HTTPClient sends out two requests when using Basic Auth?

I have been using HTTPClient version 4.1.2 to try to access a REST over HTTP API that requires Basic Authentication. Here is client code:

DefaultHttpClient httpClient = new DefaultHttpClient(new ThreadSafeClientConnManager());
// Enable HTTP Basic Auth
httpClient.getCredentialsProvider().setCredentials(
    new AuthScope(AuthScope.ANY_HOST, AuthScope.ANY_PORT), 
    new UsernamePasswordCredentials(this.username, this.password));

HttpHost proxy = new HttpHost(this.proxyURI.getHost(), this.proxyURI.getPort());

httpClient.getParams().setParameter(ConnRouteParams.DEFAULT_PROXY, proxy);

When I construct a POST request, like this:

HttpPost request = new HttpPost("http://my/url");
request.addHeader(new BasicHeader("Content-type", "application/atom+xml; type=entry")); // required by vendor
request.setEntity(new StringEntity("My content"));

HttpResponse response = client.execute(request);

I see in Charles Proxy that there are two requests being sent. One without the Authorization: Basic ... header and one with it. The first one fails with a 401, as you would expect, but the second goes through just fine with a 201.

Does anyone know why this happens? Thanks!

EDIT:

I should make clear that I have already looked at this question, but as you can see I set the AuthScope the same way and it didn't solve my problem. Also, I am creating a new HttpClient every time I made a request (though I use the same ConnectionManager), but even if I use the same HttpClient for multiple requests, the problem still persists.

EDIT 2:

So it looks like what @LastCoder was suggesti