She was five years past hatching. Alone now, she was jutted down over two white eggs tucked under her belly in a nest built in an old spruce that hung out over the drop-off down to the water.
Not as extraordinarily improbable as 2013’s year of birds, but 2014 did give Clallam County a very good run. Unquestionably, the bird of the year was the Eurasian hobby discovered in Neah Bay in late October.
“Eurasian hobby.” Let me repeat that bird’s name again, only this time shouting it — “EURASIAN HOBBY!”
In southern Arizona, there’s a rest stop in the Patagonia highlands. It’s a small rest stop, only one picnic table. And around this picnic table is a conglomerate of trees, shrubs, brush and open grassy areas. On a hot day, the place holds repast for a traveler. But once upon a time while sitting at the table eating a PBJ, a birder saw a bird.
Birds are, for me — as I’ve shared in past columns — an all encompassing facet of life. I spend hordes of hours out-and-about birding. At all times I’m aware of birds, consciously watching or benignly sharing in what they’re doing around me.
Life list. County list. Yard list. Local patch list. First of year list. On a wire list. Poop list. Heard at night list. State list. Birding at 65 mph list. eBird list. Listing is like the drum-banging Energizer Bunny – it’s a never-ending story.
“I didn’t know that!” she said to me, while looking out across the mudflats, listening to my bird-babble on something esoteric about sandpipers. “Is that for true or are you bird-storying me again?” she asked, turning from her scope to look at me.
The notice in Harlequin Happenings — Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society’s (OPAS) newsletter — might read: OPAS Field Trip, Neah Bay, Aug. 18. Meet at Washburn’s General Store, 9 a.m. Bring munchies, rain gear, sunscreen, warm clothing, binocs and scope. Trip guide will be Jackie OneTree.
This is a mundane story. It’s about waking, making coffee and watching the sun rise.
“Sensei?” The old man turned his gaze toward the boy sitting cross-legged in front of him, “Yes, Grasshopper?”
