Friday, December 30, 2016

First birds of the old year, part I / Townsend’s Solitaire redux



Dan of the dead
Showing a fellow birder 'the bird'

Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi
American Robin Turdus migratorius
American Robin Turdus migratorius
American Robin Turdus migratorius
American Robin Turdus migratorius
December 30, 2016, Mount Royal Cemetery
  Went to the frigid cemetery today – part one of my two-day New Year’s eve birding jaunt. A modern tradition (http://snowyowllost.blogspot.ca/2015/12/last-bird-of-year.html), apparently. We caught up with the elusive Townsend’s Solitaire that has been haunting the spot for a few days. Got some atrocious images, as the light was poop, and we were trying to give the bird some space. It was also a treat to get prolonged close views of feeding American Robins.
  I suppose I got to do a few cool birdy things this year: started the year by wrapping up my final year in Korea on the island that started it all, Deokjeok-do; spent spring relearning wood warblers; sweated the summer away writing a book; lost weight this fall at a research station; and wiled away the end of the year finishing up the vaunted book. Time for a long winter’s nap.

  See y’all in the year of Armageddon!

Rock Dove – 12+
Downy Woodpecker – 1
Pileated Woodpecker – 1
American Crow – 15+
Black-capped Chickadee – 9+
White-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Townsend’s Solitaire – 1
American Robin – 75+
European Starling – 20+
Dark-eyed Junco – 1
American Goldfinch – 2
House Finch – 3


(My first Townsend's Solitaire, from 2011)

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