It’s that time of year again. The winter solstice is rapidly
approaching, which means the days will soon be growing longer. And THAT means spring
migration is right around the corner, and…
Before I get ahead of myself, it would be fun to look back
on 2013. I came into the year determined to throw down 500 eBird checklists.
That didn’t happen. Life got in the way of birding through the mid-summer and I’m
rolling into the New Year with 270 lists. Still, there were good birds all year
and some new birding destinations were explored.
Northern Harrier, Muskegon County, Michigan in November |
My first bird of the year was a Rock Pigeon (two of them,
actually) that flew over my house on January 1. My last year bird was a Purple
Sandpiper on November 30th. That was a glorious victory, having not
gotten one since 2011, and my lovely wife had been looking for her lifer ever
since I snagged one on a solo trip. The total stands at 330 birds for 2013, and
isn’t likely to change unless something extraordinary happens in Michigan in
the next 18 days. (Gyrfalcon, please!)
This fledgling House Wren was impersonating a Kiwi in Arizona's Santa Catalina Mountains. |
I birded in some weather extremes this year. February found
me in Chippewa County, Michigan looking at a Great Gray Owl with the
thermometer at -7°F (-22°C). Six months
later I caught sight of a Greater Roadrunner crossing a dirt road in Saguaro
National Park with the mercury reading 108°F (42°C).
I got to bird eight states this year (Michigan, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and New Mexico). Didn’t
make it out of the country.
Great Gray Owls make sub-zero temperatures feel like a warm blanket...almost. |
What was the best day of birding in 2013? I have five
candidates for that title:
February 16. Driving around Chippewa County, Michigan
ticking boreal birds right and left. A Great Gray Owl, A Northern Hawk-owl, and
more Snowy Owls than you could shake your binoculars at. And Pine Grosbeaks –
my favorite finch!
Northern Hawk-owls also warm up a birding outing...who am I kidding, it was COLD! |
April 29. Exploring Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. A day
that begins in a forest literally littered with Red-headed Woodpeckers is bound
to be a great one. It ended with a late-afternoon walk through the sycamores of
a river valley with Yellow-throated Warblers so unconcerned with our presence
they took to copulating within arm’s reach at one point. (Sorry, no pictures of
that. It happens really fast.)
When Red-headed Woodpeckers are the trash bird, it's a good place. (Indiana Dunes) |
June 2. I wrote about this here last month. An absolutely perfect day in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge.
August 18. A hike up Madera Canyon in Arizona’s Santa Rita
Mountains. We were searching for Elegant Trogon, but failed to find any. Still,
this day makes the Top 5 list. Plumbeous Vireos serenaded us as Magnificent Hummingbirds
buzzed by our heads like miniature yet insanely maneuverable helicopters.
Arizona Woodpecker and Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher lifers rounded out the day.
Not a Great Gray Owl, nor a Hawk-owl, but a Gray Hawk! |
November 30. The aforementioned Purple Sandpiper lifer for
Sarah started off our day in Muskegon County, Michigan. We had a birding
newcomer in the car with us who racked up six lifers. In fact, of four people
in the car, I was the only one without a lifer on the day, and I was just fine
with that. The only thing that rivals the thrill of getting a lifer is getting
one for someone else and watching them go bonkers.
This Northern Flicker really wants me to eBird hard in 2014 |
Goals for next year?
- Get the ABA list over 500 (49 to go!).
- Enter 500 checklists at eBird.
- Have fun birding, wherever and with whomever. See you out there in 2014!
Sounds like a good year even if you didn't achieve all your goals. The bird recording list that I use in Australia is merging with eBird in February so I'll be using it too then, but don't know about 500 lists!
ReplyDeleteTon post est tout à fait charmant et j'aime beaucoup!
ReplyDeleteVery attractive comment! I like your blog,
Thank you for your visit and for your kind comments on my pages, Thank you, have a nice day!
Your bird pictures are really amazing. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteLove your bird pix for 2013! Thank you for sharing and for encouraging me to work on a checklist! That will be my birding goal for 2014!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and goals! Good luck in 2013. any trips planned to help you get the 49?
ReplyDeleteThe flicker wanted to show you his good side. Looks like you had a good year. But burr!
ReplyDeleteVery exciting finds in lovely cool temps!
ReplyDeleteYou've got some fabulous bird shots here Eileen. Birding offers so much to so many.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to send you my best wishes for a Very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!
A Very Happy Holidays and if you celebrate Christmas, then a Very Merry Christmas :-). Also, have a great New Year.
ReplyDelete