birdsoup

NYC Rare Bird Alerts have been a-buzz for the past few weeks about the presence of a pair of Mississippi Kites at Sterling Forest – a hugh park about 25 minutes west of the Tappan Zee Bridge.  The kites, which are normally southern birds, have been very cooperative nesting and hanging out most of the day near the park headquarters.  They are small raptors that feed mainly on dragonflies and large flying insects. 

I’ve never seen one.  And I usually don’t chase rarities.  Or at least I won’t go on a long, arduous or “iffy” chase.  I prefer Type B birding and let the birds come to me rather than me chasing them.  That is probably why I have only added a handful of new species to my life list in recent years.

I did agree to accompany a friend looking for the kites which would be a life bird for both of us.  Unfortunately, it rained the first day we chose.  On our rain date the temperature and humidity competed to see which could get higher into the nineties.  On our third attempt he was sick.  So on three days I was psyched for some good birding and then disappointed.  I now know what an astronaut feels when his mission is aborted seconds before blast off.

Last night, when I check the weather forecast and my schedule, conditions looked promising.  So I tentatively planned today would be the day, although it would be a solo outing.

But I slept late, then finished some overdo chores and finally succumbed to inertia and determined to try again another day.

I truly am a Type B birder.  Maybe the Mississippi Kites will fly over the east side of the Hudson River.  They I may go look.