As much as I grow attached to the neighborhood regulars — the Red-tailed Hawks, the Canada Geese, the American Kestrels — it’s always exciting to see a new bird in the city.

The Eastern Towhee above is the first I’ve seen in Holyoke. It flew into a tree right in front of me at the end of an afternoon of birding, as I was walking home through Heritage State Park.

Will it stick around, or was it just passing through? I’ll keep an eye out for it over the next few days.