-----Original Message-----
>From: Patricia Valdata <>
>Sent: Jan 24, 2007 6:44 PM
>To: 
>Subject: [MDOSPREY] that @#$%&^%$! sparrow
>
>Okay, I understand there's a certain element of the fish story
>(you know, the 'it was *that* big but it got away' kind) in many 
>rare-bird reports,
>and I know it's often hard to describe exactly where a bird has been seen
>(right next to where the clump of honeysuckle used to be before the old oak
>fell down a few years ago in that farm field we used to go to before they
>put the McMansions in), but it has been mightily discouraging to read
>so many chirpy reports of how easy it is to spot the Clay-colored Sparrow
>and how it practically takes the seed right out of your hands and then
>wipes its bill on your boots after it poses for pictures and signs autographs.
>

<<SNIP>>

Well, I live about 1/2 mile from the Sparrow site, and have been out only twice to look for it.  Both times without luck.  My last attempt was Friday of last week.  As I gave up and decided my extended lunch break from work had goen too long, I tried to hop the little creek to get out and back to the car.  I hopped and then slipped and fell face first into the mud.... or should I say camera, binos, and belly first.  The optics are fine, but they belly impact aggravated a medical condition I was starting to have, so after a couple hours at work I went to the emergency room.  8 hours, many injections, and a cat scan later I went home.

I told my wife that I was done looking for sparrows in Bulle Rock.  The only way I'll go back is if an Ivory Billed Woodpecker shows up there.

Monroe Harden, whining hard about not being able to find a rare bird 1/2 mile from my home.
Havre de Grace, MD


waaaaa  :-)