Birders
Related: About this forumReviving from the old DU: What's the latest bird you added to your life list?
For me, it was Black-tailed Gull in Ashtabula, Ohio, and Barnacle Goose in Massachusetts.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)cpwm17
(3,829 posts)We saw three on the pelagic trip.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)Here's the trip: http://socaltripreports.com/?p=401
The Red-billed Tropicbird is not to be expected on this trip, but it is one to hope for.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)It was a good trip, but accommodations were... tight.
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)Last edited Tue Jan 31, 2012, 10:23 PM - Edit history (1)
I don't think I'll ever do a long pelagic trip. Over 15 years ago I did sign up for a couple of 1 1/2 day trips out of Sausalito, CA; but the trips were canceled due to weather. In the 90's, when I lived in Northern California for a few years, I did go out on quite a few regular day trips out of Monterey and Bodega Bay. I did the recent Grande trip while visiting my family in San Diego.
Now I live in Florida which is not good for pelagics.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)My friend BJ made the drive twice from San Diego before he saw it.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)jpak
(41,757 posts)Saw TWO large flocks today.
When it rains it pours!
I'm from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and I've never seen them, even though they occur every winter. This year, when I go there for Christmas, that's my main target bird...
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Also got Rufous-capped Warbler earlier in December in the Santa Rita's - my (close to) birthday lifer.
In 2009 in was Rufous-backed Robin, 2010, Ruddy Ground-Dove
ge26252se
(50 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Spotted Owl (adult and juvenile) in Miller Canyon
Black-capped Gnatcatcher in Montosa Canyon
semillama
(4,583 posts)Lark Bunting and Bohemian Waxwing, both in Ohio.
(I had to distance myself from political websites to reduce my stress levels and simply because DU can be kind of a time suck)
Superbot
(59 posts)Was a male Nothern Flicker. Two weeks ago had a flock of sandhill cranes fly over the house. I had to run outside to see what was making all that squawking.
Both in Indiana
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Near Madera Canyon, Arizona.
Stunning close looks at male. Heard female calling nearby.
NM_Birder
(1,591 posts)Rufous-necked Wood-rail Ecuadorian bird that should not be here for ANY reason !
ABA Alert ! possibly the first time ever seen in the US ! We got the alert via E-Bird, takes a few hours to get there from where we are. 70-80 people there watching, met people from Colorado, Arizona and Texas that drove like animals to get here. Heard about people possibly flying in from all over !
Wonderful Day !
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)I have a friend flying in from Florida tonight.
NM_Birder
(1,591 posts)is trying to change my evil ways and turn me into a bird watcher.
I have to say though, the bird watching is pretty cool, so far it has my attention. But for overall tenacity and obsession, I think most bird watchers beat bird hunters by a mile !
I never knew the extent of the "bird watching world", it sometimes feels like a secret society, kinda like an Urban Special Forces Recon Platoon.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Patagonia Lake State Park, Arizona/
Great views of it diving and flying Saturday
onestepforward
(3,691 posts)I took this picture yesterday:
I was so excited! He was just as brilliant as the photos I've seen. I've wanted to see one for a very long time
jpak
(41,757 posts)Last edited Sun Feb 23, 2014, 10:25 AM - Edit history (1)
Maine Coast Winter Trip.
List of non-lifers
Common Loon
Harlequin Duck
Golden Eye
Bufflehead
Black Duck
Mallard
Common Merganser
Hooded Merganser
Common Eider
Long-tailed Duck
Canada Goose
Horned Grebe
Red Tailed Hawk
Bald Eagle
Eastern Bluebird
American Tree Sparrow
Robin
Killdeer
Usual Suspects
Mourning Dove
Raven
Common Crow
Blue Jay
Starling-
Black capped Chickadee
On Earlier Ski Trip
Canada Jay
Boreal Chickadee
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)to finally get a LA SAGRA'S FLYCATCHER. Many winters one will show up somewhere in south Florida. This winter one is still at Matheson Hammock Park, just south of Miami in Coral Gables off of Old Cutler Rd (N25.68228 W80.27177). It is in the park to the south of the small parking lot at the coordinates, to the west of the small lakes,
On the way home, after visiting Everglades NP, I stopped at a gas station in Florida City and saw a COMMON MYNA near my car. It is countable now, so I got two lifers in a few days.
jpak
(41,757 posts)At Florida Lake in Freeport. Less than 5 minutes from L.L. Bean's
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)Last edited Sat Dec 20, 2014, 01:25 PM - Edit history (1)
I didn't expect it on my Minnesota Trip. I heard through word of mouth about an area were someone was seeing them. I got a brief distant look at one flying from the top of a tree to the ground.
The next day, nearby, on an early morning walk, one flew close over my head and landed on a distant tree. It was an odd sight: an owl shaped bird flying like a Cooper's Hawk.
dbackjon
(6,578 posts)cpwm17
(3,829 posts)I'd love to get a better look at one sometime but I'm reluctant to travel so far north in the winter.
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)Made the two mile hike up Ramsey Canyon to see it.
cpwm17
(3,829 posts)Arizona after visiting my parents in San Diego. I did finally get a Black-capped Gnatcatcher in Florida Canyon while there, a lifer.
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)dbackjon
(6,578 posts)XemaSab
(60,212 posts)jpak
(41,757 posts)It was posted on ABA Maine blog - made the trip and was not disappointed...
XemaSab
(60,212 posts)jpak
(41,757 posts)Seen at Maine Audubon's (solar powered) Gilsland Farm in Falmouth.
jpak
(41,757 posts)Weskeag marsh South Thomaston Maine
Hooray for me!
photo here...
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/maine-birds/2GjCd9_zC9g
jpak
(41,757 posts)I've heard whip-poor-wills when I was very young and visiting Southern relatives - they kept us awake ALL night in the big oak tree just outside our bedroom window (which was open because the nights were hot).
Never saw them by day.
Tonight, I went to L.L. Bean in Freeport, then paid a visit my brother that lives nearby.
We were sitting around his backyard at dusk complaining about old age and home improvement projects when my nephew said...
"There'a a bat!".
Which is unusual anywhere now, thanks to White Nose Syndrome.
Then we saw it - it was Hugh!
We speculated it was a Big Brown Bat....until it landed in a tree...and began to "Whip-poor-will! Whip-poor-will!".
Good enough for the Life List for me...