Have you seen any Birds on your Wish List this year?

Hi Everyone! I know we are not at the end of the year yet but I figured it would be better to start this thread before the Holidays began. Remember we had a thread back in June asking what were the top 5 birds you wanted on your Life List? Here is a link to that thread to refresh your memory.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/997383/

Since that time were you able to see any of the birds you wanted on your Life List?

I was very lucky so far this year in seeing 3 of the 5 birds on my list ( Roseate Spoonbill, Red Knot and Black-throated Blue Warbler). I'm hoping to see an Owl before the end of the year.

Looking back is there any changes you would like to make to the List of 5 you made in that first thread to make it more obtainable?

I have to give some thought as to the replacement birds for my wish list.

So lets hear about any sightings and/or changes you have!



This message was edited Nov 5, 2009 11:52 AM

My list is still the same and I haven't seen any of them! Pileated woodpeckers are occasionally seen in our area but I haven't seen one. I think that I would have better luck if I went bird watching in a remote conservation area.....doubt that they would ever frequent my yard. I've heard that they are shy.

Oh my gosh I totally screwed up. I was thinking of that other woodpecker (ivory-billed),haha. Off to edit my first post. Thanks sacar!

I've seen Pileateds in my yard and I live 6 miles from downtown Houston, so they are not too shy. I live in an old neighborhood with big old, not well-pruned trees though. That's what you need. As for the Ivory-billed, every time I drive through Louisiana, I look for one -- like they are going to be waiting for me on the side of the road!

I don't think I played top 5 last time. I'm not sure what my top 5 would be, but I really, really wanted to see Sandhill Cranes, and I saw them last week at Brazos Bend. They flew over me, so I have yet to see them on the ground, but I was pretty excited. I also wanted to see a Purple Gallinule and finally did on the same day The other two new ones this year that I really enjoyed were the Summer Tanagers and the Canada Warblers.

I still want to see a Bald Eagle. I've seen them before but not in a long time and not in my area. I went to the park where the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers nest, but it was the wrong time of year to see them. I plan to go back in the spring. I can't believe that their nesting site is right next to the picnic area. I also want to go to Arthur Storey park in the spring and see the Orange Bishops in full color.

I'm editing to add to my want-list that darn Vermilion Flycatcher that everyone (especially Chris) sees at Brazos Bend except me!

This message was edited Nov 5, 2009 1:05 PM

You've seen some great ones Elphaba!

Didn't see any of mine, but did get one I didn't expect, Eastern Crowned Warbler

Resin

Resin, you've just seen too much! I went to the website of a local birding group. They're planning a field trip in a few weeks and listed about 10 birds they're hoping to see. I haven't seen any of them! I was feeling like an experienced birder and now I realize that I have a long way to go.

Two more I forgot until last night when a tiny yellow bird showed up. Couldn't tell for sure what it was, but it reminded me of the Prothonotary Warbler and the Blackburnian Warblers which were big treats for me this year too.

I wanted Warbler's and got quite a few. Pelle you mentioned Ivory-billed, which made me do a search on the net, I ended up watching an 1hr 50min. lecture by John W. Fitzpatrick on You Tube. Thanks :) I had forgotten for a while about the bird after 2004 when the video came out.

Magnolia Warbler, edited with Picasa

He is beautiful Met!!

LOL on the Ivory-billed but I guess it was interesting anyway.

Yes it was interesting. Well if the habitat holds out you never know, I was hoping they would mention a (Possible Pigmented Pileated) but no mention of that.

I got to see, the Belted Kingfisher, that was on my list. I'm not giving up hope, for the Snowy Owls, or the Rough- legged Hawk
But saw a group of Night Hawk, which I thought I'd never see!!!

I didn't see any of mine either. But I did get to add 2 new warblers to my list. I hope for a Snowy Owl every winter...so as long as we have winter I have hope!

Okay I think I've figured out the replacements for the 3 birds I've seen on my list of 5.

1- Any type of Owl

2-Pileated Woodpecker

Replacement birds are:

3- American Avocet

4- Mississippi Kite

5- Purple Sandpiper

Those are good ones Pelle!

I would change out to these....

Any Owl not already seen
Horned Lark
Golden -crowned Kinglet - they winter here
Scarlet Tanager
Any new Warbler

I didn't have a formal wish list, but my wife and I saw 43 Whooping Cranes yesterday at the Great Salt Plains in northern OK. Has to be near the top of anyone's list.

Another bird I had wanted to see was a Yellow-headed Blackbird. Saw one a couple of weeks ago.

That's nice red, I would love to see the Whooping Cranes!

I saw one, the Pileated. However it was only brief and didn't get to photograph.

Here's my updated list, birds from my area:

From the first list:
Snow Bunting
Cerulean Warbler

New List
American Woodcock
Green Heron
Any of the Tanagers

Here are a couple of tidbits (cause that's all I know!) on how to find Pileated Woodpeckers and Screech Owls (the only owl that I've seen):

Pileated Woodpeckers call to each other with big voices like something out of the Amazon. Here's a link that has both the Pileated call and the Northern Flicker call: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/183/_/Pileated_Woodpecker.aspx. They sound a lot a like, but if it sounds like something from the Amazon, it's a Pileated. If its softer, it's a Northern Flicker.

Screech Owls also call to each other and respond by following their mate's call. If I hear that downward trill late in the day/early evening, I just wait and sure enough the mate shows up. I heard what I thought was a Barred Owl at Brazos Bend in the early evening. I waited, but I didn't see anything, so I guess this strategy doesn't work with other owls?

Hi Elphaba, I'm getting a "Page Cannot Be Found" message from your link. It might just be me, we'll have to see.

Wow, so did I. I must not have copied it correctly. Here I go again: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/183/_/Pileated_Woodpecker.aspx

If that doesn't work, go to whatbird.com and find the Pileated page.

No need to change my list. It remains as follows:

#1 - Snowy Owl
#2 - Red-headed Woodpecker
#3 - Prothonotary Warbler
#4 - Cerulean Warbler
#5 - Mississippi Kite

Pelle, as to the American Avocet that is on your list, you should visit Bombay Hook. As of 11-15-09, they saw 60. They have been there for sometime. Bombay Hook is no farther for you than Cape May.

http://www.fws.gov/northeast/bombayhook/birdinginfo.html

I,m going to make a winter short list because when spring comes all I want is more Warbler's.

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pileated Woodpecker
Snowy Owl

Thanks Linth!