Nelson's 2, Jerry 0 - 11 Oct 2026

Dave Riddle found a Nelson's Sparrow this morning along the east side of the big pond south of the boat launch at Wm. Sterling State Park. Justin Labadie would relocate it a bit later, so I headed down there to look for it at about noon. Skies were dark and drizzly so conditions were sub-optimal. 

I rode to the pin spot and found Diane Kovach and Amber Piotter. They had JUST seen the Nelson's Sparrow a few minutes ago so I joined them to look for it. With rain/drizzle falling steadily the glasses and binoculars fouled quickly. 

Swamp Sparrows were appearing in front of the bushes at a steady rate, followed by White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and even a Lincoln's Sparrow. Swamp Sparrows were the only birds showing enough to photograph.

Arnie Buehler arrived and joined us to look for the Nelson's Sparrow (without luck). We'd head down the bike path to the south to look for the bird and ran into flocks of White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, more Swamp Sparrows, and even Nashville Warbler and Palm Warbler. 

A flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers moved through the trees on the east side of the trail and a few posed long enough for a single photo (my camera inadvertently got put into Single-shot mode).

Palm Warblers were among them.

A nice Blackpoll Warbler was also among them.

Swamp Sparrows were the bird of the day, though. 

Consolation birds of the afternoon included an Orange-crowned Warbler, Field Sparrow and Chipping Sparrow. The drizzle never subsided, so I left at about 2 pm. My second attempt at a Nelson's Sparrow was also a failure.

The Nelson's Sparrow would be re-found after 4 pm in the same spot as before. So Jack, Janet and I will try for it tomorrow morning. 

William C. Sterling State Park, Monroe US-MI 41.91861, -83.33542, Monroe, Michigan, US
Oct 11, 2026 1:55 PM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Looking for Nelson Sparrow along east side of main pond. Rain/drizzle, cool, 60F.
18 species

Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)  1
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  2
Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  1
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)  1
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  2
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  5
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  23
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  4
Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)  1
Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)  18
Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)  1
Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)  1
Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  8

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S401448960

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)