On our way back we decided to take a break at Gardner park, and while there I upped the phone power setting to check for any messages, and the phone rang. Agent provocateur Bob Prothonotary called me to either alert me to the report of a Terek Sandpiper in Rhode Island, or admonish me for not already being on my way.
Much anxious discussion ensued, and we beat a hasty retreat back the 7 additional miles to my place as we decided to make an attempt to try for the T-rex Sandpiper, as Arlene referred to it. It was challenging as we were both a bit fatigued, but when we got to Babylon Village we got a break as the gay pride parade crossed in front of us and blocked traffic - allowing us to navigate the streets without having to deal with cars or lights etc. Half way there she started fading so I cranked away to get a head start on planning and she caught up in due time.
A number of co-conspirators checked in, and Dave LaSagra decided to join us. I made ferry reservations and we departed with little time to spare. Despite my flagrant disregard for the speed limit, we were thwarted at the last leg by a slow huge RV that got us there 10 minutes too late. What to do? We decided to wait for the next ferry - an hour later...
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| Terek Sandpiper in flight |
The trip was very pleasant, and we saw Roseate terns and a Black Tern en route. An hour and a half later we disembarked and drove the last half-hour leg to the Napatree Point. For “encouragement”, it started to pour, but we pressed on.
When we parked, the rain had thankfully stopped and we crossed paths with others returning from the point. They relayed that the T-rex had not been seen since 4pm; four hours earlier. Undaunted, we pressed on making the 20 minute hike to the lagoon. We joined others at the vigil, but despite our rationalizing that the tide was low, that there is plenty of light after sunset, and that the bird was ‘sure’ to want to return, it did not grace us with its presence. At 9pm, with minimal remaining light, we returned to the car defeated. I prepared myself for the “Drive of Shame” home.
No admonishments were bandied about though. Instead we were glad that we did not lose anything by missing the earlier ferry, meaning we would have been standing out there much longer and would have been caught in the rain. We agreed that if the bird sticks we would try again on Tuesday. With a long trip back ahead of us, we grabbed a quick bite to eat and much needed coffee, but no time for a consolation beer.
Periodically checking throughout the work day on Monday, I was encouraged to read that the bird was seen regularly much to my delight, though not as much as of the actual viewers. Though I learned that some of them who spent time waiting for the bird had to endure a drenching downpour.
With a pattern of behavior and probability that it would be present today, Arlene and I decided to give it another go. I picked her up at 4:30am to beat traffic and inevitable delays due to perpetual road repair on I-95. It’s a good thing we did. A realy good thing.
Some sections of the highway were reduced to one lane! And with all the truck traffic, had we left later we would have lost lots and lots of valuable time. Add to this by the time we were 4/5s of the way through Connecticut the skies opened up; just like it had on Sunday.
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| A craptastic distant photo of the T-rex in the wrack |
Despite these potential problems, we pulled into Napatree Point at 7am as planned, and the rain stopped! We also saw a couple of birders heading back to their car, and thy confirmed that the bird was at its original location and delighting the crowd there.
We grabbed our stuff and made haste to complete the 20 minute walk to the end. We were greeted by many birders looking through their scopes. It’s a good sign when birders are looking trough their scopes and not just standing next to them. Initially the bird was obscured behind beach debris, but we were given a landmark to point our scope at and soon it came out of hiding! Yes!! Even though the T-rex was ca. 500' away ( measured on googull maps ) it was easy to ID by its distinctive upturned bill. Also seen was its dark scapular stripe, orange-yellow short legs, and white trailing edge of wings in flight.
As I said, it was a good thing we arrived when we did, because 15-20 minutes later it decided to fly west to Sandy Point island ca. 3000' away from where we were standing. The previous day’s pattern was for the bird to alternate between the SW end of Napatree point and east end of Sandy Point. It was bad enough to have the scope views from 500'; getting views from 3000' away would have been a bit disappointing.
Very satisfied with our change in fortune, we began our trip home with thoughts of finding a convenient place for breakfast comestibles. Three miles down the road was the Cooked Goose, where we had a nice outside table for socially distanced dining. The food was very tasty, but celebratory omelet is no substitute for a celebratory beer. Alas, 9am is too early for malty goodness.
This bird was present / discovered on June 28 by Jan St. Jean. It is a Code 3 ABA rarity and a mega rarity 2nd occurrence for the north-east, and just the 5th record for lower-48. It should be ABA bird 722 for me, but today I ~also~ learned that we have lost Northwestern Crow. You win some, you lose some. But at least with persistence my Epic Fail has yielded to an Epic Journey.
