I drove in the freezing cold winter with my buddy from Long Island to Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, to see the Steller's Sea Eagle. Cost was ferry, gas, hotels, and food, so around $800 or so. Found the bird very quickly and had great views behind the town post office. The locals were annoyed with the crowd in their post office parking lot, getting in their way.
Congrats on finding the Gray Gull!!! Awesome! I made a similar trek on June 9, 2004. I made a round trip expedition in less than 1 day. I flew from Houston Tx. to Pharr Tx. to see a bird that was it's first record sighting ever in Texas (maybe US). It was a Black-Headed Nightingale Thrush. Pharr is located right on the US & Mexico border. I left Houston early in the morning and returned the same evening. It was definitely worth the costs of airfare and car rental. Keep up the great videos!
We travel a lot for birding but usually not for a specific bird, always leaving other sites in the area that we would enjoy birding at anyway...EXCEPT! A few winters back, we once went after a smooth billed ani that had be spotted and seemed to be spending the winter at Little Talbot Island SP, just east of Jacksonville FL. We drove from Charlotte NC straight south to the park, about 6 hours. At the entrance booth the attendant, noticing us wearing our binos, asked "So, are you here to see our star attraction??". We enthusiastically answered "YES!" He then gave directions to the specific bathhouse he was hanging around. Driving there, parking, and then seeing a person with a scope on the dunes, we approached and asked "Is that our star?" YES Shortest time ever getting a lifer, less than 15 minutes after arrival at the park. Enjoyed watching him for awhile, then looked at each other and decided to head home, no need to spend the night there. Had dinner, drove north over the GA border til we got tired and stayed there overnight, birding a little on the way back home. Worth it!!! Now for that grooved bill....
Am I the only one frustrated at the fact that it’s surrounded by locals who don’t care or know one bit about it 😩 Great find! I remember hearing about it last year!
I was setting up my scope about a month ago on a laughing gull that was hanging out here in Colorado and I see this kid walking up to it and was just thinking “nonononono don’t do it” He did it
Congratulations on your grey gull !! i flew to gilbert arizona not for a specific bird but to bird in general at Riparian Preserve also so worth the trip.
Great find! As far as if you think it's was worth it, that is definitely your call and yours alone. I drove to from Northern Utah, where I live to Apollo Park near Lancaster, CA. which was roughly a 12 hour, 735 mile trip last year, 2023, to go find a Tundra Bean Goose. Found the goose and it too was not afraid of people and was mixed in with a bunch of tame Mallard ducks and Canada geese. I was able to get lots of great photos.
Most I've ever spent on a twitch was probably driving 4 hours one way to the small billed elaenia in Chicago a few years ago. Honestly can't even imagine spending $1k on a single bird, even a lifer. For that money, you could easily fly to and spend a week in Costa Rica and see >250 species, but to each their own
I prefer the challenge of keeping it local with patch and county birding and always felt it more rewarding. New county birds just hit different to me. I also like to minimize my carbon footprint when possible and do all my county birding by bike/on foot. That said, I still do enjoy an international trip here and there.
A Great sucessful twitch. My best was on last day birding hol in Cornwall & learnt of Siberian Thrush on Isles of Scilly. Booked 1st flight for next morning, Arriving at airport learnt also a Whites's Thrush there. A 20-min flight, then minibus to the quay and an inter-island boat trip to St Agnes island where a low-tide hike across the 1/4 mile connecting sandbar to island of Gugh where soon had good looks at the Sibe Thrush,. Then back across the sandbar & hike to middle of St Agnes where after 1/2 hr wait the White's Thrush showed well. Enjoy your videos, keep 'em coming!
Great video and looked like a great trip! I drove about 2 hours once to see hummingbirds at a Sanctuary before it had to close down. But hope to do birding trips in the future.
Congratulations on Gray Gull! On an unrelated note, I was wondering if you guys ever planned on birding in Canada? I’ve always been curious what you guys would find exciting :)
I have made many trips to see birds that have been expensive, as to see one species I have driven 500 or 600 to the wintering area of the Ruddy-headed Goose, a threatened species, which luckily I saw and it was a great joy, I can imagine yours when you see the Gay Gull; I never saw this one in particular, I would have to go to Chile, although it would be more than 1000 kilometers of travel and a significant expense for me, anyway you saw the gull and you were also with your girlfriend! You can't complain, haha.
Like my Dad used to say, "Whatever makes you happy!" 🤣 I would never do this for one bird, especially for a gull...just not into gulls. Thanks for a Great video & Congratulations on your quest for a Gray Gull ! 🎉 You're a true Birder ! 💕
If it was worth it to you, it was worth it 🙂👍 I might spend $1000 to see / get good shots of a Great Grey Owl 🙂 This Fall I might spend about $500 to see / get great shots of all 3 species of Rosy Finch 🙂
I drove in the freezing cold winter with my buddy from Long Island to Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, to see the Steller's Sea Eagle. Cost was ferry, gas, hotels, and food, so around $800 or so. Found the bird very quickly and had great views behind the town post office. The locals were annoyed with the crowd in their post office parking lot, getting in their way.
Bet you'll never forget that day for the rest of your life!
Congrats on finding the Gray Gull!!! Awesome! I made a similar trek on June 9, 2004. I made a round trip expedition in less than 1 day. I flew from Houston Tx. to Pharr Tx. to see a bird that was it's first record sighting ever in Texas (maybe US). It was a Black-Headed Nightingale Thrush. Pharr is located right on the US & Mexico border. I left Houston early in the morning and returned the same evening. It was definitely worth the costs of airfare and car rental. Keep up the great videos!
Way to go Derek. When you pursue your passion and get rewarded it is DEFINITELY WORTH IT. BIG CONGRATS 🎉🥳
Wow! I can't stop smiling. So happy for you. 🎉🎉🎉
That's insane! Glad you found it after all that.
Thank you!
I can’t imagine explaining spending this much on a gull to a non-birder 😭
Congrats! A great find for the US
I’m just waiting for the non-borders to find this vid, and seeing their comments haha
I’m a birder, but I still think that’s nuts…
@@frednorman1 to each their own
@@frednorman1are you a birder bird watcher?
We travel a lot for birding but usually not for a specific bird, always leaving other sites in the area that we would enjoy birding at anyway...EXCEPT! A few winters back, we once went after a smooth billed ani that had be spotted and seemed to be spending the winter at Little Talbot Island SP, just east of Jacksonville FL. We drove from Charlotte NC straight south to the park, about 6 hours. At the entrance booth the attendant, noticing us wearing our binos, asked "So, are you here to see our star attraction??". We enthusiastically answered "YES!" He then gave directions to the specific bathhouse he was hanging around. Driving there, parking, and then seeing a person with a scope on the dunes, we approached and asked "Is that our star?" YES Shortest time ever getting a lifer, less than 15 minutes after arrival at the park. Enjoyed watching him for awhile, then looked at each other and decided to head home, no need to spend the night there. Had dinner, drove north over the GA border til we got tired and stayed there overnight, birding a little on the way back home. Worth it!!! Now for that grooved bill....
Wonderful birding adventure and video! Congratulations, I am glad it all worked out so well.
Thank you!
What a wild ride! So glad that all worked out for you. Well worth the trip
Great video Derek. You got a lot done that's for sure!
Definitely maximized the time!
Am I the only one frustrated at the fact that it’s surrounded by locals who don’t care or know one bit about it 😩 Great find! I remember hearing about it last year!
Haha, I think most of the locals just got so used to seeing it all the time that at that point it was nothing new.
I was setting up my scope about a month ago on a laughing gull that was hanging out here in Colorado and I see this kid walking up to it and was just thinking “nonononono don’t do it”
He did it
Been waiting for this video ever since you mentioned it a few weeks ago on the podcast. Congrats and awesome adventure/video!
Bird Paparazzi! Great story, thanks so much!
📸
Congratulations on your grey gull !! i flew to gilbert arizona not for a specific bird but to bird in general at Riparian Preserve also so worth the trip.
@@toddleech1055 thanks, Todd! AZ is the best
Great find! As far as if you think it's was worth it, that is definitely your call and yours alone. I drove to from Northern Utah, where I live to Apollo Park near Lancaster, CA. which was roughly a 12 hour, 735 mile trip last year, 2023, to go find a Tundra Bean Goose. Found the goose and it too was not afraid of people and was mixed in with a bunch of tame Mallard ducks and Canada geese. I was able to get lots of great photos.
Nice! We had our own Tundra Bean Goode adventure in Iowa as well
Most I've ever spent on a twitch was probably driving 4 hours one way to the small billed elaenia in Chicago a few years ago. Honestly can't even imagine spending $1k on a single bird, even a lifer. For that money, you could easily fly to and spend a week in Costa Rica and see >250 species, but to each their own
Ross’ gull in Barrow AK 2001.
So happy for you! Is that your favorite lifer so far?
Got to follow your dreams. This was great, congratulations on the new lifer!,
I prefer the challenge of keeping it local with patch and county birding and always felt it more rewarding. New county birds just hit different to me. I also like to minimize my carbon footprint when possible and do all my county birding by bike/on foot. That said, I still do enjoy an international trip here and there.
A Great sucessful twitch. My best was on last day birding hol in Cornwall & learnt of Siberian Thrush on Isles of Scilly. Booked 1st flight for next morning, Arriving at airport learnt also a Whites's Thrush there. A 20-min flight, then minibus to the quay and an inter-island boat trip to St Agnes island where a low-tide hike across the 1/4 mile connecting sandbar to island of Gugh where soon had good looks at the Sibe Thrush,. Then back across the sandbar & hike to middle of St Agnes where after 1/2 hr wait the White's Thrush showed well. Enjoy your videos, keep 'em coming!
Great video and looked like a great trip! I drove about 2 hours once to see hummingbirds at a Sanctuary before it had to close down. But hope to do birding trips in the future.
Congratulations on Gray Gull! On an unrelated note, I was wondering if you guys ever planned on birding in Canada? I’ve always been curious what you guys would find exciting :)
Yeah we’d love to! Point Pelee is definitely on our list to check out but I’m sure there are a ton of cool spots up there.
I have made many trips to see birds that have been expensive, as to see one species I have driven 500 or 600 to the wintering area of the Ruddy-headed Goose, a threatened species, which luckily I saw and it was a great joy, I can imagine yours when you see the Gay Gull; I never saw this one in particular, I would have to go to Chile, although it would be more than 1000 kilometers of travel and a significant expense for me, anyway you saw the gull and you were also with your girlfriend! You can't complain, haha.
I live near Seattle and have only chases birds in western WA.
Fair
Like my Dad used to say, "Whatever makes you happy!" 🤣 I would never do this for one bird, especially for a gull...just not into gulls. Thanks for a Great video & Congratulations on your quest for a Gray Gull ! 🎉 You're a true Birder ! 💕
@@tvalkyrie haha not the gull disrespect 😂
❤
100% worth it wish I had the money
Definitely would not have done if it we didn’t have the channel as well
According to GOOGLE, the Grey Gull, also known as garuma gull is native to South America.
That is true
I think the fact that you could visit the girlfriend also on the trip played into your decision.😎
It was a big plus! 😂 “oh, no, there’s a bird nearby…guess I have to visit 👀”
If it was worth it to you, it was worth it 🙂👍 I might spend $1000 to see / get good shots of a Great Grey Owl 🙂
This Fall I might spend about $500 to see / get great shots of all 3 species of Rosy Finch 🙂
Should be great trips!
Come on... You could have at least taken Ryan with you! 😅
Haha, I’m pretty sure he was working that week 😂
Pro tip: don’t get a job
-Ryan
Nah screw chasing birds. Just find one yourself 🤩
Why do people, pay money to see birds like the Gray gull?
It wasn’t like an exchange of money to see the bird, I calculated the cost of a trip to go and see it, as described in the video