I didn’t realize it when I wrote the last post, but I had tied my bird species with the three new birds. On Wednesday, May 19th I surpassed my total from last year. Amazing you might say, but really not so much.
I wasn’t added to the invaluable “GroupMe” text group until later in the summer. I didn’t have any birdsong skills and I didn’t have a current birder who I could consult with to ask where in a particular territory to look. That has really come home to me this week.
I took a hike in a new territory, looking for the “Big Rock”. How hard could that be? I kept asking people on the trail, but no one knew. By the time I reached the water I knew I probably went the wrong way. Now I do have several current birders who would advise me, but sometimes I feel like I’m asking too much (see last week’s post on Drafting) and I go it alone. I texted a friend from the water and she told me where to go, but I had a meeting to get to and did not have time to try it. I went back the next day and got a few birds, but the not prized rarities. I suspect they were already gone, no one has seen/heard them since very early on the day I dipped.
I didn’t even post that day because the walk back was a total bust. About ¼ of the way up the trail a woman approached me with two dogs and basically talked to and distracted me the rest of the way back. I could have said “Why don’t you go ahead” but even if she had, I had a time limit and I suspect she was lonely and wanted to chat. That is a hazard of being friendly while birding. Sometimes I can’t help myself.
That morning I had also tried to find two birds in another place, but again didn’t have specific instructions. There is only so far wandering and listening in the woods will get you. This one had two options – path or dirt road. I tried both, but it turns out I should have just gone farther on the dirt road. I probably needed to know their songs better – that is my goal for today. I will go back in the morning.
These are my quarries for tomorrow:
Acadian Flycatcher
Photo Credit: John C. Mitermeier
Worm-eating Warbler
Photo Credit: John C. Mitermeier
Addendum – Found the Acadian Flycatcher – not the Worm-eating Warbler, my new “White Whale” bird.
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