In the space of 4 days I have seen 2 wonderful birds, both, while under heavy
time restraints !
On Thursday, Jan.6, I had all of 50 minutes to go from Huntington Station to
Cold Spring Harbor ( both in Suffolk Co. ), look for the Tufted Duck, and then
get back to H/ S for a dinner party. I got the bird, but missed the alloted
time by 3 minutes- a "sin", which I was absolved from, by the benevolent, "she
who must be obeyed"
On Sunday, Jan.9, I had 2 hours & 15 minutes to go from home in Riverhead to
the Grumman Grasslands in Calverton ( both in Suffolk Co.), look for the
LeConte's Sparrow, get back home, change, and then get to the 11 o'clock mass
on time. There are 10 traffic lights between my house and the Rt.25 entrance of
the C/ G's, but when I passed the last light, without having to stop at any one
of those lights, I knew I was going to see the bird - and what a viewing it was
!
Arriving at the "short" runway ~ 9 AM, it was reassuring to find 5-8 hardy
birders, with tripods unfurled, looking out on the short, full, "Christmas Tree
shaped" juniper, growing in front of the small, cyclone fenced enclosure. The
folks "on station" quickly zeroed me in on my very first Ammodramus leconteii
! First the "orangy" breast and white belly, then the striped crown, followed
by the striped back as it took turns sunning itself, and diving out of sight.
All of this, plus the camaraderie of happy, satisfied, fellow birders is quite
a "high" !
Throw in a T.V. and my FOS Rough-legged Hawk (light morph)- one could say..."my
cup overflows" !
Cheers, Bob
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