Day One: No amount of anticipation could make waking at 3:30am for the commute to Newark Airport for our 5:30am flight worth it. I don't care how often Cindy told me that visiting her parents in Sanibel would reset my bar on what good birding is; I was miserable as I stepped into NJ's 15° polar vortex. Even the steaming hot coffee turned cold within minutes of the drive. I was not happy.

Having painstakingly reviewed the ABA listserv and eBird, corresponding with local birders and researching the areas hot spots I had a hit list ready to go. Still, I remained dubious that I could see even 1/10 of the amazing life birds I had researched.

Two flights, six cups of coffee and a Dr. Pepper later we landed in Fort Meyers, bloated, tired but anxious to see birds. I asked our host if we could stop briefly at Bunche Beach so I could scope out how much work it was going to take to find the reported Long-billed Curlew. She graciously acceded and off we went, arriving 30 minutes later.

Walking the short distance from the parking lot to the beach, the warm Florida sun and blue sky view began to relax my ever-present NorthEastern stress. Maybe it would be a good trip flashed through my mind.

And then life changed.

As I stepped onto the sand I gazed right and there, before me, in the low tide surf, was a lifer Long-billed Curlew. How could this be? You have to work for life birds. By habit, I had taken my camera with me and quickly flicking it on and checking the settings I took tentative steps forward, watching to ensure I would not spook the bird. Imagine my surprise when the bird began to walk towards me! Brazen and fearless, it approached within ten feet of my shocked and motionless roost. Crouching slowly to get to eye level, I steadied the camera and began shooting.

Many who know me might be shocked, but I cried in wonder and happiness at this amazing encounter. Never did I expect such a beautiful creature to allow me to share its space in such proximity. What I didn't know was that this was just a tinged foreshadow of how one of the most incredible weeks of my life would go.

I hope you enjoy.