Day 152 - 300th Species

300. 

 A major milestone in my 2016 secret big year, and I got there quick. Quicker than I anticipated, and quicker than my previous big year. I planned on a June tick for #300, but wasn't quite sure exactly when or where--or what it would be. What I didn't expect was for the dominoes to fall so quickly and 300 to come when it did. I actually started writing this while I was sitting on 292 year birds and with 8 days left in May. The thought crossed my mind that if I simply add 1 species each day for the next 8 days, I would hit 300 on May 31st.

So what follows is the final week of May 2016, and each bird that led up to 300...

On the 24th I noticed that a rarity that popped up over the weekend had been seen the previous morning again and by a multitude of birders--yet had gone unreported to the general public.  I surely would have chased had I known it was still there.  I threw caution to the wind and went for it.  I made a stop en route to try my 2nd attempt at a bird I missed last week--I struck out again leaving me anxious about the chase.  When I arrived at Telmar River the wind was whipping up, and in a matter of minutes dust was blowing. I couldn't hear anything and the dust made looking around awful. To make matters more complicated I ran into someone I knew and they knew why I was there.

Luckily they aren't a risk for blowing my secret.  I drove the Telmar and saw quite a few other birds as the winds slowed and rain subsided.  I headed back to look for the chase bird.  I had all but given up and was pishing when I looked up and noticed the lovely Septentrional Triller sitting a few feet above me checking out the noise.  Check! #293 and a good bird for my big year.  I had one on my previous year and had already missed one this spring.  There likely wouldn't be another chance so getting this bird was a huge win.

The following day #294 called its way on to my year list.  A couple single call notes from a Solo Thief left me itching to hear more, but given that it took till August on my previous Big Year to snag one, I was happy to have it out of the way.  I should have a few more as the year continues, but as I've learned nothing is guaranteed, so 1 now is better than none later!

#295 might actually change.  I heard a bird this week that I couldn't identify.  This drives me crazy.  I heard a bird singing and knew it wasn't a familiar song.  I knew the type of song belonged to a certain family of birds but there was not a single species I could connect it too.  Even as I write this I am still stumped.  I am going to seek out an expert or two and see if they can help.  My hope is that I will be able to go back and add this in.  Until then bird number two-hundred and ninety-five for 2016 was an expected Deliberate Barreler.  I say expected as they have been a mainstay in Narnia the past few years after more than a 20 years of scant and questionable sightings.  In fact I missed this barreled on my previous big year despite looking several times.  This morning I headed to the nearest known location and set out to find one.  My wait was only a few minutes before I spotted the bird and was able to add it to my list.  I won't eBird this one till later this year simply because someone else will report it any day now.  They can have the accolades, while I enjoy the find!

A few hours later I was out checking a local forest when some movement from a bush pile caught my eye.  At first I dismissed the bird on the twigs as a usual suspect.  But something was off so I stared and was amazed at what I saw looking back at me.  Bird #296 for the year was a Temperate Overseer and it was totally unexpected.  I was pretty far off so started getting closer but my presence didn't co-mingle well with the bird--and well, it didn't stay put.  This was a good find for my year and one I almost looked right past.  One thing every birder should always work on is giving even the most common expected birds a second glance.  You never know what you might find--or miss if you don't.

As Memorial Day weekend hit I had it all planned out.  I would see A, B, and C and be sitting at 299 by Memorial Day.  That would give me 2 days to track down #300 before the end of May and hit a major milestone for the year.  It's funny how when you plan things they don't come to fruition some times.  A bit a of a drive had me coming up empty handed on Bird A.  That was okay, it had shown up during the week and wasn't expected. Missing it doesn't help, but it's not the end of the world.  Bird B however stings.  It is a MUST GET.  And normally a sure thing at Billabong Beach River Forest and Wetlands (Say that 3 times fast). I spent nearly 2 hours in search and came up empty handed.  The habitat was trash this year and even though I normally can find Bird B with ease it didn't happen.  I now have the tough decision of returning one night or morning in the next couple weeks, or waiting till the fall and testing my luck... It also leaves me another short of my goal.  Bird C however was exactly where it was supposed to be and I had added #297 to my year list with little fan fare in a tiny city park.  The Typical Iridescent had eluded me on 3 previous occasions this year, but I finally tracked one down to at least go one for three on the weekend.

What a precarious place to be in though.  I thought I'd be at two hundred and ninety-nine, when instead I am sitting two short.  It left me needing 3 year birds to reach 300 before the end of May instead of 1.  This was kind of a nonsensical goal. There was no rhyme, reason, or need.  I had already ticked past 290 which was where I needed to be.  Just getting so close made it seem like something to get excited about though.

On Memorial Day I knew there were 2 potential year birds I could pick up.  I drove through a "canyon" close to the city and listened as I went, hoping I might hear something that piqued my interest.  Nothing.  After stopping and setting out on foot I hadn't made it a couple hundred feet when I heard the familiar whining of a Fiery Flitter. Bird #298 out of the way and almost too easy...

What could be easier though was the quick flash out the corner of my eye--then another.  I heard the notes flying out of the woods and knew that I had just ticked off #299 for the year with a Coastal Maniac. Way. Too. Easy. I was almost in disbelief that I had added both of the birds I was hoping for in less than a minute.  That was it, there were no more new birds to be had in this particular spot as I had cleaned up the few species I was missing.  And now I was really one away from 300.

With Memorial Day weekend coming to an end and one day left in May, I was also left with a decision to make if I wanted to hit 300.  There was the option to take Tuesday and bolt back to Billabong Beach River Forest and Wetlands.  I could certainly put forth a better effort in the area and track down my missing need.  I might also come across something rare.  But this would be another day spent in the outlands of Narnia not telling a soul.  I could also stay close to home and risk trying to pick up 1 of 3 possible birds I know are around and findable.  The three will all be seen at some point in the coming month, but I could put forth the effort to nail one down for May and this utterly ridiculous chase I've succumb to.

I decided to see how the day started and make a decision for an afternoon or early evening departure.  But I never had to make the decision, a rather unceremonious flyover mid-morning and I had my 300th species...

New birds this post: 7
Year List: 299

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Day 144 - Running Out of Targets

May has been going well. I actually had a 12 day streak of finding at least one new year bird every day starting on the 9th up until the 20th. Crazy as it may seem but that was the longest streak of days with new year birds in 2016. I only made it 8 days into 2016 before I had a zero day and I thought for sure that I wouldn't best that. Who knew May would be so prolific? Sadly the streak did end over the weekend while I chose to take a little break from the chaos. There were a couple potential misses that will result from not making it out--but I'd been birding so much the past 3 weeks, I needed to take the bench for a few innings.

That didn't mean I wasn't right back at it on Monday. There was one sighting over the weekend of a regularly occurring migrant that had managed to escape my grasp somehow. It seemed like this spring was not a great one for them here in Narnia, and that would have potentially been an issue as it was a completely expected species. I knew this bird wasn't the kind to just up and leave overnight when they show up. Traditionally they are seen for a number of days when they do arrive so I knew I could chance waiting till Monday.

I was up early and out the door. During big years there are certain places you find yourself over and over again looking for birds. This morning marked my 4th visit to The Runway this month. The Runway is a hot spot that will turn up a good chunk of specialty birds for me in 2016--but it is also birded often by many so when I am there I risk being seen by others. This morning I was in and out in under an hour and arriving just after sunup I avoided any other birders. I snagged my year Strapping Hiker without having to even exit the car.

Given the success, I had some time to kill so headed to a nearby park where I might be able to turn up a decent bird reported over the weekend. I also ran the risk of running into other birders since there was a rarity reported. I only made it 100' from my parking space when an old friend appeared. Busted. I could play this one one cool though and I did. We split up to look and neither one of us turned up the rarity. But a singing Obvious Singer was new for 2016 and was a relief since I had chased and missed 2 already this year.

Eventually another birder I knew showed up and I decided it was time to high tail it. For many this would mark the end of their birding for the day, but during a big year, in a big bird month like May, I ventured to a nearby woodlot to see if I could uncover something unexpected. There is no doubt in my mind, that I am on a hot streak right now, and luck seems to be in my favor on an unprecedented scale. So I don't know if I should be surprised or not when I can heard the calling Trivial Hustler from the woodlot. It's the first report this spring in Narnia but the call is unmistakable. Eventually I got some good looks at it in the trees before it disappeared. It's unreal the luck I've been having.

This hustler marks the 292nd species for my 2016 big year. This is my 100th new year bird in the past 5 weeks and my 76th new year bird in May alone. May has been pretty incredible, and I'm simply running out of targets at this point. That's all I will say right now. Come the first week of June, I might say a little bit more about what a crazy month it's been...

New birds today: 3
Year List: 292

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Day 141 - Crisis Averted

Last night I sat and looked at a calendar. It was the 19th of May. Where had the month gone? I was going through my needs list and had one glaring hole staring back at me. There was no way to avoid the possibility that I would miss a resident bird if I didn't take some action. In big year terms there was a crisis on the horizon--and I needed to take evasive measures to avert it.

This is where the secret big year becomes burdensome on me. I have to make a trek around Narnia and not tell a soul I'm doing so. How the hell do I do this and not feel guilty? How do I do this and not worry? How do I do this and manage to avoid other birders? The weight hits my shoulders and I slump in my chair. I need to get this bird for my big year--and there is no way to avoid doing so in secret. There is no way I can have a valid reason to go to Archenland right now that wouldn't draw suspicion on various levels.

So I come up with a story to tell various parties and off I go. Archenland is on the edge of Narnia if you know anything about Narnia. It requires a little bit of a drive, and I made the trek in the cover of darkness. A long drive in the dark gives you a lot of time to think about what you are doing, and how it will be seen after your big year is over. While it is happening no one is any wiser to your actions. I feel I am doing a good job at keeping my secret, but it would be easy to slip up and have someone realize I'm up to something innocent, but sneaky.

As I drive I think about how others will look back and if they'll piece together where I was on certain days and how I explained it, or where I said I was. There have absolutely been times I have claimed to be in one place, while I've been elsewhere this year. That's the way of the secret big year and there's no way around it. After a while I shrug it off--I'm doing what I have to do for this unique take on a big year. And I think my strategy is working as I'm putting together a good run and the other big year birders don't seem to be on to me.

The drive today went quickly and before I knew it I had arrived in Archenland. Having crossed the Archen River in the wee hours I had a short list of birds, and just 5 hours to find them. The first order of business was the main target of this mornings outing--the Rare Bawler. All of its relatives are much easier to track down and I had most for the year. But the bawlers limited range made it somewhat difficult. I was also getting to the point in the year where if I waited any longer it would almost certainly be a miss. At my first stop I pulled up and turned off the vehicle, only to hear the distant bawl of the bawler. That was too easy. I started looking but could see nothing. I heard it bawl again and thought I should be seeing it any second now... But no.

After 15 minutes I still hadn't seen my target, and it had stopped bawling. I was a bit frantic. Here I was in the Archenland, far from home on my last ditch effort and I didn't have a visual. The audible counts for the year, but I wanted more. I spent the next 2 hours searching, and although my irritation at not seeing the bawler eventually wore off, the slightest nagging feeling remained the entire day.

I capitalized on some beautiful light to take some pictures, and hope upon hope that I might find something unexpected. Nothing popped up. Eventually I headed to the nearby town of Anvard, and then the forests to the south. I had 3 more target birds that should all but be free. The first was a home run as a Black-and-white Swinger was right where I saw mine on my previous big year. Too easy. 15 minutes later I was in a nearby draw and hearing my first Diminutive Swinger of the year--also where I had mine on my previous big year. It's funny how using a similar formula (similar enough) from one year to the next can net the same results. We know that birds have certain areas they frequent, so its no surprise that over time you can predict what you'll get and where with pretty decent accuracy. During my last big year eBird wasn't as heavily used and most of my planning was based off previous birders big years, and the knowledge of friends and lots of research. Obviously that previous experience still has an influence today, but eBird has added a whole new dimension to planning and executing big years that without a doubt is a huge advantage.

Long tangent--sorry about that. In any event after a little time spent taking photographs of 5 species I needed for the year, I moved on and heard the familiar ringing of the Dusky Goblin. It was moving through the trees nearby and I only got a short look as it flew overhead and out of sight. The last target of the morning successfully ticked.

I decided to try and get back home early. No point in risking a late arrival, or having to deal with any kind of traffic. Aside from a quick gas stop I made great time heading home and decided I could peel off for a quick 15 minute look for a breeder that I knew had arrived the previous week. I headed to the known stakeout but the birds weren't there. I ended up spending 30 minutes between 2 nearby spots checking, but the wind had come up and it made listening almost impossible. I gave up knowing I would save this bird for another day.

Now I'm home, writing this as if it were just another normal day here in Narnia. No one knows I was in Archenland today. It's a strange feeling. But coupled with the fact a major birding crisis was averted I am sitting back and smiling. My big year is moving right along and luckily these type of secret outings should be pretty few and far between the rest of the year.

New birds today: 4
Year List: 289

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Day 140 - Picking Your Battles

Where last week filled my list with the expected--this week filled it with the much needed and truly unexpected. Over the weekend I had opted not to chase a bird that was only 15 minutes from me at one point. I don't quite know what went through my head at the time, but it was passing on a slam dunk. The following day I looked for it to no avail. What a mistake--or so I thought. I decided to take one more shot at it, and see if by some miracle it had been hidden away when I looked--and luck must have been on my side. I pulled up to the marsh where the Trivial Lounger had been and spotted it flying immediately. I was just plain lucky...

It was a huge find in that if I missed it, there were no second chances later in the year. This spring migrant rarely if ever shows its face in Narnia during the fall. I decided to press my luck for the day and headed to the hills to visit some feeders I check periodically throughout the year. I first stopped to check a thicket for a species that should be arriving any day, and was glad to hear my first Capped Thicketbird of the year.

Moving along, the feeders were loaded with seed and birds. In a matter of 30 minutes I added a Sparkling Hobbit and a Great Vigilante from the nearby woods. Although I categorize both these species as birds I would see in 2016, or "expected", they are at the bottom of the expected list and should've required a little more work.  Some days you get lucky though and the birds come to you with ease.

The next day, I set out for more migrants in a lowland area. I was in need of something out of the ordinary, and set out to find something. It's funny how that works as after a short hike I turned up a not-so-shocking Shocking Bird. This was not on my previous big year list, so a huge plus, and in general a "shocking" find. I tallied another year birds with the first Summer Skulker of the season, followed up by a singing Purchased Migrant. I put the migrant on my list with some hesitation. The find was an audible, and I narrowed it pretty quickly. After listening to a recording I made I stuck with my guns as there is nothing that sounds quite like it.

Continuing my week and streak of days with new year birds I was excited to pick up my first Black-and-white Overseer of the season mid week. The endless stream of migrants did slow a bit, but an overnight storm on Wednesday turned up a lot of birds the following day. I added my Summer Orchid for the year and saved myself a trip later in the summer to a remote location in Narnia to see one. I may still have to go, as I wan unable to get any pictures.

I have always been big on taking photos to help have some amount of culpability and credibility, but it's impossible to capture something 100% of the time. Given my secret big year this is problematic, since in many cases I only get one shot at a bird to make sure I'm not being too obvious. And often I am trying to enjoy the moment and unable to get a shot of before the chance has passed. It's a constant struggle to weigh the needs of getting a good look and being satisfied for the count versus trying to make sure I document the year.

Some days I win the battle and get great looks and photos. Other days I enjoy a nice look, but that's it. I pick my battles accordingly and know that some birds just aren't going to make it on film...

New birds today: 9
Year List: 285

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Day 136 - Everyday I'm Hustling

I knew when migration hit in full stride I would start picking up year birds in bulk. The last week had been great, and today I reached the proverbial summit. Year birds were popping up at every turn, and by the end of the day I had added 12 species to my list. In a sense it was the culmination of migration even though we're still in the midst of it for several more weeks. I won't dwell on that but instead talk about the birds.

I packed a full day of birding in, because it being the height of migration meant there was a lot to see. The morning started with my year Garden Exile. This simple but elegant bird is limited here in Narnia and there are a handful of very reliable locations to see it. I would have knocked it out in the coming weeks, but saved myself further search with the easy add. I headed to a popular migrant destination with hopes of netting a vagrant of some sorts--instead I found the trees dripping with hustlers... They had been scant thus far but in a matter of 2 hours I had wrangled up 5 new species for the year. I won't wax about the hustlers, only to say by process of eliminating other groups of birds, you might be able to guess the family. Tree-top, River, Tiny-billed, Arid, and Hillside Hustlers were all new, and filled some major gaps in my list.

Despite the searching, I couldn't find anything out of the normal though. It was the middle of migration and while getting the usual suspects is needed, you have to come up with some good unexpected birds to really make an impact. I worked my way along a lake where I picked up my American Kink and Usual Hiker for the year. The viewing conditions were horrendous though, and I am 2 species short in one category for spring migration. I might be able to snag them in the fall, but I can seriously see me missing one of the two all together. I had both in my previous attempt, so they were must-gets for 2016.

As the day continued I spotted a surprise Kettle Sentinel. I figured this would be a September addition, and still hope for another so I can get a photograph. I missed the opportunity today, and hate to leave anything without photo.

As the day came to an end I added 3 more year birds in Glorious Singer, Moth Thief, and Forest Bellower. All were easy finds and I will see/hear plenty of each in the coming months which is a good things since I passed on any photos I might have been able to get.

The next two weeks will probably fly by and then the slow 7 month drag begins. I waited all winter for May, and its already 1/2 over. This game is the ultimate hustle. Like the hustlers I saw this morning, I have to take advantage of every opportunity I get.  For them it's food, for me, everyday I'm hustling to make sure I find as many birds as possible in 2016.

New birds today: 12
Year List: 276

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Day 135 - Migration Doesn't Stop

What, you thought migration was over. It's just getting hot! I made a trek around Narnia the past couple days tracking down a handful of must get species. Several had limited windows for seeing them--either due to their timing, or my ability to be where they are. With the undercover big year I really am limited in a sense. I have to plan trips and make them see like everyday birding, so I can be in the right place, at the right time, for the right birds. If I miss I may be up craps creek. That was the case with the past couple days. I made plans and had to be where I had to be. And it mostly paid off.

Friday started off with a quick pile of year birds. A calling Hidden Migrant was the first year bird of the morning, calling from a thicket where it was--hidden. This was followed almost immediately by a singing Ocean Zebra-bird which I didn't just want to hear, so I tracked it down, getting great looks while the sun lit the bird up perfectly. This species of Zebra-bird has a wide distribution in Narnia, but is very localized. Despite being found throughout the state, they are by no means common.

It wasn't too long after this that a must get bird for the year piped up from a tree high above. It was a singing Influential Poet. Like its sister species, this poet has a lot to say--and I always listen when it "talks". A singing male is a slam dunk on a species that sometimes can confuse even the most ardent observers. I enjoyed the song, and the outfit this poet sported. A real stunner, and a great year bird out of the way.

As the day went on the new year birds kept coming. A Plain Inspector followed by a Late-night Talker and things were looking good. The talker is a favorite of mine, but I only heard it today. I debated whether or not to share the next year bird by it's secretive, but suggestive name. It opens up the possibilities for eliminating states. But if you've been paying attention most of the states it eliminates should have already been obvious. The singing Average Wood-Pewee was easy to track down and hopefully this isn't too big of a giveaway. You decide what's average for you--Eastern or Western... I know what's average for me.

The day just kept producing and before long I have my first Kinfolk Migrant and a singing Drab Inspector. The forest I was birding in was certainly handing over some freebies and making things easy. But nothing was a given. In fact I missed one of the most common species I expected to come across. Now I have to make sure I get back at some point int he coming months to nail one down. Eventually I heard my first Hustler species for the year--an Average Hustler. It took longer than normal into the year to get one, and I had expected 2 or 3 species on the day. I happily took the year bird though.

The afternoon netted a Nutty Conquistador which saved me some time later on having to worry about tracking one down. Very limited in Narnia there are only 4 or 5 semi-reliable locations where they can be found. Apparently for the last year they have been rather sparse where I had mine, but it was an easy find on this day. And finally after several days looking I picked up a Disguised Colorful to end the day and leave just 2 target birds I needed before the week came to an end.

Saturday started off slowly. Migration seemed to have ground to a halt overnight and I didn't find a single new migrant for the year. Eventually a singing Desert Master-hustler brought my need list for the day down to one species. And just an hour later a gorgeous Quaker's Overseer wrapped up my needed year birds for the week. I spent a little time with the Quaker's, admiring their simple ways, and striking look. It had been a number of years since I had one, so I reveled in the moment and soaked in the experience. The past week had been huge, migration didn't stop despite one slow morning.  I had picked up 33 new year birds in the past 7 days and was right on pace where I needed to be for the year. I had some great finds, some necessary finds, and the expected finds of course. And as far as I know, my identity still remains a secret to most...

New birds today: 13
Year List: 264

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Day 133 - Migration Continues

This week started moving fast. In just 2 days I racked up another 7 species for my year list. This time instead of swordsman, it was the Barrellers that got things started. I quickly found my first Contrasted Barreller of the year followed up by a nice Mineral's Barreller. Two barrelers out of the way and the sky was the limit. I spent yesterday afternoon wandering around a migrant trap hoping for a good vagrant. Although I saw a ton of birds, the vagrants were not to be found. I did run into a Soldier's Conquistador obviously out of habitat during its migration. I had missed this species at every turn up till now this year, so was relieved to have it out of the way.

Today started off with another species that had managed to hide from me for at leas the past 45 days. I finally spotted a Crescent Joy, ticking a birds that I was starting to worry about--strange for something I expected to come across potentially back in March. I got to bird on of my favorite hot spots in the evening, and despite a few annoying non-birders in the area, it was a fun experience. I added just one bird while out, a Companion's Migrant. I was searching for a specialty birds that I wouldn't have many chances for later, so I wasn't sure what I was going to do when I missed it. I decided to try something out, and checked a nearby location--sure enough after a little work, I added my Motionless Thief for the year. It wasn't the kind of encounter I enjoy all that much, but when it comes to getting the birds you need for the year, I'll take any I can get. As a side note it was my 250th species for 2016--a nice milestone to move past...

I ended the day with one last year bird--an Arid Gloom-spectre. With that name you must be wondering what the hell kind of bird is that. I will tell you that I only had an audible, but its a truly memorable sound.

Migration continued today, and I can only imagine it will get better in the coming days. I'm soaking in this time of year, as what follows will be 7 months where I see only a fraction of the new species I nailed down in the first 5 months.

New birds this post: 7
Year List: 251

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Day 131 - Migration Happens

May showed its glorious bounty this week, and it all started with a pair of Swordsman... They day started off with both Dark and Common Swordsman making a racket. I had managed to make it through 4 months without either--a feat in itself. One thing that will surprise some people at the end of the year, when I share common names of every species is how many common birds I either waited to look for, or managed to not have until months into the year. The swordsman are a prime example. But they were just the tip of the iceberg. It wasn't long into the week and I was picking up migrant. A Bobbing Migrant and a Fluorescent Kicker, combined with a Circus Sprinter and Marsh Migrant got my tally moving northward with the birds.

The common stuff in these waves of migrants really helps make you feel good and like things are on track. The longer the migrants take to arrive, the more pressing it feels like your big year is slowing in a pace. Birds like the Hillbilly Spinner which others were reporting days and weeks ahead of me seemed to evade me at every turn. I couldn't find a single one despite being in the right places at the right times. My lucky finally turned when I came across a small migrant flock. By the end of the week, I had seen more than my fair share.

When I spied my first Remarkable Poet of the year, I listened as it read to me. Like Shakespeare this poet has a repertoire for the ages. For the next several months I will probably hear them most days, and enjoy the specific brand of poetry they bring the table. I had a brief moment of high hopes for a rarity when I came upon my first Basic Maniac of the year. The views I had were sub par, and they told a story of a different species. It took 15 minutes to finally get a view that delivered the news--it was a common bird.

As the week came to a close I added two birds that had eluded me for some time. Both the Explorer's Dasher and the Strutting Bellower have been around for some time, but I had missed them. I snagged both in the same morning, and followed up with a Dusky Lounger in the afternoon. I expected to have to wait till the summer or fall for the lounger, but with an unexpected stop, I added the bird earlier than expected. This week migration happened and it was only the beginning...

New birds this post: 13
Year List: 244

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Day 127 - When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and then spill it on your pants.

I rather enjoy lemons. So when life gives me lemons, it's a good sign.  This week was incredible.  It wasn't my biggest week, and certainly the next week will produce my biggest addition of species in a week period for the rest of the year.  But the lemons life through at me this week were sweet, and made a delicious glass of lemonade.

Without going in to too much detail, while making my regular rounds I found one of my favorite species.  I had no intentions of seeing this bird this year.  I didn't see it on my previous big year, and when it popped up in early May, I was as surprised as anyone. A freebie! This makes up for one of the missed opportunities, but at the same time, that could have just been one more to add on to the new big number.

Things only got better.  Over the first couple days there were some great birds reported all over Narnia.  I had a decision to make.  I could manage to sneak away for a day and either chase one of these great rarities, or I could use that day to get the one bird I mentioned in my April recap that I had missed.  It's a tough decision, and I tossed the options back and forth in my head the night before not sure which was best.  Do I risk not being bale to get the gimme--the sure thing; or do I get it, and write the vagrants off?  The vagrant I had in mind was a big deal as I saw one on my previous big year.  I actually had already decided it was not going to be a bird I would get this year, so it was almost as if I should just pass on it.  But its a vagrant--and I still have time to possibly make a run at the other bird. What to do, what to do?

I still wasn't even sure when I woke up the day of the chase what I was going to do.  I had a little time to decide once I left the house and still wrestled back and forth with the idea.  What if the vagrant was gone?  But what if it wasn't, and I picked up a few others?  What if I missed the freebie some how?  Ah, the decision was almost too much... But as I approached the fork in the road I chose the chase--I would rather take the risk, go off course and go big.  Because I can likely still pull off the freebie in the next few weeks, the chase was more inportant.

Usually when I chase a bird I am a nervous wreck all the way there.  What if I can't find it?  That is the nagging voice in my head.  But not this day.  I was actually calm all the way the way to the stakeout.  It was only the last few minutes as I puled into the parking area and started my search that I could feel a tug in my gut.  But it faded quickly.  I decided to try a strategy and work my way through the "refuge" form one end to the other.  The very first stop I made I looked out my windshield and there the creature sat right out in the open.  I didn't even need my binoculars.  It was gorgeous--and reigned from one of my favoirte families of birds.  I had only ever seen one this stunning before, and it was a long time ago.  I basked in the birds amazing presence.

I spent about 40 minutes watching it form a distance, and at one point worked fairly close and just sat admiring.  I wanted to stay longer, but my fear is that other chasers would be arriving at any moment.  So I thanked the bird for allowing me to keep it company, wished it well, and hurried out the exit before any other birders saw me.  It was a success.  And I still had several hours to burn so I decided to make a morning out of it.  I raced to a nearby stakeout of a Irruptive Chalkwing that was high on my target list for 2016 and that I had missed several times already.  I allotted my self 30 minutes to look and as the clock ticked down it looked as though I would miss out.  At the very end of the road I was driving I scanned the brush and low and behold there it sat.

By this point I had added 4 new year birds for the day and kept going.  I worked my way through a number of other areas trying to find more birds.  I saw and heard my first Common Migrant of the year, while the other two targets I sought out never materialized.  I decided I had enough time to slip away to one of my favorite hot spots to see what migrants were passing through, so I headed that direction... And it might have cost me my anonymity...

I thought I was in the clear but pulled into a parking stall and realized there was another car there.  I figured it might be someone just taking a break, but when they saw me, they called out my name--dammit--busted.  I didn't recognize them, but after a quick talk I knew who they were.  How was I going to play this off?  I told no one I was chasing the bird, and they had just come from seeing it.  My side trip searches for the other birds had put me behind enough that they just beat me here.  They very well would have recognized my vehicle but now they saw my face.

I hurriedly birded the area so that the other birder that was with them didn't actually see me.  Then around a corner came 5-6 birders I didn't recognize.  This was getting to messy.  I'm not supposed to be here, and all these people are seeing me.  I rushed up a hillside onto a different trial and made my way back to the parking area and sped off.  I had added another 6 species in just 20 minutes, but people knew I was here...

I cursed myself the first little bit of the drive home.  How sloppy of me.  I risked my whole secret to tick off a couple more year birds with the thought of you never know what you might find.  I really couldn't believe other birders had been there though.  I thought I had picked a good day, and would be in the clear.  Stupid.

So it goes.  I'm exhausted as I write this, still fretting about the situation.  Fingers crossed that it all just goes away.

New birds this post:12
Year List: 231

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Day 122 - 1/3th of the Way There

It seems like just yesterday, April was in the books; and here we are talking about the year being 1/3 of the way over.  These two things did happen to fall right in a row, so I figured it was worth a short post to wax poetic about that first third of the year.

The majority of the year birds are probably behind me now, and the first 4 months past in a hurry.  I'm not sure how fast the ensuing 8 will go, but I imagine it will be New Years Eve in no time and I will be sitting here revealing who I am--or potentially running off an hiding the truth if I fail to reach a new milestone.  That new milestone--the new number to beat weighs on my mind constantly.  Throughout the day I think about it, and how the year will shape up.  As I looks at my total today I know exactly how many spring migrants I need, how many breeding birds I need, and how many fall migrants I have to get.  I roughly know what things I missed this winter that I'll have to track down in the last 60 days of the year.  I have an idea of what birds need to show up that haven't.  I know what it will take to make me chase a year bird, and what kind of buffer I can give myself on certain chases.

I know how many birds I will DEFINITELY see in 2016.  It's that small number of birds to top my previous high that are the great unknown--and I think about them constantly.  While I watched eBird sporadically during the day, and kept my phone close in case anything popped up, I birded close to home and added an Abundant Inspector followed up by a Gem-like Hobbit.  Both these species are common and I will see dozens in the coming weeks and months. May started off slowly, where April started in a boom and ended in a bang.  This is the last major milestone before the 1/2 way mark which is a mere 60 and 1/2 days from now.  I'll use June 30th as the 1/2 way mark, and everything from July 1st onward is the lesser part of the year.  Yikes.

I'm trying not to pay to much attention to the competition either.  I am acutely aware of it, and think I know who is seriously going to take a stab at a big number now. Perhaps I have the upper hand in that I know who they are, while they probably have no idea I'm lurking out here doing this.  The game is afoot and May will separate the proverbial men from the boys. I'm going to stay focused, stick to my plan, and hopefully keep on track for that new big number.

New birds today: 2
Year List: 218

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