A Sooty Tern announces its plans for landing to its flockmates. All photos today are from Midway Atoll.
Three weeks left back in the states before I go down to Mexico again (which now sounds more like masochism and less like a vacation), so I better get deep back into blogging. Get all the nerdiness out of my system for a couple months, you know what I'm saying...but who am I kidding? I've got far too much geek in me to do that. Who will want to trade obscure and embarrassing Star Wars quotes if no one speaks English? Who will care that Choking Victim, Leftover Crack and Star Fucking Hipsters all share some of the same members? Who will be able to sing the newly-classic (thanks to Youtube and Schmoyoho) "Double Rainbow" song with me? Who will endure my revolting and heretical "what-would-you-rathers"? I don't know what I will do with myself.
Grey-backed Terns are the less numerous and more pleasant relatives of Sooty Terns.
For some reason I think this picture is really funny. White Tern.
Well, as promised, I'm going back to the bank for some photos for ya'll. I really, really wish that wasn't the case....but it is what it is. What have you guys been up to? I mean, what do you people do when not absorbing wisdom from BB&B? Do I even want to know? Since these are not questions I can readily answer, I will dispense some advice based on stories and experiences from our roadtrip.
1) If you have something on your finger that looks like "weird mud", do not smell it or wipe it on your pants.
2) If you think the world is about to end, you should probably do some weird stuff before its too late.
3) If someone breaks up with you, its not worth killing yourself over.
4) It someone asks you about a threesome in another language, do not agree to it unless you really want to.
5) If you walk off by yourself and see a flock of Azure-hooded Jays and a Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, your friends will all see Strong-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers. No one will be able to find the other people's birds again. You'll just have to live with it.
6) Corn Crakes and Northern Jacanas are not similar.
7) Dogs and guans are not similar.
8) Unicolored Jays are the best birds in the world.
9) Canavet's Emeralds are best viewed hawking insects off your nose.
10) Don't ever assume a towering, unforgiving tope (speed bump) won't pointlessly be around the next corner.
Right. That's it for now I reckon. Have a raging weekend!
A more typical view of a White Tern.
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ReplyDeleteI'll gladly endure more would you rathers and MFKs! Already avidly looking at west Mexico for next year.
ReplyDelete=) Most amusing post. Looked up the jay, found http://www.antpitta.com/images/photos/jays/gallery_jays.htm, and have decided I hate you. OMG!!! I'm going to go bash my head with the big Sibleys and take a long, pouting bath. =) Stunnninnnnng.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I think the 1st white tern is asking "Papa?" (either that, or "Are you food?")
Will be praying for the safety of your future camera so we can all enjoy your impending exploits.
P.S. One bird I saw and almost no one else in our group did I only saw 'cause I had to go to the bathroom SO badly, I could not go into a "shop" (shack in hills) with friends. So sat, focused on staying civilized, and then noticed an amazing creature hopping in the trees above me. =) Ya never know.
@Frank - Im getting traveler's insurance next time.
ReplyDelete@BB - Dont worry, I got terrible looks at them so it wasnt exactly a bath-worthy experience. I think the White Tern was thinking more along the lines of "Fuck Off", but it just looks too cute for that to come across. What was your bathroom bird???
@SS: It's not rare, the black-headed saltator (were in Belize or Guatemala), but I'd definitely not seen it before. I THINK maybe everyone else saw it after they came back outside 'cause I blabbed excitedly, but cannot remember. Either way, I felt very richly rewarded for my brief suffering. =)
ReplyDelete