I saw in today's paper that the notable Washington area birder Bob Caswell has passed on. I have many fond memories of Bob from my earliest days as a birder - and of his wife Ellen who died in 2003. 

My favorite memory of the couple goes back to August 1970. Bob and Ellen were among a large group of ANS birders (including me) led by Jackson Abbott and Phil Dumont to Bombay Hook and environs. We started the day on Port Mahon Rd. Ellen looked every inch the birdwatcher - dressed for the field. As we walked along the edge of the road, I fell into conversation with Ellen. A pickup truck went zooming by us - a wiseguy leaned out the truck window and gave a wolf whistle directed at Ellen. She looked at me with a twinkle in her eye and said, "Oh, that just makes me feel so good! I didn't know I still had it in me!" 

Bob was a nearly constant presence on ANS trips in those days - much of what I learned as a novice birder I can credit to him. 

Tom Stock
Silver Spring, Md.