White Sox vs. Twins — September 25, 1990

Posted on September 25, 1990 by Roger

I went to the game with three friends. The big excitement was that the Sox wore their new uniforms for the first time.

Sammy Sosa went 0 for 3 as the White Sox right fielder.

The Sox lost the game 4-3.

soxorioles3435

soxtwins1500 soxtwins2501

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Cubs vs. Pirates — September 19, 1990

Posted on September 19, 1990 by Roger

I remember absolutely nothing about this game, but I have a scorecard in my handwriting and a ticket. I must have gone. The Cubs lost 8-7. (Mildly interesting fact — exactly four years before this day, on September 19, 1986, I was at a Cubs/Pirates game at Wrigley Field.)

cubsprogram90422 cubspirates499

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Bird #338 — Merlin

Posted on September 3, 1990 by Roger

falco (hawk) columbarius (doves)

Monday, September 3, 1990 — 7:35 am

Manotowish Waters, Wisconsin — Powell Marsh Wildlife Area

On Monday morning, I drove to Powell Marsh. It was a cool, windy day, and there wasn’t much to see. I was in the center of the marsh looking at a feeding flock of Canada Geese when I spotted a small, dark falcon flying in a straight line about 15 feet off the ground. It flew behind a large sand hill and didn’t reappear.

A few minutes later I spotted it again, flying low over the marsh. Its long tail and pointed wings clearly marked it as a falcon. It continued flying in a low line for about 300 yards then landed on a branch about 15 feet off the ground in the only tree in the entire area ( a dead pine, I think).

I walked back toward my car. When the road passed within 100 yards of the tree, I cut across the field toward it, stopping every few yards to look. I got within 50 yards and then reached a wet part of the marsh. I set up my scope, kneeled in the mud, and watched.

The bird was facing me, preening its wing feathers once in a while, and looking around. It was dark brown, with a heavily streaked breast. It lacked a strong facial pattern, but had an eyebrow stripe. On two or three occasions, it flapped to another branch in the tree, giving me a good view of its narrowly-banded brown and buff tail with a white terminal band. Not long after I kneeled, I pulled out my Peterson’s to review the field marks. When I looked up, the Merlin had disappeared.

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Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Tennessee

Posted on July 24, 1990 by Roger

As the final stop on a long, exciting but exhausting vacation, we spent two nights in a sleazy motel in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We spent all morning on this day seeing the sites on Lookout Mountain — Rock City, Ruby Falls, the Incline Railroad and, of course, the battlefield. What there was of it.

We toured the Craven House, where Union soldiers overwhelmed a much smaller Confederate force. The house was destroyed during the war, but rebuilt on the same foundation immediately after. My wife enjoyed looking at the period furniture. I enjoyed the view from the kids’ bedroom upstairs. Imagine being a kid and being able to look out your bedroom window onto a spectacular view of Chattanooga, the Tennessee River, and the mountains.

We then drove up to Point Park and hung around there for exactly 30 minutes. I know this because that’s how much time we had on our parking meter and a cop on a motorcycle (prominently marked “Meter Patrol”) was hovering around the area handing out tickets like candy. We hiked around the tip of the mountain. Then, while I made a quick swing through the small museum, my wife and daughter went to a gift shop and bought T-shirts. I beat them back to the car and watched in frustration (and with no loose change) as the meter ran out. My wife had the car keys. It was just a matter of who showed up first, her or the cop. My wife won.

Later I took a photo of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge from the balcony of our sleazy motel. Note the barb-wire fence around the parking lot.

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Bird #337 — Wood Stork

Posted on July 21, 1990 by Roger

mycteria (nose or snout) americana (of America)

Saturday, July 21, 1990 — 4:50 pm

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina — Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive

I drove the entire length of the wildlife drive and only found the one flock of waders. It was about 100 yards off the road, but it was the best the refuge had to offer. I still had time before I told my wife I’d be back to the hotel, so I went around again. When I got back to my old spot, I pulled over again to take another look. This time I got a better view by standing on the door step and putting my scope on the roof of the car.

An immature Wood Stork was standing in the shallow flats in the middle of the flock. It stood with its bill pointed downward, resting it against its neck. It occasionally preened its feathers. On two occasions I saw it open its massive yellowish bill and take half-hearted swipes at egrets that flew over too close for its comfort.

For a short time, the Wood Stork, a Great Egret, and a Snowy Egret were standing in line in order of height. The stork towered over the other birds.

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