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| The King Eider that I saw today was too far for a photo But this is one I saw at the Cape Cod Canal last year |
Today was a day that involved a couple of good birds and good conversations. A few birders went out today on the Block Island Ferry. Somehow, I got an invite. I did not turn it down. Five of us went out on the boat. I knew two of the birders and had seen the other two birders before but didn't know them. The ferry ride was awesome. We saw over one hundred Razorbills and dozens of White Winged Scoters. The highlight, by far, was a King Eider. This was the first I had seen in Rhode Island. All of us were very excited to see it. At Block Island, we saw the same Purple Sandpipers I had seen previously.
After we got back around noon I took off to Portsmouth to go look for Northern Shovelers. Jan StJean (whom invited me on the ferry) saw a couple yesterday at St. Mary's Pond. So I took the scenic forty minute drive to the pond. I saw them from the viewing area pretty quickly. While admiring the male's plumage in great light my friend's Dick and Marge Bradley walked out to see them also.
After we left Sachuest, we went to the Aquidneck Land Trust Sakkonet Greenway to look for the Short Eared Owl. I saw this bird a couple of weeks ago. Up until last night no one else had seen it. Jan went to the spot that I saw it and it flew over her head. I could tell that my integrity was in question being the only one to see it. In one sense, I was pissed that I was being doubted. On the other hand, these people barely know me and don't know how important the truth is to me. I have only been hardcore birding for a couple of years, so I understand. Even though Jan had seen it I was determined to see it again and get a picture or have a witness.
Happily, Marge and Dick planned on looking for the Short Eared also. When we pulled into the parking area another (far better than me) birder Matt Schenck was getting out of his car. We waited around for half an hour. Right before dark the owl came out into the field. It circled along the tree line and then turned right straight toward us. It flew not twenty feet from where we were standing. It was so close the binoculars were useless. As you can imagine I was pretty pumped to have a witness. Even Marge told me that I was validated (I had told her how I had been questioned). We all left pretty happy.
As we walked back to the cars, Dick and Marge invited me out for supper with them. We stopped at a roadside diner that had some kick ass American Chop Suey and had a few laughs. Today was a fun day.
More photos below
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| White Winged Scoter |
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| Harbor Seal that lives near the Block Island Ferry |
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| Still around |
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