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| Willet! |
I'm a little excited right now because I got to enjoy a slice of Lifer Pie!
Lifer Pie is a tradition among some birders. Once you see a new species of bird for your life list, you get to eat a piece of pie! I saw two new species today, and a third new species for eBird. One, Bonaparte's gull, is a bird that has eluded me for a long time. I've been places to see it, and it didn't show. I've chased it in my current county of residence (Polk , FL) at least 10 times, and haven't seen it. Today was my lucky day! My first look was a diagnostic one, where you know what you're seeing, but it's short. While it whets your appetite, it doesn't assuage the hunger! I kept my eyes peeled, and soon spotted a group of Bonaparte's out over the water. Mesmerized by the beautiful dancing they did over the water, I completely forgot to record it using my scope and phone. Fortunately, they were kind of hanging around, so I was able to get some video of a couple, and took a screenshot.
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| Bonaparte's gull scampering across the water. |
I couldn't believe my good fortune, it took entirely too long to see this bird!
Somewhere between groups of mobbing Laughing gulls, and the Bonaparte's, a couple of Herring gulls flew by. One was still a brown juvie, the other a winter adult with some streaking around it's head, but a red spot on its bill. I didn't manage to get any pictures of them.
The something MEGA happened. Over the waves, something very light appeared, an aberrant gull. Nothing should be that light! Probably a leucistic Herring... wait. There's other gulls than that. watch it, no record it! I quickly attached my camera phone to my binocular lens. Earlier in the day, I discovered that i could attach my phone to my binocular with my digi-scoping adapter and still use the other side of the binoculars as a sort of aiming spotting scope. I had just used my camera to take a wide angle shot of my family, and couldn't tell if the shot was 100% in frame. I decided to trust the previous setting, and hit record. In all, I got around a 30 second video that was not the best recording, but did show all the markers I needed to confirm my suspicions, this was a Glaucous gull! Not a bad bird for a family trip to the beach.
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| Poor screenshot picture of a Glaucous gull. |
I shot some more pictures of various birds around the area, practicing this new way of "digi-scoping". I think I'll use this method more, especially when hauling around a scope doesn't make sense.
Finally, there is the matter of Lifer Pie!
Lifer pie can be any Pie. In my rules, it's best when you can share with friends, but you can have it yourself. It should also be local made, unless the need for alternative eating strategies outweighs that. Then, you may sub out a hand-held pie, or McD's apple pie!
This time, we went as a family to get Keegan's for a late post lunch. They have excellent specials and great desserts, including the best key lime pie. Just feast your eyes on the pie below!
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| Come and Get it! |
