A Distraction
I went out with my friend Amber Burnette on Sunday to Dakota County on Sunday to go birding. She's a much better photographer than I am so I opted to go with her photos for this entry.
I never get tired of dickcissels. I had so much fun with Amber on Sunday, I drove the car and she took photos. We used the car as our mobile photo blind and I worked to maneuver the vehicle so she could get photos of the birds.
I love how she got the white stripe on this eastern kingbird. Oh, look at that right wing, somebody's moulting.
I'm debating about something. We have a slaty-backed gull in adult plumage up in Grand Marais, MN. This is huge, this bird is way out of its range and what the heck is it doing in Minnesota this time a year? I'm trying to justify going five hours to go see it. I'll go five hours for hawk watching easy...but a gull...even if it is a first state record...
I just don't know. I shouldn't go out of town, Non Birding Bill is getting into the final rehearsal period for his Fringe show (the show is not as racy as the title suggests--but is a very funny show), but I could easily fit in a trip Friday/Saturday.
Is a rare gull worth a 10 hour round trip drive?
I never get tired of dickcissels. I had so much fun with Amber on Sunday, I drove the car and she took photos. We used the car as our mobile photo blind and I worked to maneuver the vehicle so she could get photos of the birds.
I love how she got the white stripe on this eastern kingbird. Oh, look at that right wing, somebody's moulting.I'm debating about something. We have a slaty-backed gull in adult plumage up in Grand Marais, MN. This is huge, this bird is way out of its range and what the heck is it doing in Minnesota this time a year? I'm trying to justify going five hours to go see it. I'll go five hours for hawk watching easy...but a gull...even if it is a first state record...
I just don't know. I shouldn't go out of town, Non Birding Bill is getting into the final rehearsal period for his Fringe show (the show is not as racy as the title suggests--but is a very funny show), but I could easily fit in a trip Friday/Saturday.
Is a rare gull worth a 10 hour round trip drive?
posted by birdchick at 7:06 PM
11 Comments:
Sharon: A plea from a tired old mother of two who never gets to go and chase down a rare bird EVER because too many people need her to handle everything:
Go get that gull!!!!
I am heading up there on Thursday. I hope to find it and take several photos. I heard from most everyone on MOURC and it WILL be accepted as a Slaty-backed and not a hybrid so the gas $$ is worth it.
I'll let you know if I refind it.
Mike H.
Sharon, If I didn't live 3 days drive away I would LOVE to visit Grand Marais. I was there last year and enjoyed seeing so many different birds. With all the gulls in that area, what are the chances of your seeing this rare bird?
The bird is hanging out on a marina with a bunch of other gulls, and birders are regularly reporting when and where it's being seen. Unless the bird suddenly takes off, I have a great chance of seeing it.
I do love Grand Marais, I've never visited it in the summer, just spring and fall. I was there in October a few years ago and just love how the town was covered in migrating snow buntings, lapland longspurs and bohemian waxwings.
If Mike gets it, I'll go. I have an appointment on Friday morning so maybe I'll head out after that. Cinnamon has never been to Grand Marais, maybe I'll take her too.
There are first state records of species that can reasonably be expected to show up. And then there are first state records in the "what on earth is THAT doing HERE?" category. Not surprisingly the later also fall into the "never again in my lifetime" category, and are worth a bit of extra effort.
Besides, rare birds are major social events for the birding community. Great places to see old friends, meet new ones, and explain what is going on to non-birding passers by.
Maybe you can even wave the Eagle Optics flag and deduct it as a business expense!
Does anyone have a lead on cheap accomodations up there? It doesn't have to be in Grand Marais, it can be withing 40 miles.
Sharon, I can be at TRC earlier if that would help you out on your trip to Grand Marais. Just shoot me an email and let me know.
Denise
If this wasn't the one weekend where the entire freakin' family gathers at the cabin, I would volunteer to go with you. (Would it be stalking if I was in the same car?) That would be a really great way to start this relatively new hobby of mine!
~the other Sharon
and you call yourself a birder? 5 hours!? It's a no-brainer. GO GO GO.
P.S. I always wondered what the book jacket pic of Neil Gaiman was doing in the swamp. After googling, I realized he wrote "Good Omens" which I have been interested in reading since hearing that Terry Gilliam was thinking of directing it. So anyway, I finally read it and loved it. I love crazy-ass British humor. Thanks!
Hi Denise,
Don't worry about your timing, I think you're coming before noon, that would be fine.
I'm kicking around the idea of driving up Friday late afternoon and searching for it Saturday morning.
I've been trying to post and entry and every time blogger tries to publish the post, I get the following message:
"There were errors."
So, I'll here is the entry below:
Still issues with blogger and uploading photos, and I have some great ones too--Drat!
Well, I was ready to head to the gull on Friday but I forgot that my friend the librarian is having a cookout Friday night and I must go. I think I'll have to try for the slaty on Sunday. NBB and I only have one vehicle between us--thanks Twin Cities for great public transportation. But, he needs it for hauling props to rehearsals this weekend. Saturday night there's a Fringe Preview and he and his cast will be there. I can't believe his show opens a week from today. I can't wait to see it, I've only read it.
Hey, if you're an Australian guy reading this who has a first name Maarten, I would love link to your blog with your photos when blogger let's me post them, but you didn't include it in your emails and my searches for it have come up fruitless. I've tried emailing but have not gotten a response.
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