Egyptian Geese (Key Biscayne, Fla)
It has been six months since I chased a rarity I needed for my North American life list. Suppressing my urge to bird meant more weekends with family, friends,…. and my employer. That was definitely a good decision. I enjoyed laying low bird-wise and didn’t twitch every time a new rare bird alert appeared on my phone. Reaching 700 was my ultimate life goal, wasn’t it? Well….I did miss the adrenaline rush of chasing a potential lifer and good fortune struck this weekend.
A mega-rarity, code 4, once-in-a-ten-year-period sighting, KEY WEST QUAIL-DOVE, has been frequenting a mangrove swamp this winter, not too far from my daughter (Sarah) in South Florida! It was a simple decision to escape Philly in March and schedule a visit with her….and slip in some birding.
The dove was spotted within 30 minutes of my arrival at Long Key State Park in the middle of the Florida Keys. I never would have found this chunky Bahamian resident without the assistance of the only other human at the park…a Californian who had flown cross country for the same purpose. His addiction is surely worse than mine. Alas, no photo, as we had a thirty second long-distance look through tangles of gumbo limbo and poison wood trees. #704 in the books with time to make dinner in Miami with Sarah.
Why the Egyptian Geese photo? Well, I needed something to catch your eye and technically this African native now “counts” for listers like me. An established population lives on Key Biscayne…ten minutes from Sarah. Done… #705.
birdtalesblog 
Shouldn’t Birders “tweet”?! Well done GDub. KB
Sent from my iPhone Kevin J. Burke #484-868-8000
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And a pink footed Egyptian at that! Nicely done…
The Egyptian geese are beautiful!
We wil be lucky if we get you home again!
Never thought you would stop…..Congrats!
George- I’ve missed the blog postings and glad to have you back for the much anticipated road to 650🐓
Quest for 725?
Go for it!
Gub
It’s good to have you back, Woody! And for the record, that Californian is NO MATCH to you… I refuse to credit him just because he flew 3500 miles for a Cat 4 bird!! Well played.
Why am I not surprised? Why not 750, George? You’re on your way!
George W. Gephart, Jr. 653 Andover Road Newtown Square, PA. 19073
(C) 610-306-0616
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Compared to some on your list #704 and #705 were easy as pie! Battle on, George.