tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41049656723557825582024-03-24T02:09:44.672-05:00Nature Ninja Birding ToursTiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-5400523737974461952022-01-17T11:06:00.006-06:002023-12-16T14:45:21.656-06:00Nature Ninja Birding Tours <p><i>Hi! I'm Tiffany Kersten, a Wisconsin native, turned Texan by way of New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Hawaii. I hold a B.S. in Wildlife Ecology from Northland College, have been a Certified Interpretive Guide through the National Association for Interpretation, and spent over a decade as an environmental educator. I've taught about raptor identification and migration with the Cape May Bird Observatory, monitored shorebirds on Cape Cod, banded Honeycreepers in Hawaii, and finally landed in South Texas where I first worked at Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, then Quinta Mazatlan World Birding Center, and managed the McAllen Nature Center, before completing a Lower 48 States Big Year in 2021, and founding Nature Ninja Birding Tours in January of 2022. I have been connecting people to nature through the joy of birding since 2006. </i></p><p>Please use the links below to navigate to the page with the information you're looking for! </p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/bird-guiding-rates-information.html">Private Day Tours in South Texas</a> </p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/group-tours.html">Group Tours in South Texas</a></p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/international-tours.html">International Tours</a> </p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/lodging-suggestions.html">Lodging Suggestions (Rio Grande Valley & Elsewhere)</a></p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/speaking.html">"Birdie Big Year: Elevating Women Birders" Presentation Schedule </a></p><p><a href="https://rgvrarebirdalert.blogspot.com">Weekly Rio Grande Valley Rare Bird Alert</a> (Updated Mondays, November through May) </p><p><a href="https://tiffanykersten.blogspot.com/p/birding-sites-in-rio-grande-valley.html">Birding Sites in the Rio Grande Valley</a></p><p>To read through Tiffany Kersten's 2021 "Birdie Big Year" blog, see below. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWM_deVNZLGY4ST4-v91R6aV6p2r8yiIVz1cHicHDkQRLJAfObaXpXln4mxmFJhwXOoEDwo0V-T73SDZhA_iGNBLv6oDDqBs3BVB0zC2WflTdevE41or42RnbnJZmXiR6xqilHUadbk6LQT8OkndLs3jUNYk0dLaMeC40Pw2JG_loX_jkyTVgMYdKqg/s2048/273978152_272829348358321_3496372380509316401_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWM_deVNZLGY4ST4-v91R6aV6p2r8yiIVz1cHicHDkQRLJAfObaXpXln4mxmFJhwXOoEDwo0V-T73SDZhA_iGNBLv6oDDqBs3BVB0zC2WflTdevE41or42RnbnJZmXiR6xqilHUadbk6LQT8OkndLs3jUNYk0dLaMeC40Pw2JG_loX_jkyTVgMYdKqg/s320/273978152_272829348358321_3496372380509316401_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Email: natureninjabirding@gmail.com</p><p>Call or text: 715-209-5751</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-3295886451308542872022-01-05T20:02:00.001-06:002022-01-05T20:02:50.803-06:00Great Skua Attempt <p>Dec 27 </p><p>The first day I was scheduled to fly to Norfolk, Virginia, and then drive down to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina for a winter pelagic in hopes of Great Skua. However, the night before, I received an email stating that the pelagic had been moved from December 29th, to the weather date of December 30th, due to rough seas. I moved my flight from the 28th to the 29th. </p><p>Dec 28</p><p>I received a call that the pelagic for the 30th had been cancelled, but that if there was enough interest, a trip would run on December 31st. I committed to the trip, and changed my return flight from the 31st to January 1st. It was too expensive to change my flight out from the 29th to the 30th, so I'd fly on the 29th and spend an extra night in a hotel. </p><p>Dec 29 </p><p>I happened to wake up at 3 am, and checked my phone, finding a notification that my 9 am flight was delayed to 11 am...causing me to miss my connecting flight, and they'd rescheduled me for a flight that got in to Norfolk around midnight. BUT they offered the opportunity to change to a flight the following day free of charge. BINGO! It was the best case scenario given the situation - I'd eliminated the need for a hotel and rental car for an extra day. </p><p>Dec 30 </p><p>I flew out at 6 am, with a three plane itinerary - McAllen to Dallas, Dallas to Charlotte, Charlotte to Norfolk. I'd recently reached Platinum status with American Airlines, and had free upgrades to first class on all three flights. How early in the day is too early to ask for free red wine?!? </p><p><br></p><p>McAllen to Dallas went smoothly, Dallas to Charlotte went smoothly, Charlotte to Norfolk went -- well, we got halfway through the 45 minute flight, and the captain announced that visibility in Norfolk was 1/8 mile, and they needed 1/2 mile to land...and that we had enough fuel to circle the airport for a bit, but if it didn't clear in time, we would need to head back to Charlotte, and all get booked for different flights later in the day. Three minutes later, he got back on and announced that the Norfolk Airport had advised us to turn around. Lots of groaning on the plane. The woman next to me openly announced she was switching to alcohol, and ordered another drink. The captain went on to say that no planes had landed in Norfolk since 9 am, which made a lot of us wonder why we had even left the ground in Charlotte. It was already going to be 3 pm, and I had no idea how late I'd get to Norfolk, with a three hour drive to go still to get to Hatteras. </p><p>Three more minutes went by, and the captain got back on the speaker...announcing that we are indeed landing in Norfolk! In another 15 minutes, we touched down, and the fog was so thick that the flight attendants had to run to their jump seats as the ground suddenly appeared beneath us. </p><p>I was in the first row, and wound up being the very first person off the plane. The staff in the airport let us know that, in fact, we were the only plane that has landed all day. It was 3:03 pm. I was grateful to have landed. </p><p>Jessica had decided in the morning that she would come down for the pelagic, and she picked me up form the airport around 4 pm, and we drove the three hours to Hatteras. I'd found a shockingly nice room at the Breakwater Hotel for the price tag for $59 per night after taxes. But first, we met up with Matt and Jamie for dinner. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UmYW2cl4mveoKW-ijb-9Xyw2vVXnVevW" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UmYW2cl4mveoKW-ijb-9Xyw2vVXnVevW" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>They both did a North Carolina big year, with Matt breaking the record. They stayed at the same hotel as us, after hearing of the amazing rate, and they introduced Jessica and I to Wingspan, before we passed out on seasickness meds around 10 pm. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1plmQVZgx8Klh4YX8wp-TgmfKZC_Y5_bf" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1plmQVZgx8Klh4YX8wp-TgmfKZC_Y5_bf" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Dec 31 </p><p>5:15 am came early, as we dragged ourselves out of bed, with only a one mile drive to the harbor. After the standard orientation, we were on our way. I was so tired - so ready to be done with the year. These last few weeks chasing individual birds by plane have been incredibly exhausting and much less fun than the weeks-long road trips I'd been doing much of the year. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QPOYg9w_3Y5-ySws5e4DOFwlaxvFPHic" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QPOYg9w_3Y5-ySws5e4DOFwlaxvFPHic" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I'm pretty sure I had my eyes closed for half of the boat trip. I simply couldn't stay awake - there was nothing to look at the majority of the time. One Manx Shearwater, one Black-capped Petrel, and twenty-some Red Phalaropes were the only birds aside from Northern Gannets and gulls. We returned to land around 4 pm. </p><p>Well, I can't say I didn't try, up until the very last day! After a dinner with Jessica, Matt, and Haley, Jessica and I made our way north to Norfolk for the night, passing out right after we got to our hotel by the airport. I'd fly home the next morning, on my 76th and 77th airplanes of the year. </p><p><i>Final Year List: 726 (breaking the previous record by two species)</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-13124266216532618682021-12-24T17:24:00.000-06:002021-12-24T17:24:22.601-06:00Northern Lapwing - 726! Dec 23 <div>After a scheduled and then cancelled flight for Steller’s Sea-Eagle, which disappeared at 1 pm the previous day, and a scheduled and then postponed flight to the Northern Lapwing in Maryland (I freaked out over the idea of chasing the bird which had only been present one day, and decided to wait another day to see what happened), I flew to Philadelphia. Debbie picked me up from the airport - an essential part of the planning, as my flight was scheduled to get in at 2:30 pm, the bird was 45 minutes from the airport, and sunset was at 4:40 pm, and renting a car may have been cutting it a bit close to sunset. </div><div><br></div><div>Debbie picked me up and swept me away to New Jersey immediately. She’d sweetly packed me a bagged lunch / dinner, with tasty vegetarian food, plus fancy Lindt chocolates for dessert. It was much appreciated after a day of short connecting flights and avoiding expensive airport food. </div><div><br></div><div>We chatted and caught up on the drive- I’d met Debbie in 2011 at John Heinz refuge in Philly when I saw my lifer Least Bittern. I’d seen her for about 15 minutes, also at Heinz, a week and a half ago while looking for Rusty Blackbird after picking up Barnacle Goose, but there wasn’t much time to catch up. </div><div><br></div><div>We arrived to a few cars and half a dozen people enjoying close views of the Northern Lapwing. The light was perfect! It wasn’t even a state bird for me- I’d seen two in New Jersey in 2013, but these views were so much more incredible than the looks I’d had at those birds, that it pretty much felt like a life bird. Those head plumes! It looks like a bedazzled Killdeer. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19ws5EvC83MhCozZ24YqmfSGulctwxl7S" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19ws5EvC83MhCozZ24YqmfSGulctwxl7S" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">I met several women at the lapwing spot, including Shannon and Kacey - a mother / daughter birding duo from Virginia. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lzEXSfB-l1pjT1xJ0K1SL4RJckWwjN-7" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lzEXSfB-l1pjT1xJ0K1SL4RJckWwjN-7" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were a couple of hilarious moments for me, including a woman whose friend had sent her a picture of me, telling her I was going looking for this bird today, and that if she saw me, she could count ME as a lifer! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ta7ryUcLeLQVB1wTn9lPMUNq99q71THQ" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ta7ryUcLeLQVB1wTn9lPMUNq99q71THQ" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;">Another truck passed by as we were about to leave, and it was a family of non-birders, who happened to have watched The Big Year (now on Netflix) a few days prior. They happened to be driving this random country road with cars parked, and asked people if they were birdwatching. Debbie and I were already in the car. They had asked the other birders, jokingly, if anyone was doing a Big Year, and the others motioned to us and sent them to drive up to our car. The look on his face was absolutely priceless, and I was thoroughly enjoying how excited a complete non-birder was about the whole thing! I hope this family finds some binoculars and joins the global birding family pronto! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div>Afterward, Debbie took me to Sara’s place where I’d spend the night. Sara picked me up a week and a half ago and took me to the Barnacle Goose. She is doing a Pennsylvania Big Year and remains five birds short of the new record. It’s been fun to compare and contrast big year experiences. Sara made an amazing vegan chili for dinner, and we celebrated the added year bird with peanut butter whiskey shots. Sounds awful, tastes amazing. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1So84U92z4i5qvpUS1S8mv86GdzkY8IyP" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1So84U92z4i5qvpUS1S8mv86GdzkY8IyP" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-82970369785696741252021-12-19T15:55:00.000-06:002021-12-19T15:55:25.221-06:00BAT FALCON Breaks the Record! <p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dec 18 </span></p><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I arrived straight off the plane around 4:30, and ran all the way from the parking lot to the tower, getting distant looks at the Bat Falcon immediately, and then walking a bit down the tour loop road, where the Bat Falcon was so cooperative that people were literally just walking away from stupid good looks. </span><span style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jtgJf7qW3oWcIPgRfGfNteL0NYBLfSWN" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jtgJf7qW3oWcIPgRfGfNteL0NYBLfSWN" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></span><span style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1G_PhyD_RaTseIBhIO85GixM2HuiSI9Cq" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1G_PhyD_RaTseIBhIO85GixM2HuiSI9Cq" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vR3v0oXSKbzqAaESZ0_8wPxYIiXR5F5o" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vR3v0oXSKbzqAaESZ0_8wPxYIiXR5F5o" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></span></div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I lived on-site and worked here as a Visitor Services Specialist in 2012-2013; it is the job that first brought me to South Texas. I joined the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor board, which supports the refuge, in 2017, and very soon after found myself organizing rallies and protests, and lobbying in Washington DC to protect Santa Ana from a border wall. An ABA first, in my home county, in this special place incredibly dear to my heart, was the perfect way to break the Lower 48 Big Year record. #725!</span><span style="text-align: left; font-family: inherit;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18uVCqZFsLSYW7YX62TmupbZa6UPExVUQ" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18uVCqZFsLSYW7YX62TmupbZa6UPExVUQ" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-k4urZBQkX7SgL0HqB5JyuQh-6AzeK3F" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-k4urZBQkX7SgL0HqB5JyuQh-6AzeK3F" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></span></div><p><br></p><p><br></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-14675365938848023832021-12-18T14:04:00.000-06:002021-12-19T09:28:24.570-06:00Quick New Birds Update<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px;">I’ve been traveling without my computer, and Blogspot formats posts I make from my phone differently, but I know people are anxious and I wanted to give you all a quick update; I’ll flesh out the details more after I’m home. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">First I flew to Philadelphia and picked up Barnacle Goose (720) and Rusty Blackbird (721).</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Then I flew to Boston, got on board a fishing boat out of New Hampshire, saw about ten Dovekie (722), and drove back to Massachusetts for Black-headed Gull (723).</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I tried and dipped on the Northern Lapwing in Connecticut. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I’m currently en route to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where Smith’s Longspur should tie me for the #1 spot with 724! </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">After that, I have tickets to Chicago for a Gyrfalcon in Indiana, OR Minneapolis for Northern Hawk Owl at Sax-Zim Bog, OR home if neither of those birds are being cooperative. Anyone’s guess is as good as mine when it comes to what bird is going to break the record! It’s CBC season and I’m expecting more rarities to be turned up! </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">Thank you so much to everyone who’s contributed in some way, whether it’s been a meal, a ride, a bed to sleep in, or donations to my GoFundMe. So far, thanks to donors and the amazing partnership I have with She’s Birdie, I’ve been able to gift 239 personal safety alarms to women I meet along my travels. My fundraiser is still open and can be found at <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/birdie-big-year-elevating-women-birders">https://www.gofundme.com/f/birdie-big-year-elevating-women-birders</a> . </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><span class="s1"></span>Dec 18 </p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 20.3px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" dir="auto" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1">I got my Smith’s Longspur to tie the record at 724. Heard first, then seen, I was in the middle of getting documentation when a message came through that the Bat Falcon first found on December 8th was refound! We abandoned the documentation mission, went straight to the airport, and I was on a plane home just before noon. I’ll get to Santa Ana around 4:30 pm with about an hour of daylight remaining. The next bird will break the record! </span></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-72397680114573505472021-12-12T14:29:00.000-06:002021-12-12T14:29:02.874-06:00Home, and Another Year Bird<p>Dec 8 </p><p>Sometime along my flights home, a message came in from Troy that he'd just had some Mountain Plovers in West Texas. That was the cue I was waiting for- they should be in the RGV too! I got home immediately unpacked, did my laundry, and repacked. This has been my life now - forever on the go, never knowing when I may need to leave by car or plane at a moment's notice! </p><p>Dec 9 </p><p>I'd said a few weeks ago that I was done guiding for the year, but scheduling worked out to guide Rebecca from Connecticut for one day. My plan was to go looking for Mountain Plovers north of Harlingen after we parted ways, but local birder Mary Beth found them about 30 minutes northwest of my house, instead. It was getting late in the day, and I'd decided I'd just wait until morning to go looking for them. </p><p>Dec 10 </p><p>Up early, yet again, to be out around sunrise. I had drinks and snacks with me, prepared to spend as many hours as it would take to find Mountain Plovers in the vast expanse of bare, freshly plowed fields in McCook, Texas. </p><p>To my great surprise, it took less than 30 minutes for me to pick them out of a distant field with my binoculars; though it took getting a scope on them to confirm the ID 100%. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LNY6ZXwh5dmnIjE0tk6bgVArnVqGOCeg" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LNY6ZXwh5dmnIjE0tk6bgVArnVqGOCeg" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">I messaged Jessica and Paul, who were just up the road and had started looking from the opposite end. They came to meet me, and we enjoyed the <b>Mountain Plovers</b> for a while, counting at least 21, before they headed off for more birding, and I headed home. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1sh1dPzRFcDAi6LL7Kxtk9Yql-gHQS-JU" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1sh1dPzRFcDAi6LL7Kxtk9Yql-gHQS-JU" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">I napped on and off through most of the rest of the day, enjoying every second of the stillness and peace. </p><p>In the afternoon, a Barnacle Goose was found in Pennsylvania. Flights were crazy expensive for the weekend, but I have a ticket booked for Monday morning, and I'll be trying again for Rusty Blackbird there, too. </p><p>Final stretch - just six species away from breaking the record! </p><p><i>Year List: 719 </i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-11330704718528022082021-12-12T14:28:00.000-06:002021-12-12T14:28:52.064-06:00Nemesis Chase! <p>Dec 6</p><p>Dave dropped me off at the Portland airport at 6 am for my flight. I'd get to Newark by 7:30 pm. Yuck! I've been flying with American Airlines, and nearly everything goes through Dallas. A 3 hour 40 minute flight, followed by a 3 hour 27 minute flight. </p><p>I arrived in Newark, picked up my rental car, and went straight to my hotel, too tired to stop anywhere for food. I bought microwave popcorn in the hotel vending machine, and made it in the microwave in my room. There are so many unglamorous aspects to big years that only other big year birders will fully understand. </p><p>Truth be told, I'm really getting ready to be done. I'm tired of traveling, of airports, of the stress of chasing birds, or perhaps more aptly put, the stress of the possibility of missing birds, when so much time effort and financial investment is involved. </p><p>Dec 7</p><p>After a full night's sleep, I jumped in the car and started the drive to eastern Pennsylvania in search of Pink-footed Goose. There had been a bird an hour closer, in New Jersey, that I had planned to go look for, but it wasn't seen at all yesterday, so I was erring on the side of the bird that was seen yesterday. Also, the Pennsylvania bird was reliable in the morning, and the New Jersey bird had been most reliable in the afternoon. One of my financial tactics has been to get in and get out of places as fast as I can, minimizing days of car rentals, hotel rooms, meals eaten on the road. </p><p>I arrived at the reservoir to a couple of birders already scanning, but most without scopes. I surveyed the flock of Canada Geese twice with my scope, and nothing. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=180gjseJG0GeyeXTim4lnylBRL4X9XZRt" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=180gjseJG0GeyeXTim4lnylBRL4X9XZRt" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Scores of geese were making their way into the reservoir by the minute, likely having roosted somewhere in the nearby fields for the night. On the third scan - there it was! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RiEzvaUHMBl6Z1-LTv5kau1XDCMy8GRc" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RiEzvaUHMBl6Z1-LTv5kau1XDCMy8GRc" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>My heart nearly skipped a beat. I'd gone in search of this species so many times during the years I spent living in Cape May, New Jersey, soon after college - ten years ago! <b>Pink-footed Goose</b>! </p><p><br></p><p>I stuck around another twenty minutes or so, making sure the other birders got on the bird, before heading to Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to look for Rusty Blackbirds. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11SpFOqu5CZSBfVygPX9uCu365_ikrFZ8" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11SpFOqu5CZSBfVygPX9uCu365_ikrFZ8" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">After spending an hour at Great Swamp with no luck, I decided to prioritize the King Eider that has been hanging out on Staten Island, New York. My friend Gabriel already had the bird pinned down. I drove the hour, met him in the parking lot, and we walked out to the sleeping <b>King Eider.</b> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NeQMrYtclrV-jaGABKWLCA_DtA8jej6L" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NeQMrYtclrV-jaGABKWLCA_DtA8jej6L" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">We waited about 30 minutes, in hopes that it would lift its head or decide to go for a swim, but it was pretty content to just sit with its bill tucked into its back. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Lwp5bH8SvBT62lnokhE7K4uVNH5Y09Ti" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Lwp5bH8SvBT62lnokhE7K4uVNH5Y09Ti" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We tried for and dipped on Rusty Blackbird at a spot on Staten Island. Next was trying for Purple Sandpiper, which had been reported along artificially placed rocks whose primary purpose appeared to be to prevent beach erosion. Walking up, one was obvious immediately, and eventually we found almost a dozen of these cute little <b>Purple Sandpipers</b> investigating all the wet rocks for tasty morsels, and not minding if they got half-covered in water from a wave in the process. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19-vgscp_yClCXPpa44_BT6yfVyhFJLjs" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19-vgscp_yClCXPpa44_BT6yfVyhFJLjs" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I said goodbye to Gabriel, and made my way to a spot that Rusty Blackbird was reported in New Jersey, dipping again not long before sunset. I made my way back to my hotel, and, once again too tired to drive anywhere, walked to the Radisson next door and had dinner at their restaurant. It was the first real meal I'd eaten since dinner in Oregon! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1iIjBGhsfxOEiBHQ1Cf_AkLDpGPSLA3Nl" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1iIjBGhsfxOEiBHQ1Cf_AkLDpGPSLA3Nl" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I walked back to my hotel, went to drop my luggage in my room before returning my rental car, which I'd return within 24 hours and just take the hotel shuttle in the morning - another strategic money-saving tactic. I couldn't get into my room! My key card wasn't accepted, or rejected. No lights came on. It turns out, their maintenance worker had to manually take apart the entire lock in order to get into my room, found that the batteries in the mechanism were dead, and told me they'd have to get me a new room, which wound up taking another fifteen minutes. I still had to return the dang rental car, but I was so exhausted. I got my new room, dropped the car, took the air train to the very other side where the hotel shuttles were, and took the Radisson shuttle since it was the first shuttle I saw, then walked back to my hotel. I packed all my luggage to be ready to fly home in the morning. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1GDVczA1lRGUQk12ahHzJ8e5qgBh5EabI" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1GDVczA1lRGUQk12ahHzJ8e5qgBh5EabI" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Oh, how I was so ready to be home, to sleep in my own bed, to see my dog, to simply rest. </p><p><i>Year List: 718 </i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-11810493065490631772021-12-12T14:25:00.000-06:002021-12-12T14:25:35.065-06:00Washington & Oregon! <p>Dec 3 </p><p>In the backseat of the car, with Dave driving and Shawneen as co-pilot, I half-slept on the way to eastern Washington, and the almost four hour drive went quickly. We arrived at the small marina that the Slaty-backed Gull had most often been seen at, around 8:30 am. The bird has wintered here for a few years now and had been present in the area for almost two months. We scanned. Waited around a bit. Scanned. Nothing. We drove a few miles either direction, along the river, scanning, waiting. Nothing. We came across a small urban duck pond of sorts, with lots of non-native geese, a few snow geese, some Mallards, and a lot of gulls. One of the gulls was an <b>Iceland (Thayer's) Gull</b>. I did a bit of digiscoping to document it, and we continued on to resume our look for the Slaty-backed. We made our way back to the marina that we had begun at, and there it was on the small metal roof, just as it was depicted in many of the photos I'd seen on eBird. <b>Slaty-backed Gull</b>! In all, it'd taken about three hours for us to find it, and even though we knew it had to be around somewhere, I was relieved. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18hrPgkXMiKYXasz3WZoUkRM5W4sKtt3r" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18hrPgkXMiKYXasz3WZoUkRM5W4sKtt3r" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1A3yXeVcIqYoHJuT4DgNONun4BrQ0JrIH" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1A3yXeVcIqYoHJuT4DgNONun4BrQ0JrIH" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We next drove to a giant cow farm where we looked for quite some time for a Rusty Blackbird, but came up empty handed. We stopped for dinner at a pub on the way home. As soon as we got back to Portland, I went straight to bed. I felt jet lagged and exhausted. </p><p><i>Year List: 711</i></p><p>Dec 4</p><p>Up early again, this time to head to the coast to look for Ancient Murrelet. It was possible we would see them on the pelagic trip out of Newport, which had been rescheduled from today to tomorrow, but I didn't want to risk missing it on the boat and having to invest extra days after the fact if we didn't. On the way to seawatch at Boiler Bay, we swung through the Williamette Valley, a known Gyrfalcon location, but no luck. Then, on to seawatching. We didn't spend too much time at Boiler Bay before Dave picked out two pretty quickly. I was able to pan with my binoculars and get on the <b>Ancient Murrelets</b> pretty quickly, then got them in my scope for about five seconds, at which point they landed on the ocean and appeared to have dove immediately. We were unable to refind them, but I was happy with the brief, yet identifiable views. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16V9_2qO-wlavq3RMFpW23XttykkXCt0H" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16V9_2qO-wlavq3RMFpW23XttykkXCt0H" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">We tried a second time for Gyrfalcon on the return trip, but came up empty again. Two squabbling Peregrines were the best we could do. </p><p><i>Year List: 712 </i></p><p>Dec 5</p><p>Up superrrr early and out the door by 4:45, for the 2.5 hour drive to Newport for the pelagic trip through Oregon Pelagic Tours. My target was Laysan Albatross. Anything else would be a bonus! </p><p>We arrived around 7:15, waited for others to show, and listened in to the the standard orientation, already feeling cold at about 43 degrees. Dave & Shawneen were two of the leaders, along with Bill and Dave. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MxwtuXP6P873me4Fifi0fTgDW3_y5bk9" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MxwtuXP6P873me4Fifi0fTgDW3_y5bk9" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>As we were finishing the boat part of the orientation, Shawneen caught my attention and was whispering something to me from across the boat. I quietly made my way over to her side as the captain was talking. <b>Glaucous Gull</b> in the harbor! A good start to the day. </p><p>Lots of Common Murres, a good number of Ancient Murrelets, a Cassin's Auklet or two, and eventually we were at our first chum spot. The captain stopped the boat, and fish oil and popcorn was dispersed behind the boat, creating a visible oil slick. In almost no time, lots of gulls found it, then a few Black-footed Albatross, then a <b>Laysan Albatross</b> came in to investigate the boat, giving great views! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NVBiNwoxPCqwh8JI8-t-6yiYyFCEEK_s" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NVBiNwoxPCqwh8JI8-t-6yiYyFCEEK_s" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Soon after, I was starting to get pretty tired from the seasick meds, and I was very cold, and was not having a ton of fun. But, that changed pretty quickly with our second chum stop! Again, after not much time at all, a young Short-tailed Albatross, dark and giant with its bubble gum colored bill was heading toward the boat. Only one problem - I was on the wrong side of the boat and couldn't see it! I got to the other side of the boat as quickly as I could without knocking anyone else over as we were rocking in the swells. It had crossed the bow again, and was on the other side! I ping-ponged myself across the boat again, and finally saw the bird. Yesssss! <b>Short-tailed Albatross</b>!!!! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kH16a0LuoYSuA5Z4ro182pEnM2E--9qw" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kH16a0LuoYSuA5Z4ro182pEnM2E--9qw" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">This is a globally endangered bird, and is very rare anywhere, but Oregon Pelagic Tours has had them regularly on their December trips for several years now. This particular boat, in this particular month, seems to be the best chance to find them along the entire west coast, and today proved that! </p><p style="text-align: left;">Dave being Dave, had taken a candid shot of my disenjoyment while I was cold and tired, which contrasted well later on with a candid he took later of my excitement over the Short-tailed Albatross! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cFwaE1FwBimJWzlvE16urlAanCWlrc7d" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cFwaE1FwBimJWzlvE16urlAanCWlrc7d" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We headed back to Portland, Dave having driven us 1,019 miles in the last few days. I'd fly out tomorrow morning to Newark, New Jersey, in hopes of my nemesis bird, Pink-footed Goose. I'm ten birds away from the record, which continues to look increasingly feasible. </p><p><i>Year List: 715</i></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-52285001756637968922021-12-11T14:13:00.000-06:002021-12-11T14:13:47.403-06:00Small-billed Elaenia <p>Whew! </p><p>Apologies for the delayed posting - it's been quite the week! Eight days in eight states, including three full travel days (two planes each) and the remaining five days included over 1600 miles by car. Texas to Wisconsin to Illinois, back to Wisconsin, to Oregon, to Washington, back to Oregon, to New Jersey, to Pennsylvania, to New York, back to New Jersey, and home to Texas. </p><p>Dec 1</p><p>I took an evening flight to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to try for the Small-billed Elaenia which was being seen at Waukegon Beach Park, right on Lake Michigan, between Milwaukee and Chicago. I'd posted on my Facebook, asking if I knew anyone in the Milwaukee area who might be able to put me up for a night. My friend Glenna had a friend with space, but it ended up being a bit too far out of the way for it to work well logistically. </p><p>I reached my layover in Dallas, and upon landing, received a text message from some really fun clients I'd had in the Rio Grande Valley last March. Colette and Kris were reaching out to let me know they'd just heard about the Elaenia, which had been there about four days now, and they wanted to make sure I knew about it. Yes! Yes, I know about it- and I just landed in Dallas en route to Milwaukee! Well, it just so happened that they live in Milwaukee, and they offered to pick me up from the airport, drive me to their house for the night, and go with me to see the bird tomorrow morning. Perfect! Except - there was one concern about the arrangement. They'd need to leave to head back to Milwaukee no later than 10:30 am for a commitment they had. I thought it over a bit, and decided it was worth the risk. Most days, the bird was being seen by 8:30 am. Worst case scenario, they'd take me back to the airport before noon, I'd rent a car, and turn around and head down to try for the bird again. </p><p>Dec 2</p><p>I'd gotten in late, slept soundly, and we were on the road early the next morning, to get there by 8 am. Arriving shortly before, the bird had not been seen yet, which was to be expected, based on the behavior from the prior days. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18WEETsdwrQK5Aj-8Eo1ckWNQ2bRVYoC_" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18WEETsdwrQK5Aj-8Eo1ckWNQ2bRVYoC_" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></div></div></p><p style="text-align: left;">We waited, and the crowd grew, from six to twelve to probably around twenty birders. 8:30, no bird. 9:00, no bird. 9:15, no bird. I started to worry. The reports from the last few days said that birders walked right up to the chain link fence and peered in, and that was the only way to see the bird, who didn't seem to mind the presence of birders despite being just ten feet from the bird. After some discussion with the other birders, Rob and I walked up to the fence and peered in. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FeUy5FayOQ29b1oAxYALA0iEe0rUFtk_" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FeUy5FayOQ29b1oAxYALA0iEe0rUFtk_" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Sure enough, there it was! <b>Small-billed Elaenia</b>! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jEkLl9ueQ-snuAhtuwtTtXm7tZRwBRSA" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jEkLl9ueQ-snuAhtuwtTtXm7tZRwBRSA" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We motioned for the other birders to join, and everyone got close, though somewhat obscured looks, through the handful of yew bushes that apparently comprised this bird's full habitat. Once everyone had looks, I gifted personal safety alarms to all the women birders present. </p><p>Afterwards, we drove to a spot two miles away, which has European Goldfinches. They are not countable currently, but may be some day. I'm totally not into introduced species - I've added so many lifer parrot species to my list this year, out of necessity. If you've been reading my blog, you'll know that I "missed" Common Myna on my January trip to Florida (before I knew I was doing a big year), because I failed to look up from my phone, at the intersection where my travel companion had gotten his lifer. As for the goldfinches, however, I figured I may as well see them since they were so close. </p><p>We headed north a bit to look for Glaucous Gull, and dipped. They returned me to the airport, and I took an afternoon flight to Portland, Oregon! I'd be staying with my friends Dave & Shawneen, and Dave picked me up from the airport around 9 pm Pacific time. I was exhausted already. A 5:00 am alarm was set to head up for Slaty-backed Gull in Washington. </p><p><i>Year List: 709</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-38051036712569225692021-11-24T18:22:00.000-06:002021-11-24T18:22:11.111-06:00Rough December 2021 Plans <p>I've been getting lots of questions from everyone about my remaining needs, and upon what level acquiring the record is attainable! Here is the list of the regularly occurring Lower 48 birds that I'm needing - winter birds that I missed in January & February because I didn't decide to do a big year until February 10th, while I was driving west to Arizona and California! </p><p>Dec 3 I'll be flying to Portland, Oregon, for an Oregon Pelagic on December 4th! Here I'm hoping for Ancient Murrelet, Laysan Albatross, a shot at Short-tailed Albatross, a distant possibility of Mottled Petrel and Parakeet Auklet. Just picking up the first two would be great - anything else on that list would be a bonus! </p><p>From there, I'll be heading to check out a Gyrfalcon location in Oregon, if the bird is still being seen, and then up to Eastern Washington for the wintering Slaty-backed Gull on the Columbia River. There should be Iceland Gulls in the vicinity as well, and nearby there have been sightings of Rusty Blackbirds, so I might be able to check that one off too. </p><p>From there, I'm not quite sure what I'll do yet. If there's a rarity to be chased, I'll be doing that, and if not, I may spend a week at home and give a bit more time for the winter New England birds to settle in, as well as for Northern Hawk Owls to establish their winter territories. I need to drive around and find or chase a Mountain Plover somewhere. Eventually, I'll need to do a New England / Minnesota / Oklahoma circuit, and it looks like I'll be finishing my year in Hatteras, North Carolina, on a pelagic trip, hoping for Great Skua, on December 29th or 30th. </p><p>I'm at 708. Twelve of these thirteen species, plus five rarities would cinch the record! </p><p><br /></p><p><u>Regularly Occurring:</u></p><p>Ancient Murrelet </p><p>Gyrfalcon</p><p>Iceland Gull </p><p>Rusty Blackbird </p><div><br /></div><p>Glaucous Gull </p><p>Black-headed Gull </p><p>Thick-billed Murre </p><p>Dovekie </p><p>King Eider</p><p>Purple Sandpiper </p><p><br /></p><p>Mountain Plover </p><p>Smith's Longspur </p><p><br /></p><p>Northern Hawk Owl </p><p><br /></p><p><u>Rarity Hopes: </u></p><p>Laysan Albatross </p><p>Short-tailed Albatross </p><p>Slaty-backed Gull </p><p>Barnacle Goose</p><p>Pink-footed Goose </p><p>Great Skua </p><p>??? </p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-53208450457558036002021-11-20T15:48:00.000-06:002021-11-20T15:48:15.166-06:00Social Flycatcher Refound! <p>November 19th </p><p>I got up at 3 am, in order to get to the El Paso airport by 3:30 for my 5 am flight. I flew El Paso to Dallas, Dallas to McAllen. Since I'd left McAllen on Wednesday night, I'd eaten lunch on Thursday and dinner on Thursday. I'd skipped breakfast, and I'd be skipping lunch in order to prioritize time getting to the Social Flycatcher. </p><p>By the time I got to Dallas, there had been positive reports of the Social Flycatcher being seen again today. Whew! My friends Dave and Shawneen were in town, and they were headed to see the bird as well. They saw it just as I was landing in McAllen, and offered to stay with the bird until I arrived. I had a one hour drive. </p><p>I arrived, parked, and extracted my three tripod pieces and scope from my carry-on luggage. No time to assemble, I'd just carry them across the campus like that and assemble it when I got to the bird. One of my biggest chase fears is hearing "it was here five minutes ago"...</p><p>I met up with Dave and Shawneen. "It was here ten minutes ago..." </p><p>Gah. I'm so tired. Starving. I just want my bed and my dog and to eat three square meals and to get back to my gym routine. I was definitely feeling the effects of my 3 am alarm. We waited. Listened. Walked around the small wetland. Waited some more. Finally, after half an hour, I heard it, distinctively, like a squeaky toy, calling from the other side of the wetland. Whew. Dave heard it too, and Raul. Check. I was relieved to not have missed it, and to be able to count it. Now to wait around to get a visual. Ten minutes felt like an hour, and after more than an actual hour, it was back at its original perch, feeding on Chinese tallow berries. In that time, I'd wanted to leave, thought maybe I'd come back tomorrow instead to get a look. The fatigue of this year has really been setting in, and removing some of the joy of birding, or, perhaps more accurately, of chasing, for me. Ever since I've realized the all-time Lower 48 record is within my reach, what would usually be the excitement of a successful chase has turned into simply relief when the target bird has been seen or heard. </p><p>I watched with a group of a dozen or so birders as the bird showed well, continued to feed, and called several times at close range. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1k7B_K7L8BAv9bIMCJ_c3JVWr1IY0jB4Q" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1k7B_K7L8BAv9bIMCJ_c3JVWr1IY0jB4Q" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>After about fifteen minutes, I made the drive home, simultaneously exhausted and incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to spend this year traveling, birding, and healing my trauma. More on that in a future blog post soon. </p><p><i>Year List: 708</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-91291457409298539732021-11-20T10:11:00.000-06:002021-11-20T10:11:18.770-06:00Blue Mockingbird! <p>November 14 </p><p>It was the last day of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, and we were packing up the Swarovski booth. My friend Raymond, one of the guides in town for the festival, called me. I ignored it the first time, planning to call him back as soon as we finished packing up. He called again immediately. I figured I'd better answer. I did, and he informed me that there was a Blue Mockingbird seen in New Mexico! </p><p>I have a group of clients from Michigan for the next three days. I'd fly Wednesday night, if the bird was still being seen, and chase the bird on Thursday. </p><p>November 15 </p><p>Blue Mockingbird still being seen! Calling and most reliable at sunrise. </p><p>November 16th </p><p>Blue Mockingbird still being seen! Calling and most reliable at sunrise. </p><p>November 17th </p><p>Final day of guiding - Blue Mockingbird still being seen - calling and most reliable at sunrise. I'd fly out tonight at 7:45 pm, rent a car, drive to the spot, sleep a few hours and try for the bird at sunrise tomorrow! I parted ways with my clients around 3:30, and headed home to shower and finish packing. I flew from McAllen to Dallas, and from Dallas to El Paso booking my car rental during my short layover. </p><p>I studied the car rental hours in El Paso, finding very conflicting information online. I called Budget half a dozen times, trying to get through but with no success. Well, the possibility existed that I'd get stuck in El Paso without a car until morning. Turns out that's what happened in the end, as all the rental companies except Enterprise were closed, and Enterprise was out of cars. Actually, pretty much everyone was out of cars, and it was a bit shocking to see the parking garage so empty. I cancelled my rental, and booked one with Alamo for 6:00 am. I spent about 15 minutes contemplating sleeping in the airport, but I'm a super light sleeper and would have been absolutely wrecked the next day. I'd just finished guiding five days for the Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival, followed by three days with my private group of clients, and was exhausted as it was. There were hotels within walking distance, so I walked over and found one, arriving around midnight. I'd need to get up at 5:30 am to get my rental car at 6, and arrive to the Blue Mockingbird spot as soon as possible. </p><p>I didn't sleep well, anxious about getting the bird the next day. I'd considered driving from McAllen, eleven hours each way, which would have been cheaper, but would have gotten me to the bird in the afternoon instead of in the morning. Now, I'd taken two flights, had to spend the money on a hotel, and needed to rent a car. It was about three times as expensive as driving to the bird and camping would have been, but time is of the essence, and with the all-time Lower 48 record within reach, I need to be minimizing my chances at missing birds. </p><p>I got my rental car and started the two and a quarter hours to Rattlesnake Springs at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and when halfway there, received a report that the Social Flycatcher was refound in Brownsville, Texas, yesterday - just being reported today. Ugh!!! I might have just been better off staying home! </p><p>I arrived to Rattlesnake Springs around 8:45 am. There had been no sightings of the bird, despite over a dozen people looking since sunrise. Not good. </p><p>We spent about an hour looking, most people stationed right at the spot where the bird had been most regularly seen, while a few of us wandered around searching other areas along the small stream. I'd started back toward the main location, when I saw someone running the other direction, farther down the trail. He was running away from me, and I was ready to enter a full sprint. He stopped me, and pointed the other way. The <b>Blue Mockingbird</b> had been seen in the original location - which I was right beside - and he was running to the others down the stream to tell them about the sighting. I got eyes on it for a handful of seconds, and an awful digibinned video with my iPhone through my Swarovski binoculars, and then it vanished.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AZWPxIO8CQFaegWXkR38lNsKmRr6UzKL" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AZWPxIO8CQFaegWXkR38lNsKmRr6UzKL" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>It was seen briefly and heard calling a few times every 45 minutes or so, and then it would completely disappear.</p><p>After about an hour, I weighed my pros and cons of going to Maine for Barnacle Goose next, which was my original plan, versus flying straight home for the Social Flycatcher. After learning that flights to Boston and Portland were a mess, I focused on how soon I could get back to the RGV. There was a United flight that could get me to Harlingen at 11:30 am tomorrow. Unfortunately nothing through American, which I usually fly, and nothing into McAllen with any airline. I booked it. </p><p>Then, I remembered my 86,000 airline points, which I'd never used before. I decided to try booking award travel, to see if it gave additional options. It did! I booked a 5 am flight to McAllen the following morning, first class. It was 19,000 miles, which seems "expensive", I think, but for me, it was free, and the only option to get me to McAllen at a reasonable time to get the Social Flycatcher before sunset the next day. I booked it, and cancelled my United flight. </p><p>I chatted with some of the birder women at the Blue Mockingbird spot, gifting five alarms during my time there. I hung around until 11:30 or so, then made my way up to Carlsbad for lunch at Guadalupe Mountains Brewing Company. I celebrated with a caprese sandwich and a black cherry hard cider, my first real meal since lunch the previous day. Then I headed back to El Paso to meet my friend Brenda for dinner. She works nights, and she offered me her bed for the night while I was at work. We had about an hour to catch up on life's adventures from the last two years, before she needed to leave for work. I'd been considering sleeping in my rental car, and was thankful for the bed, especially when it was 44 degrees when I woke up at 3 am to leave for the airport! </p><p><i>Year List: 707 </i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-47749564539296398412021-11-14T20:35:00.000-06:002021-11-14T20:35:12.166-06:00Dollar Bird - 706! <p>November 14th</p><p>The last day of the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival was wrapping up, and I was feeling fairly relieved to have my final day be guiding three beginning birders at South Padre Island with my friend Michael. </p><p>We had a great morning, spending four hours at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center, with all three of our participants full of really great questions about birds, birding, eBird, and various other things. A highlight was watching two Least Bitterns feeding at close range for over 20 minutes. On our way back, our participants were sleeping or near sleeping, so Michael and I chatted about my remaining needs for my Big Year, and I commented about the common birds I still need - seven of which are winter birds in New England - and that Barnacle Goose, Pink-footed Goose, and Slaty-backed Gull are all likely, and that a Fork-tailed Flycatcher sure would be nice. </p><p>We got back to the Harlingen Convention Center and said farewell to our participants. Michael returned the van, and I went to the guide room to eat lunch. I finished my lunch, chatted with some fellow guides for a few minutes, and my friend Jim made a passing statement about being tired and that he was probably not going to chase any rare birds that have been around (Golden-crowned Warbler, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, to name a few - which I'd seen in January). </p><p>I left the room and dropped my gear off at my car, heading to the Swarovski trailer and talking with Sharon. After about five minutes, my phone dinged - it was a notification that a Fork-tailed Flycatcher had been seen about an hour ago at San Benito Wetlands, about fifteen minutes away. I looked at Sharon in mild panic, reading the text. She said, "You need to go!" I replied with confirmation of her statement, and ran to my car, racing to the bird. I got stuck behind a man going 30 in a 40 mph zone, very clearly texting or surfing the web on his cell phone while he drove. </p><p>I finally made it the 15 minutes / 9.9 miles to the site. As I was pulling up, there was a small white building to the right side of the road. I'd driven about 20 feet past it and parked...and as I was parking, a very obvious flycatcher with a black cap was spooked up off of the adjacent fence line about thirty meters away. Naked eye - that was it. I'd not even gotten bins on it! </p><p>I was literally physically shaking from adrenaline when I got out of the car. The very first thing I did was to text that the bird was still present...but I spent the next five minutes or so unable to relocate it. I was terrified I might be the only one to resight it, and feared being called a stringer. Alas, the worry soon disappeared when it alighted back on the same fenceline. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17Sxs3P3xtPkPMLaXmyrRcL8BDuTdGLRQ" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17Sxs3P3xtPkPMLaXmyrRcL8BDuTdGLRQ" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Others started to trickle in, and it was fun to help others get on the bird as it flew from fenceline, to treetop, to power line. More people came and went, and a new group came, and a van driving from the opposite side of the road flushed it as it came through. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1R0UjN927FsnZWCoyzDGIm1uqj_DwRSdH" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1R0UjN927FsnZWCoyzDGIm1uqj_DwRSdH" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">The bird disappeared and there were about fifteen people there who hadn't seen the bird when I left the site to go back to the Swarovski booth to help tear down and pack up. </p><p>I'd driven 20.8 miles round trip to see this bird - taking about half a tank of gas. A $1.50 bird sure felt amazing after spending about $600 per bird on each of my two recent plane chase trips! </p><p>I'm guiding a private group here in the Rio Grande Valley for the next three days. I have a plane ticket to Boston for Barnacle Goose for Thursday - but a Blue Mockingbird just showed up in New Mexico, so I may end up flying or driving there first if it sticks around until Wednesday! </p><p><i>Year List: 706</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-52535115038622852922021-11-12T21:14:00.000-06:002021-11-12T21:14:29.353-06:00Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl <p>November 12th </p><p>I've been guiding daily since November 10th for the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. Just before noon on the 10th, a Social Flycatcher was found at UT-Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville. My trip returned to the Harlingen Convention Center around 12:30, I grabbed a quick lunch, and then headed down with another field trip leader, Willie. We arrived just after 1 pm, and the bird had not been seen since the initial report at 11:30. We scanned the area around the resacas - the Spanish term for an oxbow lake - and the surrounding neighborhood. More and more guides showed up after they'd dropped off their trip participants. Despite several dozen people scanning the areas, the bird did not turn up again, as we stayed until sundown. </p><p><br></p><p>Today I guided at King Ranch, probably the most reliable place in the country to get Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. After not many attempts at calling one in, one flitted through the thicker brush a few times. This particular owl turned out to be rather uncooperative, and we ended up leaving it alone before too many people got looks. We loaded the bus and drove another few miles down the road, where we stopped and tried for a different owl that Tom had scouted last week. This one appeared after several minutes, and ended up perching up high in a tree for a good amount of time, while we trained scopes on it and all the participants got great looks. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yOP9FAlhs8LICXAdQeQMCUSDEH9FXh4r" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yOP9FAlhs8LICXAdQeQMCUSDEH9FXh4r" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We had 43 participants on this trip, and five guides. I didn't expect to be able to get a photo or video of this bird, as priority when guiding is to get participants on the birds, but this bird sat long enough that everyone had satisfying scope views and then I was able to take a quick twelve second video through my scope. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zc5xm4VPBMU9i5sjXgCi5RHiYVaP3Ye6" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zc5xm4VPBMU9i5sjXgCi5RHiYVaP3Ye6" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Twenty birds remaining to secure the all time Lower 48 big year record!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p><i>Year List: 705</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-7852976131501475002021-11-05T21:18:00.000-05:002021-11-05T21:18:29.446-05:00Plus Two: Coast to Coast in 44 Hours! <p>October 31</p><p>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. </p><p>November 1 </p><p>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. </p><p>November 2 </p><p>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. </p><p>Later in the morning, a report of the tattler came through. That confirmed I'd fly tomorrow. </p><p>November 3</p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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". </p><p>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. </p><p>After looking for about 45 minutes, the <b>Gray-tailed Tattler</b> 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! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1A1XTdfDIW_GRzEJ6jIAJNhbJJlEfeLqs" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1A1XTdfDIW_GRzEJ6jIAJNhbJJlEfeLqs" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ySk0vujoBG4db8ormkFRT3M8kxknLFTC" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ySk0vujoBG4db8ormkFRT3M8kxknLFTC" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>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? </p><p>I went to bed early and slept for nearly 8 hours. </p><p>November 4</p><p>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. </p><p>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! </p><p>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. </p><p>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! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1u5yUDMQJTk6UHzLllr-Wp20lby73u_TX" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1u5yUDMQJTk6UHzLllr-Wp20lby73u_TX" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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. </p><p><i>Year List: 704 </i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-29397240996700985722021-10-28T20:34:00.000-05:002021-10-28T20:34:51.123-05:00Cape May, Fishing, and Four False Alarms <p>I prepared to travel to Cape May, New Jersey, for the first time in three years. I spent a long weekend working for Swarovski Optik at the Cape May Fall Festival. I spent a few years living in Cape May before moving to Texas, so it was really great to see old friends who live there, as well as many friends, old and new, who traveled there for the festival. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12dZXfJ3Pg1l4SCSAZz5y7RqG_uT3w900" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12dZXfJ3Pg1l4SCSAZz5y7RqG_uT3w900" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">I’m used to being the only woman field tech with any of the optics companies, so it was awesome to see four of us this year, representing Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1bc4l1W5nel7r0JK_8yEB5kHhLtgPRrF9" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1bc4l1W5nel7r0JK_8yEB5kHhLtgPRrF9" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><div class="o9v6fnle cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x c1et5uql ii04i59q" style="margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"><div dir="auto">While I was finishing up in Cape May, a Brambling showed up at a a feeder in Montana. Keeping an eye on the reports, I looked into flying to Montana instead of returning home to Texas. I studied flight options, and since I was flying through work with Swarovski, the travel agency was able to hold a seat on a plane to Missoula for me, while still keeping my original flight home. The next day, I made my way to the airport in the late morning, still unsure of where I was going. Checking in with the homeowner, the bird hadn't been seen by noon. Then hadn't been seen by 2 pm. Finally, I checked in one more time, while at the airport, before checking in online for my flight home. Bummer. I flew home. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">After flying home, I looked into tickets to Sacramento to go for the Tundra Bean-Goose and considered booking a ticket for the following day, hesitated at the price tag, and it wasn't seen the next day, so that ended up being a good decision. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Next was a Red-throated Pipit north of Los Angeles - I bought a ticket for a day and a half in the future...and this was yet another bird that was not seen the next day. I cancelled my flights, and went saltwater fishing instead. I caught my first redfish, my first time ever casting into salt, which I'm told is a bit of a feat! I grew up freshwater fishing, and it was a blast to be on the water again, reeling in fish after a ten year absence of fishing in my life. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13Ihjy7DEtCLmwQUrZEy2T2Sy0iR-o2O3" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13Ihjy7DEtCLmwQUrZEy2T2Sy0iR-o2O3" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div dir="auto">A few days ago, a Yellow Grosbeak was seen north of Phoenix, Arizona. I was awaiting another report in order to book a ticket, but it was never seen after the original 8 am sighting. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">For the last three days, there's been a Gray-tailed Tattler in the Florida Keys. It was originally reported as a Wandering Tattler, and wasn't correctly identified until day 2. A cold front was coming in the night after day two, so I waited, anticipating flying this evening if it was seen again today. It was seen, but by the time it was reported, there were no flights that would get me there before sunset today, and tonight's forecast is rain and strong winds are in the forecast for tomorrow. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">I have a client I'm bird guiding Saturday and Sunday, so I'm stuck here until Sunday evening. I bought a ticket to the Tundra Bean-Goose in Northern California for Monday - it was refound after disappearing for about a week and a half, so as long as it is seen through the weekend, that's my Monday plan! In the event that the Gray-tailed Tattler sticks around through the weekend, I'll go for the tattler first, and then fly to California. I've also been considering swinging up to Seattle for Ancient Murrelet and Slaty-backed Gull while I'm up there. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><i>Year List: Still 702</i></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div></div>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-47849138624417905932021-10-09T14:46:00.000-05:002021-10-09T14:46:25.235-05:00Cali Calls Me Back <p>October 4th </p><p>Well, I was about ten minutes from home, after driving back from California, my friend Dorian alerted me to a Dusky Warbler that had just showed up about an hour north of San Francisco, in Marin County. I'd left a few days too soon! </p><p>I picked up my dog from boarding and arrived home. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1aGHdWd9B1pVr-iAktHxqeO2Fmb08f3_w" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1aGHdWd9B1pVr-iAktHxqeO2Fmb08f3_w" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">My home air conditioning was out. It was 92 degrees in my house. My car AC had not been working since I left California, and it had been a hot couple of days. It would be yet another hot night. </p><p>Twenty minutes after that, John, based in Sacramento, messaged me that he was twenty minutes away from an Emperor Goose. </p><p>Um, what? </p><p>I had so much to do as a single homeowner after being gone three weeks. My yard was a mess. My dog had missed me. I had three weeks of laundry to do before I could even think of going anywhere. I looked at plane tickets anyway. $750 round trip. Well, $375 each way...I'd learned this summer not to ever book round trip tickets. If you book one way and cancel, it can be refunded for credit. If you book round trip, and cancel half...well...I now have a standing one-way ticket from Seattle to somewhere I'll need to use at some point. If you cancel half of a round trip ticket, little had I known, you have to fly from that same airport. </p><p>I decided to wait and see if the birds would stick another day. </p><p>October 5th </p><p>Both birds reported. I got my home AC fixed...one thing out of the way. Now to address the slow leak in my tire that started on my way back from California, so I wouldn't end up with a flat tire at the McAllen Airport if I end up flying to California. Discount Tire found a nail in my tire and fixed it for free. I was very thankful that I'd only had to put air in once from California to home, and that the trip home went smoothly! I looked into tickets, cringed at the price, and decided not to purchase. </p><p>October 6th</p><p>Both birds reported again, before noon central. At 700 birds, I really need to be deciding now whether to make a run for the record. If I'd decided at a later date that I wanted to take a shot at the record, I'd regret chasing these birds. </p><p>I bought the ticket, flying out this evening. It's the first same-day ticket I've ever purchased, and it felt a little sudden and shocking. I packed a day pack, and was ready. I flew McAllen to Dallas, Dallas to Sacramento. John picked me up at the airport just after midnight. </p><p>October 7th </p><p>Day four for the birds hopefully staying put! We left before sunrise to head the two hours to the goose. When we arrived to the water treatment plant they'd been at, upon initial scan there were no birds in sight. Then, we noticed it feeding on the grass along with four Greater White-fronted Geese. <b>Emperor Goose</b> chase successful!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1B_478eKCk0pgtO7SQZnzLab3GEEHD1i3" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1B_478eKCk0pgtO7SQZnzLab3GEEHD1i3" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;">Yay! We watched the bird for about fifteen minutes, and then it was time to press on to try for the Dusky Warbler. Big Years sure don't leave much room for birding the way you'd prefer - which for me, would have been to spend a good amount of time studying this life bird. </p><p>It was just under three hours to the Dusky Warbler location, which flew by quickly. John and I had been Facebook friends for a while, but never met in person. We talked birds, and guiding, and vegetarianism, and shared stores from our years of birding. </p><p>Parked at the Dusky Warbler location, we walked out, expecting to find the birders whose cars were clearly parked by ours. So many Subarus! We found nobody. I called up fellow big year birder Jason, who had texted me twenty minutes previously that the bird was "stupid cooperative". Fifteen minutes later, another text followed "it's moving like crazy!" Yikes! When we arrived, the bird had just flown out of view, over a fence. We found the birders. Nobody had seen the bird. Anxiety ensued. I worried about this being the bird that I missed by four minutes...that kind of thing happens on occasion when you're consistently chasing birds. </p><p>After about an hour of mulling around the area with about half a dozen other birders, and a few jumps of energy at chipping Lincoln's Sparrows - it sounds almost exactly like a Lincoln's - a young birder refound the <b>Dusky Warbler</b> in an alleyway of sorts. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17qUOB-B143qR80auLtnrjiGoNI4xTyhC" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17qUOB-B143qR80auLtnrjiGoNI4xTyhC" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Yes! We enjoyed good looks at the bird for about twenty minutes, then headed on to look for a first county record of Magnolia Warbler for John. While he was there looking, I managed to squeeze in a Zoom presentation on my big year to Mecklenberg Audubon Society in North Carolina. It was well attended, with forty people watching! Unfortunately, the Magnolia Warbler hadn't been seen in several hours, and was never seen again. We headed to a delicious Mexican restaurant and celebrated the mostly successful day with margaritas. Salmon on a bed of greens tasted amazing after all the non-perishable food I'd been eating for the last several weeks! </p><p>Year List: 702 </p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-53405088011549519622021-10-06T19:03:00.001-05:002021-10-06T19:04:23.341-05:00700 Celebration <p>I had packed up from my second night of camping outside of Ventura, and made my way to the harbor. It was reassuring to know exactly where to go, as it was the same place as the morning before. I had all kinds of fears of missing the boat OUT this time! The boat was set to leave at 7, and I arrived at 6. The waters were peaceful. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vJJkrfwuoQAbQyPIcIr-24R_zMhciGSr" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vJJkrfwuoQAbQyPIcIr-24R_zMhciGSr" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Not long into the trip, a few distant murrelets flushed, but nobody got a good enough look or photos to secure an ID. I remained hopeful. Not much later, we came upon pairs and pairs of <b>Craveri's Murrelets</b> - not great looks and none sat on the water long, but enough to identify. Later, on the return trip in, we would finally find a few pairs that stuck around. In the end, we had about 30 of them total. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1f0LbVqoSw4d_sNcNKMLGs2jQ2vvLiCkd" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1f0LbVqoSw4d_sNcNKMLGs2jQ2vvLiCkd" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I was talking with one of the female staff from the boat, who mentioned she'd heard what happened to me the previous day. She started asking me for the details, and I recounted to her basically what I had written in my last blog post. She interrupted me -- "hold on, let me check. I don't think there WAS a 5 pm boat to Prisoner's Harbor on the schedule yesterday." She checked, and she was right. There was no boat set to go to Prisoner's - only Scorpion. If I had gone with the info they'd provided, I really would have been stuck overnight, on an island with no amenities except for two pit toilets! It gets even BETTER....whoever had answered the phone at the office that day, didn't even relay the message to the boat crew that they'd left someone behind. They all went to sleep that night having no idea what had happened. What if I'd broken an ankle on the trails, or had a heart attack or some weird incident? I'd have been left to die, and nobody would have noticed I was missing. The boat left 15 minutes early, they didn't check people off the roster as they were supposed to, they didn't provide correct boat schedule times, and they didn't communicate that there was any issue. YIKES as a whole, to this company! What a scary set of mistakes for a business to make. Troy, and the Youth With a Mission group - I'm forever thankful for the ride you gave me, even when we all thought I didn't really need it! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cLx2fqohMjHJIHlhABNYaC3X1sshRlGS" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cLx2fqohMjHJIHlhABNYaC3X1sshRlGS" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We were headed to Sutil, a rock cliff adjacent to Santa Barbara Island, the only place in the United States where Brown Booby, as well as often a few Blue-footed Boobies, nest. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1b5GfqH4-YD9drd_5viWEJLXJh97IXTAV" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1b5GfqH4-YD9drd_5viWEJLXJh97IXTAV" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>A few people had gone out a few weeks prior, and had three of them. I was hopeful for 700! As we approached Sutil, one of the spotters pointed it out! <b>Blue-footed Booby!</b> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16Wuw3lKVZT7pNExLyadGcpSXrZVYtEja" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16Wuw3lKVZT7pNExLyadGcpSXrZVYtEja" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I'm officially the youngest woman to ever see 700 species in the Lower 48. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HNyNyl3-K--RUbN8i-GJvv77OVgI5bs_" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HNyNyl3-K--RUbN8i-GJvv77OVgI5bs_" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>The boat captain did a great job of constant work maneuvering the boat in order to hold it essentially in place, in weird swells which were being made by a combination of Sutil, and the main Santa Barbara Island. The boat was situated between. After a bit of watching and enjoying the birds for a bit, including watching one of them do the stereotypical Blue-footed Booby foot dance, I turned around to a small, opened bottle of champagne being handed to me. Aww! Dave was one of the organizers, and this gesture was the icing on the top of the cake, for an incredible way to get to 700 - surrounded by other bird lovers, celebrating with Dave and Todd with champagne, and also with the rest of the boat. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-l75qrEA1DLrQT_aPxnSakUhuBe7vBU8" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-l75qrEA1DLrQT_aPxnSakUhuBe7vBU8" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>After we got off the boat, Corey and I celebrated the Blue-footed Booby, a lifer for both of us, with blue shots! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zQ5lIO7tndgBHBINuErW6OMgafjAp81b" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zQ5lIO7tndgBHBINuErW6OMgafjAp81b" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>From there, I drove a few hours east, getting a hotel in Riverside as my own little celebration - the sixth hotel room I've paid for this year (I've traveled with Swarovski and guiding clients as well). I took a shower, went to bed and was on the road early again the next day. I spent the next two days driving home, stopping between Las Cruces, NM and El Paso, TX to camp for a night at a winery that is a HipCamp site. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rsFvAFDZnz7UNU2XbS5kpipDRgQcx4iq" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rsFvAFDZnz7UNU2XbS5kpipDRgQcx4iq" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>My pup sure was happy to see me after I was gone for almost three weeks! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xta1o87YNfzqDQZDncdqpN0A0__ggZDj" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xta1o87YNfzqDQZDncdqpN0A0__ggZDj" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Year List: 700</p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-54938958214815072782021-10-06T09:35:00.000-05:002021-10-06T09:35:51.181-05:00Stuck on an Island! <p>September 25 </p><p>From Washington State, I meandered my way southward, on the path to an October 1st trip to Santa Cruz Island for Island Scrub-Jay, and then an October 2nd pelagic also out of Ventura in hopes of Craveri's Murrelet and Blue-footed Booby. </p><p>My first stop was to visit Hannah & Erik at the beautiful hotel they manage in Cannon Beach! Hannah & Erik treated me to a birthday dinner - my birthday was the next day. </p><p>September 26</p><p>I awoke on my birthday to a surprise view of Haystack Rock, the exact place where I'd come to get Tufted Puffin for the year back in August. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17aCg6fPJs3LfQRTqNcMdN109NVdy8PmS" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17aCg6fPJs3LfQRTqNcMdN109NVdy8PmS" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">I hung out the following morning, blogged, walked over to the beach and treated myself to a birthday breakfast. By early afternoon, I was on my way to Portland, Oregon, to meet up with my friends Dave & Shawneen. Dave and I share the same birthday! I was looking forward to celebrating with them. I arrived to Portland and we spent a few hours enjoying the beautiful weather in their backyard, catching up on the last few years. We ordered Thai for dinner, and they'd been so thoughtful as to order us all cheesecake slices from the Cheesecake Factory earlier in the day. I'd requested the coconut cream. Delicious! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1DnqQ1c4FQFRPwSy6o70bmZZHVaQrBIix" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1DnqQ1c4FQFRPwSy6o70bmZZHVaQrBIix" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">After dinner, we Zoomed with Ann and Jim, whom I also originally met at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. It was Ann's birthday too! We are birthday triplets. </p><p>September 27</p><p>After a night's rest, I continued southward to Eugene, Oregon, meeting with Katie for lunch, who I’d met on the World Girl Birders Facebook page. From there, I continued south through Ashland, Oregon, meeting big year birder Nicole for twenty minutes, in the rain, at a gas station. I was headed north, and she was headed south. Yes, we are certainly both crazy. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NLejlR5y6RwILVvVF-6hyVQ9amFuUQtc" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NLejlR5y6RwILVvVF-6hyVQ9amFuUQtc" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I left to head to Yreka, California, visiting my friend Mason and his partner, Becca, where we had dinner, caught up for a few hours, and then off to sleep. </p><p>September 28 </p><p>By 8 am I was back on the road, en route to see "real" redwoods for the first time in my life! I'd been to areas that have a few of them, but never to a proper grove. The route from Yreka to Humboldt Redwoods State Park was about a four hour drive, with more than three hours being an incredibly remote road with only one gas station about 100 miles in. At some point before reaching the gas station, I looked down at my phone to notice that it wasn't charging, despite being plugged in. I wiggled the cable on both ends, which did nothing, nor did unplugging and replugging. Yikes! I had about 50% battery, several hours to drive, redwoods to photograph, and needed to navigate back to San Francisco the next day. I hoped that there might be one available at the gas station, but upon arrival, I realized there was indeed nothing but gas - not even a basic convenience store - at that location. I continued driving, a beautiful but stressful drive, on a road with a 55 mph speed limit, with random steep 25 mph curves mixed in. The road required so much attention that there was no room left to enjoy the scenery. I came upon several areas of construction, where there was only one lane, with a flagger. At one of the construction areas, I was first in line to wait. While I was looking down at my phone, zooming in to the one tiny town I would pass on my way to the state park, the woman directing traffic walked up and asked me if I had cell reception. No, I said, and told her my situation with my phone charger. I showed her the map and asked her if she thought I might be able to purchase one in the upcoming town. She said she didn't know what town that was, but that she might have one in her truck. She walked to her truck, and back to my car, procuring a short lime green charger. I thanked her and handed her a $20 bill. She refused to take it, and said she only wanted for me to be safe. Hang on, I said, I have something for you. I asked for her favorite color, and then handed her a lavender alarm, along with the instruction manual, and my big year card. We shared a moment of a few seconds where we just looked at one another, silently acknowledging the beauty of what had just transpired. Women looking out for women. It was my turn to go, and she waved me along. The entire thing happened over the course of about three minutes, but it's something I'll remember forever. </p><p>I drove the remaining few hours, and spent the afternoon and evening immersed in the redwoods. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XBLunkqen7YikfxwrVOGJwojQRLSkhx-" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XBLunkqen7YikfxwrVOGJwojQRLSkhx-" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Later in the day, I found a remote road that was closed to vehicle traffic. Entirely unplanned, I stripped down naked, leaving my clothes off to the side of the road, and just started walking.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1t93oVV7jLwzeLaObMbybKKiIgNUzqicj" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1t93oVV7jLwzeLaObMbybKKiIgNUzqicj" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>It was the single most liberating thing I've done in my entire life. Not a soul saw me - nor did I see a soul. If I had, the trees were so giant, it would have been very simple to hide behind one as people walked by. </p><p>September 29 </p><p>I slept in until around 8, spent a few hours enjoying camp, wandered around the restrooms in search of cool moths, and eventually packed up and made my way to Dorian's once again, in San Francisco. After yet another amazing meal cooked by Dorian's wife, Sonia, we went to get amazing ice cream from a town nearby. There were standard and eclectic options to choose from. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SJhi052XTbknPCaBA0N4fkVBSaYnqS-S" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SJhi052XTbknPCaBA0N4fkVBSaYnqS-S" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I chose pumpkin pie flavor, and was not disappointed!</p><p>September 30 </p><p>I was gone early, to meet my friend Teresa, who I'd met in the Rio Grande Valley, when she was visiting, during my heavy border wall activism days in 2017. I hadn't seen her since, and we met for coffee and bagels for an hour or so. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yjRwLtT9KsrlIsj3o18axUEjaJHUj9R3" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yjRwLtT9KsrlIsj3o18axUEjaJHUj9R3" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Next, I ventured down to Santa Cruz, where I finally caught up with Laura and Steve, who are typically volunteers at Estero State Park in winters, but covid has scrambled their plans the last few years. I'd missed them in Portal, Arizona, when I was there in May. I got to meet their brand new puppy, and they treated me to kombucha and a vegan pasta dish for lunch. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1z-ko_06Z5N7I1Qc4UUDiVxUFr2W5rjmA" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1z-ko_06Z5N7I1Qc4UUDiVxUFr2W5rjmA" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">I'm not sure I've mentioned this in my blog, but I'm pescatarian - and mostly vegetarian. It's been a real challenge to eat vegetarian while traveling so much! </p><p>I got to my HipCamp site in Ventura just as the sun was setting. I heated up some canned Minestrone soup, brushed my teeth, took my seasick meds, and crawled into my tent. </p><p>October 1 </p><p>The boat trip from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island leaves at 9 am, and I needed to check in by 8:15. Arriving by 8, I was one of the first, and relaxed at a picnic table a bit before taking my place in line to board. I didn't notice any obvious birders around me. </p><p>After the boat was boarded and orientation accomplished, we had a slightly late departure, leaving the dock around 9:20. Despite constant scanning, I didn't notice any murrelets at all. I was slightly relieved, in a way, because I imagined it fairly unlikely for me to concretely ID them without a camera. The first stop was to Scorpion Harbor, where roughly half of the boat got off. The rest of us went on to Prisoner's Harbor , where there are more Island Scrub-Jay reports. A giant group of partiers - a family reunion, I'd later learn - stayed on the boat momentarily while the rest of us - only myself and three other birders - got off and had our own separate orientation. </p><p>We all made a stop at the restrooms before hitting to the trail. Outside of the restrooms, I pointed out the first <b>Island Scrub-Jay.</b> This species is larger and darker than California Scrub-Jay, and the only place it is found is Santa Cruz Island. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gKxsnDx2_khpcqPJr6sWYX6Wat_BrZx0" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gKxsnDx2_khpcqPJr6sWYX6Wat_BrZx0" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">It was fairly tame, and we'd come across more than two dozen more throughout the course of the day. <img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1sFaXfOobfIxOzRMA0YQXHG9ffmGMC1Ot" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1sFaXfOobfIxOzRMA0YQXHG9ffmGMC1Ot" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p>Eventually, I wandered back to the dock / campsite area, where two collard and one uncollared Island Foxes were hanging out, and harassing day visitors from time to time. Island Foxes - their own species - only exist on the Channel Islands, with distinct subspecies on each island. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1YnQ93LOtW7p4hNkRn0YroZ7UnsBetP5K" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1YnQ93LOtW7p4hNkRn0YroZ7UnsBetP5K" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I showed a non-birding visitor a rare for the area Green-tailed Towhee that was hanging around the white picket fence area, near the dock. He was interested, we chatted for a bit, and then he said he had to go. I looked down at my phone for the time. 3:15. I'd need to head to the boat - we were set to depart at 3:30. Only, I looked up, to see that the boat was already motoring away from the dock! </p><p>In genuine movie fashion, I ran to the end of the dock, hopelessly waving a bit at the end. My heart absolutely sank. Now what? I checked my phone. No service from the dock, and very little battery left. I'd surely be spending the night on the island. And I'd miss the pelagic the following day! I power walked back to the area where some overnight campers were hanging out, and yelled to ask if any of them had cell reception. By the time I walked up to them, one of the men was already on the phone with the boat company, telling them they'd left a passenger. It's okay, the guy repeated back to me, there's another boat coming at 5 pm. I'd already connected with some day users who were there in a private boat, and they had agreed to take me back to Oxnard Harbor, the next harbor up, and drive me to my car. I told them if it's not a problem with them, I'd take a ride anyway, and felt nervous about waiting for another boat to come. </p><p>I rode back with them - two group leaders with four young ladies in the Youth With a Mission program. I played "What Do You Meme" with the young women on the two hour trip back, and gifted them personal safety alarms as well. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HHVsLjlkjR3Z6X-fAB8O6M6T-TlW4izz" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HHVsLjlkjR3Z6X-fAB8O6M6T-TlW4izz" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Once we got back to Oxnard Harbor, I piled into the van with them, and they took me back to my car in Ventura Harbor. I thanked them, from the very bottom of my heart. </p><p>There's more to this story of the missed boat, which I'd learn on my pelagic trip the following day. Watch for the update in my next blog post! </p><p>Year List: 698 </p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-21751678706845625222021-09-29T23:33:00.000-05:002021-09-29T23:33:55.614-05:00Washington Pelagic <p>September 24</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BvqZgj-GHqW0pOlGOlFUz0i7CF9ihgDN" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BvqZgj-GHqW0pOlGOlFUz0i7CF9ihgDN" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I slept in until seven, and started heating water for oatmeal on my camp stove. I've been so busy, even a real breakfast has been rare. As the oatmeal was setting, I packed up my tent. After eating, a quick restroom stop to wash my face & brush my teeth, and I was on the road again. </p><p>Four hours later, I was at Twin Harbors State Park, setting up camp just after 11 am. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LWkQzdj5jkxq1d6H1Oc4ZtNQyTYlpVKE" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LWkQzdj5jkxq1d6H1Oc4ZtNQyTYlpVKE" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Words can barely describe how nice it felt to have some down time to just decompress, relax, and rehash my plan for the rest of this western trip, now that the plans had been scrambled by my great luck on the Half Moon Bay boat. I drove into Westport to check out the parking and dock situation for the following morning - I'd be finding it in the dark. I sporadically bought an ice cream cone - cranberry cheesecake - as I was walking by. I did a little scanning of the bay for the off chance of a very early Ancient Murrelet - a bird I'd completely forgotten about on my February trip up the California coast. After a few hours, I ordered fish & chips, choosing Rockfish - the "local favorite" as listed on the menu. Fresh caught fish right on the ocean can't get much better. </p><p>Eventually I drove the handful of miles back to my campsite, and was in bed as the sun was setting. </p><p>September 25 </p><p>A 5:15 alarm got me out of my campground by 5:45, and parked and at the dock just after 6:00. It was 6:08 - I saw the boat. Where were the people? We were set to depart by 6:30, and I was asked to get to the dock by 6:15. After a bit of momentary panic that maybe the trip was cancelled (I knew there was bad weather coming tomorrow and they'd already cancelled tomorrow's trip), I realized there was, indeed, one or two people already on the boat, and I was just on the early side, apparently. Trip protocols and safety precautions were gone over; we waited for one late arrival, and were on our way by 6:45. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VfTx9Irb_5dZVmiHG9hwaq2M73PTaqBq" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VfTx9Irb_5dZVmiHG9hwaq2M73PTaqBq" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>It's interesting to see the way birds behave in different areas, and therefore the differing ways that the pelagic trips operate. In Half Moon Bay, we'd had a raft of about 1700 storm-petrels. On the east coast, storm-petrels will follow along in the slick right behind the back of the boat, which doesn't happen in the Pacific. Here in Westport, we'd drive from fishing boat to fishing boat, assessing the giant mass of seabirds and gulls that were following these boats all morning. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p>There were skeins and skeins of <b>Short-tailed Shearwaters</b>! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1O0pCIVKYAj5YItaExCc7O7_ZfbZUzTDp" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1O0pCIVKYAj5YItaExCc7O7_ZfbZUzTDp" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>In a typical year, the work is to pick the Short-tailed out of the flocks of Sooties. This year, it was opposite. There were so many Short-taileds, that it was difficult to pull a few Sooty Shearwaters out from amongst them. Crazy!</p><p>At the third boat we checked out, a <b>Flesh-footed Shearwater</b> flew up the port side of the boat, with brief but good looks of this dark bird, with an all pink bill. It was just as described to me - a bird that superficially looks like a Sooty Shearwater, but flies like a Pink-footed Shearwater. </p><p>I'd already picked up Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel in California, which was one of my two intended targets for Washington (Short-tailed Shearwater was the other). Short-tailed was the bird I'd needed to drive the 13 hours each way for. It was the Flesh-footed Shearwater that officially made it feel like it was worth the trip! </p><p>Much later in the day, a super early <b>Black-legged Kittiwake</b> was a surprise new year bird for me. I'd mostly let my guard down, relaxing once I thought the only remaining birds I could get would be one of the rarer albatrosses - Laysan or Short-tailed. I quickly snapped to attention when someone said "kittiwake"- it sat on the water a bit and gave great looks before flying off into the blue ocean abyss. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19HS4CEJV68uANSofDIl0elq4I4UjtEjb" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=19HS4CEJV68uANSofDIl0elq4I4UjtEjb" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We got off the boat, and I made my way to Cannon Beach, Oregon, for the night. I'll have the next five days to meander my way down the coast before going for Island Scrub-Jay on October 1st, followed by a Ventura, California on October 2nd. I'm looking forward to a bit of down time, to be honest! </p><p>Year List: 697 </p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-21926186054810711402021-09-26T16:01:00.000-05:002021-09-26T16:01:05.275-05:00Northbound to Sand-Plover & Half Moon Bay! <p><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline; font-size: 12pt;">Sept 19 </span></p><p>After getting off of the San Diego pelagic, I decided to drive as far north as I could before tiring out, en route to Bakersfield for Spotted Dove and Rose-ringed Parakeet. Lesser Sand-Plover had been reported in Santa Cruz again today, so I decided to abandon my Island Scrub Jay boat plans for the following day, and instead make my way north. I made it about 30 min short of Bakersfield, and found a hotel for the night. All federal lands in south California are closed currently, due to emergency staff fighting wildfires in other parts of the state, so a hotel was my only option on this route. </p><p>Sept 20</p><p>In the morning I woke before sunrise, driving the remaining 30 minutes to Bakersfield - or almost. My check engine light came on, and after well over 2k miles on this trip, I needed to check it as soon as possible. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1K2Dk6Nz74ggFcZUqAczwh4SbH1ySSQtY" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1K2Dk6Nz74ggFcZUqAczwh4SbH1ySSQtY" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">Stopping in to Auto Zone, I asked for the instrument, and checked my own vehicle (a covid policy they have). It came back as an issue with the coolant thermometer, a minor ongoing issue I've had for years but never fixed. Whew. A few miles later, I was at the target neighborhood. </p><p>The <b>Rose-ringed Parakeets</b> were obvious before even leaving my car, flying about the neighborhood, not staying put in one place for long enough to get a digiscoped video. I abandoned the videography attempt in order to prioritize finding Spotted Dove. </p><p><b>Spotted Dove</b> also did not take long, just two blocks away from the Rose-ringed Parakeets. Bingo! I video'd an adult singing in a tree, and enjoyed great looks, while chatting with a few locals and showing them the bird in my scope as well. </p><p>After getting the Spotted Doves, I managed to digiscope the Rose-ringed Parakeets on the walk back to my car.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1oBxGTlH-zPjhxoUF4YUwrleBBMhs9-rV" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1oBxGTlH-zPjhxoUF4YUwrleBBMhs9-rV" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Next up: Race up to Santa Cruz! After a three hour drive, I arrived to the beach the bird had been seen, hanging with several Snowy Plovers. A couple leaving as I was arriving instructed that the birds had been off to the left as you walk down to the beach. I scanned like crazy, over and over, not finding any shorebirds at all. I spent another thirty minutes scanning the dunes, then walked back to the main beach, where I found seven Snowy Plovers and the <b>Lesser Sand-Plover</b> sitting on the beach, in human footprints by the base of where the trail meets the beach. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11ifIMwDmf86LDL6sI4h5ekGAZqzzHR3H" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11ifIMwDmf86LDL6sI4h5ekGAZqzzHR3H" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>From there, I headed to a small river mouth near Santa Cruz, where the river meets the ocean. It was here I was told to wait for the Marbled Godwits to come in to the fresh water - with them, a Bar-tailed Godwit. Despite a two hour vigil, only a small flock of Marbleds came in, with a handful of Whimbrel. I headed over to camp at Sunset Beach State Park. </p><p>Year List: 684</p><p>Sept 21</p><p>A four hour morning vigil at the same spot provided similar results. A small flock of Marbleds and Wimbrel came in a few times. I ran into a few local birders doing county big years. Eventually, I decided to hit the beach and head to Zils Road, where I parked, walked the path to the beach, and then continued south on the beach for about a mile. Eventually I ran into about 120 Marbled Godwits, and was able to pick out the <b>Bar-tailed Godwit </b>from within the flock. A few birders showed up just as I was initially getting on the bird, and I was able to help them find it as well. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cwm864ijTXSk-FZp4EhsfOehAb760gdX" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cwm864ijTXSk-FZp4EhsfOehAb760gdX" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">I headed north to San Francisco, where I'd stay with my friend Dorian - and finally, after many years, meet his wife, Sonia! I got to there place, was treated to some amazing homemade vegetarian lasagna, we talked birds a while, and went to bed at a decent hour, prepared to wake early for the pelagic. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Year List: 685 </p><p style="text-align: left;">Sept 22 </p><p style="text-align: left;">We left around 5:30, making the thirty minute trip to Half Moon Bay. I was excited for my first pelagic trip with Alvaro! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XQqPgrHk-BFQIbWiW0XK4Hk29SsRTS8V" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XQqPgrHk-BFQIbWiW0XK4Hk29SsRTS8V" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;">Hoping to pick up all regularly occurring birds between this trip and the Monterey Bay trip I had scheduled with him on the 27th, we set out, bagging <b>Buller's Shearwater</b>, <b>Cassin's Auklet</b>, <b>Ashy Storm-Petrel</b>, <b>Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel</b>, <b>Black-footed Albatross</b>, <b>Scripp's Murrelet</b>, and <b>South Polar Skua</b>. We'd seen ALL of the primary targets I had for either trip - PLUS we had two <b>Guadalupe Murrelets</b>, which my friend Ed yelled out as I was standing right next to him, as we were studying yet another pair of murrelets - we'd had 15 Scripp's throughout the day - these were somewhat distant birds, but these two had notably more white on the face. This was the second time that Alvaro has ever had Guadalupe Murrelet on his Half Moon Bay trips. Woot! Great success! </p><p style="text-align: left;">As we were making our way to shore, I gifted all eleven women birders onboard the She's Birdie personal safety alarms. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Shortly after getting off the boat, I learned I'd gotten off the waitlist for the September 25th pelagic out of Westport, Washington. I had been scheduled for the October 3rd boat out of there, and had tons of time to kill in the meantime, plus, I wouldn't be needing to get on the September 27th boat out of Monterey anymore, since I had cleaned up all my targets. This would help me save time, plus hopefully get a spot on the October 2nd pelagic out of Ventura, CA, nearby where Blue-footed Booby was seen on the five day Searcher trip ($1500/ticket and out of my price range), the week prior. Perfect! But this means I would need to start driving north tomorrow and wouldn't have all the time in the world to find Wandering Tattler, as I had figured I would. Moral of the big year story: Nothing ever goes as planned. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Making our way to San Francisco, Dorian and I started heading to a spot for Wandering Tattler - which I'd tried for in several locations throughout California in February, but missed. As we made it several minutes passed his place, we realized we didn't have either of our scopes along with us. Oops. Tattler would have to wait for another day. But soon. It was getting later in the season, and they were already migrating through. </p><p style="text-align: left;">Year List: 693</p><p style="text-align: left;">Sept 23 </p><p style="text-align: left;">I said goodbye to Sonia, and Dorian and I caravanned back to Half Moon Bay in the morning, to look for <b>Wandering Tattler</b>. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1DQWQDnEXVpOpDyLJ_y-RTFRtqM7F_Kn1" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1DQWQDnEXVpOpDyLJ_y-RTFRtqM7F_Kn1" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">We found two on a jetty by 8 am and then I hit the road northbound, driving nine hours and winding up at Paradise Point State Park, in Washington State just north of the Oregon border, after the first campground I checked in Oregon was full, and the second was a sketchy RV park that didn't feel safe. I set up my tent, laid out my sleeping bag, and passed out. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SFKD2mOz7QnlfGRJfzlMTAlcO3Nx2B6g" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SFKD2mOz7QnlfGRJfzlMTAlcO3Nx2B6g" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">Year List: 694</p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-12454556728645387742021-09-24T17:39:00.000-05:002021-09-24T17:39:53.735-05:00Salton Sea to San Diego <p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nrLRf8Ji1euoteqcabi_LweCEToY24l2" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nrLRf8Ji1euoteqcabi_LweCEToY24l2" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Sept 15 </p><p>I drove from Mission to South Llano State Park, where I camped overnight. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1WL0xZe_XWA4qeDXgL-vyV5gNI_85rGyO" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1WL0xZe_XWA4qeDXgL-vyV5gNI_85rGyO" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Sept 16 </p><p>I got up before sunrise, and started driving.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11Or7QruTQ2sXp5xE-IeCsg2Ty1qKZ6Tt" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11Or7QruTQ2sXp5xE-IeCsg2Ty1qKZ6Tt" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Just as the sun started coming up, my air conditioning in my car went out, a problem I've had intermittently for a few years now. The plan was to drive 15.5 hours to the Salton Sea. It was going to be an incredibly hot day of driving through the desert. After driving from 6 am central to 7 pm pacific, I got to the campground with the air temperature still at 90 degrees.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UYzItnfJ5dbsOa7-3DgKdb7bCwD9ftTo" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UYzItnfJ5dbsOa7-3DgKdb7bCwD9ftTo" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p> I'd seemingly forgotten how desolate the Salton Sea is - especially at such a hot time of year. I was the only tent camper in the area, and feeling pretty vulnerable with absolutely nothing nearby. The campground runs parallel to the highway, as well as very active train tracks, with a train coming through every half hour or so. I set up my tent, and rolled out my sleeping bag, with no use for a sleeping bag - it certainly was much too hot for that. I laid flat on my back, in my underwear, and attempted to sleep, but wound up laying wide awake for several hours. I finally fell asleep around 1:30 am. </p><p><br></p><p>Sept 17 </p><p>Waking at 5:30, I packed up my tent, and drove over to the restrooms. It was still pitch black. I stepped into the restroom to wash my face and brush my teeth. When I walked out, bits of twilight showing, I realized I had no idea where my phone was. I figured I probably folded it into my tent, and I was right. As I was unfolding my tent behind my car, in the restroom parking lot, a park ranger drove by, stopped, and chatted with me a bit. He said the restrooms are often vandalized by “transients” who break into the coin showers and steal the money. I told him I am not, in fact, a transient, but that I was thankful that I did not know about that last night while I was trying to sleep, all by my lonesome. </p><p><br></p><p>I made it to the south end of the Salton Sea just after sunrise. I drove to a spot near Obsidian Butte, and <b>Yellow-footed Gull</b> was the very first bird I looked at after getting out of my car. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1igqfUWcbu8Zx7BX9TuukIMomt-308rcs" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1igqfUWcbu8Zx7BX9TuukIMomt-308rcs" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I spent about twenty minutes watching three of them, and started the three hour drive to Los Angeles to meet my friend Corey at the Ruff that's been present in the same area for several summers now. </p><p>Arriving to the parking lot, Corey was already on the bird. <span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">I walked over to meet him, and we enjoyed great looks at the </span><b style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Ruff</b><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"> feeding amongst other shorebirds. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Alas, the big year calls, and after about ten minutes, it was time to move onward! </span></p><p>I drove south to San Diego, where I met Mandy to try for <b>Little Stint.</b> I had one of the most giant feelings of deja vu I've ever had in my life, as Mandy and I tried together not once, but twice, for presumably the same individual, at the same location last February. I arrived about five minutes before she did, and by the time she arrived, I had found a bird that I wasn't yet 100% sure was it, but was actively chasing around the larger Western Sandpipers as had it has been described as doing over and over again. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RZ7q9V4cjrfftE5VX6TL66EFDXYohZOD" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RZ7q9V4cjrfftE5VX6TL66EFDXYohZOD" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">About twenty minutes after analyzing, and finally getting documentation videos digiscoped, we slowly became more and more confident about the ID until we reached 100%. Yay! Third time's a charm. In celebration, we drove nearby to Poke 123, where I had the best poke I'd tasted in my life. I headed over to my campsite at Sweetwater Summit Regional Park, Campsite 13 - the same exact campsite I'd stayed at in February. </p><p>My camping neighbors had brought a big screen TV camping, and were blaring a movie on it when I attempted to go to bed around 9 pm. Finally, around 10:30, the seasick meds kicked in, and I fell asleep despite the surrounding noises. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Q2vpN8AzZyMBupTBOL7FM38SM_8xVMdK" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Q2vpN8AzZyMBupTBOL7FM38SM_8xVMdK" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Year List: 674</p><p><br></p><p>Sept 18 </p><p>San Diego Pelagic today! I woke at 5 to be on the road by 5:30, arriving to the dock by 6:15. I was excited to check off the last large group of birds for the year - most of which would be life birds! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xvag0zU3Q-uF9jyy6KylBYDmVUO9R3Cb" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xvag0zU3Q-uF9jyy6KylBYDmVUO9R3Cb" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Not far offshore, we came across an adult <b>Sabine's Gull,</b> with its black head and sleek white triangle wings. Soon after, several <b>Black Storm-Petrels</b>, a <b>Least Storm-Petrel</b>, and <b>Townsend's Storm-Petrel</b> - which I wasn't able to get my bins on - though very thankfully, later on we had a Townsend's Storm-Petrel feeding in the slick, giving great looks for all. A young <b>Nazca Booby</b> buzzed the boat, followed by a fly-by adult Nazca Booby later on. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1U5T8TOffkLWPG9AQZuigSfr8VlPGn6Up" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1U5T8TOffkLWPG9AQZuigSfr8VlPGn6Up" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">A <b>Red-footed Booby</b> was called out, simply named, but not followed by directions to the bird. A few seconds of sheer panic ensued as I looked right and left and then right again for the bird. Suddenly, a huge booby outline overhead came completely into view - about ten feet over the top of the boat, very obviously identifiable naked eye. After a few temporary mis-ID'd jaegers, an actual <b>Long-tailed Jaeger </b>made an appearance while we were on our way back inshore. </p><p>What an amazing day! I had not been counting on either of the boobies, or Townsend's Storm-Petrel, so those make +3 in bonus birds for the year! </p><p>Year List: 681</p><p><br></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-20602797152893414602021-09-14T19:12:00.001-05:002021-09-14T21:42:29.376-05:00Plans: Cancelled, Upcoming, Pending <p>Yeesh. </p><p>I'm a bit Type A. </p><p>Before a trip, everything gets mapped out, planned, input into Google maps, campsites located when possible (Orangetheory Fitness gyms pinned in there as well, in case there's time). </p><p>I was supposed to be on a pelagic trip off of Bar Harbor, Maine last Saturday. The staff made the call on Thursday morning - it would not be going due to large swells from Hurricane Larry, who was looming well off the coast. Bummer. I'll need a new plan for Great Skua - perhaps Cape Hatteras in December. </p><p>I'm now planning for a trip through South California, up through the San Francisco Bay Area, and then allll the way up to Westport, Washington. I have pelagic trips scheduled in San Diego, Half Moon Bay, Monterey, and Westport. </p><p>I thought I was all set, until I found out last week that the boat I'm supposed to get on out of Half Moon Bay is currently missing a propeller, and they're not sure when it'll be fixed. Half Moon Bay has been the hottest spot in central California in recent years, and to miss this trip would be a definite hit. </p><p>So now I'm waitlisted for September 25 & 26 out of Westport, WA September 25 out of Oregon, Oct 9 out of Westport, and contemplating finding a way to get on a Ventura, CA trip October 2nd, as all three of the rarer species of boobies (Red-footed, Blue-footed, and Nazca) were seen in that area on the five day Searcher trip last week. My brain hurts when I try to piece together the potential options for me to be removed from the waitlists of said trips, and rearranging my car travels to get myself to the right places at the right time, all spaced out along the entirety of the west coast, so I'm not even trying. I'm just doing what I can to get onto waitlists, and piecing the rest together step by step.</p><p>I'm still sitting at 671 species and hoping to add at least 20 of the following 26 birds (along with any other rarities that might pop up) to my year list in the coming three weeks! </p><p>Spotted Dove </p><p>Bar-tailed Godwit</p><p>Ruff</p><p>Wandering Tattler</p><p>South Polar Skua</p><p>Long-tailed Jaeger</p><p>Scripp's Murrelet</p><p>Craveri's Murrelet </p><p>Cassin's Auklet </p><p>Sabine's Gull </p><p>Yellow-footed Gull </p><p>Red-billed Tropicbird</p><p>Black-footed Albatross</p><p>Short-tailed Albatross </p><p>Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel</p><p>Ashy Storm-Petrel</p><p>Black Storm-Petrel </p><p>Least Storm-Petrel </p><p>Buller's Shearwater </p><p>Flesh-footed Shearwater </p><p>Short-tailed Shearwater </p><p>Rose-ringed Parakeet </p><p>Island Scrub-Jay </p><p>Red-footed Booby </p><p>Blue-footed Booby </p><p>Nazca Booby </p><p><br /></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-3705403939734329292021-08-31T17:22:00.000-05:002021-08-31T17:22:38.585-05:00Great Basin Birding <p> Wow! </p><p>43 hours, three states, 802 miles, five year birds, three life birds, two life states, new friends, old friends. Amazing memories. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SZxrcFWoT6QqV3j47-FCnESlEciMup2s" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1SZxrcFWoT6QqV3j47-FCnESlEciMup2s" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>August 28th</p><p>I flew from McAllen, to Dallas, to Salt Lake City, arriving at 3 pm, and picked up my rental car. I'd reserved a compact car through Priceline...checked in at the Payless/Avis counter, and they sent me outside to retrieve my car. It was a Nissan Pathfinder. Three rows of seats and anything but compact! Driving a Chevy Spark as my personal vehicle, I had to recruit help from one of the staff in navigating my way out of the parking spot at the airport. I thought about complaining and trying to acquire a smaller vehicle, but decided it would be comfier to sleep in, if needed, even though it would be bad on gas. </p><p>There was a small group of Tundra Swans 20 minutes east of the airport; apparently a landowner was feeding corn to the ducks, the swans came in last November and decided to stick around. I headed that way immediately. I quickly realized I'd underestimated the scale of the map. It seemed I'd drive up this mountain road, park, and hike probably a short trail to get to the small lake. Well, it was a tiny manmade pond, visible as you drove along the road. I drove up another 1/4 mile to find parking, assembled my tripod (the Swarovski travel tripod comes apart into three separate pieces for easy packing), threw my scope on top and walked back down the road to the birds. There was a wedding about to happen! I was digiscoping the <b>Tundra Swans</b> as people were walking right by them - they'd become habituated to humans and indifferent to people walking right next to them. A rather anticlimactic year tick, but a tick nonetheless. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RQORL9fI7SZNnPRZKo-og7jGblr2YQBO" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RQORL9fI7SZNnPRZKo-og7jGblr2YQBO" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>Next, I headed back into Salt Lake City. It would be a late night, so I needed to find coffee - I planned to meet up with local guide Tim, who graciously offered to help me search for Flammulated Owl tonight. After trying for flam, I would drive the three hours to Angel Lake, where I would meet some lady birders and we would try for Himalayan Snowcock the next morning. At the coffee shop, I met up with Marc, of Birding by Bus fame. Together with his wife, a few years ago, they did their own Big Year, traveling from Florida to Alaska and back, by way of a ton of other places, in their old VW Bus. Marc and I birded some local areas together, before meeting up with Tim at 8 pm. Meeting with Tim, the three of us headed farther into the woods, stopping at a state park, where it was still a bit too light to try for the owls. We chatted about guiding companies - Tim has his own, Marc has just gotten started with his - and I am in the process of finalizing mine. Finally, it was dark enough to try for them. We tried several times at the first spot, in which we had no luck. I'd been stressing about this bird for a long time - I'd intended to get flam when I went for Himalayan Snowcock a few weeks earlier, but a landslide cancelled those plans. Now, it was getting late for the owls - they get incredibly quiet this time of year. </p><p>We navigated back to the parking lot and tried there. After not too long, one called, seemingly distant, a few single note hoots. We walked closer to where it was calling - across the road - and this time it was making a multi-note call, similar to the territorial call, but not spot on. <b>Flammulated Owl</b>! I did a silent little happy dance, excited to at least hear this bird well enough to be able to count it for the year! Tim surmised it was probably a young bird testing out its vocal cords. Soon after, a car drove by and flushed it more distantly into the woods. As much as I wanted to keep trying, to see if we could get a visual on another individual, it was time for me to head west to at least get a few hours of sleep before the snowcock hike the next morning. Down we went - into separate cars we went - and off west I went. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1huT3jDXY3ieA8MjQz6fleN2rS4PJk2uX" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1huT3jDXY3ieA8MjQz6fleN2rS4PJk2uX" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p><i>Year List: 668</i></p><p>August 29th</p><p>I arrived to Angel Lake Campground around 12:15 am - popped out of the car to say hi to Pat and Sarah, laid out my sleeping bag in the back of the car, and slept a restless five hours. A 5:30 alarm was timed perfectly with the first bits of light over the nearby valley. After coffee and some amazing homemade muffins, we were on our way! It took us about 70 minutes to make it to Smith Lake, where my friend Alex had pioneered with some clients a few weeks ago and heard a few snowcock, after the landslide closed the traditional spot at Ruby Lake, which remains closed for the foreseeable future. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MBbRXE7hxQN3KxMK9OBmFCIflgweeaxO" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MBbRXE7hxQN3KxMK9OBmFCIflgweeaxO" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">After a bit of waiting, anticipating hearing the long, obvious bugle call, twenty minutes in, we heard a series of repeated notes, speeding up over time. We all commented on it, but passed it off as Chukar, which are also in the area. A Red-tailed Hawk had been sitting perched up in a tree along the ridgeline the entire time, which was surely contributing to the silence of the area. After about fifteen minutes, I decided to pull up the calls of both Himalayan Snowcock and Chukar - and we all looked at one another in disbelief as we simultaneously realized that the "rally call" we'd been hearing had been the <b>Himalayan Snowcock</b> all along! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1swPsxm6vgSyVtIiFjKKVwa6N0OtSXKgy" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1swPsxm6vgSyVtIiFjKKVwa6N0OtSXKgy" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>We spent a bit more time in the area, hoping to get a distant look at one, but they remained silent since the first calls. I gifted my women companions Birdies, and we took some photos with the scenery in the background. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zf715IcPXoL7ZKqarjJutP9GTAgcxZIv" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zf715IcPXoL7ZKqarjJutP9GTAgcxZIv" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">We made our way down the mountain, and feasted on a delicious brunch that Sarah and Pat had prepared. There are so many logistics to manage on a Big Year, and often my eating habits are compromised. It was so great to not have to worry about food on this trip! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1bpaNYpPbwQLAwIp4jdy0vB9fwpBXw0eP" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1bpaNYpPbwQLAwIp4jdy0vB9fwpBXw0eP" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;">The smoke was absolutely crazy, and even by 10 am, we didn’t cast a single shadow. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">We packed up, and headed the 2.5 hours to Diamondfield Jack Campground south of Twin Falls, Idaho, where we would try for Cassia Crossbill. We met my old friend from the Rio Grande Valley, Stephanie, there, who in the last six years, moved to New Zeeland, completed her PhD, and is now living in Boise. Upon arrival, the site was very noisy, filled with ATVs. There were a few <b>Cassia Crossbills</b> feeding in the pine overhead when we parked, but they quickly disappeared, and Stephanie didn't get a chance to see them. After looking around the area, we decided to drive a few miles farther down the road to Porcupine Springs Campground. They were overhead once again as we parked, and stuck around for great looks and videos. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1pdQYU2tUj3AI_vyvHTr1QRPihVSqxZO6" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1pdQYU2tUj3AI_vyvHTr1QRPihVSqxZO6" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AtUNZ4t5eStW2o5-8PCjk5c950-VCEV7" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AtUNZ4t5eStW2o5-8PCjk5c950-VCEV7" style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;">Pat and Sarah took out the food again, and we had a late lunch- as well as celebrating with “lifer shots” - Snowcock celebrations for Pat and Sarah, crossbill celebrations for Stephanie, and both for me.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1D9bJ7X9AvSOLiMvViXSy8tX00lcGsONN" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1D9bJ7X9AvSOLiMvViXSy8tX00lcGsONN" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; display: inline !important;"> Just before 4 pm, Stephanie and I took off, heading eastward - a Little Gull had been reported in American Falls, Idaho, and we had time left in the day to try for it! </span><br></p><p>We arrived shortly after 6 pm, and immediately I was thankful that I had a big vehicle with four wheel drive. Maybe the Universe knew I'd need it! After about an hour of searching, we found the <b>Little Gull</b> roosting with some terns and Franklin's Gulls - I took an awful doc shot, Stephanie peered through the scope a brief minute, and then boom - it was gone!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zfGUENP8ihCFyAv891wZz4U9TvzWR83g" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1zfGUENP8ihCFyAv891wZz4U9TvzWR83g" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">It was a lifer for both of us (ABA #740 for me) and I was equally excited to have one fewer bird to search for in New England this winter, which is where I had intended on finding Little Gull. Of course, more lifer shots were in order. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1PouzG9lqHI7JK5apGr26IM3W0vFIT34-" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1PouzG9lqHI7JK5apGr26IM3W0vFIT34-" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p style="text-align: left;">We made our way back out of the reservoir, Stephanie and I parted ways; she, back to Boise, and myself, in the direction of Salt Lake City. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1iWTGf4ivxVOBrALqRX9PDLKVi83ppXkV" alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1iWTGf4ivxVOBrALqRX9PDLKVi83ppXkV" style="max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; height: auto; width: auto;"><br></p><p>I wanted to get close to Salt Lake City, so I could sleep in a bit tomorrow before needing to be at the airport for my 10 am flight. I found Willard Bay State Park, just off of Highway 15, and set my tent up to the sound of traffic, and under the slight glow of the restroom lights - a site strategically picked so I wouldn't have to deal with a flashlight. I was thankful to have running water. What a successful trip - all three target birds accomplished, plus two additional bonus birds! I washed my face and brushed my teeth, and quickly fell asleep. </p><p><i>Year List: 671 </i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4104965672355782558.post-34308213425848958312021-08-25T11:48:00.001-05:002021-08-25T12:08:50.443-05:00Outer Banks, Round Two <p>August 19 </p><p>It's been super convenient to live fifteen minutes from the McAllen Airport, and being a small one, there's no need to arrive more than an hour in advance. We have six gates! I had been scheduled for boat trips on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but was already notified that the Saturday boat trip would be cancelled due to weather. </p><p>I flew McAllen to Dallas to Norfolk, sitting next to a pregnant Honduran woman seeking asylum who the US Government separated from her husband at the border. I may share more of that absolutely heartbreaking story in a later post. </p><p>I was meeting a friend from college, Justin, in Norfolk, who would join me for a beach weekend, and his flight was delayed. There was no food available after exiting security, so I Ubered to a nearby Mexican restaurant (the exact opposite of the gym), had an early dinner and hung out and waited. We drove the three hours to Frisco Campground, set up our tents, and slept - or tried to sleep. It was still 82 degrees, "feels like" 90. </p><p>I woke up at 4:45, throwing on some clothes (I slept in my swimsuit atop a yoga mat), stashed a few more things in my backpack, and Justin took me to the marina. Tropical Storm Henri was offshore, poised to become a hurricane, and I was concerned that we might possibly not get offshore any of the three days, and my trip would have been a waste. Arriving at the landing, people were waiting in line; it was clear the trip was happening! I was overjoyed! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JN7Pc37yxZb-ppFjPW9C9dLPJeKCPAxJ" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JN7Pc37yxZb-ppFjPW9C9dLPJeKCPAxJ" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>I was surprised to finally run into big year birder Jason on the boat, bringing all three big year birders together for the first time this year. Jason and I had missed each other by one or two days criss crossing the country multiple times, and even barely missed one another by a few hours once or twice. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RaDizNI0hGYOXaE3-kqm777Pp_5tjahs" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RaDizNI0hGYOXaE3-kqm777Pp_5tjahs" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>New for the year was <b>Great Shearwater </b>and <b>Band-rumped Storm-Petrel</b>. Just around the time we started heading inshore, a <b>White-tailed Tropicbird</b> appeared from out of nowhere over the boat. It circled a few times, giving some great looks. Energy around the boat was renewed as the sleepiness of the lull in birding was shaken off. </p><p>We returned to the dock, Justin picked me up, and we went to catch dinner with Matt, a North Carolina big year birder, who had also been on the boat. By the time we finished dinner, it was raining. Arriving back to the campsite, a whole corner of my tent was sitting under water, despite camping in the high-drainage sand. I feared what I might find when I got inside, but to my surprise it was incredibly dry! I highly recommend Stoic tents - I got mine for $100 on Steep and Cheap and despite costing much less than many quality brands, it hasn't let me down all year. Matt would camp with us all well the next few nights, and he set up his tent while it was still raining.The rain cleared, we crawled into our tents, and slept, much cooler than the night before, thanks to the rains. </p><p>August 20 </p><p>It was a beach day - the three of us went to breakfast, Matt went off and did some birding, and Justin and I hung out on the beach, swam, drank a bit, and got dinner. There was a double rainbow during dinner! </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1WaiIKBXGTUnVNOZHNTZEfSc6fsULkYtB" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1WaiIKBXGTUnVNOZHNTZEfSc6fsULkYtB" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>It was an 8 pm bedtime once again - the 4:45 alarm would be for the both of us tomorrow, as non-birder Justin was about to experience his first ever pelagic trip. </p><p>August 21</p><p>Meeting at the dock, boat captain Brian was more humorous than I’d experienced before. He made a joke about there being 14 life jackets, first-come, first-served, in the event of an emergency. Everyone must have been sleepy, because nobody laughed. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ehFw-051ExWGeQzRFbqyd3yXWXKEbmt2" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ehFw-051ExWGeQzRFbqyd3yXWXKEbmt2" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>There were so many women on the boat - and I was especially shocked at the number of younger women! It was fun to meet teen birder Tatum from New York, who I’d connected with earlier in the year. I gifted them all Birdie personal safety alarms (see the Birdie Alarms tab of my website for the link if you’d like to purchase your own at 10% off- plus 10% of purchases go back into funding my project!). </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OU_qUGYhjeWpP-p7drN-43WPu3HeFW9H" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OU_qUGYhjeWpP-p7drN-43WPu3HeFW9H" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>No new year birds today, meaning I would probably have to count Trindade Petrel as a miss for the year, unfortunately. But it's all part of the game - you can't win them all! Several water spouts, and dolphins running with the boat kept us entertained throughout the day. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rm3zhFIAsrrLW-CTQl_Ph3NLtGSKCZ2j" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rm3zhFIAsrrLW-CTQl_Ph3NLtGSKCZ2j" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><br /></p><p>After an early dinner and one more evening in Hatteras, we our way back to the Norfolk Airport. </p><p><i>Year List: 666</i></p>Tiffany Kerstenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04149269666662146273noreply@blogger.com0