Chirps and Cheeps

One of the expert birders on the list serve I belong to offered to host a tour of the inlet on Conesus Lake that I tried to find last weekend.  Jim Kimball, our host, announced that the hike began at 7:30 AM.  I wasn't sure I wanted to get up at 5 to make the long ride out there.  As it turned out, though, I woke up at 5:01!  It took about 2 minutes of arguing with myself to get me up and out of bed, anticipating what a day of birding with real birders might be like.  I was NOT disappointed!

I made it on time and got to meet at least 16 or 17 other avid birders of all age groups - even a young lad who was already in the expert category, I suspect! They were all wonderful people and all willing to share their vast bird knowledge with a newbie (and even a few looks through some powerful scopes)!  They were even very patient with me as I hoped to glean a sight of a life-lister, a Swamp Sparrow. I finally set eyes on the little guy - great joy! - but my excitement nearly sent me spilling down a stony hill. After I ungracefully recovered myself, I managed to capture a photo or 2 of the sparrow before he went flitting off into the grasses again.

We saw many birds today and I was able to add a few to my life-list.  My additions include: Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Short-billed Dowitcher, Pied-billed Grebe, Solitary Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Swamp Sparrow, and Purple Martin (I know I've seen these before, but I'm officially adding them here).

I think my greatest moment was seeing an adult Bald Eagle off in the distance perched atop a snag (broken off part on a dead tree - this was a new word for me today).  It was an awesome and spectacular sight for me - and for some reason, a bit humbling to see this majestic creature perched so regally purveying the marsh.  I couldn't help but feel like I was thrown back in time when all of the area was wild and these beautiful birds reigned over the land.  We enjoyed watching a juvenile take flight too.

Thank you to the Rochester Ornithological Society for allowing me to tag along.  You were wonderful to meet.  And a special thanks to Jim Kimball for leading this adventure, Judy Gurley for mentoring and driving me around the lake, and the kind man who lent me a hand after my slip over my Swamp Sparrow excitement (Kevin?)!