I promised somebody that I would report the species I found. So I found blue jay, magpie, black capped chickadee, bohemian waxwing, raven, crow house finch. The crow was a first for me in a winter bird count. I was also expecting to see red breasted nuthatches, boreal chickadees, downy woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers, house sparrows. However in one day you can't run into everybody.
So to top the day off we got together for a potluck supper.
Sounds like a very productive day. Nothing amazing over here. If I were to go out and do a bird count, I already know what I would find. Mynahs, pigeons, Java finches, sparrows, doves, bulbuls, koleas, egrets.
ReplyDeleteI ENJOYED SEEING THE BIRDS IN HAWAII.
DeleteI think that would be a fun activity to participate in.
ReplyDeleteIt's a day that really gets you out of the house
DeleteI think it would be fun to participate in a bird count like this.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful bird!!Its soo nice looking at those little creatures.Wish you a merry Christmas Red!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a surprise what you see. Merry Christmas.
DeleteFifty years of bird counts... that is a great achievement Red. Clearly your fascination with birdlife has not dimmed as the years have passed by. Well done!
ReplyDeleteI missed some in that stretch as sometimes we were away.
DeleteI don't think I've ever seen a Bohemian Waxwing, but at my mom's we used to see Cedar Waxwings. Do you get Steller's jays in Alberta, or plain ol' North American blue jays?
ReplyDeleteBohemian waxwings and cedar waxwings are close cousins and it's hard to tell them apart. Bohemians are a winter bid here. We see the odd stellar's jay but they are a mountain bird. Now we have lots of plain old blue jays.
DeleteI got 37 species on ours
ReplyDeleteWow! The area that I do should have about 12-14 species.
DeleteA potluck after your bird count, I'd say that's a good way to end the day!
ReplyDeleteIt's a long standing tradition here.
DeleteYou can't run in to everybody, but you did manage some great sightings.
ReplyDeleteWhat you find is always a surprise. I know there's a pileated woodpecker in the area but I didn't see him.
DeleteA big pat on the back for you for doing such a wonderful task for so many years. About five years ago my then 8 year old grand-daughter and I did a bird count around the farm. I was surprised with how many birds we found, it was a great lesson to both of us to take more notice of what we see around us.
ReplyDeleteMy kids went with me when they lived at home. They were good at seeing birds.
DeleteThat's a good way to take in that day.
ReplyDeleteIt takes lots of effort as i do all my count by walking.
DeleteYou are a dedicated birder! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks. I wrote a post about how I became a birder. My Mom showed me a mallard drake when I was 3 -4. I've never forgotten it and that's probably what gave me m start.
DeleteI have plenty of friends who participate in the bird counts around here. I don't know one from another, so I would be useless out there. We have plenty of birds, though. Thanks for letting me know about your birds! :-)
ReplyDeleteEven if you missed a few species, it sounds like you had a fun day.
ReplyDeleteClose to 50 years! Now THAT'S dedication. A potluck supper is always fun.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bird count and it's a good way to get in your walking too. Wow, 50 years ... Martha is right about that! :-)
ReplyDeleteYou get along so well with your peers! I'm just hunkering down.
ReplyDeleteI did a bird count, but just from the window. I was too sick to go for a walk.