Friday, August 1, 2014

Half a Year of Birding 2014

DSC_0051 Florida Scrub Jay 3-4-2014

We are more than halfway through the year and I thought it would be fun to see how my birding has progressed through the year since I started out in Arizona and now live in Maine! While I was not able to write down all the monthly stats as I went along because I was often out birding on the last day of the month and eBird starts the count new each month. However, I do have some of the data recorded and will fill in wherever I can. It’s been a fun and birdy year so far, though nothing like those who are out to do a Big Year!

2014 January February March April May June July
Life Birds 464 464 468 468 469 474 475
Year Birds 131 188 221 228 265 283 285
Month* 131 99 123 ? ? ? 85
States 1 14 17 17 17 17 17
Counties 3 ? ? ? ? ? 84

* These numbers reflex the number of species I saw each month.

Except for the Month category, all other stats are cumulative showing the progression across the year as I added more species or places. April, May, and June were all very good months with counts going over 100 species but I was too busy to write them down!

DSC_0172 Ruby-throated Hummingbird in my yard 5-11-14

February saw me add a lot of species and states as we drove across the country and I counted birds at every gas station, hotel, and rest area that I could! Then at the end of the month I took a trip to Florida with my mom and added even more species and states along the way. We didn’t return until March and by then spring migration was underway! April and May were big months due to migration, and June was a big month for new species since Chris Rohrer was here and we were birding like crazy! Since Chris left I have only been birding locally and have not added anymore species to my Life List or Year List but I hope to change that soon!

3. yellow-throated vireo-kab Yellow-throated Vireo, Lake Hayward, CT 6-6-14

Since moving here to Maine I have added to my Yard List every month with the most recent addition being an Eastern Kingbird I saw perched in a front yard tree on the morning of July 22nd. I am now up to 96 species for my Mere Point Cottage! You can see the complete Yard List in the sidebar.

4. Solitary sandpiper-kab Solitary Sandpiper at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland, Maine 5-9-2014

When I first moved to Brunswick, Maine my Maine Life List was 116 species. The chart below shows the changes and the progress I have made since moving here. The numbers show the total number of species seen by the end of each month and the totals are cumulative. Since I was not here in January, that month shows the number of species I had when I first moved here. If you look closely you will see that I did not add any species to my Cumberland County Life List in July, so that number stayed the same. However, so far I have added new yard birds every month!

Maine 2014 January February March April May June July
Life List 116 119 121 133 157 174 178
Year List 0 35 55 84 136 158 162
Cumberland County Life List 50 62 75 93 133 140 140
Mere Point Yard List 0 16 32 55 90 93 96

5. Killdeer-kab Killdeer in Killingly, CT 6-6-2014

 

6. rosebreasted grosbeak-kab Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Lisbon Falls, Maine 6-10-14

 

7. common yellowthroat-kab

Female Common Yellowthroat 5-21-2014 Mere Point Cottage

10 comments:

  1. Very prolific.
    Sorry I haven't been around much, been sick on and off.

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    1. Arija, no worries! I hope you are feeling better soon!

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  2. I'm glad to see that you're surrounded by birds-amazing yard list! I love the ripple photo with the Solitary Sandpiper.

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  3. Its not so much the quality, but the quality and you have achieved that Kathie.

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    1. Thanks Roy! I am having fun, and that is what counts!

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  4. Hi Kathie

    Not only have you seen a lot of birds but you have captured some lovely photos of them.

    Regards
    Guy

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    1. Thanks Guy! and I keep looking for more! (I am so greedy!)

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  5. Looks like a great year so far! The Solitary Sandpiper is a very touching image. I love the ripples growing bigger and bigger around such a small creature.

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.