Zoroark Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 (edited) At 328 with two short trips to nearby places still planned this year, 360 is still a solid goal. I've been lucky to have family finance the lodging and rental cars on previous trips to keep the costs down. I feel like getting 400+ in the ABA area would require some meticulously planned trips without breaking the bank. Edited October 1, 2022 by Zoroark 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted October 1, 2022 Share Posted October 1, 2022 I’m at 260 for the year. The only definite trips I’m going on this year is a short trip to the Joshua tree area, and Florida again in December, which hopefully I can get some lifers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 (edited) 21 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: 2020 was my best year so far, 150. Last year, a variety of personal issues held me to 140. With three months left in 2022, I'm at 143, so passing 150 seems within reach. I was mistaken again. I didn't include last weekend's two lifer warblers or FOY catbird and cuckoo. Then today has brought three yard firsts - a FOY Rose-breasted Grosbeak (the first one in the yard in fall; nice immature male), and First-in-Yards catbird and cuckoo. I go a couple of years without seeing a catbird or cuckoo and then I see them in different locations on consecutive weekends. Anyway, 148 on the year. Two to tie 2020, three for a new personal annual record. Edited October 2, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted October 2, 2022 Share Posted October 2, 2022 I'm at 192 species for the year, with an American Golden-Plover that I saw on the third try, last week. This is my best year since 2016. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 8, 2022 Share Posted October 8, 2022 I "obliterated" my old high for the county, with #213 Winter Wren, and #214 Surf Scoter. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted October 10, 2022 Share Posted October 10, 2022 Four year birds today, all in a county I don't normally visit and haven't been in for four years: White-rumped Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Royal Tern, Forster's Tern. Also there was an American Avocet, my second for the year (they are rare in my state). On my way, in a different county, I saw my second Anhinga of the year, and a bonus Cape May Warbler. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdNrd Posted October 11, 2022 Share Posted October 11, 2022 My list is a 292, with some recent birds such as Black-throated Blue Warbler and Palm Warbler 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted October 15, 2022 Share Posted October 15, 2022 My year list is now 199 species. I think I can make it past 200 species soon. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IKLland Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 I’m at 265 for the year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted October 17, 2022 Share Posted October 17, 2022 I'm at 201 species, after seeing a Snow Goose and DC's first MacGillivray's Warbler yesterday. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Boom!! Red-necked Grebe showed itself mixed in with the very heavily miraged Gulls. #215 for the county this year, but best of all it is #225 for the whole county which is the highest ever. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted October 22, 2022 Share Posted October 22, 2022 Lifer Black-throated Blue a couple of weeks ago made 151. That's a high for a single year, with over two months to go. Eleven of them were lifers; plenty of birds out there still to see. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 I thought it was the last 2 Fridays that gave me FOY birds out at our "Big" lake. Apparently it was every other Friday. I had to settle for a High Count of 3 Red-necked Grebes, but no FOY. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 Lesser Black-backed Gull for #216, and a pickup from a bird I missed on earlier in the year. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chipperatl Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 5th or 6th time was a charm finding Peregrine Falcons downtown. They had moved to another spot. Luckily for me I had my dog with me, so decided to take him to the airport for a walk. That route took us by the abandoned dog food plant, where I saw a bird sitting out on an extension from the top of one of the towers. Watched them switch spots from across the street. #217 for the year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peromyscus Posted October 30, 2022 Share Posted October 30, 2022 I saw a rare-in-the-area Surf Scoter on Friday and Maryland's ninth Black-throated Gray Warbler today. The former may be my first in seven years, while the latter looks like my first in not quite six, and obviously not a species I've seen a whole lot. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilpa Posted October 31, 2022 Share Posted October 31, 2022 Got about a dozen year birds this weekend in DC to put me at 237. Still way behind my 285 of last year. Not going to Florida or California this year set me back quite a bit. At least I’m at 177 for my county which is 1 ahead of last year. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanager 101 Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Up to 230 for the year with most recent being: Tundra Swan, Snow Bunting, Evening Grosbeak, and Surf Scoter. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 On 10/1/2022 at 10:28 AM, Zoroark said: 360 is still a solid goal With the recent trip to California, I have accomplished my goal. I am now up to 366. (Not all are ABA countable, however.) There are no additional trips planned this year, so anything new will be Clark County rarities. Only three birds on my Nov/Dec targets are over 1%. As I mentioned in my last post, I've been very lucky to go on six trips this year, all within the country. I have one planned for Texas early in 2023, we likely will visit the New England area again next summer for a family vacation, and my mother may want me to take her to South Carolina again, but I doubt I'll be able to get close to 360+ for a while. Until such a time comes when I can specifically pick out trips for a “mini Big Year” in the ABA area (and have the money to afford it), I will shift my focus over to spotting more lifers and improving the photos of those I've already seen. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 16, 2022 Share Posted November 16, 2022 51 minutes ago, Zoroark said: my mother may want me to take her to South Carolina again Maybe we can get together this time! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 (edited) Up to 250 species for the year! Bird 250 was a wedge wren. Me and my father are going to Phinizy and Brickyard Ponds. (Ducks) It would be an easy 8 new year species. Possible lifer. @Charlie Spencer, I believe you have gone to both hotspots. Any tips? I have been to phinizy 4 times since I started birding, but have been there more than ten times on my life. I have never been to the Brickyard Ponds though. Edited November 25, 2022 by Birds are cool 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 19 minutes ago, Birds are cool said: Up to 250 species for the year! Bird 250 was a wedge wren. Me and my father are going to Phinizy and Brickyard Ponds. (Ducks) It would be an easy 8 new year species. Possible lifer. @Charlie Spencer, I believe you have gone to both hotspots. Any tips? I have been to phinizy 4 times since I started birding, but have been there more than ten times on my life. I have never been to the Brickyard Ponds though. Sorry, I've only been to the ponds once so I don't have a lot of info. There's a bait shop at the entrance where you can pay a $4 access fee (see map below). The dirt roads are in pretty good shape. Most of the ducks stay well away from shore; if you have a scope, definitely bring it. There are also hedgerows for perching birds and some low areas with dabblers, waders, etc. If it's possible, you might want to wait until Dec. 3rd. The Aiken-Augusta Audubon has a field trip scheduled for that day. They're a friendly bunch who know their way around the ponds. If you're interested, e-mail Lois (address in the link) for details. http://augustaaikenaudubon.org/?page_id=100 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonestranger Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 32 minutes ago, Birds are cool said: wedge wren. Is this one of those weird code 5 or 6 birds that they use in BRDL, or is this a Winter Wren-Sedge Wren hybrid? 😁 Sorry, I couldn't resist. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 41 minutes ago, Birds are cool said: Up to 250 species for the year! Bird 250 was a wedge wren. Me and my father are going to Phinizy and Brickyard Ponds. (Ducks) It would be an easy 8 new year species. Possible lifer. @Charlie Spencer, I believe you have gone to both hotspots. Any tips? I have been to phinizy 4 times since I started birding, but have been there more than ten times on my life. I have never been to the Brickyard Ponds though. @HamRHead @meghann? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said: Sorry, I've only been to the ponds once so I don't have a lot of info. There's a bait shop at the entrance where you can pay a $4 access fee (see map below). The dirt roads are in pretty good shape. Most of the ducks stay well away from shore; if you have a scope, definitely bring it. There are also hedgerows for perching birds and some low areas with dabblers, waders, etc. If it's possible, you might want to wait until Dec. 3rd. The Aiken-Augusta Audubon has a field trip scheduled for that day. They're a friendly bunch who know their way around the ponds. If you're interested, e-mail Lois (address in the link) for details. http://augustaaikenaudubon.org/?page_id=100 I contacted the audabon field trip leader. Thanks @Charlie Spencer, this helped a lot. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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