ML646708718

Observation details

Continuing mega find by Max Epstein on Saturday, December 6th. When I arrived in Montauk about noon, I stopped to get a bowl of hot chili before continuing on to the cold, windy point. I met a birder who explained to me how to find the bird (thanks Laurie!), but I am a visual learner and only remember her saying something about a metal handrail. The only one I found was leading from the upper parking lot to the lighthouse so I started there walking along the road toward the restaurant searching, but only seeing a solitary SOSP. It seemed pretty hopeless because I was the only one there and no birds in sight except for the gulls and water birds. I asked a couple that had been walking around if they saw any photographers in the area recently and they said yes and showed me the general area (just past the handrail). I waited, said a short prayer, and voila! A minute later the Cassin's appeard from the brush slowly advancing through the grass toward the road and directly in front of me. I was very surprised how pale it was giving it an almost ghostly mien. And before I knew it, the bird flew across the street landing at my feet! Totally unafraid. This was a special encounter and I am grateful for the experience. Just as I was leaving the Grasshopper Sparrow it has been associating over the last few days flew over close by too, and at one point I was standing equidistant between a Cassin's and a Grasshopper just 4 or 5 feet away!