In a fun way to celebrate my golden anniversary this year, pursuing bird species with "gold" in their names, I set out to find 8 of them on Brooklyn Bird Club theme walks. Yesterday's walk for American Goldfinch was the last one and it ended well. I got the boid.
The day didn't look good due to the rain. Nevertheless, I had faith I'll find my goldfinch.With three of us in happy pursuit, it was Sameer who hit paydirt. When we arrived at the Esdale Bridge, Sameer heard the species.Well ,at least we have it. It was only moments later, Sameer spotted them--20 of them! The flock was feeding right above us ,on birch seeds just before the Rocky Pass fork juncture.
I'm indebted to owning Sameer a beer now one of these days in gratitude .
Of my 8 happy pursuits beginning in January , I achieved 4 successful ventures.That means as my friend Ryan puts it: I'm batting .500 -- better than Ted Williams!
Here were the year's discoveries: Common Goldeneye in February at Floyd Bennett; Golden crowned kinglet in March at Prospect Park; Golden Swamp Warbler (the old name for Prothonotary Warbler ) on the May overnight to NJ Michael Huber Prairie Woods Preserve; and yesterday's American Goldfinch.
The misses :January's Barrow Goldeneye ( That i missed by one location ,the trip shortened and called due to high winds on LI north shore); Golden winged Warbler in Sterling Forest; American Golden Plover at the NJ sod farms and Golden Eagle on the overnight Hawk Mountain last month.
Nature plays her own cards, we're at her mercy. It's lucky I found 4 species! Nevertheless, despite the misses we found other good birds on these trips.For example: Red headed woodpecker at Sunken meadow state Park and last month's Mega rarity Lecontes Sparrow in Alpha Grasslands in the least likely locale I was only going to spent "no more than 20 minutes". That's the beauty of nature.
So, I'm going to take this Golden opportunity to thank everyone for helping me get my targets-- seen or missed --and i had a ball of it looking for them. It was indeed a celebration of birding and the people who took part in those trips and walks.. Now I'm looking forward to my 100th year birds in the future. Stick around!🐦🦅🦉🦩🦃🪶🦚
--the Kingsboider😎
" Preserve and cherish the pale blue dot,the only home we've ever known"
--Carl Sagan
