The drought is broken! The dam about breaks open too!

12 Oct 2021

It's been three weeks and a day since I got my last new Green Big Year bird. I'll write up the Common Tern story soon, but that's a tough one for me personally. In the meantime, the three weeks leading up to getting Cattle Egret were rough. First, I birded a lot and found little to nothing of note. It's wild that there were few to no new or good birds reported around the area in late Sept and early to mid-October. I also have been suffering tendinitis in my left elbow for many months. It came to head during this period and I could barely open a water bottle, open the case for my contacts, let alone pick up a kid without excruciating pain. PT had helped, but not enough. I ended up getting a steroid shot to reduce the pain. Second, the nerve pain from the shingles, which I had at NEW YEARS, has been nagging and bothersome. I'm tired of taking pain meds, but they keep me from losing my mind. Third, I have arthritis in my big toes, and wearing cycling shoes for extended periods, walking in them for a while, and the cooler weather, really started aggravating that again. Fourth, where are the birds???

Big years have ups and downs, and mentally and physically this was a real nadir. At one point, I told a friend I wished it was January 1st. I was mentally done with this thing. It's been a huge success. I have blown past my original goal of 250 species and did it with FOUR months left in the year. But it has been a major drag through what is typically a very birdy time. That's how big years go I guess.

However, everything changed on the 12th. I was on meetings on Motus technology for half the day. Motus Wildlife Tracking is something I have been able to support and focus on with work and it'll be a game changer with conservation for priority grassland birds like Sprague's Pipits, Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs, and Baird's Sparrows. I started reports this morning of Cattle Egret, then Dunlin, and other goodies at Cherry Creek State Park. There's no way I can get there. This is my last ditch hope for Cattle Egret and it's getting away from me. There's nothing I can do.

During the workshop intro, I was asked about my Green Big Year. I told everyone where things were and that I was sitting outside listing for Sandhill Cranes. Half way through the 5 hour session and after seeing some awesome presentations, I get a text from a friend about 2 Cattle Egret at Chatfield State Park. AHHH!! I could be there in no time. I want and need a new bird so bad, but I have meetings. At about the same time, the lead of the meeting texts me asking if I had cranes. I said no, but Cattle Egret showed up. He said something like, "we are recording this meeting, go get the birds!" I waffled. I need to be professional and attend this meeting since I'm a co-lead of the effort in the Northern Great Plains and I love being a part of this. I could go. I should say. I should go. I can be back in no time. Luckily I had just eaten some lunch as I signed off and hit the road FAST.

I got to the marina sand spit for the Whimbrel back in the spring in 31 minutes. I did it in 28:30 today! I rolled up and the egrets were there. WOOHOO!!!!! I never thought I'd be so excited to see Cattle Egret! This makes up for the small bit of regret in not riding to the north part of my county in the spring and trying to find these guys in some of their sort of regular haunts. That ride is crummy, urban roads, nasty, dirty paths, etc. It didn't seem worth it when maybe, just maybe, I'll come across one somewhere randomly. Vindication!

One super awesome Cattle Egret!!

I looked around after taking some photos and realized it was raining and snowing on the foothills. The radar suggested it was coming my way! I wasn't prepared for rain. I got out of there fast and only stopped to put on my winter cycling jacket, which isn't waterproof. The temperature dropped to 48F and I rode in light rain the entire way home. I was quite chilled. The funniest part of this story is my friend who told me about the egrets didn't even know I needed them. He just told me about a decent bird he found! It all came together this day.

In spite of the rain, it was such a win for my mental state and the list. It was also a big win for Joe and the grant. I had some serious Joe luck this day! In the end, my arm was ok, although admittedly I didn't pull on the bars very much with my left arm as it had only been a week since I had my shot and it was still achy. I really needed to rest. I also learned to ensure I check the radar and forecast......

And for the record, I got back just in time for the meeting to wrap up, and it wrapped up early! Gasp! I will watch the recording, when it's available.

This was such a boost in so many ways. But that evening I mildly resprained my bad ankle at my daughter's soccer practice. At least it wasn't the same practice when I saw 2 flocks of sandhill cranes fly over my neighborhood, but I'd driven to soccer. They don't count. That was agony too!