Bird Watching: A Journey into Birdland .........., 1 by linthicum

linthicum wrote:
Following retirement, I began a hobby of bird photography with a goal to photograph as many birds as I could that reside or have visited in the state of Maryland. For the record, if I didn't photograph it, I didn't see it.

To date, my personal life documented photo gallery consists of 120+ birds. I have a long way to go but it provides me with an objective although probably out of reach. I don't want to turn a passion into work so I limit my time and travel somewhat. There are some serious birders out there so someone may want to start a thread specifically to reflect on one's individual life list, whether or not photographed. If only I was younger .... and rich. With over 8,500 birds in the world, wouldn't it be an overwhelming experience to have seen just half that many ?

Anyway, it's nothing wrong with dreaming ......... In the past week, I was able to photograph a few birds that I didn't have. To some, they may be common and in their "backyard". But, within my world, they were a first.

Here are some photographs taken within the past two weeks.

The first photograph is that of a Black-necked Stilt and a new one to my (photo) list. The location where I photographed it is one of only two nesting sites in the state of Maryland.