I have finally set my resolution for this year: to try to see at least 175 birds in the ABA Area.
Believe me, this is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you have done most of the birding this year in your home county, and started birding seriously in May.
As of right now, November 17, 2013, I have seen 163 birds in the ABA Area in 2013 that I am 95% sure or higher that I saw.
Trips I have planned around the SF Bay Area for December include: a Half Moon Bay to Pescadero to Santa Cruz drive, stopping for birding along the way, either Palo Alto Baylands or Don Edwards, and the Christmas Bird Count.
However, it would be almost impossible for me to get 12 new birds in my home county and the surrounding area in a month and a half, but I have a secret weapon: in a week, I am leaving for a six-day trip to the Lake Tahoe area, in Northeastern California, in the Sierra Nevada. This is a family vacation for my school Thanksgiving break, and I'm hoping to squeeze in some birding there. Late November is not the prime time for birding there, but I'll take what I get.
Here is a list of birds, in descending likeliness, that I hope to see (yearbirds in regular and lifers in bold and italics, "lifers" seen before 2012 in bold):
Mountain Chickadee - almost certain to see this one
Red-breasted Nuthatch - pretty certain, too
Clark's Nutcracker
Pine Siskin
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cassin's Finch
Evening Grosbeak
White-headed Woodpecker
Red Crossbill
Bald Eagle
Black-billed Magpie
Wood Duck
Merlin
Pine Grosbeak
Lark Sparrow
Horned Lark
American Dipper
Mountain Bluebird
Rock Wren
Common Loon
Vesper Sparrow
Pileated Woodpecker
That's 22 birds right there... Alright, I was a "bit" optimistic about what I could see, but I expect to see at least five yearbirds. Add all the birds I will get in December, and I may be able to reach 175. I'll post a Los Capitancillos Ponds trip report in a bit, with bad photos of good birds.
World #200 was a ... Herring Gull! :D
Updates:
ABA Lifelist: 172
ABA Yearlist: 163
World Lifelist: 204
World Yearlist: 197
Good birding,
Sergey
Believe me, this is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you have done most of the birding this year in your home county, and started birding seriously in May.
As of right now, November 17, 2013, I have seen 163 birds in the ABA Area in 2013 that I am 95% sure or higher that I saw.
Trips I have planned around the SF Bay Area for December include: a Half Moon Bay to Pescadero to Santa Cruz drive, stopping for birding along the way, either Palo Alto Baylands or Don Edwards, and the Christmas Bird Count.
However, it would be almost impossible for me to get 12 new birds in my home county and the surrounding area in a month and a half, but I have a secret weapon: in a week, I am leaving for a six-day trip to the Lake Tahoe area, in Northeastern California, in the Sierra Nevada. This is a family vacation for my school Thanksgiving break, and I'm hoping to squeeze in some birding there. Late November is not the prime time for birding there, but I'll take what I get.
Here is a list of birds, in descending likeliness, that I hope to see (yearbirds in regular and lifers in bold and italics, "lifers" seen before 2012 in bold):
Mountain Chickadee - almost certain to see this one
Red-breasted Nuthatch - pretty certain, too
Clark's Nutcracker
Pine Siskin
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Cassin's Finch
Evening Grosbeak
White-headed Woodpecker
Red Crossbill
Bald Eagle
Black-billed Magpie
Wood Duck
Merlin
Pine Grosbeak
Lark Sparrow
Horned Lark
American Dipper
Mountain Bluebird
Rock Wren
Common Loon
Vesper Sparrow
Pileated Woodpecker
That's 22 birds right there... Alright, I was a "bit" optimistic about what I could see, but I expect to see at least five yearbirds. Add all the birds I will get in December, and I may be able to reach 175. I'll post a Los Capitancillos Ponds trip report in a bit, with bad photos of good birds.
World #200 was a ... Herring Gull! :D
Updates:
ABA Lifelist: 172
ABA Yearlist: 163
World Lifelist: 204
World Yearlist: 197
Good birding,
Sergey
