Greetings All,
This is not a Brown Booby information pile on. The bird was seen at 11:30
a.m. today.
However, folks should know that the gate guards are very well aware that
birders are going to the beach where the Booby is being seen. I was asked
directly if I was going to see a bird (maybe the spotting scope in the rear of
the car tipped them off, or it was an intuition seeing the CURLEW license
plate). Not wanting to lie to a man with a gun and access to my car keys, I
ventured that I was doing just that. He began to shake his head in a rather
serious and official negative way telling me we were not allowed on "that
beach", because it's off limits to visitors or something to that effect, and
that he hoped we would not be caught there. Clearly he knew where we intended
to go. I was surprised we were actually allowed on the base. Final
instructions were to only go to the monuments and enjoy. What's a lister to
do??
Arriving at the Cape Henry Inn parking lot (Gee officer I was just going to
exit via the west gate and made a bad turn-Plan A), there was one security
guard and one other official vehicle at the ramp to the boardwalk. They left
after a few minutes, thankfully. We made out like beach goers, got to the
beach, found the bird with bins and scooted back to the car.
So be forewarned.
Thanks to all who have kept the string of sightings posted and to Todd Day
who made special efforts to make sure people knew about the bird ASAP.
Bill Williams
