Posted by Jim DeWitt on December 22, 2009 at 1:25 AM
For about ten years, I've been trying to see a Yellow-billed Magpie. For folks who don't live on the west coast, it's a species endemic to the central valley of California. It's supposed to be easy to find, but you couldn't prove it by me.
I was in Sacramento for a memorial service this past weekend, and my brother and I snuck away for a bit of birding in North Natamos, along the American River Estuary and the Garden Highway. It's a pretty amazing birding area, by the way. Finally, after 3.5 hours of pretty intense birding, we saw a long-tailed bird. A yellow bill? Yes! A lifer! Finally!
Oh look, another. Oh, there's a couple more. Look, there's a flock. Sixty plus Yellow-billed Magpies later, the shine had kind of worn off the thrill, but here's documentary proof, shot with my 54mm lens and a 2.0 teleconverter from the top of the levee, cropped about 80%.
The bird gods do have their little jokes, don't they?
Posted by Dennis Plank on December 22, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Congratulations, Jim!
Posted by bill meikle on December 22, 2009 at 10:09 AM
I've never seen one so good job Jim.
Posted by Nick Saunders on December 22, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Many congrats Jim. For years the Townsend's Solitaire, a gray-coloured Thrush of the mountains had eluded me, as they are semi-regular but uncommon visitor here in Saskatchewan during the winter...
Then one day, at a park in town, I stumbled upon 5 of them together !
I just found 3 on a Christmas Bird Count too, last Sunday
Posted by Mia McPherson on December 22, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Big congrats on getting another of your memesis birds Jim!
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 22, 2009 at 4:39 PM
Congrats on getting this shot!
Posted by Ron Dudley on December 22, 2009 at 9:08 PM
This line - "The bird gods do have their little jokes, don't they?" resonated with me Jim. I've had several similar experiences and many others that weren't similar but still made me cuss those cuss-deserving gods. Good for you for quelling your nemesis!
Posted by Luke Ormand on December 26, 2009 at 10:33 PM
I have been photographing an Arctic Race Black Guillemot this past week which showed up about 15 minutes from my house. . . I'd never heard of the bird prior to its sighting, however I read a post on the NY Bird Listserv from someone who has been trying to see this bird in NY waters for 37 YEARS! It's funny to me how I can go photograph this bird I didn't know existed, when this poor guy has been chasing it around longer than I've been alive. . .
Posted by Brian Gatlin on December 26, 2009 at 10:51 PM
don't worry Luke--you'll find you have a nemesis too... all in good time.
For me, it's the Black-capped Gnatcatcher. Occurs only in SE AZ, and I've made many visits to places where they're regularly seen and I've not had a glimpse.
Discussion
10 repliesI was in Sacramento for a memorial service this past weekend, and my brother and I snuck away for a bit of birding in North Natamos, along the American River Estuary and the Garden Highway. It's a pretty amazing birding area, by the way. Finally, after 3.5 hours of pretty intense birding, we saw a long-tailed bird. A yellow bill? Yes! A lifer! Finally!
Oh look, another. Oh, there's a couple more. Look, there's a flock. Sixty plus Yellow-billed Magpies later, the shine had kind of worn off the thrill, but here's documentary proof, shot with my 54mm lens and a 2.0 teleconverter from the top of the levee, cropped about 80%.
The bird gods do have their little jokes, don't they?
Then one day, at a park in town, I stumbled upon 5 of them together !
I just found 3 on a Christmas Bird Count too, last Sunday
For me, it's the Black-capped Gnatcatcher. Occurs only in SE AZ, and I've made many visits to places where they're regularly seen and I've not had a glimpse.