It’s a bit of a joke, but when I’m out birding I often wear my Philadelphia Eagles cap with a vague notion in my head that it will bring out more birds, maybe even induce a bald eagle to fly by. A silly notion, yes, but I’ll seek any advantage I can to bring more of our feathered friends into view.
I didn’t see any eagles this morning, but I had a nice walk with a new friend along one of my typical routes through the fields of the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm.
Another birder spotted my Eagles cap as we emerged from our vehicles nearly simultaneously about 7:30 a.m. We struck up a conversation. Jay was making his first to the Pole Farm, and I was happy to give him a few pointers on what to find where.
We started up the path together, immediately spotting a red-shouldered hawk in a tree above us. I’m reasonably sure was the same bird I’ve been seeing in trees near the Cold Soil Road parking lot for the past week or two.
Next, as if one cue, three Northern harriers came out, swooping over the big field to the right of the central dirt path. Jay and I ended up walking together for nearly an hour, trading notes on birds and careers and family — one of the kinds of unexpected conversations I enjoy when I encounter another birder on the trails.
We walked a big loop back toward the parking lot as I was preparing to return to my car and Jay to keep exploring on an adjoining path. The red-shouldered hawk flew toward us and landed in a tree across the trail from the park’s rest rooms. I was able to get a nice shot of the bird spreading its wings.
A few minutes later, Jay spotted a bird in the tall grasses to our right. I guessed it was a savannah sparrow, a common site in that area of the park. But I was surprised and pleased in checking my camera to find that it was an American tree sparrow, one of my favorite birds and one I had not seen in many months. That’s the bird atop this post.
My friend Andy, another daily birder at Mercer Meadows, arrived and showed me a few photos he’d taken in recent days. Jay continued his walk, and Andy and I went back to our cars together, wrapping up an outing that was as enjoyable for the company as it was for the birds we observed.
As we Eagles fans say, “Go birds!”
The Jersey Birder 
Dan! I know it was just a clumsy mistake, a brain fart perhaps, but that photo is a red-shouldered hawk!
I always enjoy your stories having grown up in Central Jersey. (I now live in Orlando.)
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Brain fart it was. Thanks. I’ve corrected the post. Thanks, as always, for reading!
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Gorgeous photo, by the way. Have you birded FL? This time of year 3 subspecies of red-shoulders can be found: eastern, southeastern, south Florida.
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Once, in the Naples/Sarasota area, before I was serious about this stuff. The Ding Darling preserve was fantastic. Some day I’ll be back!
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I’m shameless when it comes to bird attire — whenever I’m birding it’s a Bird Collective hat and sweatshirt. And yes, I too believe it helps with birding!
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I need to increase my birder wardrobe!
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