Adventures in Birding

Happy 2019! #1-19

Happy 2019!

I had a great birding year for 2018! My goal was to see at least 140 different species of birds, and I ended up at 201! I don't expect to get that many in 2019, honestly. I don't have plans to go on vacation at the shore or out of state, so I probably won't get near 200 again. In 2018, I saw 161 species in my county, so I'd like to at least match that number for 2019.

I have a goal to see 5 new "lifers," and to visit 10 new "hotspot" birding areas. I'd also like to focus even more on photography and to get some good recordings of bird songs (especially warblers in Spring).

I'd really love to find an owl on my own during the day. It's a tough thing to do, and I'd love to accomplish it one day! There are a few birds I'd love to see (Evening Grosbeaks, Golden Eagle, Dickcissel, and Snow Buntings) and a few birds I'd really love to get good photos of (Hairy Woodpecker, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Winter Wren and hawks in general).

In the first day of 2019, I spotted 12 species:
1. Dark-eyed Junco (first bird of the year 3 years running!)
2. Mourning Dove
3. Tufted Titmouse
4. American Goldfinch
5. House Sparrow
6. Song Sparrow
7. American Crow
8. Sharp-shinned Hawk
9. Turkey Vulture
10. European Starling
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Black-capped Chickadee

This morning I stopped at a local state park/lake and saw a few more:
13. Bald Eagle
14. Belted Kingfisher
15. Pileated Woodpecker
16. Eastern Bluebird
17. Rock Pigeon
18. Blue Jay

and then when I came home, I spotted #19, Northern Cardinal, at my feeders until the Sharp-shinned Hawk showed up and scared it away.

I've had a Sharp-shinned Hawk visit my feeders three Decembers in a row now! (It's the one whose photo is on this blog) I can only assume it's the same bird every year. I do look forward to its visit, but I may let my feeders empty so that the little birds stop showing up. That will encourage the hawk to move along. I know it needs to eat, too, but I enjoy seeing the little birds!