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From Flagstaff this morning I went down to Mormon Lake, about 30 miles south, to search for Common Crane, a Eurasian species that has been here for several months and was here two years ago. There is exactly one Common Crane in all of North America right now. The only problem is that birders are getting very distant views, if that. The lake must measure three miles across and five long.

The first obstacle was a road closure for construction, forcing me to go around the south end of the lake and up the western side. As I approached the pull-out where you do your searching, the road was closed. I deferentially told the flag lady that this must be where I turn around. She said yes but asked me where I was going. I told her I was looking for a rare bird on the lake that other people had been seeing. She let me in, but only as far as the pull-out. Memo to the world – when you show a little deference to authority you are likely to get a better result. I know this – I used to be the authority. Now I’m just a retired bird watcher. If I had argued with her, the road would have been closed. I scanned the lake from the pull-out for over and hour without luck. I still had a long drive ahead through Phoenix and Tucson at mid-day in mid-August. The nearby bushes were teaming with migratory song birds, including a likely Cassin’s Vireo that I still need but I’ll hold on to that one for now.

As I passed through Phoenix at 12:30 pm, my car thermometer reached 114 F. In Tucson, by way of comparison, it was a refreshing and airy 110 F, and here in Sierra Vista, it is a teeth-chattering 94 degrees. Oh do I already miss Opechee Bay….