Kevin Watson has some great photos here:

http://kevinwatsonphoto.com/v-web/gallery/celeryfarm/20070930_176

    And there's more info on clay-colored sparrows here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~richditch/ccsparrow.htm

    And here:

http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/276/overview/Clay-colored_Sparrow.aspx

  I think it's official.

   A clay-colored sparrow was seen this morning not far from the Butterfly Garden at the Celery Farm, and photographed extensively. (I think it may still be there.)

   For toppers, the three people who saw the little guy are the the three members of the official count committee.

   This bird is most likely the not 250th species of bird seen at the Celery Farm.

   Other birds have been seen recently, but a tad too far away with too little documentation to be deemed "official."

   Here's a photo of the committee looking at the bird, several more views of the bird, plus birders looking for the little guy.

   To those who in all likelihood saw a new species at the Celery Farm recently, all I can say is: Congratulations, everyone.

   Great birding.

  Late yesterday afternoon, a light rain was falling in Allendale,  and I needed to chill for a few minutes.

   So I grabbed my point-and-shoot digital camera and went out to the point, hoping to catch an egret, maybe, or a green-wing teal.

   Instead, greeting me as a I surveyed the horizon, was a beautiful rainbow. In fact, when I looked more closely, there were two rainbows.

  In the photo above, if you look closely, you should be able to see the second rainbow.

  As I stood there, slightly awed by the whole thing, a couple I had never met before arrived at the stand.

  I pointed out the double rainbow, and the couple replied: "We get them all the time in Britain. Very damp over there, you know."

  They didn't mean to rain on my rainbow. I guess everything is a matter of perspective.

   If you've traveled to anywhere that has some wide open spaces, the Celery Farm is by comparison a mere vestpocket park.

   But for my wife and me -- and a lot of people we know -- it will always be the pot of gold at rainbow's end.

    No sign of the bobwhite this morning -- that I know of. If anybody sees the little guy, let me know.

   I am working on a story for The Record that should run in a Friday or two on what the experts suggest in situations like this. I know that the standard advice is to let nature take its course.

    But in this case, "nature" involves a red-shouldered hawk, photographed two days ago. Many mornings, the red-shouldered hawks commutes between snags at opposite ends of Parnell's Path. 

   The bobwhite has been seen ....

   ... on Parnell's path.

   A little about the red-shouldered:

http://www.birdnature.com/sep1898/hawk.html

Note that the "Bob White" is listed on his menu.

  Let's hope we see the bobwhite this weekend. If I do, I'll keep you posted.

  I did not see the bobwhite at the Celery Farm this morning, but a friend of this blog raised an interesting question in a comment on the earlier post about this domesticated gamebird, who found its way to the Celery Farm. 

   Here is the post:   

http://njmg.typepad.com/owl/2007/09/meet-mr-white.html

   And here is the comment:

    "It seems to me that Nature's course has not been followed up to this point as this is most likely a farm raised bird,perhaps for hunting. I wonder if the Bergen County Zoo could find a place for Bob in its aviary and if he'd be happy there. The thought of putting him in a cage doesn't thrill me either. Perhaps a Fyke member or one of your many other readers will have a better suggestion."

   I guess the question is whether there's alternative to total freedom (and likely death at the talons or claws of a predator) or bird jail in a zoo.

  Is there a game farm that would take a bobwhite or other domesticated bird that has been released?

  And who would make the arrangements, catch the bird, and take it there?

  Ideas are most welcome.