Thanks for the Scope Offers

Nothing new on the bird front, but it is certainly heartwarming to know that there are some really nice people out there.  I have been offered the use of a scope with no strings attached by three different people.  At present I'm just hanging in there and using my larger Leica scope when I can work out of the car (and not leave it behind!).  I have contacted our insurance company and under our homeowners policy it looks as if I'll be able to recover some funds which can be used toward the purchase of a replacement scope, probably next year.  In the meantime I'm enjoying being home and checking out the birds in the backyard with a cup of coffee, of course.  I'm trying to get over to Kiptopeke, but I haven't made it yet, because I've been getting some chores done and preparing for the West Coast pelagic trip this coming weekend.  I've also kept my eye on the Rare Bird Alerts and have seen Jack Snipe (AK) and Wood Sandpiper (BC) be recent one-day wonders, so no chase has been  possible.  Several other sightings around the country were of birds whose identity could not be corroborated, so I rejected them.  Right now there's an unconfirmed sighting from NV posted on ebird of a Fork-tailed Flycatcher.  I could stop on the way to CA and have a go at it IF it turns out to be genuine and stays put long enough to be seen again.  Meanwhile there are the baseball playoff games.  Yahoo!