“Thus, I surrender the binoculars!” – Captain Ahab’s closing phrases (paraphrased)
I’ve been slightly lucky in my birding existence in that I don’t have a unmarried nemesis fowl that has vexed me. Certain, I didn’t find it irresistible in 2007 when I used to be doing a (now not very) giant 12 months in New York and Black-backed Woodpecker would now not cooperate for me. However I had observed one in 2006 and I’ve since observed them two times extra so the species by no means rose to the extent of nemesis fowl for me. I imply, certain, I’ve had my percentage of dips however none of them have been a couple of makes an attempt at a unmarried species that didn’t finally end up in victory inside 3 makes an attempt. As a substitute of getting a unmarried arch enemy like Joker is to Batman or Child Gerald is to Maggie Simpson I’ve a number of species which are drawing near nemesis fowl standing. Under I percentage my 5 nemesis birds to be. I will have to see them earlier than they succeed in complete nemesis standing, identical to I did with Black Guillemot.
However, first, a snappy clarification of what, precisely, a nemesis fowl is. One smart birder has outlined a nemesis fowl as “A fowl that has eluded a birder regardless of a number of efforts to look it.”
I believe that definition works however I believe that there’s a bit extra to it. A nemesis fowl is frustration. A nemesis fowl is anger. A nemesis fowl is what makes checklist extra than simply checking containers on a tick list. A nemesis fowl offers that means to a birder. And when a nemesis fowl is observed, smartly, perhaps it will be higher in case your binoculars have been lashed to the beast and it dragged you all the way down to the watery deeps. As a result of what do you do after you have observed a nemesis fowl? What’s going to give your birding that means?
However I don’t intend to let issues get that a ways. No, I can persevere and spot each and every of those birds at my subsequent alternative. In a different way, they’ll turn into true nemesis birds.
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher – I haven’t made a ton of effort to search out this type of. However I did chase one again in 2009 that I dipped on. The following person who gave the impression used to be out on Lengthy Island when I used to be in Cape Might. I’ve been in Honduras in iciness, when the birds must be there, and not discovered one. Ditto for Costa Rica. I’ve by no means stumbled throughout one in every of my time birding. It is a gaping hollow on my existence checklist that will have to be stuffed. If I make another devoted twitch after a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and fail to search out it this shall be a nemesis evidently!
- Resplendant Quetzal – Certain, I’ve most effective had two actual makes an attempt at Resplendant Quetzal. The primary, again in 2009, used to be when I used to be in Honduras. The someday we have been to get into habitat for the fowl there used to be a mudslide blocking off the street and I by no means even were given to the right kind elevation. The second one, on my fresh travel to Costa Rica, got here on the flawed time of 12 months to pin down quetzals evidently, a minimum of within the a part of the rustic I used to be in. We nonetheless attempted to search out them and failed miserably, regardless that we did to find moderately a couple of different species on likely-looking, fruiting timber. This fowl is drawing near nemesis standing each as a result of the screw ups to look and since it’s such an excellent and wonderful fowl to look.
I console myself after lacking quetzals by way of purchasing magnets.
- American Dipper – Sure, I’ve observed Brown Dipper in Kazakhstan and White-capped Dippers in Ecuador however by hook or by crook I’m lacking the one dipper present in the US, the American Dipper. I’ve seemed for them in southern California in iciness a number of occasions, I’ve seemed for them in Washington in summer time, and I’ve seemed for them in Costa Rica this month. However I haven’t discovered them. It would make sense linguistically to steadily dip on dippers however this is small comfort to this birder who’s American Dipper-less.
That is an American Dipper by way of Redgannet, who most definitely wonders what the massive deal is.
- Whimbrel (in Queens) – I’ve if truth be told observed a lot of Whimbrel. Simply in New York State I’ve observed 8 other Whimbrel. However I’ve by no means controlled to look one in my house borough of Queens regardless of there being a minimum of twenty-one other sightings of Whimbrel since I moved right here in 2008. It’s absurd that I’ve observed Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Purple-necked Stint, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, and Upland Sandpiper, to call among the higher shorebirds I’ve noticed in Queens, and now not observed a Whimbrel. If I don’t set up one in Queens in 2015 then Whimbrel shall be a nemesis fowl evidently.
- Black Woodpecker – It is a fowl that has eluded me on two journeys to Germany – either one of which incorporated exploring forests the place they have been intended to be provide – and a travel to a area of Hungary the place they’re intended to be not unusual. In Hungary I controlled to trace down White-backed Woodpecker, allegedly a a lot more tough fowl to look, however by no means noticed a Black Woodpecker. My loss of a Black Woodpecker has introduced Jochen an infinite quantity of amusement (That’s one in every of his photographs on the best of this publish.) and now Dragan is stepping into at the act as smartly. This fowl, I believe, has if truth be told already reached nemesis fowl standing. No, make that Nemesis Chook standing, in capitals, as I in point of fact, in point of fact, in point of fact need to see one. Every time I am getting to Europe once more this shall be my most-wanted fowl. And if I dip once more…smartly, that doesn’t even undergo desirous about. I higher now not omit this fowl once more.
What’s your nemesis fowl? Do you might have a plan to look it? See you within the feedback…