Having a much older, much more experienced person tell you you're doing well in your shared hobby is better than crack, especially when the hobby tends to be 80% retired ppl. Like, hell yeah I'm gonna get a good grade in birdwatching and I'm not even 50. Child prodigy moment
Spotted a bird today that turned out to be a yellow-bellied sapsucker (uncommon here this time of year apparently) and received several "well spotted!"s and "good find!"s. You wish you were me