Yesterday we went chasing. This past weekend a Eurasian wigeon was found in Kensington Park, about 45 minutes from here. An accidental from – you guessed it – Eurasia. Lots of traffic on the listserves about it. It is a common species within its normal range but a rare visitor here. We didn’t have time to go on Monday. After work Tuesday, as soon as we could get Molly off to water polo practice, we headed to Kensington. I only had a sketchy idea of where the bird was. Somewhere on Island Road, looking east. Naturally I couldn’t find a park map with roads labeled. So we used the old tried and true method. Drive around until you see optical equipment. It worked. So we got Eurasian wigeon and double-crested cormorant for the list.
This has to be the place.
These look a lot better through the scope. People came from across the state for this guy.
Lise and I got our life Eurasian wigeon in Delaware, birding with my sister Anita. Lise and I the seasoned veterans, Anita a neophyte birder. We were at Bombay Hook, casually scanning a pond of the usual suspects. Bored, I started to move on to better pickings. Then Anita uttered those immortal words, “Why does this one have a red head?” Score a lifer but not because of my birding abilities.
She did it another time too. We were out on the beach at Cape Henlopen when suddenly all the gulls spooked up making a lot of noise. Casually glancing in that direction I saw a raptor munching on a gull. Without really looking I said something like, “That’s unusual, an osprey took a gull.” Anita did look and said, “Why does this one have a black head?” Score a peregrine falcon. It wasn’t a lifer but it was pretty cool seeing the food chain in action. Thanks to someone that actually looks without assumptions.
The great circle of life. A peregrine munching on a laughing gull. I guess it’s not laughing anymore. Wonder if it tastes like French fries?
Ed's and Lise's Biggish Years 