Sassafras Mountain
South Carolina
May 2013
A Highpointers bench has been placed here at the top of Sassafras Mountain, the high point of South Carolina, perfect for Lisa to lie down and take a nap, which she does.
It’s a thing. Whenever you get to the top, or to water, or to a broad flat rock on a hike, somebody in your group inevitably will lie down and take a nap. I don’t know what that is.
Lisa’s nap is shortened by a voice, “Excuse me, excuse me. Sorry to interrupt your quiet space, but I just saw a black throated green. Did you see it?”
Lisa wakes at this voice. I expect she is thinking, “No, I didn’t see your black throated green. I was sleeping. My eyes were closed. I always keep my eyes closed while sleeping, y’know?”
“Look at this picture,” the woman with the voice continues. “I couldn’t get a photo of the one here — it’s such a rare species — but I’ve got one here on my phone. They are so elusive. Look at that! Oh, and I can play its sound for you. Wait a minute. Hold on. Here it is.” She plays the call of the black throated green on her handheld.
“The black throated green is on my life list and I have finally seen one. Oh happy day!
“They told me to come to the top but I didn’t want to ‘cause I figured the birds would be the same anywhere but I came to the top anyway and they were right. I saw a black throated green. It’s a warbler. I’m so excited! My first one. I’m gonna come back to the top a lot.”
I dare say that this is the first time Lisa and I see a black throated green, except we didn’t see it. It is however, the first time we see someone who’s seen a black throated green, that’s for sure.
If you have ever seen a black throated green, you may have noticed something… suspicious.
The black throated green is black and brown and white with a startlingly bright yellow head. I’m no expert, but… Well, it’s probably called a black throated green for a reason… Without any green body parts though, well, I just don’t know.
N’wait, it looks like it does have some green, a bit on the head and shoulders. Okay, you can go.
Congratulations to our birdwatching, summiting, sleep-disturbing enthusiast, who can identify a Highpointing bird with no sense of color.