[tn-bird] Phillip Magic

I have no idea how, but in my previous post, part of this message disappeared. 
Go figure. Here is the complete version!

I got a typically insipid e-mail from my friend Phillip Casteel yesterday 
evening. Phillip had gotten word of yet another strike on my part, in my effort 
to connect with a, life, Connecticut Warbler, yesterday at Radnor Lake. Phillip 
ordained, that in light of the fact that he had gotten 2 Connecticut's already 
at Shelby Park this spring, he supposed he would have to come over to Radnor on 
Wednesday and get me one. 

When I read his email, I was equal parts resentment, at his cocky attitude, and 
hopeful, that he would come over and give it a try. For those of you who don't 
know, I am 0 for 6 on Connecticut's, in my third year of the search. I have 
been present for Connecticut's singing 6 times, and I have yet to get my first 
sighting. 

Getting back to Phillips cocky attitude, I am reminded of one of my favorite 
lines from an old John Wayne movie, "Listen pilgrim, it ain't braggin if you 
can back it up". I met Phillip this morning at around 8:00am, at the spot where 
we had heard the Connecticut calling yesterday. When I arrived, the Connecticut 
had not been seen, or heard. We waited about 20 minutes, passing the time by 
picking up Blackpoll, Redstart, Magnolia and the like, but no Connecticut. 
Finally Phillip turned around, and said, "you know, to see them, they have to 
be here". He suggested that we go, and check on two friends of ours, who were 
staked out, further down the trail, at another favorite spot for Connecticut's. 
We had walked about 20 feet, when Phillip turned around, and said we had to go 
back, because he thought he had heard a Cape May. We walked back to our 
original position, and listened for about 5 minutes, trying to identify the 
Cape May, amongst numerous songs. Suddenly, as clear as a bell, we heard the 
song of a Connecticut, about 10 feet to our right. Phillip looked around at me 
and said, "That better not be some smart guy with a tape." It wasn't. Phillip 
immediately spotted a bird, flying left to right, in the thick underbrush in 
front of us. We walked around a huge Bush Honeysuckle plant, and Phillip said, 
"check the bird in the grapevine, right in front of us". There, at eye level, 
about 15 feet in front of us, was a little bird having a leaf bath, almost at 
the top of a grape vine. When I put my 10x42's on him, my entire field of view 
was filled with one beautiful Connecticut Warbler, and about 3 big grape 
leaves. I watched as he rubbed against the grape leaves, and shook the water 
off his back, and repeated the exercise. 

After a couple of minutes, I took off down the trail for our two friends, one 
of which needed the Connecticut for a life bird, just as I had 15 minutes 
earlier. As soon as I delivered them to Phillip, I had to leave the scene, but 
it was one of the most satisfying 30 minutes of birding I have ever had.

David Dortch

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