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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A week ago I was reeling from the July slog. Summer is moving along at a pace that isn't becoming of a big year. On the flip side I mentioned Olaf Danielson and his big year, while I failed to note there was actually another birder just 4 birds behind him at the time. This is perhaps because the #2 guy, isn't using eBird--shame on you. It's hard to take any birder seriously in 2016 who doesn't use eBird, especially if you are in the public eye in a major listing competition--like a big year. For eBirders, Olaf is the clear year leader--but as it turns out, he hasn't broken the record yet--while the guy who was at #2 is actually sitting at number one, with 754 year birds and a new ABA record. John Weigel ticked off 750 over the weekend and has added 4 more this week, putting him 5 past the previous record already. Where Danielson had been vocal and the name in the public sphere, Weigel, had quietly on his blog been cataloging his ridiculous year as well.
With 5 months left to go will it be a neck and neck race with these two? Will Weigel continue to pull away? Or will Danielson have a big push to regain the lead? And will one of them top 800 species in a year in the ABA? I personally can't imagine wasting the time, money, and energy for this arbitrary record. The most birds in the continental U.S., as well as Canada and Alaska in a year. It's really a strange border, considering we allow the counting of birds in the Aleutians--islands closer to Russia than the mainland U.S., but we don't allow birds form Mexico, or the Caribbean... An arbitrary boundary... It's a feat none-the-less, and pretty incredible. But it's not my cup of tea.
In any event, back to my secret big year. Also rather arbitrary when you mention it. This person is quietly doing a big year in their state, while using made up names to hide their state and identity along the way. And for what? State borders are just as arbitrary. Set by men for political reasons. Habitat doesn't stop at the border, and birds don't either. But alas, I am doing this, because it's fun for me. It also doesn't require, the time, money, or effort as an ABA big year. A more feasible big year for your average person. So here I am doing my arbitrary, feasible secret big year with July 2/3 of the way over--and yes, I did see some new birds this week!
I actually ticked off 5 new year birds in the past 9 days, and not all of them were species I expected for the week. Things started off with the expected. I knew there was a Dribbling Conquistador frequenting a patch of trees in a public forest. I had actually already visited this summer and spent some time scouring the trees with no luck. As it were, I actually heard the bird early on in my second search, and finally tracked it down a short time later, breathing a big sigh of relief for a bird that was turning into 1 of 2 year nemesis. I had put on countless miles on foot looking for this species this summer and was starting to wonder what I was going to do to get it. But it all worked out!
About an hour later while walking through the forest just a few miles away in hopes of a flyover of another year bird I had a flyby--of a different species, I hadn't intended to see this day. My year Defensive Hobbit flew by--and although it was a first for the year, by the end of the week I had seen almost 20. Almost too easy. But I had again missed 2 species I had hoped for on this outing. I would have to come back again later, because I still needed to must get year birds from the area.
The following day was a hot one and I spent a great deal of time in search of birds. I needed photos of a few, so I used the time to track down and get pictures of several birds I needed for the year. I have no idea ho many of them I have actually photographed at this point, but I do know that in the afternoon I added year bird #310, a Upper Stirrer, and managed a picture. I had this stirrer on my list for the last 2 weeks of July, so it was right on time. The end of the day brought one more year bird--a surprise find, and a good year bird in a Northern Thief. I have tried several times for this Thief in 2016 but thus far had come up empty on each occasion. The best part of find it was this was a bird I did not get last time--something I need for the 2nd half of the year!
The last year bird of the week came and went in a hurry. While walking along a path taking in some amazing Narnia scenery, I noticed some movement in a nearby bush. I found the bird and was surprised to see an Enlisted Migrant. A good bird and one I wasn't expecting this summer. I had already looked for one this year unsuccessfully, so this was another win for the year.
But not all things are looking up. I can do math and I know where I want to be, need to be, and should be. I won't divulge where I actually fit in to those 3 numbers, but based off this, you can assume I am falling behind. As it happens some of my misses this summer will cancel out by some other great things I find. But some will just be holes in my list. Of my original list of wants for July I only have 6 logical, and realistic species remaining. And being perfectly honest, I don't know if I can even get 3 of those. All 6 are possible for months to come, so it's not perilous--yet.
But it is hard looking at a list and knowing that you've tired 6,7, or 8 times for a single bird and are yet to have one. Yet you've seen them on 10 other eBird checklists this summer. Then there are the issues of the species that for some reason just aren't being reported. In specific two resident species that are normally summer staples have been under reported this summer, and for one species there is only one possible report. If you miss the things you guarantee for yourself, then you're really in trouble. I think I will get all these species, and probably all 6 on my list of wants--but it will probably be into September to clear them all off my list.
This is where the math comes into play, time for a reality check. While earlier I mentioned that I was within 10 species either way, you might have taken that as up to 10 species short. A possibility, As I keep running through the birds I absolutely expect for the rest of the year, and a handful of birds I think will likely show up, it's possible I am 5 short of the record. Yikes. It's a stressful proposition--all this work to keep secret and put in a big effort and I am not all that sure that I can overcome those 5 birds. This is pessimistic me. Now time for optimistic me. Getting to that number 5 short is plausible--and that doesn't include a bunch of mega rarities, only a few. If fall migration brings in some really good birds, then 5 more really isn't that many to make up--in fact running numbers a little differently, I might pass the record by 5. Optimistic me thinks that if I keep to my strategy and just make sure to chase everything that shows up I should be able to do it. There's no telling how things will go.
Imagine having these thoughts run through your head every day and tell me that even a state big year doesn't cause a little stress. Luckily I don't have to fly 3,000 miles tomorrow to chase a rarity on some coast, then turn right around for another on the other side of the states. At most I have to drive a little bit--maybe tell a fib or two about where I am, and just keep on pushing through the slog. I like the sound of that...
New birds this post: 5
Year List: 312
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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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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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So with April underway I've made a decision to only post 1 time each week. This is more of a measure to save my identity than anything else, as with some rare finds, chases, etc at this point, it will be easier to narrow things down. I may post odds and ends during the weeks as well, but will try to keep it to an end of week recap at leas for the time being. I thought about pulling an April Fools joke and announcing I was giving up on my big year just 3 months and 1 day in, but figured that joke might be too obvious--so I held off. And then the week went on... And I didn't see anything new--April Fools!
April started off hot with new arrivals and my list slowly began to creep north again. I wandered off around Narnia this week and found myself surrounded by migrants, summer residents, and a few birds I'd missed in my coming and goings. My first Lesser Master-hustlers of the year were the first new arrivals. Shortly after a small flock of Flocking Reviewers flew past me, starting the waterfall of good birds for the week. Buzzing, Masked, and Pink-billed Zippers. Splendid, Bearded, and Tail-wagging Hobbits. Chattering Inspectors and Patterned Endurants. It was a a snatch and grab start to April. I saw some of my favorites, including several Awkward Sentinels, and a Highway Overseer.
But the usual finds were supplanted by the great finds. No big year can be complete without finding some great birds. You can solely rely on others to find and you to chase, but that isn't enough. When you are out in the field if you find some good birds, you will only help your big year be bigger. The first good bird I found was an Adorned Bootlegger. I had hoped I would find one this year--I didn't on my previous big year so luck was on my side. This was followed up by finding The Pickpocket. It was the first of the year for Narnia, and although they are found annually, some years (like in 2015) they were quite scarce.
The 3rd and final good find to kick off April was a Hall-of-fame Guitarist. This rock and roll legend really doesn't play shows in Narnia at all. Or at least not at the popular venues that draw crowds. I once sat front and center at a Hall-of-fame Guitarist show--I was the only person there in fact and although it didn't play any of it's hit songs that day, the sheer presence of such a magnificent bird left a lasting impression. Today's show was even better. With a small crowd watching, the guitarist perched up and belted out a few notes. The sun shone bright on it's rather modest attire. The guitarist saved the best for last when it took to the air and exited stage left, belting a short tune, with another show in the books.
That was fun. As the week continued, my first That-or-this Birds of the year showed up, followed by a Typical Hood, and a handful of other new arrivals. Before I knew it the first week had squeezed out 28 new year birds. It was a good week in Narnia. The Hall-of-fame Guitarist definitely made the week. It is one of the top 5 birds of the year so far. The crawl to 300 is seriously underway. I suspect the next 12 species will probably come a little more slowly--and may take a couple weeks to build up. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if April continues to be amazing--it's already leaps and bounds better than the past 60 days.
New birds this week: 28
Year List: 188
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