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Learn From My Mistakes - long winded version
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paulip-@rcn.com
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Apr 19, 2005 16:31 PDT
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This really doesn't have much to do about local birding but,
I've now made three classic mistakes that I think I need to
share. And this latest mistake started out all because of a
Palm warbler I had in the backyard late Sunday afternoon.
Not sure if its a yard bird yet.
Mistake number one which had been my worst so far was:
Diana and I traveling to Palm Springs over Xmas to do some
birding. Well since I have only been birding for 3 years or so,
i am used to using Sibley all the time. I haven't really used
any of the other reference materials although I know the
benefits. Short version is: when your wife tells you to check
and make sure you have the birding book. Make sure you
don't bring the Eastern version if your on the west coast.
Luckily Diana double checked the night before in our hotel
before we went to Joshua Tree - so we could make a quick
purchase of western version at the bookstore.
My latest mistake was yesterday. I flew out to Mexico and
decided I would spend a 1/2 day on Monday in Saguaro NP.
I triple checked everything. Made a list and checked it three
times. I had books, maps, internet printouts, water bottles,
sun glasses, sun screen (no hat by choice). I even packed it
all on Sunday so Monday at 4:00 AM I would leave nothing
to chance. Except i pulled my binoculars out to look at a
yellow bird in the backyard on Sunday afternoon and NEVER
put them back in. (that's my Palm Warbler)
OUCH!!!!!!!
Well I did in fact avert my last mistake and wanted to share
it and it falls back to things Marj and Shawn Carey have
repeated. I decided to go to Saguaro without my binoculars
I've always loved the cactus and environment anyway. I
decided to keep stopping on the way and sit there and wait
for the birds and animals to come to me. And I was
rewarded, not as well as if I had my bins, but still pretty well
none the less. Cactus Wren and verdin came within 6' of me
while fighting with each other. I came across 16 species in
total. I had the perfect combination of great sites and far
away enough sites that i couldn't id the woodpeckers - to
teach me a lesson I'm sure. The greatest part was that in
the distance in one of the holes I saw a figure peering out. I
stayed and waited for about 30 minutes. While the bird didn't
come out, I waited long enough until the ranger came by. I
told her I thought there was an elf owl in the cavity - she
looked at me funny because she only saw a slight
discoloration well when she put up her binoculars - sure
enough it was. So I at least got to look at the one bird with
binoculars as she let me view. She got a chuckle out of my
story.
Hopefully others will learn from all of the items above and not
live through my torture............
Remember to take the time to let things come to us, it
certainly changed my day.....
Paul Ippolito
Woburn
Currently in Nogales Mexico
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