January 6th - The Brewer's Sparrow

The original plan was to try for the Brewer's Sparrow on Sunday, but sometimes plans change.  After reading a quick article on the ABA website about "Big Years", one point really stood out.  NEVER wait when a rarity shows up.  So I didn't.  The bird was first reported on December 30th by Linda Chittum and was seen each day since.  The alarm was set for 4:45 AM and for some reason my eyelids flew open at 4:43 AM.  My headlights lit up the Occoquan Bay NWR welcome sign at 6:40 AM as I pulled into an empty parking lot waiting for the gates to open at 7 AM.  An American Woodcock was heard in a near field.  A good start to the morning.  Soon a parade of cars joined me in the lot and a line of 5 cars proceeded through the gate as the sky turned shades of pink and orange. 

(Brewer's Sparrow "Search Party" - Occoquan Bay NWR)

After a brief 10 minute walk, our group of 6 had arrived at the location where the bird has been the last seven days.  Nine o'clock arrived and we still had not even a glimpse of the Brewer's.  Then the Field Sparrows started showing up.  One by one they flew across Deltea Road.  The anticipation was building.  There was just a feeling that the bird was coming.  And there it was!  The Brewer's Sparrow perched in a small scrag for 5-10 seconds, and then was gone. Wanting a better view and hopefully a photo opp, I stuck around until 11:00 AM, but the Brewer's never showed up again.

Thanks again to Linda for finding and documenting this great Virginia bird!