This is a vagrant Sage Thrasher that happened to be spotted within chasing distance. Hanging out at Ooms Conservation Area near Albany, NY, he was quite far out of range.
He was one of those birds you hope for, cooperative , not bothered by the people gathering to admire him. What made this an especially fun trip was reconnecting with old friends from birding past , Peter and Priscilla. We had birded for several years before this in Ohio where we had met and were looking forward to it once more. Then of course the "'rona". The pandemic was just wearing people down and this was a bright spot in an otherwise difficult year.
The friendships you make while birding are one of the most important aspects of the journey. The banter, the bragging and the fun! Peter of course met me at the beginning of the trail walked me down and pointed out the bird as it scurried across the path. A huge benefit of birding with friends.
Sage Thrasher
Oreoscoptes montanus
Sage Thrashers are fairly small songbirds with relatively long legs and tail. They are the smallest of the thrashers. The bill is much shorter and straighter than the bills of other thrashers. When perched, Sage Thrashers often stand erect with their wings slightly drooped, like a thrush Sage Thrashers mimic other birds while they sing.
(from Wikipedia)
