A Lark Sparrow was found by Brad Carlson up at Hamlin Beach today. I've only seen a Lark Sparrow one other time (
A Lark Sparrow in Fort Erie), which was in Fort Erie and very close to being exactly a year ago by about 10 days. This must be the time of year they're on the move.
Celeste and I went up to Hamlin Beach to see if we could find this rare occurrence and, as luck would have it, we found a group of American Tree Sparrows that it was hanging around with. The sparrow was very cooperative, giving great views to Celeste, Chris Stanger, and I.
After the group of sparrows flew off a little further down the beach, we heard a Snowy Owl was found by Kim Sucy not too far away in Kendall. We easily found the owl and enjoyed this very white bird for a little while before heading to Point Breeze.
At Point Breeze, we were given great looks by some Horned Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers. A Glaucous gull was sitting on the pier with some Ring-billeds and Great Black-backed Gulls - and a little further out, a Red-throated Loon was drifting near the beach on the west side. It seemed a little too dim for photos by this late point in the day, but now I wish I had taken a few of the Horned Grebes, loon, and the Glaucous Gull...
For a gray and cold November day, there was lots to see!