It was 6:00 am. I had already been up for an hour with the two beagle boys, but it was time to hit the road, time to continue the bird quest. Rubbing my half-open eyes, I attempted to make coffee before departing, making sure I made enough for Theresa to have a cup or two when the dogs got her up. As I stood there thinking about where I should go to search for a few new species, I lost count of how many scoops of coffee I put in. It looked like there was enough grounds for at least 10 people, but I shoveled out two more heaping scoops just to be sure. As the coffee maker starting making weird, guttural noises, I grabbed my birding gear, threw an apple, banana and water bottle in my day pack, and staggered outside to warm up Big Blue. Although the calendar read March, it was cold, really cold. The wind was gusting which made it feel like I was in the tundra. It was then I realized why I was so chilled-I still had my pajamas on, and walked out in my slippers. Ok, so I wasn’t quite ready to go out into the wilderness to search for critters.
March didn’t really “come in like a lion, or a lamb,” it was more like it was hanging around like a Polar Bear from January and February! But, my bird quest had to continue despite the snow, ice, wind and cold. When it comes to birds and birding, March can be extremely diverse and exciting, or it can be very challenging with different species hard to find. It’s a month of transition, sluggishly and stubbornly changing from winter to spring. However, as I sit here writing this in early April, I can tell you that I’ve done pretty well since I started this quest on January 1st, regardless of the challenging weather I faced over the past 3 ½ months! From seeking winter birds out on icy roads in January and February, to trekking to Erie in late March to spot gulls and waterfowl in Presque Isle Bay in arctic-like conditions (see previous blog A Cold Start to Spring), I’ve logged a good bit of miles so far, and had my share of a “comedy of errors!”
A few interesting stats that can summarize the first part of this bird quest:
- approximately 127 slips on ice
- 12 documented, snow bank tumbles that resulted in two minor injuries and several, choice phrases being bellowed
- 9 cups of hot coffee spilled, including one on my camera and a nasty one on my crotch, leading to one of the snow bank tumbles (see above)
- 3 stuck truck events, including one where Big Blue had to be pulled out of a deep snowbank in Schuylkill County
- approximately 18 lbs. of mud, dirt, small rocks, twigs and leaves transported into my truck-15 lbs. have since been removed, not sure where the other 3 lbs. have disappeared to
- 4 ticks plucked from body (none were in me)
- various automotive repairs, including a chipped windshield, several new wiper blades, a few new tires and new brake pads
- a little over 2,100 miles driven
- many (I lost count) TASTYKAKE lemon pies devoured
- tallied bird species in 18 different counties
- TOTAL To Date = 132 species
As we move into spring, it finally seems like most of the ice and snow has melted away and the month of April is starting just like I had hoped (except for the accidental flattening of a Grey Squirrel in Northampton County), with lots of returning birds and lots of unusual /uncommon sightings being reported. Of course, I’ve already registered an early personal highlight, too. On the first weekend in April I stalked a perching Merlin in southern Chester County to get a few photos, ignoring the fact that I had entered a large patch of Greenbriar (Smilax rotundifolia), also known as “Catbriar.” Greenbriar grows some of the sharpest, toughest thorns found on any plant, and is almost impenetrable. After my excitement faded from photographing the small falcon, I looked around and realized I was stuck, and I mean stuck. The deer path I snuck in on had somehow mysteriously closed behind me. I swear the plants were actually moving and plotting against my exit, like a scene from a Harry Potter movie. I panicked a little and stampeded through the dense briars like a stuck pig. By the time I staggered out, my pants were shredded, the pocket of my sweatshirt was no more and I had blood streaking down both cheeks. I pulled up my pant legs and saw why it was also called “Catbriar.” I had so many scratches with blood oozing out, I looked like I was in a fight with a mountain lion, and lost very badly! Note to Self: Never attempt this again while wearing light, nylon sweat pants and a cotton sweatshirt! When I returned home and shared my adventure with my dear wife, she asked if I was ok, and seeing that I was not seriously injured, she added, “By the way, you forgot to put a filter in when you made coffee this morning!” Figures!
I wonder what the next few months will bring, and will I be ready for it? Check back in early summer for my next update! Good birding!
