A Nelson's Sparrow shouldn't be here at this time of year, and even in the "right" season they are seldom-recorded migrants (especially in spring)due to their low numbers and furtive nature. I was checking out a Yellow-rumped Warbler in a free-standing bush along the road from Gurnet to Saquish (about 150 yards from where it forks to go out onto Crescent beach) when a flash of orange blew through my field of vision.

I was pretty certain it was one of the Sharp-tailed species either of which would be exciting on this date, and determined to try for a photo to help sort it out. Easier said than done as it stayed low and deep in the bush; however, it was actively moving about giving me hope that it might eventually emerge. It did, indeed, finally pop up very briefly in a spot where I could get my lens on it; this was the best photo I could get. and I tentatively concluded Nelson's based on the fine streaking,less coarse head and more refined bill shape. Jeremiah Trimble was kind enough to confirm Nelson's.