Old friends return: a Northern harrier, Savannah sparrows and a West Virginian

It’s that time of year when some of the birds who left us in late spring and the summer start making their way back. At the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm this morning, I was delighted to see a Northern harrier for the first time since the lot cleared out a few months ago.

She rose up from the low-lying layer of fog over one of the central fields, and when I pulled up my binoculars I was able to see clearly her signature white rump. A minute or two later, presumably the same bird appeared flying off to my left and I got a couple of grab shots.

I would later spot the harrier as I made my way back to the car along the paved Lawrence-Hopewell Trail. Again, I wasn’t sure if it was the same bird, but I know in a few weeks I’ll see multiple harriers hunting the Pole Farm fields.

Also today, Merlin started lighting up with Savannah sparrows, which I still can’t distinguish on my own. I took a few photos of them without realizing what they were, as the usual tell-tale yellow striping on their heads was not pronounced. But when I got the photos up on screen, the IDs were confirmed. One of the shots tops this post.

As for the West Virginian, that was not a bird but a birder, a dear friend from college days who came through town on her way to New England. Sheila and I had not seen each other since we graduated (and since Jimmy Carter was president).

We spent a full day birding at the Pole Farm, across the Delaware River at the Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, and at the Trenton marsh at John A. Roebling Park.

We saw a fair number of birds at the Pole Farm, but pickings were slim at the other locations. No matter, we dredged up some wonderful memories and shared, in person, finally, our love of the outdoors and our feathered friends.

I wish the harrier and the Savannahs had shown themselves when we visited the Pole Farm last week, but that makes for another reason for Sheila (who I know will read this post!) to migrate here at any time of year. And I owe her a trip to the Mountain State. I hear they have birds there, too.