A week ago I was elated to have picked up a pair of year birds bringing my grand total in 2016 to 350 species. It was a great milestone to hit, but hopefully not where I would end up. Truth is, it only took one day before I was off on a chase to add another species. Recently a report surfaced of a bird that is rarely encountered in Narnia. It had been several years since the last one was seen, and it just so happened to be one of my nemesis birds for the state. Based on the report there seemed to be a chance that this bird may hang around for a little bit. This meant an immediate chase wasn't necessarily warranted. Last time one was seen, I waited 3 days until the weekend to give chase--I missed the bird by one day.
This time around, I wasn't sure what to do--until I got word the bird was seen multiple times on Monday. It was a short week with Thanksgiving, and I thought I could wait till the weekend and take off for it then. It was in a far off part of Narnia we've talked about several times this year--near Aslan's lair. This meant it wasn't a simple few hours of my time, it was likely an all day event and would be one of a handful of chases like this I've made this year. But could I wait? There were things to consider like holiday traffic, weather, and what if the bird left? Monday night I bounced the idea around in my head until I set my alarm to get up early and chase the bird. It would be a terrible night of sleep as I wrestled with the secrets surrounding chases like this. Not telling a soul what I was doing. It had elements of danger associated with it--but mostly it was just a big farce to everyone else...
My alarm never even had to beep--I was already awake in the dark staring at the ceiling 30 minutes early. I crept from my bed, gathered myself then slunk off to my car. I was off. While I drove I listed to music, a little talk radio, talked to myself a bit about what a lunatic I was being. It felt exactly like the previous 2 times I had done this in 2016. I slipped into the far reaches of Narnia without telling a soul and came back to society later in the day as if it were nothing. Like my other chases I nervously anticipated the sighting--if it were to be at all. I might make this drive, take this day, spend the money on gas and food, and come away empty handed. I might show up to a stakeout full of birders who I have to make up a story to fit the narrative, "I'm just a lister, you know me!".
But none of this would be the case. I arrived at the stakeout all alone. A brisk fall chill was in the air as I crept towards the viewing area. Would the bird be here? I rounded a corner and immediately heard the unique chatter of the aptly named Chattering Hobbit. It flew into view and provided a great look before disappearing into the nearby brush. That was way too easy. I wanted a picture, so I waited and watched. It wasn't long before I spotted the hobbit and was able to take some pictures. I spent a little time trying for better angels and closer shots but kept checking the time. I didn't want to be here too long and risk someone else finding me, I had found the bird, got a photo, and was now sitting at 351 species as undercover as I could be.
I waited a little longer as the light was perfect, but the bird didn't return and some nearby noise was likely the cause. So back to my car I walked, calmly loading my gear, and driving off as if I was never there. Another successful chase. I had a couple hours to burn before I would need to turn around and head back to reality, so I opted for some light birding, followed up by a half-hearted search for one of the few missing breeders in Narnia on my year list. No luck. I left the area, but not before I was seen by another birder. Potentially, one of the other Narnians doing their own big year? I acted as if I hadn't seen them and left quickly, making my way home. My need to try for one bird had yet again put me in an awkward position where someone I know saw me.
Trying not to focus on what had happened I was just glad to have the bird for my Narnia life list, and my year list. The following day I found a report of yet another new year bird. It was the first report of the year and I wasn't going to wait for another. I fought the pre-Thanksgiving traffic, and some questionable weather to spend the last few hours of daylight before the holiday looking for a Dark Flocker. I found it in a sea of other birds, for year bird #352. It was one of the most miserable birding experiences of my year, but one of the highlights given some photos and video I took of other birds.
I had added 2 more birds before Thanksgiving landing me at 9 new year birds in November. What a boost. Thanksgiving came and went, and I didn't go birding--the same for Black Friday. Normally I spend at least a better part of those two days looking for birds, but this year I relaxed. I had done enough chasing during the previous 7 days to take a few off. That didn't mean I wasn't itching to chase yet another rarity that popped up in that time frame. I waited until Saturday before finally sneaking away to look for one of the last members of one of my favorite families of birds that I hadn't seen this year in Narnia. Could I make it 10 new year birds in November? Three little birds in the 4th week of November?
I'll let you know in my next post...
New birds this post: 2
Year List: 352
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With my goal of adding a new bird every 3 or so days the remainder of the year I was a bit worried during my first 3 days when I hadn't added anything new. In fact I was in a week drought from my last new year bird. There had been 3 reports since then of what would be new year birds but none were really feasible or worth the effort given the odds of tracking down the culprits. So I waited. This waiting game is perhaps the hardest. I need people with more time and wider ranges to find good birds from here on out as I don't have the time and can't put forth the effort to track down a new species every 3 days. Everyone else birding in Narnia is my only chance to keep that total climbing.
I've mentioned the reality that there generally isn't a great amount of information sharing in a timely manner happening in Narnia. And since I haven't asked anyone to keep their ear to the ground for me, every new bird that gets reported becomes a game time decision for me. Do I chase right now? Do I chase today? Do I wait till tomorrow? Do I wait and see if someone else relocates it first? Do I skip it? Is it even a reliable report? I run through these questions and have to decide how it will impact my year. For instance if a Siberian Accentor were to show up in Narnia and were 100 miles away, and seen by a reputable birder, I would drop everything and go immediately. That's a no brainer.
But if a more expected arrival--some type of annually occurring songbird, were reported at a backyard feeder 40 miles away, by an unknown--I would probably wait for others to relocate it, or for pictures before taking the time to track it down. The truth is every single bird requires a different action. Some are easy to answer while others leave me agonizing for hours and sometimes days wondering if I made the right choice or made a big mistake.
Such was the case with my latest chase... A report came out in the morning of a bird I needed for the year. It was a reasonably close chase of a bird that is reported several times a year. It was only the 2nd report in 2016 and the other was no chase-able. I could make the argument that it might stick around for a couple days, BUT was it worth it to wait? As the day wore on I decided to go for it. My biggest worry was running into other birders who might be out looking, because there was legitimately no reason for me to go look for this bird. However, plenty of Narnians would probably love to see one.
I slunk out of my responsibilities in the middle of the afternoon and sped my way to the stakeout. I was nervous as I arrived, expecting others to be on the lookout. There was no one. I quickly left my car and started looking. Almost immediately I had my year Velvet Flocker in my binoculars, year bird #348. I snapped a few shots and spent a few minutes hoping for a better image, but eventually I decided I shouldn't press my luck. I had truly been undercover and could keep my anonymity by leaving before others surely showed up. I bid the flocker adieu and was on my way.
Later I learned that within 15 minutes other birders arrived on scene, so my choice to get out of dodge was the smart one.
Now in reality I think a new bird every 4 days might be a better strategy. Every 3 days would be a better number, but 4 may be more realistic--however unrealistic my goal is not-withstanding. With day 4 coming and going, I either have 2 more days for my next addition, or 4 if I choose the latter route. Either way, it's almost like a mini challenge within the bigger challenge. The clock starts ticking on the next bird at midnight tonight. And based off this "clock" I should hope to be sitting at 350 by the time Turkey Day rolls around in just over a week.
Fingers crossed and prayers to the birding gods for a little luck in the coming weeks!
New birds this post: 1
Year List: 348
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"How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?"
- Dr Suess.
As predicted in my previous post things took a turn for the better in the 3rd week of the month. After the abysmal 2 weeks that kicked off this October I picked up 3 years birds in quick succession. Two were expected fall arrivals here in Narnia, but both were perhaps a moment sooner than expected. I had both slated for November finds in my outlook for the remainder of the year, so picking both up in mid-October was both a surprise and a relief. The 3rd was what I call a "freebie", it was on my list of possibles, but I had no expectation of seeing one. The first new species came as I lazily birded an afternoon away. I wasn't taking things all to serious, and had almost vacated the location I was birding when a rather basic looking Ripple Flocker was brought to my attention. Number 340 for the year.
The flocker is somewhat regular in Narnia during the winter months but it had been a poor previous winter for them so I missed finding one at the onset of the year. Although I was excited to tack another species onto my growing total, I was disappointed that my time was running out for a couple birds, and despite concerted efforts I had missed 2-3 species I hoped to wrangle in by October 15th. Every day that passes I look over the list of possible species remaining and it slowly shrinks. A new year bird that is expected in November but seen in mid-October is always a positive but if I don't chip away at the October needs, the month can pass and I will be missing a handful of birds I expected.
The truth is I have some big holes that I expected to fill this year and just managed to miss the ball. Going into a big year you generally know when and where you need to be to maximize your species count. I knew these things. And yet I managed to let a couple species slip through my grip by not providing enough time, or opportunities to make sure I had them. I have missed at a minimum 3 regularly occurring migrants in Narnia this year. They are by no means common, but they are reported, and with some frequency annually. I thought I would grab all 3--I messed up.
So here I am mid-October now and I know those 3 are forever lost to time. What could have been? If I focus on those I will miss out on the opportunities ahead like in the middle of week 3 when I headed out and tracked down a Wandering Top-side that was reported the previous day. I had skipped this chase several weeks ago knowing more were on the way. And with some good fortune, 1 showed up close enough to home to track it down and save a real chase for later. Another November regular I had no complaints about removing from the needs list 1/2 way through the month of October. Year bird number 341.
After nabbing the Top-side in the morning I thought I was done birding for the day, but got an itch to head out in the afternoon in search of anything. Really I had 2 targets in mind, and I quickly found neither of them. Not wanting to throw in the towel, I headed to what has become my go to rarity magnet this year and started looking through fields, trees, water, and the birds. I caught some commotion out the corner of my view and saw what I knew was a Mercenary! It had been months since I'd seen one but I knew this was a different species than the previous just off the initial look and how it was acting. I watched the bird and took some photos to try and have some evidence for later. The bird briefly lit, giving the appearance I was hoping for--it took to the air again and after a short display and some more commotion I lost it in the distance. I was fairly certain the bird was a Jim Beam Mercenary, and it was new bird #342 fore the year.
Decision time again--do I share the sighting, or do I sit on it? I spent a few minutes and didn't see the bird again. I could share the sighting and give others an opportunity to perhaps seek it out. I could not report it, which would give me some animosity, as this species might be one that can be figured out. I was torn and not sure how to handle the situation. I had a feeling the bird might not be relocated even if I shared it--so I wasn't worried about giving someone else the upper hand. At this point I was more concerned about giving up my identity here, to the small following who could probably put two and two together with a little eBirding, or listserv sleuthing in combination with the blog. I really didn't know what to do, and I won't tell you, so it's even more confusing...
So here it is October 21st and only 10 days left in the month. Every month slips into oblivion faster than the previous, and before I know it the clock will strike midnight on 2016. I added 3 species in the previous week which in all fairness is about right. I still have 5 possible targets that I could add to my bag before October fades away and I will put forth as much effort as is reasonable to do so. My goodness how the time has flewn...
New birds this post: 3
Year List: 342
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