Plus Two: Coast to Coast in 44 Hours!

October 31

I'd booked an expensive ticket to San Francisco, California for November 2nd to meet my friend Dorian to run up to Arcata (five hours) for Tundra Bean-Goose. 

November 1 

I cancelled the ticket today when it wasn't found again. I wouldn't be flying tomorrow morning. Or, not to San Francisco, at least. I bought a ticket instead, to Miami, to try for Gray-tailed Tattler tomorrow. 

November 2 

I woke up at 3:30 am, was on the road by 4:00 and drove my tired butt to Harlingen. Tickets out of McAllen had gone up $200 extra dollars from when I'd looked at them yesterday, so I'd make the extra hour drive. I got to the airport at 5:00 for my 6:00 flight. Being a small airport, it was the only gate waiting to leave. Around 5:30, the flight was delayed an hour. They said the crew had not yet arrived. Around 6:30, it was delayed another hour. The gate agent, as though reading off a script, said that his screen showed that the flight was delayed due to maintenance. He repeated the same thing about a half hour later. I looked at available connecting flights online, and one by one they disappeared. I spoke with the agent. The remaining connecting flights that would get me to the keys before sunset were filled. I  wanted to know whether the tattler had been seen today, before getting on a flight that would get me there after dark, so I waited around a while longer. Still no reports. I got my flight changed to the following morning, out of McAllen, and drove home to try again the next day. 

Later in the morning, a report of the tattler came through. That confirmed I'd fly tomorrow. 

November 3

A 4:30 alarm got me out the door and to the McAllen airport by 5:00, for my 6:00 flight. Here's hoping second time's a charm! My flight was slightly delayed, went off with no issues, and I made my would-be tight connection in Dallas - landing in Miami around 2 pm. On the flight I'd befriended a woman named Jen sitting next to me - who recently moved to Dallas, and was traveling with her young daughter. I  gifted her one of the alarms. 

I'd reserved a one day rental car through Priceline with Sixt, and upon arrival, there were no compact cars nor small SUVs available - they were all being cleaned. I waited impatiently. The attendant was asking me a zillion questions about my Big Year after I mentioned I was traveling to chase a bird, and that timing was of the essence. A small SUV became available first, so he upgraded me to that (I'd not realized he'd charged me for the upgrade, and I'm going to dispute that $15, because every dollar matters in this budget Big Year), and I took off for the 90 minute drive to Tavenier Key, just a bit south of Key Largo. 

As I was driving, the first reports for the day came through. The bird was still there! Yessss! However, I  knew it was often seen only intermittently as it wandered the coastline, so I maintained a healthy level of caution with my anticipation of seeing the bird. Yesterday, it sporadically showed up at 4 pm, "out of nowhere". 

I got there and met a Florida birder named Rich, who informed me he'd been there for about an hour and hadn't seen the bird. It was raining, and he was driving around checking. I  got out of my car and braved the rain, very thankful I'd had the foresight to include my rain jacket in the very light packing I'd done, which included a second set of clothes in addition to what I was wearing, two pairs of underwear, and minimal toiletries. While I'm an American Airlines credit card holder, and get a free checked bag, extremely key to chasing rarities is traveling without the need to wait for luggage to arrive at the baggage claim. Though, this also meant I wouldn't be saving money by camping. 

After looking for about 45 minutes, the Gray-tailed Tattler showed up, hanging with a similar but much smaller Spotted Sandpiper, near a grounded sailboat not far from the boat launch. BINGO! It was still pouring rain. Digiscoping can be tough in normal conditions, and trying to keep rain off my scope eyepiece long enough to get my phone up for a video was a challenge, but after three or four attempts I  got some decent footage! 

I ran over to find Rich, who drove over, but by the time he got there, the bird had disappeared. I  spent another 20 minutes or so helping him look, but then decided I needed to head towards the airport and formulate my next plan. It was 4:45...I could potentially make it back up and take a 7:30 flight to San Diego to situate myself for Red-throated Pipit first thing the following morning. My ticket was for the following morning, but if I could eliminate the hotel in Miami, that would save me on finances. Very key to my budget big year is moving as fast as possible. 

I  tried to book the flight on my phone, but for some reason, it was giving me an error message and not allowing me to pay. It stated that the seats were being held for me. I dropped off the rental car, and headed to American Airlines customer assistance. The woman at the desk seemed new, and spent 30 minutes trying to figure out how to fix it. In the end, she was unable to, and it was now 7:05 pm and I certainly wouldn't make it through security in time for a 7:30 flight. I'd gotten there on time - and I felt angry and defeated, despite having had success with the tattler today. I walked out to the area where the the hotel shuttles were, and found a room. 

Upon arrival, I'd noticed that there were no restaurants within walking distance. I was exhausted. Okay. I  would do it. I  would order food delivery for literally the first time in my life. I know. No, I'm not joking. I'd held out long enough that at age 35, I almost wore it like a badge of honor of sorts. After 45 minutes, my 10 inch veggie pizza and key lime pie (my Gray-tailed Tattler celebration), showed up, along with a $25 price tag, and I quickly remembered why I'd avoided delivery all my life. 

I made it about 2/3 of the way through the pizza, and scarfed down the less-than-desirable key lime pie. What was I thinking ordering key lime pie from an Italian restaurant? 

I went to bed early and slept for nearly 8 hours. 

November 4

Another 5:30 alarm got me to the lobby just before 6:00 to wait for the first shuttle to the airport. 6:00 came, then 6:10, and the desk staff notified me that the driver was 30 minutes late. 6:30 came, then 6:35, and still no driver. The staff member told me he still hadn't heard from him. I  booked an Uber, which was 3 minutes away, and was gone in a flash. My flight was at 7:40 and the Miami airport is a mess to try to get through, with tons of walking involved in getting to the gates. 

I arrived at my gate as it was already boarding group 4. Not how tight I usually like to make it! Miami to Phoenix was a five hour flight, and a three hour time change. My connection was only 30 minutes, but we'd arrived a bit in advance and I able to make it to my connecting flight - literally the next gate over - also as it was boarding. Stressful, but at least I was maximizing efficiency, I suppose! I landed in San Diego at 12:30. The Red-throated Pipit was only three miles from the airport. This would be the first bird I'd Uber to! 

My Uber driver, Edgardo, picked me up in less than five minutes and took me to the park. He was also full of questions when I told him what I was up to. 

The pipit had been seen at the park next door around 11:30, but had flown and disappeared at the end of the observation, so I decided to start in the adjacent park that it was sometimes seen in, Dusty Rhodes Park. After less than 20 minutes of walking the field, scanning the few dozen American Pipits, I found it! 

I'd been previously a bit concerned about my ability to ID, but once I saw it, it was incredibly obvious. Much darker, cleaner streaking on the breast, white braces along the back, slightly smaller than the American Pipits, and consistently bobbing its tail, unlike the Americans. I watched it a bit longer with local birder, Steve, and then plotted my next move. I  had a ticket back to McAllen for tomorrow morning. Did I  have time to fly up to Portland for the Brambling that was being seen three hours south at a feeder? I  have a client I'm bird guiding Saturday in the Rio Grande Valley, so I'd have to get home on Friday. I  could get to Portland by 8:30 pm, drive to the bird by sunrise at 8 am, have two hours to feeder watch, and then need to drive back to the airport to make the final flight back to McAllen that evening. I decided that was too tight of a window to look, and passed. I found a flight home to McAllen for this evening that was the same price as my original flight for the following morning. In case you've not been aware - all the major airlines are no longer charging change fees and are letting people cancel their flights at any time in exchange for travel credit. This has been infinitely helpful in planning, as I'll often book tickets a few days in advance, and cancel if the birds stop showing. 

My friend Mandy picked me up from the park and took me back to the airport, saving me the somewhat steep $20 Uber fee for the 3 mile drive. I'd tried for Little Stint with her in February (unsuccessfully) and again in September (successfully!) but had completely forgotten to gift her an alarm then, so I was finally able to give her one. 

My 4:45 flight from San Diego to Dallas, Dallas to McAllen would get me to McAllen just before midnight. Except, the Dallas to McAllen flight was delayed an hour. Takeoff time came and went, and we all sat there with no explanation, because there was not even an agent at the gate. American Airlines has been a giant mess all week. I got home to around 1:30 am and immediately passed out. 

I'd woken up in Florida, day tripped to California, and fell asleep in my own bed in Texas. My whole trip was 44 hours. I spent 16 hours in Florida, 3 hours in California, and 25 hours in airports and on airplanes. Actual birding time was less than three hours. To anyone contemplating a Big Year - consider this! It's certainly not always fun and games. 

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