2012 Yearlists

Yep, car pooling is a definite +++! But of course I would say that, since I can't drive myself so have to rely on it for getting around any distance ;-)

3 more today to 135:
Red-legged Partridge
Spotted Redshank
Great Northern Diver (a.k.a. Common Loon)

Resin

Great Bittern 136

Resin

Wow everyone is going so fast!! I heard about two new ones (for the year) down at the river, so I'll swing by there today.

Mrs. Ed,
I am finally taking time to read through all the comments. I am another that is terrible in the field. We probably miss so much unless we are with the birding club. Yes, going out with them has put a few more numbers for my life list, but they don't "feel" like the ones that come in my yard where I can spend time getting to know them.
I thought I had a Sharp-shinned this year, too. I was so disappointed when someone told me the legs were too chunky for a Sharpie. Ah, well... I hope you see the birds today.

We went on an Owl Prowl last night. (Brr.... ) We learned about the owls in our area, but didn't hear any, so nothing for the year or life list. We have Great Horned neighbors who entertain us with their calls. My husband was not happy when one woke him up, though.

Resin, those are GREAT birds and what a FABULOUS pic of the bittern! Love it!

Chilly, can't think of a better way to wake up than to the sound of Great Horned Owls! Awesome. We saw a couple the other day while the sun was still up and they were calling to each other. It was so cool. I took a few pictures but my pics were just horrible, but it was great to see.

Up into the hills today to get two more . . .

Black Grouse 137
Red Grouse 138

First time I've ever managed a photo of a Black Grouse, they're usually very shy and stay well away from people, but this one (a first-winter male) was much more confiding.

How's everyone else getting on?

Resin

Nice shot of the Grouse, Resin.

I'm at 50.

I really don't do a year list, but taking part in the Great bird count this weekend. Without snow this winter there is less activity at the feeder. the one day with a couple of inches our resident pair of cardinals showed up. Just saw them one other day. With the unusual weather in Europe, is it making a differnce in bird sightings?

Resin, amazing grouse shot, amazing bird to see!

Iris, I used to just do the GBBC too and swore that I would never count birds for any other reason b/c I thought it turned me into a nut. I was right. I'm totally nuts now, so I think you're doing the right thing! Hope you have lots of birds. We're supposed to have bad weather too. In fact, I need to get out there and make sure the gutters are clean.

I'm at 172. Winter through early May is the best birding time here though, so I have to get as many as I can now. This is not the best photo but it shows how colorful he's getting. This is a Palm Warbler but its the eastern/yellow one that we rarely see here. It was my first Palm Warbler of the year.

No snow, so no one at the feeder this morning. they must know that they are being counted. Have to go to supermarket & count gulls on the roof.

they are complaining about ice & the temp near London. did someone turn Britain upside down?

I have a couple more to add, but I have to figure out what yet. I think Tundra Swan and Common Merganser, but my pix are not great. I've heard about a snowy owl 1/2 an hour or so from here so I might have to go tomorrow.

got the owl! was soooo far away, but I'm happy nonetheless!

I'm up to 33, having confirmed the Common Merganser by photo.

Congrats on the owl!

Been forgetting to update here!

139 Goshawk 24 Feb
140 Northern Gannet 24 Feb
141 Black Guillemot 24 Feb
142 Great Crested Grebe 28 Feb
143 Little Owl 28 Feb
144 Greater Scaup 01 Mar
145 Green-winged Teal 01 Mar

Resin

I'm not really keeping a list, but I was so very glad to see the red bellied woodpecker on the suet feeder. We have the type with a long tailboard hoping for piliated wps, but will certainly take the other.

Congratulations, Mrs. Ed. That is a great bird to have on any list!

We're at 48 with our last bird being a Killdeer. I hope we can gain a few more next Saturday with the birding club meeting then.

So besides the Owl, I had these, bringing me up to 36.

32. Hairy Woodpecker
33. Snowy Owl
34. Brown Creeper
35. Red-winged Blackbird
36. American Robin

Although I wanted to see it in the theater, I didn't get a chance… so last night I rented The Big Year. I can't imagine trying to see 700+ birds in one year!!!! Really fun movie.

I am sure I will not soon see a Brown Creeper, Mrs. Ed. Are they common in your area?

We gained #49 yesterday, a Common Redpoll. We've been begging him to come again today to be counted for Project FeederWatch, but he's not obliged. :( Plenty of House Finches are here.

Saw a Belted Kingfisher at Bennett Springs bringing yearly total to 50. Have not seen a Redpoll, Snowy Owl or Brown Creeper. I am losing hope.....whine...LOL!

Chilly, I get Brown Creepers throughout the winter. This was probably not one of my regulars though, as It had been a while since I'd seen them. They show up at my place usually when it is getting dark, of course!

Ha. Rose, soon you will be ambushed with all those grassland birds of yours. I suppose my next yard bird will be an Eastern Towhee in a few weeks. Usually have those at the end of March. I did not have an American Tree sparrow here this winter though. I saw some in December somewhere else.

Lily...I've had Eastern Towhee's all winter...first time I've had that happen.

I think the next bird to show up for spring will be the Dickcissel...can't wait to hear their song!

Dellrose, have you heard any Meadowlarks yet? We've been hearing regularly the Westerns. I am now waiting for the Easterns to show up, and the Bobolinks and Dickcissels. My husband is going to try and live through his grass pollen allergy, so we can keep the Bobolinks here.

Chillybean we have had Meadowlarks for the past month and the numbers are increasing daily. Although the Western are also in the state I can't tell the difference so just assume the ones we have on the farm are Eastern Meadowlarks. I just found out about a field that has Bobolinks the first of April and the owner (DH's cousin) will call me when she sees them! I've never seen a male so am jazzed to see one!

One more for me today:

Hen Harrier 146

Resin

Closing in on 150 there Resin!

I started keeping a list a couple of years ago because I couldn't recall what I'd seen and I wanted to keep track of the birds and their dates in my yard. Only added one bird from the past, just went forward so I have seen many birds that are not on my list. I'm not OCD about compiling a big list. Not saying I'm opposed to building a big year or list, just not my cup of tea to jump in the car every time I see a new bird on the list and drive to the other end of the state or country.

Went looking for one specific out of range bird yesterday in one of my favorite haunts, the Wichita Mountains. We were fortunate enough to watch an Acorn Woodpecker for about an hour. It's always gratifying to hunt one specific bird and find it, but I had some good info and help. Busy little bird stashing food and not at all camera shy. Also saw my first wild River Otter and that was a thrill. I found some extensive dens where they are obviously spending time. The Acorn brings my year list to 142. A trip to High Island next month will boost that. I'll get to see more warblers in a week than I'd see all year here. My interest in nature is much broader than birds. When people ask me if I'm a birder, my normal response is "I'm a naturalist and I have an interest in birds."

After last year's good spring showing, I'm really interested in seeing how many I get in my yard each year. Also, I have NO idea what my life list is at. I suppose I should compile that some day. LOL.

Eastern Meadowlarks, Brown-headed Cowbirds (just terrible) and Rusty Blackbirds (lifers) bring us to 52.

Dellrose, maybe find recordings of the different Meadowlark songs. There's several online. That's how we best ID them as we do not often get close enough to see the markings. We started having the Westerns sing late January. It is quite interesting to be outside and hear both kinds going at the same time.

Little did I realize we would gain such a big jump from today's field trip. I will not list them all, but we are up to 71. The highlights being Hooded Mergansers, Northern Shovelers and a Golden Eagle. We gained 13 lifers from this outing. For fun I wrote down every species we saw today and have 48 in all from before we left home until we got back. It was a wild, but fun day, one we will not soon forget.

Sounds a good day! Go on, post the day list!

Resin

OK... You asked for it. :) These are just from today. There are a couple sub-species, but like other birders we know, we will give them separate entries if they are listed separately in the field guides. Those are the Juncos and the and Blue Goose.

House Sparrow
Common Grackle
American Crow
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Dove
American Robin
Mourning Dove
American Goldfinch
Eastern Meadowlark
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
Blue Jay
Eastern Bluebird
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-tailed Hawk
Killdeer
Slate-colored Junco
Oregon Junco
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Kestrel
Eastern Phoebe
Black-capped Chickadee
Ring-billed Gull
Mallard
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Grean-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Redhead
American White Pelican
Snow Goose
Greater White-fronted Goose
Fox Sparrow
Goldeneye
Ruddy Duck
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Ring-necked Duck
Great Horned Owl
Herring Gull
Gadwall
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Blue Goose- Dark Morph Snow Goose
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle


This message was edited Mar 11, 2012 7:52 AM

This message was edited Mar 11, 2012 12:15 PM

WOW!

That's a nice day indeed.

I'm up to 38, with some spring additions… Common Grackle and Great Blue Heron.

Chily, that's a GREAT day! Can't believe you saw both eagles, all those geese and two kinds of juncos and just about every duck I can think of in a single day! Wonderful!

I'm up to 199 with 186 in Texas. My last three were Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska which was a lifer, Curve-billed Thrasher outside the Amarillo Visitor's Center and Cattle Egrets at the Addicks Dam yesterday evening.

I'm just itchin' to get that 200th bird, but instead I'm waiting for the plumber to come for the 3rd time to get my brand new water heater to work. My dad kept going on and on about my old water heater telling me it was going to explode. At least it worked!

A friend and I were about tied. Now, he's down in Loredo racking up birds! He sent me an email saying that he'd seen 2 White-collared Seedeaters along the river. How amazing is that?

Here's the Curve-billed Thrasher.

Elphaba, You have an impressive list. Nebraska's my home state. We didn't pay any attention to the birds then, so it took us moving to Iowa to see Nebraska's state bird. The Western Meadowlark. Was it a male Ring-necked you saw? That is an interesting Thrasher. We've only seen the Brown, which should be due to arrive in about a month here.

I hope the water heater situation gets resolved. That sounds like a trial in patience.

Today we saw our first of the year Harris's Sparrow. I like those guys.

200th bird. don't be greedy. hahaha.

:D