Definitely the best bird photo I took all yearBoy, it's like I suddenly got the urge to just blitz out some posts, eh? Anyway, I was wondering--just what was my favorite birding-related experience of this past year?
What was yours?
For me, it's a tough choice--birding with Julie Zickefoose in March or birding with the Flock in Cape May. Both events were so pivotal in my development as a birder, in learning more about birds and fieldcraft and seeing lifers -- in addition to the outright WOW factor of meeting people like Zick and Birdchick, who were my first two birding heroes when I started this whole birding thing a few years ago. (For a long time, those were the only two birding blogs I visited!) Now, in Cape May I also met many of the people on my birdy blogroll, which really cranked that weekend up to amazing levels.
But I suppose I should choose.... or not! Screw it! I pick BOTH of those experiences! So there!
I really tried to choose, but I just can't! I loved Cape May and meeting the Flock in person, and I can't wait to go back there (in February for our anniversary!) and see the Flock again (and meet those honorary Flockers who didn't make it to Cape May!). Back in the spring, going to my first-ever birding festival and having what proved to be an all-out warblerama with Julie pretty much topped my year, even more than Cape May (but just a little!). There are so many reasons: everything about that weekend was just plain magical--from the beautiful drive to Titusville PA to the drive back home, from hanging out with Julie and seeing so many warblers in spring plumage to just seeing for the first time what it was really like to be out in the field with other people who were just as nuts as I am for birds. Maybe it's just that whole "never as good as the first time" thing, but that weekend was (again, just by a tiny bit!) my top birding experience of this year, following almost simultaneously by the Cape May Weekend.
Memories:
What was yours?
For me, it's a tough choice--birding with Julie Zickefoose in March or birding with the Flock in Cape May. Both events were so pivotal in my development as a birder, in learning more about birds and fieldcraft and seeing lifers -- in addition to the outright WOW factor of meeting people like Zick and Birdchick, who were my first two birding heroes when I started this whole birding thing a few years ago. (For a long time, those were the only two birding blogs I visited!) Now, in Cape May I also met many of the people on my birdy blogroll, which really cranked that weekend up to amazing levels.
But I suppose I should choose.... or not! Screw it! I pick BOTH of those experiences! So there!
I really tried to choose, but I just can't! I loved Cape May and meeting the Flock in person, and I can't wait to go back there (in February for our anniversary!) and see the Flock again (and meet those honorary Flockers who didn't make it to Cape May!). Back in the spring, going to my first-ever birding festival and having what proved to be an all-out warblerama with Julie pretty much topped my year, even more than Cape May (but just a little!). There are so many reasons: everything about that weekend was just plain magical--from the beautiful drive to Titusville PA to the drive back home, from hanging out with Julie and seeing so many warblers in spring plumage to just seeing for the first time what it was really like to be out in the field with other people who were just as nuts as I am for birds. Maybe it's just that whole "never as good as the first time" thing, but that weekend was (again, just by a tiny bit!) my top birding experience of this year, following almost simultaneously by the Cape May Weekend.
Memories:
Yikes--cap head!
Kept the cap ON this time!
I wonder what the new year will bring.
So everybody -- let's hear it: your top birding experience of the year!
14 comments:
D - What an incredible photo of that mockingbird. Simply beautiful. And it sounds like you had a fabulous birding year.
Thanks, DCup--he just sat there modeling for me in Cape May. It was a heck of a year!
Gee, Delia, I had to get up out of this chair and think about this one for a while...
1. Helping rescue a Mockingbird fledgling from a storm drain last summer,
2. Photographing hundreds of Cedar Waxwings on a parking lot,
3. Photographing a Great Blue Heron in flight (last week) - a stroke of luck, LET ME TELL YOU.
4. My five month love affair with hummingbirds.
So there are four! The only event that would top all of these would be the opportunity of meeting JZ and the Flock.
I just got home yesterday and this morning I found my snowman you made for me. He's just the cutest thing in the world and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating him for me. He's one of my all time favorite presents. THANK YOU!
I saw so many birds last week. Mostly shore birds. We got to see a large group of white pelicans. That's kind of rare, most of our pelicans are brown.
I'll have to do my own Best of 2007 Birding Edition....
But you KNOW Cape May will be on that list!
My best birding memory of 2007? That is easy.
Reading YOUR bird blog.
I couldn't think of it this morning, but once I was away from the computer, it came to me in a flash.
It would have to be seeing a white-tailed kite (waaay back in January) for the first and only time. We didn't know what it was when we saw it (I knew nothing about kites, having never read up on them since they weren't something I'd likely see around here.), but once home, I hit the internets and found the most likely suspect. When I heard a recording of the call, it was definite. So the elation was a bit delayed on that one. But it'll be very difficult to top it. (If only I could have gotten some decent pictures.)
Meeting the flock at Cape May definitely tops my list!
There is a very large Heronry here and we count the nests each year, in December when the birds are gone and the trees are leafless. This year we found almost 100 NEW nests for a total of over 400! It was a very good year for the Big Blues here in NW Washington!
I'm sure you'll have lots of new ones this year to look forward to. BTW, I tagged you with a meme. Happy New Year!
Jeez - to think the science chimp beat us out.
;-)
Mmm.. not sure of what my best birding memory is this year - pretty sure it revolves around Cape May though.
Aaahhhh, Cape May--I don't know if there's any place like it.
Thanks for sharing your memories!
You met the Science Chimp -- I am envious!!!
My best birding memory of 2007 happened right in my own backyard when, on the advance of a tough winter storm, 17 species landed at the exact same moment and among them were several lifers and ten new to my backyard. Now I always watch the weather reports.
Holy moly, T.R.--17 species in your yard!? Tops for my yard is 10 at one time.
Yeah, it was the weekend of a lifetime, meeting and hanging out with the Science Chimp!
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