Re[2]: mystery sandpiper to go online this evening

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• Previous message: Harry Fisher: "Re: questions on Backyard Hawkwatch"

Tim,

     <snip>
     Excuse the silly question but... did you not get an opportunity to
     look at the bill front on?
     <snip>

Not a silly question, but a good one.  I got *very* brief views
of the bird head on.  But I was prob 35-40 yrds away and spent
most of my time looking at it with a 20x eyepiece on my Swift
scope.  It has a 40x swivel, but it loses considerable brightness
and is a lot more difficult to focus.  The bird's bill was
thicker at the base overall.  I could not see that it was
necessarily wide.  To further complicate things, it was hot
enough last Saturday to cause just a little heat distortion.  I believe
that my missing the positive ID was probably a case of
inferior optics and less than optimum conditions.  Unlike other
some eager birders in other situations, I did not walk off the
path.  Although I was a good boy, I am quite mystified that I
obey such rules without anyone else around and for such a rarity.
 Good, perhaps.  But I sure missed nailing the ID on this bird.
I was really hoping the bird would stick around and move to
another area where I could get a closer look.  I was dreaming I
guess.  Still dealing with the good/bad issues...  I sure WANTED
to walk on the grass <grin>.  It's too bad there are no rewards
for following such rules of environmental considerations.  In our birding
world, it's getting the positive ID that counts.

Sorry.  I'm getting philosophical again.  The birding is fun.
Missing a rarity like this is sure tough for me, though.  So
close... <sigh>

A little introverted in Lusby,

Greg Miller

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