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It's been way too dreary and rainy the last two weeks to be able to get out and hunt down any birds. The few times the weather has cooperated, I've had family obligations.
Today wasn't much different; I'd originally planned to have an all-day outing, but it was pouring rain this morning.
Early this afternoon, we got a small break and even saw a teeny bit of sun. So, I headed out to check out a local spot where some birders had reported seeing 3 American Avocets. Avocets are extremely uncommon here; so uncommon, they don't show up on the allaboutbirds.org range map. And this spot is just about 12 miles or so from me, so I really wanted to check it out while they were still there.
Drove out to the pond, and sure enough there they were--on the OTHER side of the pond, naturally!
I pulled off the side of the road and got out of my car; as I did, a white pickup that was traveling the other direction (this is a small backroad), pulled up and rolled down their window. He asked if I was okay, thinking I was having car trouble.
I said, "No, I'm just taking some pictures, but thank you for stopping."
Then he said, "You know this is private land." Sigh.
The following conversation ensued:
Me: "I'm not on the land, I'm on the road."
Him: "That's private land too (pointing to the side of the road where the car is parked--between the road and fence)
Me: "Really? Because there is usually always a public easement along a roadway.
Him: "Well, this is ALL private land."
Me: Look, if it's that important to you, I'll be happy to get in my car and get back on the road, and then just stop in the middle of the road to take my pictures, but all I want to do is take pictures of those 3 little white birds out on the pond."
This went on just a minute or so longer, when suddenly, for what reasons I don't know, he completely changed his tune.
Him: "Well, as long as you don't have a gun, it's okay."
Me: "Thank you for your permission."
He drives off, but only gets about 15 feet and stops again. Gets out of his truck. "What now," I think.
Him: "Hey, if you want, if you're just taking pictures, you can go in past the fence over there. This is all MY land."
So, in the end, not only did I get the pictures, I was able to actually go past the fence out onto the land so I could get closer to the pond.
AND--he also told me where there are several Bald Eagle nests, just about 1/2 mile further down the road, so I'll be visiting again over the winter months.
The Avocets kept inching closer and closer to me--but then the rain returned and I had to go back to the car (not so much because of the camera, but because I'd left the top down on the car).
1.
2.
3. WHY do you keep pointing that at me?
4. This was a lucky shot, and not quite as sharp as I'd liked. I'd just stood up from where I was kneeling in the muck, and had turned around to move to a slightly different spot. I turned back around to see the 3rd Avocet flying in towards the other two so I really didn't have time to really lock focus.
As always, C&C, general comments and witty banter are appreciated!
Today wasn't much different; I'd originally planned to have an all-day outing, but it was pouring rain this morning.
Early this afternoon, we got a small break and even saw a teeny bit of sun. So, I headed out to check out a local spot where some birders had reported seeing 3 American Avocets. Avocets are extremely uncommon here; so uncommon, they don't show up on the allaboutbirds.org range map. And this spot is just about 12 miles or so from me, so I really wanted to check it out while they were still there.
Drove out to the pond, and sure enough there they were--on the OTHER side of the pond, naturally!
I pulled off the side of the road and got out of my car; as I did, a white pickup that was traveling the other direction (this is a small backroad), pulled up and rolled down their window. He asked if I was okay, thinking I was having car trouble.
I said, "No, I'm just taking some pictures, but thank you for stopping."
Then he said, "You know this is private land." Sigh.
The following conversation ensued:
Me: "I'm not on the land, I'm on the road."
Him: "That's private land too (pointing to the side of the road where the car is parked--between the road and fence)
Me: "Really? Because there is usually always a public easement along a roadway.
Him: "Well, this is ALL private land."
Me: Look, if it's that important to you, I'll be happy to get in my car and get back on the road, and then just stop in the middle of the road to take my pictures, but all I want to do is take pictures of those 3 little white birds out on the pond."
This went on just a minute or so longer, when suddenly, for what reasons I don't know, he completely changed his tune.
Him: "Well, as long as you don't have a gun, it's okay."
Me: "Thank you for your permission."
He drives off, but only gets about 15 feet and stops again. Gets out of his truck. "What now," I think.
Him: "Hey, if you want, if you're just taking pictures, you can go in past the fence over there. This is all MY land."
So, in the end, not only did I get the pictures, I was able to actually go past the fence out onto the land so I could get closer to the pond.
AND--he also told me where there are several Bald Eagle nests, just about 1/2 mile further down the road, so I'll be visiting again over the winter months.
The Avocets kept inching closer and closer to me--but then the rain returned and I had to go back to the car (not so much because of the camera, but because I'd left the top down on the car).
1.

2.

3. WHY do you keep pointing that at me?

4. This was a lucky shot, and not quite as sharp as I'd liked. I'd just stood up from where I was kneeling in the muck, and had turned around to move to a slightly different spot. I turned back around to see the 3rd Avocet flying in towards the other two so I really didn't have time to really lock focus.

As always, C&C, general comments and witty banter are appreciated!