IKLland Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 (edited) Post your favorite bird sighting of this year!! Tell about it, location, pics if had say mine happen to occur yesterday!!! I saw a rarity adult Yellow-crowned Night Heron!!! I am in Orange County, Ca here are the pics https://ebird.org/media/catalog?taxonCode=ycnher&userId=USER1824290&q=Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea&user=IKL Land lets see yours!!! Edited December 31, 2020 by IKLland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birding Boy Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 This is too hard to choose one! Though I am pretty happy with my self found lifer Pine Grosbeak. https://ebird.org/checklist/S76672832 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdNrd Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 (edited) I have a few, Streak-backed Oriole (1st county record) Common Ringed Plover (1st county record) Field Sparrow (1st county record) Barrow's Goldeneye (2nd county record Emperor Goose (2nd county record) Little Gull (2nd county record) Yellow-throated Warbler (3rd county record) Eastern Kingbird (5th county record) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (5th county record) Great Crested Flycatcher (3rd county record Zone-tailed Hawk (2nd county record) Chestnut-collared Longspur (6th county record) Edited December 31, 2020 by BirdNrd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 I was actually going to post a topic exactly like this one! Honestly, I had a great birding year, despite COVID. I got my first car, which allowed me to go and seek out new birds and places. My Birding Year I found a few rarities (Whimbrel, Northern Shoveler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)), racked up 65 lifers, and met a ton of new birders! I helped out with the ongoing banding project of the Bicknell’s Thrush on Mount Mansfield with the awesome people at the Vermont Center for the Ecostudies, and volunteered as a bander for NSWO banding in Montpelier. Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite. Every new bird was awesome. My lifer Baird’s Sandpiper walked within cell phone pic distance, handled some hard to see birds during banding, heard a Goshawk, got pics of a LEOW, saw a couple Least Bitterns, found the Ross’s Goose in a sea of Snow’s, and did my first CBC! As for my favorite sighting, I have to give it to the Canada Jays I saw recently. It was my third trip to try and find them, and this time I was completely focused on the Jays, as I had checked off the other boreal birds in previous visits. I walked the trail slowly three times through the day, haggled by chickadees and nuthatches that were used to being fed. I did stop to feed them, which is always special. On my second walk, I stopped to try and gets some shots of WWCR in the tree tops, with chickadees literally crawling on my hat and camera, peeking over to look into my eyes! On the third trip, I was getting cold, and feeling defeated. The lone blue Jay kept jumping me, dashing my hopes repeatedly. As I neared the car, I saw a largish bird fly through the dense trees off to my right. I stopped, just waiting to see the disappointing flash of blue, and almost turned away when the bird peeked it’s head from behind the trunk of the tree. A CANADA JAY!!! As I scrambled for my camera, I noticed two more poking around lazily in the same tree. I took a few shots, then tried my best to imitate their whistle calls. They flew closer, and closer, until they were just 5 or 6 feet away, above and in front of me! I took many pictures until the ambled off. Packing up my stuff in the parking lot, I spread out the remaining seed I had brought, and started the car. Looking out the windshield, I was surprised to see two of the Jays sitting in the tree above the seed pile! Needless to say, I drove the two hours home in a very good mood! Nemesis birds I defeated: Canada Jay, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Evening Grosbeak Nemesis birds that defeated me: Nelson’s Sparrow, Golden Eagle, Mourning Warbler, Brant, Redhead, Connecticut Warbler HAPPY NEW YEAR! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avery Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 And how could I forget! The Brown Creeper, which introduced me to this amazing forum! I am so glad to have found this friendly community, with so many helpful and kind people, all with a shared interest! Thank you all for making my 2020 better! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Mine might have been the Black-throated Sparrow. or the Long-eared Owl or the Black-backed Woodpecker or the self found second county record Red-necked Grebes. Or the canyon Wren. Or I have absolutely no clue what my favorite bird of 2020 was. I had a great year. Happy New Year! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 @Aidan B you found that Long-eared Owl as well, right? Underratedly a very impressive find Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan B Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 21 minutes ago, AlexHenry said: you found that Long-eared Owl as well, right? Underratedly a very impressive find Yep, I found it myself Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bird Nuts Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Loved seeing all the irruptive species this year. We got Red Crossbill, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, Pine Siskin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Evening Grosbeak, and Common Redpoll all in our yard. The Pine Grosbeaks were probably the most exciting. I think this was the third year in my entire life that I've gotten to see them. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexHenry Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 48 minutes ago, The Bird Nuts said: Such cool birds and such good photos - true art! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Probably my best (rarest) for the year was a couple of Lazuli Buntings from last spring. Will post photos later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefferson Shank Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Townsend's Solitaire in PA a couple months ago! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 5 minutes ago, Jefferson Shank said: Townsend's Solitaire in PA a couple months ago! Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marge Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Here are my favourite finds this year: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Marge Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 That's a Barred Owl, a Canvasback, a Wilson's Snipe and a Northern Pintail (but you all know that)! Happy New Year everyone! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted December 31, 2020 Share Posted December 31, 2020 Slowest year for me yet, but still eventful. First report on eBird for Trumpeter Swan in the whole world for 2020. 4 new yard birds contributed to my biggest Yard Year - 132 species. Common Loon - very cool to hear calling from inside the house Bonaparte’s Gull flyover Blue-winged Warbler - my 23rd yard warbler Gray-cheeked Thrush 4 new county birds Whooping Crane - first county eBird record Common Redpoll - lifer, self-found Great Black-backed Gull - 3rd County record, self-found Hoary Redpoll - lifer 2nd County Record, as looks like other wasn’t confirmed (mine hasn’t on eBird yet). Self-found. This would top the list for the year. Lifer and first state record Smew, if accepted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Connor Cochrane Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 (edited) There were many contenders, but this co self-found 21st state record RTHU would take the cake. Coolest chased rarity? Maybe the GCFL Best Non-rarity for my home county, LEOW (which is rare but not flagged) LEOW?.m4a Edited January 1, 2021 by Connor Cochrane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 This black crowned night heron was such an unexpected find that it has to be my favorite of the year. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearcat6 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Eared Grebes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colton V Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 (edited) This little Pygmy Owl I found at a nature park in the middle of my city in February. I wasn’t even birding, just happened to take a detour on the way home from my bus stop and there it was, in some spooky, foggy woods. Owls are my favorite birds, and a Pygmy Owl was the last thing I expected to see at a city park. It was not scared of me at all and let me get very close (which I now know I should not have done). So close that I was able to take this pic with my iPhone! I just wish I had a camera at the time because I could have gotten some killer photos, even without approaching it further. Edited January 1, 2021 by Colton V 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, Colton V said: This little Pygmy Owl I found at a nature park in the middle of my city in February. I wasn’t even birding, just happened to take a detour on the way home from my bus stop and there it was, in some spooky, foggy woods. Owls are my favorite birds, and a Pygmy Owl was the last thing I expected to see at a city park. It was not scared of me at all and let me get very close (which I now know I should not have done). So close that I was able to take this pic with my iPhone! I just wish I had a camera at the time because I could have gotten some killer photos, even without approaching it further. My family laughs at me for this, but that is why I ALWAYS have my camera with me wherever I go. Even if it’s just to the store or something. Things like that can happen and I want to be prepared. Edited January 1, 2021 by Seanbirds 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 42 minutes ago, Seanbirds said: but that is why I ALWAYS have my camera with me wherever I go. Doesn't everyone do that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seanbirds Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 1 minute ago, Kevin said: Doesn't everyone do that? Not really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearcat6 Posted January 1, 2021 Share Posted January 1, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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