Since I was pretty successful in seeing most of the birds I wanted to see on my wish list for 2007, I thought it was time to start a new wish list for 2008!
Here are the top 15 birds I'd like to see this year:
1. Sora (from 2007)
2. Saw-whet Owl (from 2007)
3. Eastern Towhee
4. Mourning Warbler
5. Canada Warbler (May 12, 2008)
6. Gray Partridge (March 23, 2008)
7. Sedge Wren
8. Black Tern
9. Dunlin (May 13, 2008)
10. Sanderling (August 29, 2008)
11. Pine Warbler (April 27, 2008)
12. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (May 15, 2008)
13. Purple Sandpiper
14. Clay-coloured Sparrow (May 24, 2008)
15. White-rumped Sandpiper (August 29, 2008)
The top 15 birds I've already seen but that I'd like better photos of (or in some cases, ANY photos!)
1. Red-bellied Woodpecker
2. American Pipit
3. Swainson's Thrush (May 12, 2008)
4. Wilson's Warbler
5. Redhead
6. Ruddy Duck
7. Evening Grosbeak
8. Vesper Sparrow (May 24, 2008)
9. Upland Sandpiper
10. Eastern Meadowlark
11. Veery
12. Northern Shrike
13. Barred Owl
14. Wilson's Snipe (June 21, 2008)
15. Wood Thrush (May 23, 2008)
So these are my goals for the next 366 days (yes, it's a leap year - one extra day to work on these goals!!!!). How about you?
Finally, an update to my wish list!!!
Today I finally managed to track down the Gray Partridge that have been hanging around Kanata for a few weeks now. There were two of them, right in the parking lot. Then they crossed in front of my car to the snow bank on the other side and disappeared over the top.
It's May and the birds are coming back! Hopefully I will be able to update this list a little more frequently!
On April 27, 2008 I finally added Pine Warbler to my life list. I have heard these birds before, but usually from the tops of the very tall pine trees, where observation is impossible. Fortunately, a couple of birders called my attention to the bird when it descended to the lowest branches of a spruce tree; it even jumped down to the ground for a bit.
Definitely a nice bird to have on my list!