Well, the Big Year has drawn to a close, so it's only fitting that some time be spent in reflection on the past year. There are a number of thoughts that cross my mind right about now, so I will try to present them in some orderly fashion. Firstly, I would like to give thanks to all my birding compadres and all of you who have taken the time to read my blog. I greatly appreciate it. To my birding pals, especially my Lake County brethren, Al Stokie, Jim Solum, and Adam Sell, thanks for helping me either directly or indirectly to see some pretty nice birds this year. Also thanks to the Hawkwatch crew of Sell, Sweet, and Berardi. I would have missed even more if not for you guys. Thanks. Also thanks to Todd Anderson for getting the word out so quickly on that EVENING GROSBEAK. That was the only lifer I had this year, and it was only seen that one day. Got pretty lucky on that one. So.....what other reflections are appropriate at this time? I like lists, so let's go that route:
Best Bird: Obviously a tough one as I had a few county lifers, but I only had 1 ABA lifer, an EVENING GROSBEAK. Coolest bird of the year. A close second was the big rush I got from seeing a SWAINSON'S HAWK give us killer looks as it flew over Adam Sell, Paul Sweet, and myself at the Hawkwatch. I think 2nd runner-up would be the BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS that I never in a million years thought I would get in Lake County. I actually had them on multiple days in 2 different locations. I love those birds.
Bird I worked the hardest to get: No question. Black-billed Cuckoo. I must have searched for that bird all summer in every possible location that had suitable habitat. Ryerson/Daniel Wright Woods, Chain O Lakes SP, IBSP North and South, Grant Woods.....you name it. When I finally saw that bird in Late August, I did the Happy Dance. I got great looks at the buffy throat, too, which was key for me.
Most Frustrating Miss: This is tough. I think I had 3 birds that were frustrating for different reasons. I have never worked so hard to find a bird and been so close so many times without getting an identifiable look as I did with my search for a Long-eared Owl. I searched every possible habitat on public land in Lake County and flushed no less than 4 owls that I was pretty sure, based on size, were Long-eared. I never saw enough of the bird, due to distance or obstruction, to tell which owl it was, though. Still bugs the snot out of me that I couldn't get that bird. It also bugs me that we have all kinds of great Long-eared habitat in Lake County......all on private land. Public land has almost none. It was also frustrating that I missed the Whimbrel at Waukegan Beach even though I was there the day Al saw it, but I didn't walk down to the end of the beach, and I didn't go back the next day because I figured it would be gone. Dumb. Lastly, the Mississippi Kite at the hawkwatch I missed about 5 or 6 times. Yeah..that was irritating.
Luckiest Find: Just the fact that I got my bins on a NORTHERN GOSHAWK as it passed by and got great looks at it, just as Vic Berardi yelled out, "GOSHAWK!" If I would have had any trouble finding it at all, which is normal for me, I would have missed anything but a butt shot. Was really happy about that one.
Runner-up would have to be the FRANKLIN'S GULLS that flew by me in about 5 seconds about 30 ft. off the shoreline at NPM. I got nice looks even though they were brief. Incidentally, I got both those birds on the same day. Must have been my lucky day :)
Unexpected Surprise: The number of CAROLINA WRENS I saw/heard this year. This bird was a county lifer for me this year, and I had them in at least 5 different locations. Amazing. Runner up would be the number of RED-THROATED LOONS that I saw this year. I had at least 5 on the water and a number of fly bys. This bird is usually a tough bird for me to find every year.
Unexpected Difficulty: BLACK SCOTER. Even though I saw this bird, it was a fleeting fly by and that was the only time all year that I saw one well enough to ID. Never saw any actually on the water.
Misses for the year that other people had:
1. Purple Sandpiper- Jan
2. Harlequin Duck- Feb
3. Northern Mockingbird (2)- Apr, May
4. Yellow-throated Warbler (at Rollins no less!)- May
5. Whimbrel- Aug
6. Swallow-tailed Kite- summer/fall
7. Mississippi Kite- hawkwatch
8. Say's Phoebe- hawkwatch
9. Lark Sparrow- (2) Jun, Aug
10. Greater White-fronted Goose- (2) March, Oct.
ABA Lifers:
1. Evening Grosbeak
Illinois Lifers:
1. Evening Grosbeak
2. Laughing Gull
Lake County Lifers:
1. Evening Grosbeak
2. Carolina Wren
3. Swainson's Hawk
4. Tufted Titmouse
5. Harris' Sparrow
6. Yellow-crowned Night Heron
7. Laughing Gull
8. Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Favorite Birding Location:
1. Rollins Savanna- right near my house and all habitats, though not as much for forest birds.
2. Geotube in Grass Lake- amazing oasis for shorebirds/water birds during migration. Had 1 state lifer here and 3 or 4 more rare birds this year.
It was a challenging year, but very rewarding. At the beginning of the year I was hoping for 250 and even as late as Oct. I wasn't thinking I was going to surpass 255, so I'm really happy to have reached 261 which was good enough for 2nd place all time to Eric Walters' 265.
Thanks again for following along and best wishes for 2013!
