2012 in review

Mountain Bluebird, Badlands National Monument, South Dakota 

I saw a facebook update on someone's "year in birds" and realized I hadn't really done any tallying of how 2012 went for me bird-wise. When I did do a tally (thank you, eBird), I was pretty darned impressed!

Bronzed Cowbird, near Donna, Texas 

Northern Hawk Owl, near Fryeburg, Maine 

Here are my numbers:
North America (USA) Lifelist total: 371 (updated after a counting error)
2012 total birds: 282
2012 lifers: 52!

FIFTY-TWO! I had no idea! That's what happens when you visit seven different states in a year, baby! A big trip west, a big trip to Texas, and my move to Maine: keys to birding success.

Brown Jay, Salineno, Texas

Burrowing Owl, Badlands National Monument, South Dakota

Greater White-fronted Goose
Common Eider
Greater Sage-Grouse
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Great Cormorant
Ferruginous Hawk
Whooping Crane
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Glaucous-winged Gull
Black Guillemot
Green Parakeet
Northern Hawk Owl
Burrowing Owl
Barred Owl
Short-eared Owl
White-throated Swift
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker
Western Wood-Pewee
Dusky Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Philadelphia Vireo
Brown Jay
Clark’s Nutcracker
Black-billed Magpie
Chihuahuan Raven
Violet-green Swallow
Mountain Chickadee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Rock Wren
Mountain Bluebird
Sage Thrasher
Yellow-throated Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Cassin’s Sparrow
Brewer’s Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Crimson-collared Grosbeak
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Bronzed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole
Altamira Oriole
Audubon’s Oriole
Pine Grosbeak
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll

Hudsonian Godwit, Pine Point, Maine

Some really special moments on this list: the trip down the West Coast and across the northern plains, going up the Rio Grande to Salineno, moving to Maine and going to the beaches. Who knows what 2013 will bring?

Crimson-collared Grosbeak, McAllen, Texas

So how did your year go?