ML603088721
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Observation details
This was my most anticipated stop of the trip, a stop that I’ve been dreaming about since before I knew existed, a spot that hosted the most adorable and admirable bird in the world—the American Dipper living in LeHardy Rapids. Ever since I knew dippers existed, I was hooked on watching them dip through rushing streams. I once described them as “a fat catbird that can swim.” Being my #1 most wanted bird in the world and somewhat a nemesis from previous attempts elsewhere, dippers remained elusive to me. LeHardy Rapids, according to eBird data, guaranteed a dipper sighting at this time. I arrived at 2:19 in hot pursuit of the bird I knew was there. Knowing their habits, I decided to take the less likely route and check the slightly less running stream (more like jogging) to build up anticipation. Suddenly, a quick little bird flapped up the river and landed on the bank, bobbing its tail. Hoping for dipper, I looked closer and saw a Spotted Sandpiper. Continuing to scan every walk and every distant water molecule, I spotted a few Harlequin Ducks lazing around on the water’s stones. Although the females were still subtly beautiful, I could not distract myself from the task at hand—dipper search. Thus, I continued scanning the water. Fifteen minutes passed and all I had seen were a few dipper-coloured juncos dashing around on the other side of the stream. I eventually moved onto the more likely side of the river, the bend with the real rapids. Scanning each and every rock and fallen branch in the river revealed zero dippers and one Harlequin Duck. A few Spotted Sandpipers provided false hope for a dipper. Nutcrackers scolded in the distance and juncos chirped outside of their nests, but no dippers made any noise. Still retaining hope, I walked down the wooden bridge and downstream from the real rapids. There, several mergansers sat along the bank of a little island. A few grey birds dashed around the trees—only junco, albeit Pink-sided. Every rock looked sad and bare without a dipper on it, like a bear without a friend. The stream wept for lack of dipper and sobbed against the bank. Do you know that feeling where you research something forever and you dedicate so much of your energy towards it in anticipation for a spectacular moment, then your world is crushed by thinking that it may never happen? I was thinking that, but I still held on hope for a sliver of aspiration still sparked inside me. I knew I had to wait for this bird no matter what it took. Eventually, I left the spot and went up towards the real rapids. As the rest of my party began admonishing me for the delay, I noticed a little grey figure on a fallen branch in the river. To my utter disbelief and exhilaration, I looked closer to find a great, glorious American Dipper resting right as the water crashed around the bend. I yelled out for the world to know, “DIPPER!!!!!” and began filming it preening. Honestly, I sort of expected dippers to act less pompous than Harlequin Ducks but who can blame them. After all, the continent’s only truly aquatic songbird must take a little break once or twice a day. I watched this dipper sit and preen, opening its wings and sighing with its beak. Undisturbed and even energized by the rapid water, it sat perfectly content. A few seconds later, it disappeared behind this log. I thought I had lost it, but with the same determination from earlier I relocated it around the back, preening the same way as before. Eventually, it dipped around and trotted straight through the water before disappearing into the stream. I never had the opportunity to watch it swim, but I had the gracious opportunity to be in the company of a sensational bird.
Technical information
- Camera
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 96.11 MB