December 8 - State Rarities Chase Day

Today we went all the way south to chase the rarities in Cape May.  Our first target was the Mountain Bluebird, however we did not see it. Later we found the reason..evidently the Bluebird was predated last evening and all that was left was a file of feathers !

We also made a stop in the Villas to have a look at Harvey's special guest...a Black-Chinned Hummingbird !

Fortune gave us another chance as a male Painted Bunting was reported at a nearby home.  While the bird was not there when we arrived, after a short wait I spotted the bird coming into the feeder:

On our way back north we cut across the state westward and made a stop at Burlington County's Croft Farm.  Here we joined outher birders and quickly relocated the cooperative Le Conte's Sparrow which had been found here last weekend.
This is just the second time I've seen this species, with my last view back in 2009 !