So, finally as promised, here's a recap of my recent Grat Backyard Bird Count.I ended up with 10 lists over the four days and 23 species. I've listed below the highest number of each species that I saw / heard over the four day period.
2 Great Horned Owls (heard)
28 California Quail
1 Cooper’s Hawk
1 Hairy Woodpecker
3 Acorn Woodpecker
2 Northern Flicker
3 Anna’s Hummingbirds
10 Steller’s Jay
1 California Scrub Jay
3 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Chestnut-backed Chickadee
120 American Robin
4 European Starlings
16 Oregon Juncos
4 Song Sparrow
6 Golden-crowned Sparrows
5 Spotted Towhee
4 Fox Sparrows
4 House Finches
12 Pine Siskins
1 Mourning Dove
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon)
I've participated in the count since 2012, and each year my list is different. This year I had so many Robins. They gathered in the trees and took off in large flocks as it became light. I also had my Yellow-rumped Warbler, which was a gift.
I tend to dwell on who I did not see like Bushtits, Sapsuckers, and Kinglets, rather than who showed up. Here are a few of the rarer birds who've made The Count in past years.
Evening Grosbeaks showed up for the count in 2012.
In 2013 I had a Varied Thrush.
2013 Golden-crowned Kinglet
2014 Band-tailed Pigeon
In 2015 I was fortunate to see a flock of Sandhill Cranes fly overhead - that was amazing!
2016's highlight was a White-throated Sparrow with 34 species total.
2017 I saw a female Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
So the lesson is - only by observation over several years can you see patterns and anomalies both!
Beth, Thanks for sharing your counts...amazing! I too have counted for many years here in northern MN and love ❤️ when I get a new bird so fun to look back! It’s great fun to do....besides important information gathered. My new bird was a Loggerhead Shrike very fun to watch!
ReplyDeleteThe bird count is interesting to see what comes and goes each year. If I could only recognize them like you do! I'm sure it's a much greater thrill to see the rarer birds.
ReplyDeleteCute March stitch!
Your Luck stitch is off to a good start, Beth. Thank you for sharing your bird counts and observations.
ReplyDelete@What an amazing count you have Beth. I must tell you I have learned so much from your blog. I can recite a long list much to my husband's surprise because of my long time fear of birds. I also love your newest stitch. Hope you are enjoying the new job. RJ
ReplyDeleteBeth, wow! I have friends in my hometown who participate each year in the bird count, and a friend who literally travels the world in search of birds. Friends will email her that they've spotted a rare such-and-such in, say, Australia, and off she goes to see it. Not all of us have the time or funds to do that, but for her it's a passion.
ReplyDeleteI'm new to your blog, and I look forward to future posts from you!
Hugs... Meg
Thanks so much for sharing your count. It was amazing and very interesting. I also enjoyed seeing the special visitors from last year.
ReplyDeleteI think that high bird count would be a good one they can use for research and such! I remember when a Rose-breasted Grosbeak dropped in for a visit here! That was such a rare thing for me... and our area!! It was during a particularly stormy time in mid-May... Gonna have a cute March finish before I get through all the blogs in my cue! Hugs!
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