Existential Bird Metaphoring

Some of us are content to simply sit still... to hang out... to lie there and wait for something to happen. Take for example this WILSON'S SNIPE.Others of us have that constant, almost burning desire to push ahead... to drive on... to stand out from the crowd... to get unstuck from the jam.Yes, and like this REDHEAD, simply swim on through the traffic.Yet sometimes we find ourselves hovering, or worse... endlessly circling like this ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK.Some 'fate-based' folks prefer to float through life. Sure there are those occasional ups and downs... or in the case of this WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, dives and flights. You've got to take the good with the bad. The rough with the smooth. The sweet with the sour. It's all about achieving balance.Some of us look pretty good when we stretch our wings. Take for example this AMERICAN WIGEON in flight.And yet, there are those who shine their brightest when simply taking the time to stop and relax.There are others who prefer the direct route, like this BALD EAGLE. No stop lights. No waiting. Who wants to slow down when there is something one needs to catch?Picking one self up and getting off the ground is always a chore. And some look better than others at doing it, like this EURASIAN WIGEON.But it's something we all must do to get to where we want to be...So spread those wings, get on up and enjoy the view once you're there... like this AMERICAN KESTREL.On a serious note, I had a blast this past Sunday on the Eastern Shore with my son Declan, my friend Chris Murray and his girlfriend Eliza Toomey (my wife Emery's sister), Ross Geredien, Paul Baicich and the BIRD COUPLE, Warren and Lisa Strobel. It's good friends like these, and a wonderful son like Declan that keep me anchored in life... tied down safe, floating in my safe little harbour... a river of my own happiness.Enjoy your week!

-Dan

THE WEEKEND UPDATE

This adult male NORTHERN HARRIER flew over the many who attended this Saturday morning's WALK FOR THE WOODS presented by the SCENIC RIVERS LAND TRUST. Walkers, birders and naturalists alike thoroughly enjoyed this rare visit to the Bacon Ridge Branch in Crownsville, MD. As for this HARRIER, it was one of two adult males making their way North for the summer. Other fun birds seen and heard on Saturday were: BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, HOODED WARBLER, BLACK & WHITE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER and NORTHERN PARULA. I almost forgot... swimming in one of the containment ponds was a hybrid CANADA GOOSE x GREYLAG GOOSE.On Sunday afternoon I spent the afternoon on the Eastern Shore looking for a RUFF. My good friend Andy his fine young son James joined me for a trip to a marsh just East of Easton, Maryland. James actually spotted the WILSON'S SNIPE in the photo below! Here are some visuals from our brief visit.Early this morning I dropped by Schoolhouse Pond and got to see two life birds in five minutes! Wouldn't you know it... I left my camera at home on the shelf.

Not only did a brilliantly-colored PROTHONOTARY WARBLER sing and flit all around me as I walked the boardwalk, a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH sang and briefly showed itself as well. It was a magnificent morning. As I was leaving a WHITE-EYED VIREO perched mere feet from me to cap off my visit. As of today, I am up to 180 avian species in the state of Maryland in 2008. I'm really loving this migration season. I hope your day was wonderful too.

Good Birding,

Dan