Embarrassing Birds
As a birder, I keep a list of all the birds I've seen. I have a second list too: Birds I Haven't Seen That Are Embarrassing Not To Have Seen.

Because they're common and everyone else on earth has seen them a million times.

Up until today, I'd never seen a Belted Kingfisher, which is a very common bird at streamsides and lakes, and which I've been assured has been seen many times at places where I have been many times, but never saw one.

Today I went on a Mojave Bird Club Trip to Jess Ranch (a sort of nasty little "outdoors recreation" spot with fake lakes stocked with hapless trout), and a rattling call came from the trees. One of the group leaders said it was a kingfisher. I said, tell me if you see it, because (blush, draw designs with toe in dirt) I've never seen one.

A little while later, She Appeared.

Some bird sightings are disappointing. You know you've seen whatever it was, but only because you recognized a feature at a distance.

The Belted Kingfisher, female, exploded from the trees and flew around the lake in circles, rattling, flashing blue-and-white wings. "Look at me! See me! I am blue and white and red! I have a crest on my head! Fish fear me! See me!" 

http://www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/Photography/Photographs2002/Birds.jpg

There was nothing disappointing about that bird.

Next on Embarrassing List: Swainson's Hawk (Migrates through California in kettles of hundreds... when I'm not looking.)

See me! See me!