Two steps away.

Not much trumps snapping turtles, but New York City is full of surprises. There was an awesome snapping turtle in the Turtle Pond in Central Park today - I'd gone for a walk instead of hitting the gym since it was so nice out, and spotted one of the awesome living tanks that are snapping turtles.

Then I found the thing which trumped that for cool and unusual encounters, which - who, really - was an eight-year-old birdwatcher. Maybe nine, definitely in the single digits. He went on about being so excited to finally see a Great Egret because that meant he'd seen all three species in the park, and casually chatted about Pale Male, and we talked a bit about herons and birding being a lot of being in the right spot in the right time. As incidental encounters go, it's one of the better ones I've had.

The day followed with cedar waxwings and feral mulberries in the Ramble, and a coffee drink made tastier for being told I'd ordered it just in time as the shop was about to close.

And now I've got to get to bed about three hours before I'd like, as I need to be up early to make sure I get to Ellis to talk to my supervisor. I'm not looking forward to it all that much, but it beats the alternative of epic avoidance.