This morning, while walking up our driveway, I spotted a small bird flitting about one of our Siberian elms. To my delight, it was the chestnut-sided warbler that I first encountered four days ago (see
Late for the Tropics). The warm weather and the elm leaves persist, apparently keeping the tardy insectivore on our farm.
As a devoted member of eBird, I reported the sighting once again and, by mid afternoon, had attracted several avid birders to our property. Equipped with powerful binoculars and telescopic cameras, they are scouring the farm as I write this post. While they are more than welcome to search for the warbler, I (like nature) offer no guarantees; as veteran birder's know, our quarry is often fickle.
The visitors, like most hardcore birders, likely chase rare sightings across the State and, perhaps, across the country. Though my interest in birds is less intense (and more related to their place in natural ecosystems), I am privileged to own this plot of heaven and welcome those who appreciate its bounty.
