Bird Club's "Big Sit". From a 15 foot radius a bunch of birders (always fun folks) look and listen for birds. I've been told it was really cool to watch migrating birds "reorient" when the see the expanse of ocean ahead of them. Unfortunately it was windy from the wrong direction and there were not a lot of migrating birds. Saw/heard a few fun birds -- two Caspian Terns and an American Pipit flyover to name a few.
I decided to head to Newport and just cruise my usual spots there. I hadn't been there in about a month and I wasn't expecting anything specific. What I found was pure joy -- a rare Clay-colored Sparrow posing for me. The Clay-colored is 1) a life bird 2) a year bird and 3) totally unexpected and unreported previously at this spot (Third Beach parking lot in Middletown). It's is the last one that is the source of the joy. There is something about finding an unexpected bird that is truly satisfying in a way that finding a bird one is chasing is not. I am grateful anytime I have that pleasure.
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