Big Year (birders wake up)

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Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Sep 11, 2012 - 11:06pm PT
I was hoping to add Great-horned Owl to my list and I was pretty sure there was a pair around last season. I figured I would have make a pre-dawn or nighttime hike to see them. It turned out to be much easier than that. A few nights ago I heard a pair of them dueting and ran to the door in time to see two perching and flying among the trees on the ridge behind our place. I grabbed the camera and snapped off a few shots. It was way too dark for handheld. The next two evenings I had the camera set up on the tripod, but they haven't returned.

This is the best I could do:


This is my updated list for the last several weeks:

131. Hooded Oriole
132. Red-necked Phalarope
133. Great Horned Owl
134. Yellow Warbler


Dee ee,

The San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary is great spot. I didn't make it there on my last visit south, but did get to Bolsa Chica. We were too late for the breeding Terns and Skimmers, but again saw a Reddish Egret. They seem to be resident there now.
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Sep 12, 2012 - 12:22am PT
Tony, I'm going back soon for the Reddish Egret. They've moved out of the Harriet Wieder Park.


Here is my latest.

87. Cassin’s Kingbird-T
88. White Faced Ibis-SDC
89. Western Sandpiper-SJWS
90. Red Necked Phalarope-SJWS
91. Sora-SJWS
92. Virginia Rail-SJWS
93. Baird’s Sandpiper-SJWS
94. Long Billed Dowitcher-SJWS
95. Warbling Vireo-SJWS



I got the Black Bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstone on my b.day but I drove down there.
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Sep 19, 2012 - 11:57pm PT
Here is my updated list. Lots of migrants are passing through. I've posted some photos on the "Birds" thread.

135. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
136. MacGillivray's Warbler
137. Downy Woodpecker
138. Western Wood-Pewee
139. Nashville Warbler
140. Western Tanager
141. Orange-crowned Warbler
142. Savannah Sparrow
Crimpergirl

Sport climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Sep 19, 2012 - 11:59pm PT
I can add a Yellow Breasted Chat to our yard list. Not sure if he's upthread or not...
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Sep 20, 2012 - 12:15am PT
hey Timid...

the interpretative center is accessible west bound towards the San Mateo bridge, you take the last off ramp, find the center and park, then walk on out to the shore...

quite cool, Debbie and I were out there doing a recon for her botany class... the birds were unreal, many, many different types.. Alas, I'm not a birder, Debbie is a lot better but she had her head in the bushes this trip.
SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Sep 20, 2012 - 06:15pm PT

Iz that the one you KILT, Crimpie??????

(my sickness wouldn't allow me to resist). . .
LOL!!!
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Oct 16, 2012 - 06:02pm PT
It's been a while y'all! Here's number 112 on my Bike&Hike Big Year.

Pretty common, I know, but I've missed a lot of common migrants this fall, at least for now, e.g. Northern Shrike(saw one using a car), and I missed by a day some Snow Geese, another N. Shrike and a Wilson's Snipe all NOT seen on my commute into work. So when I stumbled across this just outside my office, I was way stoked. It was the only one with the Canada Geese.





These were taken with my new Lumix zs15 pocket camera. I have to change the default in-camera image sharpening. Nice cheap camera, but I hate not having a view finder.
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Oct 30, 2012 - 07:08pm PT
Only a few more species for me in the last month or so. The best bird so far is a Rock Wren that has been hanging around the riprap in a little cove nearby. It has been around for at least 5 days and perhaps will spend the winter here.

143. Black-throated Gray Warbler
144. White-throated Sparrow
145. Rock Wren

I'm posting a few photos on the "Birds" thread.
Reilly

Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
Oct 30, 2012 - 07:13pm PT
Darwin, yer White-fronted seems to be rather slow to develope his 'white-front'
in addition to being just plain confused about his identity.
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Oct 30, 2012 - 07:33pm PT
My update. I'm having a lot of fun and getting many bird/bike rides.


95. Long Billed Dowitcher-SJWS
96. Warbling Vireo-SJWS
97. Kestrel-PC 9/22/12
98. California Trasher-PC
99. Scrub Jay
100. House Wren-T
101. Hutton’s Vireo-IP 10/3/12
102. Wht. Crowned Sparrow-IP
103. Green Heron-BC 10/5/12
104. Reddish Egret-BC
105. American Wigeon-BC
106. Northern Pintail-BC
107. Eared Grebe-BC
108. Say’s Phoebe-BC
109. Ruddy Turnstone-BC
110. Northern Shoveler-SJWS
111. Blue Winged Teal0SJWS
112. Northern Flicker-PC 10/15/12
113. Virginia’s Warbler-PC
114. Nutmeg Mannikin-PC
115. Western Meadowlark-PC
116. Downy Woodpecker-PC
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Oct 30, 2012 - 11:02pm PT
dee ee,
As I expected, some SoCal birder would start accelerating as the winter approached.

Dr. F,
What do you mean? Were some species lumped?

Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Oct 31, 2012 - 12:46am PT

Tony really did say (to me a least) that there would be a late southern surge. I've had a good couple days, though.
Wilson's Snipe and a Northern Shrike got me up to 115, but not 116.


It's not a great photo of the Shrike, but I'll try some more as the Shrike is sticking around for now.


Reilly; More of the White Front'eds have shown up looking older and more White Fronted.

Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Nov 10, 2012 - 12:36am PT
I've seen two new ones of late:

146. Hutton's Vireo
147. Brant
The Hutton's Vireo was in a tree with several Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I was trying to get a photo of a Kinglet with its crown raised, and only upon seeing my photos did I realize that there was a Hutton's there.

The Brant has been hanging out with a pair of Canada Geese that have either adopted it or who it has adopted as bodyguards.

dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Jan 11, 2013 - 11:48pm PT
Hi....it's me again. Time for an update.

117. Palm Warbler-HBCP 11/1/12
118. Townsend’s Warbler-HBCP
119. Cassin’s Vireo-HBCP
120. Hairy Woodpecker-HBCP
121. Black and White Warbler-HBCP
122. Hermit Thrush-HBCP
123. Brown Creeper-HBCP
124. Belted Kingfisher-PC 11/10/12
125. Oak Titmouse- IP
126. Peregrine Falcon-BC-11/15/12
127. Black Crowned Night Heron-BC
128. Yellow Crowned Night Heron-BC
129. Bufflehead-BC
130. Surf Scoter-BC
131. Lesser Scaup-BC
132. Greater Scaup-BC
133. Loggerhead Shrike-BC
134. Redhead-SJWS
135. Canvasback-SJWS-11/23/12
136. Red Breasted Nuthatch-CH-12/23/12
137. Ruby Crowned Kinglet-CH
138. White Breasted Nuthatch-IP
139. White Throated Sparrow-IP
140. Cedar Waxwing-SJWS-12/28/12
141. Ash Throated Flycatcher-SJWS
142. Cackling Goose-WRMRP
143. Eastern Phoebe-WRMRP
144. Spotted Sandpiper-SDC
145. Black Throated Green Warbler-FC-1/5/13



Pelagic trip tomorrow....won't count on this list. We have to drive to Dana Point.
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Jan 20, 2013 - 09:27pm PT
OK, I'm only at 127(?) by walk and bike, but I' pretty happy with the last few:


(this is a Red Crossbill, and the colors are pretty much spot-on.
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Feb 28, 2013 - 08:23pm PT
OK, it's over. Mine ended (except for last 2) when I broke my clavicle last month. Here is my final list.
I did get a few "rarities" by bike!

1. House Finch (red and orange)
2. White Tailed Kite
3. Annas Hummingbird
4. Rufous Hummingbird
5. Mockingbird
6. Roadrunner-PC
7. Crow
8. Raven
9. Red Tailed Hawk
10. Cooper’s Hawk
11. Mourning Dove
12. Western Bluebird
13. American Robin
14. Black Phoebe
15. Hooded Oriole
16. Band Tailed Pigeon
17. Mallard
18. Calif. Towhee
19. Canada Goose
20. Bewick’s Wren 4/29/12
21. Yellow Warbler- PC
22. Tree Swallow-PC
23. Brewer’s Blackbird
24. Bushtit- PC
25. Spotted Towhee- PC (by call)
26. Rock Dove.
27. Pacific Slope Flycatcher
28. Western Wood Pewee 5/19/12
29. House Sparrow-T 5/21/12
30. Common Yellowthroat-PC
31. Red Winged Blackbird-PC
32. Lesser Goldfinch-T 9/29/12
33. Killdeer-PC
34. Lesser Goldfinch-PC
35. Ruddy Duck-PC
36. Western Grebe-PC
37. Fox Sparrow-PC
38. American Coot-PC
39. Allen’s Hummingbird
40. Brewer’s Sparrow
41. Western Kingbird-PC and T
42. Forster’s Tern-PC
43. Wood Duck-IP 6/8/12
44. Acorn Woodpecker-IP
45. Peacock-IP
46. Red Crowned Parrot-IP
47. Nuttall’s Woodpecker-IP
48. Black Necked Stilt-SDC 6/9/12
49. Cinnamon Teal-SDC
50. Snowy Egret-SDC
51. American Avocet-SDC
52. White Pelican-UNB
53. Great Blue Heron-UNB
54. Black Skimmer-UNB
55. Song Sparrow-UNB
56. Common Moorhen-UNB
57. Osprey-UNB
58. Marbled Godwit-UNB
59. Cliff Swallow-SDC
60. Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk)-UNB
61. Double Crested Cormorant-SJWS 6/10/12
62. Pied Billed Grebe-SJWS
63. Brown Pelican-SJWS
64. Egyptian Goose-SJWS
65. White Pelican-UNB
66. Great Egret-PC
67. Least Tern-UNB 7/7/12
68. Brandt’s Cormorant-UNB
69. Willet-UNB
70. Wilson’s Warbler-UNB
71. Cactus Wren-UNB
72. Least Sandpiper-UNB
73. Cali. Quail-PC 7/14/12
74. Cali. Gull
75. Yellow Rumped Warbler-T
76. Heerman’s Gull-HB 7/21/12
77. Long Billed Curlew-BC
78. Whimbrel-BC
79. Rough Winged Swallow-SJWS 7/22/12
80. Caspian Tern-SJWS
81. Gadwall-SJWS
82. White Throated Swift-SJWS
83. Starling-SJWS
84. Short Billed Dowitcher-SJWS 7/26/12
85. Clark’s Grebe-SJWS
86. Savannah Sparrow-SJWS
87. Semipalmated Plover-SJWS 7/28/12
88. Cassin’s Kingbird-T 7/30/12
89. White Faced Ibis-SDC 9/1/12
90. Western Sandpiper-SJWS
91. Red Necked Phalarope-SJWS
92. Sora-SJWS
93. Virginia Rail-SJWS
94. Baird’s Sandpiper-SJWS
95. Long Billed Dowitcher-SJWS
96. Warbling Vireo-SJWS
97. Kestrel-PC 9/22/12
98. California Trasher-PC
99. Scrub Jay-T
100. House Wren-T
101. Hutton’s Vireo-IP 10/3/12
102. Wht. Crowned Sparrow-IP
103. Green Heron-BC 10/5/12
104. Reddish Egret-BC
105. American Wigeon-BC
106. Northern Pintail-BC
107. Eared Grebe-BC
108. Say’s Phoebe-BC
109. Ruddy Turnstone-BC
110. Northern Shoveler-SJWS
111. Blue Winged Teal0SJWS
112. Northern Flicker-PC 10/15/12
113. Virginia’s Warbler-PC
114. Nutmeg Mannikin-PC
115. Western Meadowlark-PC
116. Downy Woodpecker-PC
117. Palm Warbler-HBCP 11/1/12
118. Townsend’s Warbler-HBCP
119. Cassin’s Vireo-HBCP
120. Hairy Woodpecker-HBCP
121. Black and White Warbler-HBCP
122. Hermit Thrush-HBCP
123. Brown Creeper-HBCP
124. Belted Kingfisher-PC 11/10/12
125. Oak Titmouse- IP
126. Peregrine Falcon-BC-11/15/12
127. Black Crowned Night Heron-BC
128. Yellow Crowned Night Heron-BC
129. Bufflehead-BC
130. Surf Scoter-BC
131. Lesser Scaup-BC
132. Greater Scaup-BC
133. Loggerhead Shrike-BC
134. Redhead-SJWS
135. Canvasback-SJWS-11/23/12
136. Red Breasted Nuthatch-CH-12/23/12
137. Ruby Crowned Kinglet-CH
138. White Breasted Nuthatch-IP
139. White Throated Sparrow-IP
140. Cedar Waxwing-SJWS-12/28/12
141. Ash Throated Flycatcher-SJWS
142. Cackling Goose-WRMRP
143. Eastern Phoebe-WRMRP
144. Spotted Sandpiper-SDC
145. Black Throated Green Warbler-FC-1/5/13
146. Yellow Warbler – T-1/26/13
147. Lincoln’s Sparrow-T
Tony

Trad climber
Pt. Richmond, CA
Feb 28, 2013 - 10:23pm PT
Dee ee,
I suspect you would have caught me if it weren't for your injury. Here is my final list. I had a little flurry at the end as a result of getting out on my bike to see a few species that I had missed on previous rides.

1. Canada Goose
2. American Wigeon
3. Mallard
4. Greater Scaup
5. Lesser Scaup
6. Surf Scoter
7. Bufflehead
8. Common Goldeneye
9. Red-breasted Merganser
10. Ruddy Duck
11. Pied-billed Grebe
12. Horned Grebe
13. Eared Grebe
14. Western Grebe
15. Clark's Grebe
16. Brown Pelican
17. Double-crested Cormorant
18. Pelagic Cormorant
19. Snowy Egret
20. Green Heron
21. Turkey Vulture
22. White-tailed Kite
23. Sharp-shinned Hawk
24. Cooper's Hawk
25. American Coot
26. Black-bellied Plover
27. Willet
28. Spotted Sandpiper
29. Mew Gull
30. Ring-billed Gull
31. California Gull
32. Herring Gull
33. Thayer's Gull
34. Western Gull
35. Glaucous-winged Gull
36. Rock Pigeon
37. Anna's Hummingbird
38. Black Phoebe
39. Western Scrub-Jay
40. American Crow
41. Common Raven
42. Western Bluebird
43. Hermit Thrush
44. Yellow-rumped Warbler
45. California Towhee
46. Fox Sparrow
47. White-crowned Sparrow
48. Golden-crowned Sparrow
49. Red-winged Blackbird
50. Western Meadowlark
51. House Finch
52. Common Merganser
53. Black-crowned Night-Heron
54. Red-tailed Hawk
55. Black Oystercatcher
56. Least Sandpiper
57. Forster's Tern
58. Mourning Dove
59. Chestnut-backed Chickadee
60. Bushtit
61. Bewick's Wren
62. American Robin
63. Northern Mockingbird
64. Wild Turkey
65. European Starling
66. Red-shouldered Hawk
67. Whimbrel
68. Black Turnstone
69. House Wren
70. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
71. Lesser Goldfinch
72. American Kestrel
73. Long-billed Curlew
74. Common Loon
75. White-winged Scoter
76. Prairie Falcon
77. White-throated Swift
78. Allen's Hummingbird
79. Red-breasted Sapsucker
80. Nuttall's Woodpecker
81. Warbling Vireo
82. Oak Titmouse
83. Red-breasted Nuthatch
84. Cedar Waxwing
85. Townsend's Warbler
86. Spotted Towhee
87. Dark-eyed Junco
88. House Sparrow
89. Osprey
90. Sora
91. Belted Kingfisher
92. Northern Flicker
93. Pacific Loon
94. Peregrine Falcon
95. Red-throated Loon
96. Great Blue Heron
97. Eurasian Wigeon
98. Merlin
99. Killdeer
100. Say's Phoebe
101. Brown Creeper
102. Lincoln's Sparrow
103. Caspian Tern
104. Gadwall
105. Northern Shoveler
106. Green-winged Teal
107. Canvasback
108. Great Egret
109. Semipalmated Plover
110. American Avocet
111. Greater Yellowlegs
112. Marbled Godwit
113. Dunlin
114. Long-billed Dowitcher
115. Song Sparrow
116. Clapper Rail
117. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
118. Cliff Swallow
119. Barn Swallow
120. Brewer's Blackbird
121. Sanderling
122. Barn Owl
123. Brown-headed Cowbird
124. Ruddy Turnstone
125. Violet-green Swallow
126. Purple Finch
127. American White Pelican
128. Wilson's Warbler
129. Heermann's Gull
130. Elegant Tern
131. Hooded Oriole
132. Red-necked Phalarope
133. Great Horned Owl
134. Yellow Warbler
135. Pacific-slope Flycatcher
136. MacGillivray's Warbler
137. Downy Woodpecker
138. Western Wood-Pewee
139. Nashville Warbler
140. Western Tanager
141. Orange-crowned Warbler
142. Savannah Sparrow
143. Black-throated Gray Warbler
144. White-throated Sparrow
145. Rock Wren
146. Hutton's Vireo
147. Brant
148. Western Sandpiper
149. Cinnamon Teal
150. Black Scoter
151. American Pipit
152. Cackling Goose
153. Northern Pintail
154. Brandt's Cormorant
155. Black-necked Stilt
156. Surfbird
157. Bonaparte's Gull
158. Burrowing Owl
159. Northern Harrier
160. Marsh Wren

[Edit] Not birds, but I also saw a few cool mammals, some of which were a bit of a surprise:
CA Sea Lion
Harbor Seal
River Otter
Muskrat
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Mar 3, 2013 - 06:26pm PT
Nice Tony! I was gonna' do a big end push but I fizzled (or should I say flamed out?) out.
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Mar 3, 2013 - 06:30pm PT
Craig, Dark Eyed Junco, but you knew that!
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 4, 2013 - 12:04am PT
So here is my list. If there is any interest (probably even if not), I'll merge all the posted ones and do a combined STBY list. Like most of us, I've been "birding" my whole outdoor life (for me since the 60s, but this was the first time I counted and took notes for the whole year. And for me it was also a dairy of my shoulder recuperation from a 3way first rotator cuff surgery (a bike crash dee ee!). I tried really hard and really liked parts of it. I also kind of hated what it did to my birding at times, i.e. "oh I saw that already, move on". I learned, though, and March 1 2013(aka the day after it was over), I totally tripped looking at a Lincoln's Sparrow and saw it in a way I don't think I would have a year+ ago. The difference was mainly focus and concentration.

At the moment the top three were: a lone black swift in a cold grey afternoon, busting my butt to ride in 32F rain to a place where I knew there was a Snowy Owl, and stumbling on a Bohemian Waxwing around the corner from my house, but then I start thinking about other occasions and could go on an on.

Thanks y'all and especially Tony for the help. Also thanks to a local Seattle birder Connie Sidles. ps I think Tony underreported.

1. American Crow.
2. Song Sparrow.
3. Barrow's Goldeneye.
4. Great Blue Heron.
5. American Robin.
6. European Starling.
7. Wood Duck.
8. American Wigeon.
9. Green-winged Teal.
10. Pied-billed Grebe.
11. Mallard.
12. Bufflehead.
13. Northern Shoveler.
14. American Coot.
15. Black-capped Chickadee.
16. Double-crested Cormorant.
17. Killdeer.
18. Bewick's Wren.
19. House Sparrow.
20. Steller's Jay.
21. Bushtit.
22. House Finch.
23. Spotted Towhee.
24. Golden-crowned Sparrow.
25. Bald Eagle.
26. Dark-eyed Junco.
27. Gadwall.
28. Canada Goose.
29. Common Goldeneye.
30. Red-winged Blackbird.
31. Yellow-rumped Warbler.
32. Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
33. White-crowned Sparrow.
34. Glaucous-winged Gull.
35. Chestnut-backed Chickadee.
36. Northern Flicker.
37. Pine Siskin.
38. Eurasian Wigeon.
39. Ring-necked Duck.
40. Common Merganser.
41. Red-tailed Hawk.
42. Virginia Rail.
43. California Gull.
44. Mew Gull.
45. Violet-green Swallow.
46. Brown Creeper.
47. Downy Woodpecker.
48. Marsh Wren.
49. Tree Swallow.
50. Rock Pigeon.
51. Belted Kingfisher.
52. Surf Scoter.
53. Brant.
54. Red-necked Grebe.
55. Greater Scaup.
56. Lesser Scaup.
57. Lincoln's Sparrow.
58. Savannah Sparrow.
59. Cedar Waxwing.
60. Fox Sparrow.
61. Anna's Hummingbird.
62. Red-breasted Merganser.
63. Cooper's Hawk.
64. Barn Swallow.
65. Cliff Swallow.
66. Western Meadowlark.
67. Osprey.
68. Common Yellowthroat.
69. Golden-crowned Kinglet.
70. Barred Owl.
71. Pileated Woodpecker.
72. Cinnamon Teal.
73. Dunlin.
74. Hermit Thrush.
75. Pacific Wren.
76. Orange-crowned Warbler.
77. Wilson's Warbler.
78. Vaux's Swift.
79. Least Sandpiper.
80. Brewer's Blackbird.
81. Warbling Vireo.
82. Yellow Warbler.
83. Caspian Tern.
84. Horned Grebe.
85. Pigeon Guillemot.
86. Western Gull.
87. Townsend's Warbler.
88. Western Grebe.
89. Marbled Murrelet.
90. Western Tanager.
91. Pacific-slope Flycatcher.
92. Blue-winged Teal.
93. Pectoral Sandpiper.
94. Sharp-shinned Hawk.
95. Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
96. Black-headed Grosbeak.
97. Merlin.
98. Willow Flycatcher.
99. Black-throated Gray Warbler.
100. Swainson's Thrush.
101. Western Wood-Pewee.
102. Western Kingbird.
103. Black Swift.
104. California Quail.
105. Spotted Sandpiper.
106. Ruddy Duck.
107. Purple Martin.
108. Rufous Hummingbird.
109. Semipalmated Sandpiper.
110. Greater Yellowlegs.
111. Long-billed Dowitcher.
112. Peregrine Falcon.
113. Western Sandpiper.
114. Northern Pintail.
115. Green Heron.
116. Red-breasted Nuthatch.
117. Greater White-fronted Goose.
118. Northern Shrike.
119. Cackling Goose.
120. Wilson's Snipe.
121. Purple Finch.
122. Heermann's Gull.
123. Common Loon.
124. Northern Harrier.
125. Snowy Owl.
126. Snow Goose.
127. Trumpeter Swan.
128. Herring Gull.
129. Ring-billed Gull.
130. Bohemian Waxwing.
131. Varied Thrush.
132. Red Crossbill.
133. Black Turnstone.
134. Surfbird.
135. Pelagic Cormorant.
136. Canvasback.
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