Katy Penland
Well-known member
When I was in Germany last year and got to do some birding, one of my target spp was the hoopoe, on which I dipped. However, just returned from two weeks of meetings in Sorrento, Italy, and got out for a couple days' sightseeing.
Standing in the railway station at Paestum, the site of some exquisite Greco-Roman temple ruins, I about fell off the platform when a brown-backed, curve-billed, black-and-white winged/tailed bird flew from across a nearby clutch of trees less than 100' away. I couldn't believe it was a hoopoe so casually appearing when I was least expecting it. It was soooo hot that day, too, that I'd kept my binoculars in my bag instead of hanging around my neck, but I quickly unshipped them hoping the bird would reappear. It did!!!!! This time for a slightly longer flight and then landed back in its originating tree for a nice, long, confirming view. Wow...... Even my non-birding friend was suitably impressed with this beautiful bird. So while I didn't get out a single day to do any hardcore birding the entire two weeks I was in Sorrento, I was over the moon getting a lifer and a sp that I'd really wanted to see. Wow..... I still get out my field guide for more looks at it. What an amazing bird.
Okay, I'll calm down now!
Standing in the railway station at Paestum, the site of some exquisite Greco-Roman temple ruins, I about fell off the platform when a brown-backed, curve-billed, black-and-white winged/tailed bird flew from across a nearby clutch of trees less than 100' away. I couldn't believe it was a hoopoe so casually appearing when I was least expecting it. It was soooo hot that day, too, that I'd kept my binoculars in my bag instead of hanging around my neck, but I quickly unshipped them hoping the bird would reappear. It did!!!!! This time for a slightly longer flight and then landed back in its originating tree for a nice, long, confirming view. Wow...... Even my non-birding friend was suitably impressed with this beautiful bird. So while I didn't get out a single day to do any hardcore birding the entire two weeks I was in Sorrento, I was over the moon getting a lifer and a sp that I'd really wanted to see. Wow..... I still get out my field guide for more looks at it. What an amazing bird.
Okay, I'll calm down now!