Consider the following identity $$\sum_{n=0}^{R-t}\binom{n+\ell}n\binom{R-\ell-n}{R-t-n}=\binom{R+1}{t+1}.\tag1$$ It is relatively easy to give an algebraic or mechanical proof of (1). But, I like to ask:

QUESTION. is there a combinatorial reason why the sum in (1) is independent of $\ell$?