Steve Sanford
Well-known member
Good morning, All~
I drove down to Long Island yesterday - to prepare for the LIDCA Show in Hauppauge tomorrow. I left 4 inches of new snow and single digits with a chock-full Forester and found a clear-skied Winter day and dry ground here in Suffolk County. Craig Kessler and I discharged numerous last-minute tasks for the Show, re-installed the stern seat in his CASSIOPEIA - and helped a grad student band over 80 Broadbill on Great South Bay. Actually, they were mostly Lessers - so I suppose I should call them Bluebill.... We worked 'til well after dark and were rewarded with a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl's moth-like flight about 20 yards behind us. Photos (trapping) to follow in a separate post when I have time.
As for my "work bench" - I spent most of February preparing exhibits for tomorrow's Show. But, I did find the time to re-paint these two balsa Wildfowlers for a friend. I had first re-painted them in the early 1980s - and the pair is now destined to end their days rigged on a shelf.....
View attachment Dow Wildfowlers 01 Pic sm.JPG
This pair came from The Bench of George Williams Himself - many years ago. They had seen a fair bit of service and called out for some fresh plumage. So, here is what G. Williams Mallids look like with a Sanford paint job (apologies to George!):
View attachment GW - Sarno Mallares 01 Pic sm.JPG
George: I did not re-paint the bottoms - and so your signature remains intact. I'd like to photograph both pairs on Great South Bay if I can find the time before delivering them tomorrow.
All the best,
SJS
I drove down to Long Island yesterday - to prepare for the LIDCA Show in Hauppauge tomorrow. I left 4 inches of new snow and single digits with a chock-full Forester and found a clear-skied Winter day and dry ground here in Suffolk County. Craig Kessler and I discharged numerous last-minute tasks for the Show, re-installed the stern seat in his CASSIOPEIA - and helped a grad student band over 80 Broadbill on Great South Bay. Actually, they were mostly Lessers - so I suppose I should call them Bluebill.... We worked 'til well after dark and were rewarded with a glimpse of a Short-eared Owl's moth-like flight about 20 yards behind us. Photos (trapping) to follow in a separate post when I have time.
As for my "work bench" - I spent most of February preparing exhibits for tomorrow's Show. But, I did find the time to re-paint these two balsa Wildfowlers for a friend. I had first re-painted them in the early 1980s - and the pair is now destined to end their days rigged on a shelf.....
View attachment Dow Wildfowlers 01 Pic sm.JPG
This pair came from The Bench of George Williams Himself - many years ago. They had seen a fair bit of service and called out for some fresh plumage. So, here is what G. Williams Mallids look like with a Sanford paint job (apologies to George!):
View attachment GW - Sarno Mallares 01 Pic sm.JPG
George: I did not re-paint the bottoms - and so your signature remains intact. I'd like to photograph both pairs on Great South Bay if I can find the time before delivering them tomorrow.
All the best,
SJS
] By the time I gear up with a Double Bull enclosed blind, calls, shells (only need one, right), chair, gun and four to six foam decoys, I'm not sure I can add a bird to my load on the way out.
