"Well," I replied, "it's August and the birding is kind of dead right now until the fall migration begins. But I've got a real hot spot in mind. Wanna come along?"
My wife is great. She indulges my birding habit. Even to the point you might call it encouragement. I'm a lucky guy. I often try to get her to come along but rarely get a positive response. When I'm on the birds I'm more focused on them and less on the conversation in the pickup. So, naturally, it's not on the top of her list of fun times.
But this time, to my surprise, and then chagrin, she said, "Sure! Where're we goin'?"
"Well, you see, its not really a great scenic location," I stammered. "No great views, or majestic forests, or that kind of thing."
"OK. Let's go and you can surprise me. You said it was a birding hotspot and I want to see it."
"Yes, of course, dear."
The drive was only 10 or 12 minutes and when I pulled up to a chain link fence and gates off of a dead end gravel road my wife was looking at me. Mild disbelief and traces of doubt were in her eyes. Was this a joke, a spoof or prank? The "You're pulling my leg" kind of look. We got out of the pickup and walked through the unlocked gate, left slightly open to allow local birders to enter that most reliable sanctuary of migrating birds, the city sewage treatment ponds.
"You really know how to show a girl a good time," she quipped.
"Only the best for you, my love," I crooned back.
Municipal sewage treatment ponds (STPs in birder jargon) are great for finding migrating birds for a couple of reasons. There is abundant, relatively clean, water and often shallow water, cattails and bulrushes, and mud flats in some of the ponds. These are especially attractive to migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Birds that breed on the northern tundra and boreal forests of Canada and Alaska make their way south on long migrations and need stopover places that offer food and cover. STPs are usually surrounded by high chain link fences and are generally free of human and predator disturbance. Plus, nobody hunts ducks that are feeding on, well, stuff we flush or put down storm drains.
We weren't disappointed. The shorebirds and marsh birds were abundant and in a photogenic mood. We had great views of Sandpipers: Solitary, Stilt, Baird's and Spotted. Greater Yellowlegs strutted through the shallows chasing elusive prey. A sneaky Semipalmated Plover was found hiding among the abundant Killdeer. Sora and young Virginia Rails were popping in and out of the bulrushes. Young Common Yellowthroats darted through the cattails, inspecting the two-legged intruders. Several species of waterfowl in eclipse plumage loafed along the tops of the pond embankments. Quail and Eurasian Collared Doves flew and ran along the fence line. Song sparrows and Brewer's blackbirds flitted about. We noted 22 species in all during that magical hour of togetherness.
Yes, I did spring for lunch and some uninterrupted one-on-one time with my beloved. I doubt she will be so quick to jump at my next birding invitation. At least until she learns more details on the exact location.
Here's a few pics from a recent STP trip.
So, impress your significant other, and treat them to a hot date at your local STP! You'll thank me for it later. {wink} {wink}
Good Birding!
- Hawkeye
