Well folks, it appears as if I made my year end goal of 200 overnight somehow as I woke up this morning to see the number 203 staring at me on my eBird list. I sat there for a moment disoriented over lack of coffee and thought it may have been the warblers I saw at Mount Auburn this past May but then did some homework during lunch and realized it was my entire list from Plymouth Beach including the Black Skimmer above! This bird was seen the same day as the Snow Goose which was an oversight I caught this week, so when Alan shared his list with me, I got quite the pickup as you will see! Don't know how I could have missed this one as I paid careful attention to my "twitch" birds through eBird, but obvious not as much attention as I originally thought! Love this photo but it breaks my heart to see if after the two skimmers lost their eggs to predators. Hoping for better success next year.
And then there was the Bank Swallow above and one of my favorite flight photos of any bird I have ever taken which says a lot as you all know my fondness for flight photos! Check out the necklace and the shape of the tail. I also remember this was not an easy photo to get and most was due to luck and perfect sunlight.
And an unforgivable oversight on my part which is the Laughing Gull. How I could have overlooked this is beyond me, but I have been known to be a little flighty at times!! Seriously though, My gulls are right up there with my raptors with both being species I want a high list of but missed this little guy above. Allow me to introduce you to number 201!!
Last but not least (pun intended) were both the Least Tern and Common Tern, like the Least Tern seen above.
And then there was the Bank Swallow above and one of my favorite flight photos of any bird I have ever taken which says a lot as you all know my fondness for flight photos! Check out the necklace and the shape of the tail. I also remember this was not an easy photo to get and most was due to luck and perfect sunlight.And an unforgivable oversight on my part which is the Laughing Gull. How I could have overlooked this is beyond me, but I have been known to be a little flighty at times!! Seriously though, My gulls are right up there with my raptors with both being species I want a high list of but missed this little guy above. Allow me to introduce you to number 201!! 
Last but not least (pun intended) were both the Least Tern and Common Tern, like the Least Tern seen above. So with that said, it looks as if my challenge is officially over with and I can just take it easy for the remainder of the year as I had this goal "in the bag" before I even set it!! All though I do have to say it wasn't half as fun as I thought it would be- so what's a gal to do in this situation?? Why set a new goal of course!!! My new goal will be 208 and a stretch goal of 210 just in case I get really lucky! The way things are going right now, I may even be there when I wake up in the morning. Would love to get a Black-legged Kittiwake and one of those adorable little Dovekies so I hope eBird is listening!!
Take care all!
4 comments:
It sounds like these birds appear in your dreams which seems phenomenal. to dream of 203 different kinds of birds in the past year! I never even dreamed on one bird. How do you make yourself dream of different birds?
Way to go.I am sure glad you remembered these sightings.Good luck on 208 or 210.
Blessings,Ruth
Congrats..I have only 57 in five years but I don't go out as you do. You really have earned your life list.. Michelle
How cold you overlook the Least Tern???? OH MY! (I've given up trying to photograph flying swallows!)
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