A Life Lister and Blind Luck

Today's "Birding By Ear 101" at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve had a couple of happy moments. One being the sighting of a pair of Summer Tanagers nesting close to the Center. The other: my spotting of a Swainson's Thrush in the bottomlands during the program walk. It is a life lister for me (unreal...they're not uncommon) and I almost let it go. The Swainson's is strictly a migrant in the southeast and when found here is typically hanging around in high-value plant stands. In fact, super-naturalist Mark Johns pointed out this Persimmon (shown in photo) as the place where said Swainson's was holing up during the past three days. We didn't see the Thrush here, but in the adjacent bottomlands. And I made the spot. At first, I nearly waived off, thinking myself on an American Robin. But I held on and in sheer blind luck came away with the score. The Swainson's remained visible for a few minutes and was heard calling for a little longer than that. And by next weekend will be well on its way north. Lesson(s)? #1. Don't blow off the "common" birds too soon...you may have something else. #2. Do regular birding with a pro. My ID, without Mark, would have been on a more likely possibility like a Wood Thrush (also heard today) Now I have a little more experience seeing this new species. And #3, appreciate that lucky moments come. They're special prizes.