A local birder (actually, me)reports that she was surrounded by a horde of bird species at a local marsh over the weekend and had to defend herself with a Kowa 663 spotting scope. Apparently she wandered into a birding "hotspot" located in the grassland between the marsh shore and an adjoining tree line, when she spotted Field Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Tree Sparrows in the grass and brush. The invasion continued when she turned her attention to the tree line behind her and spotted Eastern Bluebirds, a lone Nashville Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Ruby crowned Kinglets, American Goldfinches. Rubbing her tired eyes, she inadvertently turned her attention to the marsh and added a pair of Black Ducks, a flock of Northern Shovellers, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, American Widgeon, Pied-billed Grebes, American Coots, a Sora Rail, and several other species she did not have time to record.

When asked how she escaped, she reported that she had to go to the bathroom, so the birds mercifully allowed her a break in the action. When she had returned, however, the invasion had passed. She promised to return next week, though, and get a record of other species known to frequent the area. Her last words were, "Thank heavens for my spotting scope. I would not have survived without it."