A rare Clay-colored Sparrow had been reported last week here in Old Trail while I was in North Carolina. It was hanging around with a small flock of White-crowned Sparrow at the northwest end of the soccer field in Western Park. This is a usual winter location for White-crowned Sparrows. I spent eight hours over a three day period looking at all the sparrow hotspots in Old Trail, and while I found eight sparrow species, including White-crowned Sparrows at all these sparrow hot spots, I did not find the Clay-colored Sparrow. There were two other reports of the Clay-colored Sparrow at the end of the soccer field this week, but I must have been at the wrong places when it was seen again. I was surprised to see at least three Nashville Warblers, one Tennessee Warbler, and several Palm Warblers.
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow
Adult White-crowned Sparrow
Adult White-crowned Sparrow
Adult White-crowned Sparrow
Adult White-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
House Sparrow
House Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Field Sparrow
The sparrows and warblers went into hiding when the hawks showed up at Western Park.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
There was a good mix of other avian species in Old Trail on these three days.
Carolina Wren
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Purple Finch
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Mockingbird