It is surely true that no job is over until you finish
the paperwork.  So, here I am, no May count totals
to post yet, but with a vignette from May Count in
Leakin Park to share.

Paul and I were approaching the Carrie Murray
nature center when we saw about 6 individuals with
about a ton of equipment:  cameras, lenses, tripods
and binoculars.  The folks were lounging around,
waiting for the action to start.  What was wrong with
this picture?   The height of spring migration, and not
a pair of binoculars in use!   Nevertheless, I stopped
and told the folks in general about a rapidly disappearing
photographic opportunity in this very park.   This was
the Leakin Park Yellow-crowned Night Herons, nesting
in a tree that is leafing out.   I was hoping that one of
them would gasp in excitement, and promise to record
the herons, and send me the digital files.   This did
not happen.   As I began to leave, one gentleman asked
hopefully, "Are you a real birder?"  This was dead pan
serious.  He wanted to know.  I took a deep breath,
steadied myself, and answered, "Yes, I am."

He then pulled out a photo of a bird he could not place.
In answer to my questions, he said that the bird had been
seen several times at his feeder in Fredericksburg within
the last two weeks.  The others leaned over to look, and
some of them had suggestions.  The bird showed as
medium brown on the back, neon yellow on the neck
and breast, with two cream colored wing stripes.  There
was a patch of white on the flank.   It had a long, pointed bill.

I dismissed the colors in the photograph as unlikely.
I decided not to worry about the feeder.   I'd love to
say that I took one look, and with complete confidence,
immediately made the ID.    But, this was not the case.
However, it is true that the first page I turned to
in Sibley's had a match.   I handed over the book,
pointing to the picture of the first fall male Baltimore Oriole,
complete with white on the flank.   Everyone fell silent,
then there was a warm chorus of, "Oh, that's it!" and "I never
thought of that," etc.    I gave a little bow and said, "My
work here is done."  (Really, I did..)

It is not done of course.  Back to the Fall Count paperwork!

Elise Kreiss
Baltimore City
A Real Birder