SueO
Well-known member
Sprague's Pipit! I am so thrilled to have (very briefly) seen this bird! Honestly, I didn't think I ever would. I don't get out of California much and hardly bird there anymore. I just had to escape from Soylent Green Estates and be in a habitat that had more birds than humans. A place that didn't ruin the birding with the sounds of traffic, helicopters, people with their phones blasting 'music', people yelling at their kids, etc. I had to be with Mother Nature for just a little while before I went completely insane. I found this bird by pure luck. Rather be lucky than good! I left the refuge prematurely the first day because a lady had given me a tip on where to see the Whooping Cranes a lot closer than I did at the refuge. I was on a mission from Gad to see a Whooping Crane, and my views at the refuge were pitiful. I got great views at the site she recommended. The following day, I went to Mustang Island to see an Aplomado Falcon. The day after that, I started heading back to San Antonio. I figured I'd stop in at a place called Choke Canyon, as ebird listed Green Jays, and I have wanted to see one of those for some time. I got there, found the Jay and some Wild Turkeys, but the place was dreary compared to the Rockport area. I had already booked a room, so I stayed the night, but hung a u-turn the next morning and headed back to Rockport. So glad I did. Anyway, as I drove into the refuge, I saw two birds fly up from a freshly plowed field. They were just out of the corner of my eye, so didn't know what they were. I pulled over to find them and when I got out, I flushed a small bird that was right next to the car. It flew a distance and disappeared behind a tuft of grassy plowed stuff. I walked along the road and got my bins on it. Pipit. The face was pale. It kind of lowered its head and scampered off, very futive, almost small rodent like. I saw very white tail feathers as it again flew away, low and farther this time. I scanned but could not find him again. He was very well camouflaged in the field. The two birds I had pulled over to see were Long-billed Curlews. Tonight, I was going over what I saw and looked up the Pipits, and realized it wasn't my third sighting of an American, it was most definitely a Sprague's. I know my excitement over this looks silly considering the other thread currently running on Birds and Birding, but I am quite happy to add this guy to my meager Life List. I'm pretty sure Eastern Phoebe is also a lifer. Saw it multiple times in the refuge. It was great to be in a new avifauna area, especially a quiet and beautiful one. I wish I had had more time. I'm in San Antonio now and will head back to the crowds and noise at the crack of dawn. Thanks to all of you who gave me thumbs up for my lifers.
