The Vagrant
A rookie response to Book of Serenity Case #1: The World-Honored One Ascends the Seat
I reach the bridge and see the line-up of birders, and know I’ve found the spot.
The White Wagtail was reported a few days ago and we don’t expect it to stay long. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America says that the White Wagtail is “Uncommon and local in western Alaska, where it nests among large boulders. Solitary. Forages on open ground along edges of ponds and lagoons.”
This bird foraging along the edge of Rodeo Lagoon in the Marin Headlands has caused quite a stir. It’s been here for two days and no one expects it to stay for long. A frantic email popped through on the bird list earlier this morning. “Which parking lot at the lagoon? There are two!” — Dea is worried she’ll miss it.
We line the eastern bank and bridge. I see someone I know, Scott, and he offers me a glimpse through his scope.
But the bird has disappeared. We laugh. Just my luck.
We move further south for a different angle. Then the bird appears again, at the edge of the reeds, easy to see in my binoculars. It moves quickly. I get a closer look through the scope, too. It dashes in and out of the reeds as it feeds. An excited man in a floppy hat calls out every time…
