A friend of mine found a great bird yesterday at a local preserve – there were photos, it is a cool bird. I was tempted to run right out there, but I got stuff to do.
In addition, it is a small preserve with really limited parking. I knew a bunch of birders would be there before me. It wasn’t re-found until about 5pm and no photo. The bird could be gone in the morning and I could be enduring a big headache for nothing. The real irony is that I was planning on hanging alone at the preserve for a while this morning before the find made that impossible.
I struggle more and more with whether to chase the rare(ish) birds. Last week I did just that in conjunction with a lunch in Connecticut. I had a lovely 20 minutes with a beautiful cattle egret. I was the only one there – just me and the bird. That is the best way.
My next stop was a MOB (Many Other Birders) scene and I got the bird but was shocked at how much the crowd moved in on the little guy. I got my photos and left – pretty unsatisfying. The same species – Yellow-throated Warbler -- showed up at a Rhode Island Reserve today. I will wait a few days to see what happens, I’d like to have it as a Rhode Island bird and it is fairly rare here. I have other life birds to find, so I think I will pass unless I happened to be there for other reasons.
I love any opportunity to see an Owl and the Eastern Screech Owl was no exception. I asked someone in the MOB to give my directions and I ended with a very sweet tour guide. Thanks goodness, because I don’t think I would have seen it otherwise, even though it was right out in the open. I would have been looking too low.
I found the Prothonotary Warbler the day after it was first found and I don’t think I would have found it if I hadn’t had company. It took patience and a lot of tracking of its voice. The irony is that I got some great shots, even though it was not a life bird for me, my companion did not. He was too busy admiring the bird before he pulled out his camera. The bird was calling all day, but was hardly seen again.
I’m not entirely sure why I ever chase. I guess I get caught up in seeing a bird I might never see again. Maybe it is just an attempt to fit into the culture. I just know when I get a few quiet moments alone with a bird, I am happier than I will ever be from a list.
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