Long walk. Long drive. Long two days.

On Sunday we started off at Estero Llano and joined the "bird walk". It was windy and cold. Again. Note to self:  I need to pay better attention to weather forcasts when packing for trips. Shorts and t-shirts are not cutting it. 

Despite the slightly less than stellar weather we pulled a lot of new year birds and valley specialties. Common Paraque is always pretty cool to see. Tropical and Couch's kingbirds calling away, a black chinned and buff bellied hummingbirds zipping around, plain chachalaca lurking in the scrub and kiskadees loudly calling from everywhere make this part of the country a place every bird nerd should visit. 

News came in around the time we were  finishing up that a blue bunting had been found at Santa Ana NWR. So of course we headed over there. Like we wouldn't. Right. We met the man who found the bird in the parking lot, viewed his photos and congratulated him on a great find when we arrived. We set off following a park employee to the spot where the bird had been spotted. We walked the trail for more than an hour with no luck. And virtually no birds except for a few very loud white eyed vireos. We decided at that point to explore more of the park. If you've never been there let me tell you that it is large. Very large. 

More birds new for the trip include 

Altamira Orioles, Harris's hawks and an over wintering juvenile broad winged hawk.  At this point we decided to head back to the car, grab something quick to eat and figure out what we were doing next. For some reason we decided to hike the cattail trail to see if we could spot a Fulvous whistling duck that had been reported earlier but had moved deeper into the park. Remember when I told you that the park was large? Well we really had no idea until we hiked that trail.  Large doesn't even cover it. What was supposed to be "about a mile" turned into a 6 mile round-trip death march.   Without a single fucking whistling duck for that matter. Five hours spent at the refuge with very little to show for it. To say the least we were a little disappointed and exhausted. We headed back to the hotel where I managed to fall asleep in about nine minutes. 

When the alarm went off at 4:30 AM this morning my feet were still throbbing but I managed to pull myself together and haul us on a 4 hour drive up to Goose Island State Park. We had not even parked the car before we spotted the first target for the day. Two whooping cranes were foraging at the side of a small pond on private land just off the road. Photos were taken and within 5 minutes the birds took flight and flew off into Aransas NWR to join three others. Five in a day. Well actually in 15 minutes. Not bad at all. Luck was definitely on our side. After searching around the area for just a little while we decided to book it down to a rest area off of Highway 281. A painted redstart had been seen there for a couple of days and we decided to give it a shot. An hour and a half later we were looking at this beautiful warbler foraging on the ground, fanning its tail and calling nearly at our feet. High-fives all around. This was not a bird I expected to see so early in the year or in Texas for that matter. But it was a welcome pick up after yesterday's misses. From there we decided to head back south and check on a few more of the local parks. On the drive down at 75 miles an hour I spotted a scissor tailed flycatcher and immediately pulled over and backed up on the highway ( yes on the highway) so that we all could get great looks and some photos. Unfortunately all of the places we wanted to see to the south of us were closed on Mondays. Go figure. I suppose a little research ahead of time would have told us that but at least it put us in position for the last couple of targets of the day. 

 We drove around the McAllen area listening for the raucous, jungle like calls of parrots and parakeets. Before long we spotted a large flock of parakeets flying ahead of us. Of course we were on one of the busiest roads with the most traffic lights I have ever been on in Texas at the time. Expletives all around. 

 We managed to track down the flock as they were perched on telephone wires outside of a Chase bank. It really is unbelievable how loud 300 parakeets can be while sitting on wires above your head. Shortly after arriving, the guys had taken 700 photographs when a Harris's  hawk cruises in and makes the birds a little uncomfortable. They took to the sky shrieking and headed off to the east. At this point, with about 45 minutes of daylight left we decided to gun it down the road to try to find red crowned parrots that roost in a neighborhood of McAllen. A quick half spin through the neighborhood and there they were,  doing what these birds do, annoying the shit out of an entire neighborhood. Approximately 130 birds landed in tall tree and squawked nonstop for 10 minutes as the machine gun fire of the cameras managed to capture as much as they could in the fading daylight. Score. It was a great way to end a pretty damn good day in the valley and to erase some of the disappointment of yesterday. Tomorrow we will try to track down some of the birds that we have missed so far and hopefully add to our lists for the 

year.  Hopefully I'll be able to stay awake long enough to upload some pictures tomorrow. 

Day three: Texas

Waking up finally in Texas was a great way to start the day. We got a pretty early  start considering that once again we were all pretty tired from driving and birding. It was cloudy and cool and began to rain a fine mist on us as we headed to Bolivar. Our first target for the day was a mountain plover that had been hanging out on the beach for the last week or so. We

Made a fast stop at Rollover Pass where we were greeted by hundreds of shorebirds, brown and white Pelicans and black skimmers. Many photos taken and quite a few life birds for my buddies. We decided to make haste to Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary though since a large thunderstorm was brewing in the gulf. We arrived and in a few fast minutes of searching we located the plover standing alone at the edge of the surf. At the same moment I watched a barn owl flopping his way over the dunes and our attention was divided momentarily.  We all decided that the mountain plover deserved our attention just a bit more. The Barn owl sat on a post off in the distance and we were able to get a few photos before our attention was completely upon the plover. We were able to set up shop and watch this bird along with whimbrel, longbilled curlew, red knots, Sanderlings, black bellied plovers, Willets, marbled godwits, many pelicans, gulls and terns 

and piping plovers. We walked the beach a while to observe and identify all of the species and decided to move on since the rain was moving in. 

We then headed up to Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge where we drive the roads checking for new birds. Just as we entered the refuge a Vermilion Flycatcher was working the maintenance yard. Another liger for my travel companions giving excellent looks and photo opportunities. We travelled on between raindrops to find more birds. Seaside sparrows were active and easily viewed after some searching and again more photos. The refuge held many species of ducks and geese, herons and egrets and two very "easy" American bitterns put on quite a show. At this point the rain picked up a little and we decided to head towards Houston.  

As we got closer, the rain stopped in the clouds moved out; The summer signing in the sky was blue. We headed towards Bear Creek Park to try to locate another bird that had been reported.  Apparently a Greater Pewee has been spending the winter in this part for the last couple of years. We arrived with about an hour of daylight and high hopes of finding this wayward migrant. After about an hour of searching we had added a handful of species to our year list but no pewee. We soeread out to look around and I began to hear the bird calling in the distance. 

We hightailed it over to the area and located the bird sitting in a bare tree continuously calling. Lighting was tough for photographs but we took a lot anyway as to be expected. High-fives all around and then it was into the van to begin the maker trip to Harlingen for the evening. After a 5 1/2 hour drive we arrived and checked into our hotel and currently I'm enjoying a white wing Belgian White Ale. All is right with the world at the moment. Tomorrow morning we got Estero Llano for all of the valley specialties. With some lick we will add quite a few birds to the year list. 

Yes. There are still birds out there.

After some much-needed sleep we hit the road early again to travel farther into Louisiana. Our first stop was at a gas station just off the highway. In the field behind the building there were pipits, shovelers, flocks of snow and Ross's geese flying over, an obliging loggerhead shrike, mockingbirds, Palm warbler, white crowned and savannah sparrows. A beautiful crested caracara did a flyby which was a nice addition to our lists and hopefully the first of many to come. 

Then it was on to Lacassine national wildlife refuge. This refuge has an auto tour which which loops around the ponds. Here we added coots, common gallinules and lots of ducks, herons and egrets.  More snow geese and nearly 300 greater white-fronted geese got plenty of attention. It was Windy and cold but a great way to spend a few hours. 

Our next stop was Cameron Prairie National Wildlife refuge to look for a

previously reported Eurasian wigeon and a ferruginous hawk. We found the wigeon in a matter of minutes and then proceeded to take thousands of photos of ducks, geese, ibis, stilts and egrets, spoonbills and cinamon teal. 

Well they did. Haha.  Then after searching the entire area again and only seeing Krider's red tails we relocated the dark morph ferruginous hawk hunting the wetland and then perched. It was a great way to end the day. Driving another 2 hours to check into a hotel that puts us about an hour away from our targets for tomorrow. Pics and updates numbers and birds tomorrow. Sleep is unavoidable and I fear the six pack will go untouched tonight. 

January 1, 2015: It Begins

Early to bed; early to rise. Or maybe late to bed early to rise. Regardless, the year ended with family and a quiet night at home and the new year started at 6 AM when the alarm sounded to start the crazy 10 days ahead. My buddy Shawn arrived at 7:30 and were on the road by 7:45. Juncos, goldfinches and a bald eagle began the trip. The 3 hour drive south produced a handful of additional birds-kestrel, horned larks, canada geese, blue jays, cardinals, robins etc We arrived in Dayton around 11:30 and momentarily watched a raven being harassed by 6 crows. Jacob packed up, hopped in and we were off.
Turkey and black vultures owned the skies with a few red-tails and loads of starlings as we journeyed south through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and finally stopping in Hammond, Louisiana for the night after a 17 hour drive. It's been a long day. The real adventure begins tomorrow.
29 species on the day

Countdown to Day 1

 It's the midpoint in the month: December 15. We're Almost there. January lurks around the corner, taunting and teasing, daring us to be ready. Well I will be ready. There is something invigorating about January 1 for anyone who is crazy enough to count birds.  It is a clean slate. A blank page. A fresh start. They completely unmarked checklist. And right about now it is desperately needed. 

2014 has been a fun year. County listing took on a new meaning for me. Staying close to home and trying to find as many birds as I can in a relatively small area. It's challenging and not without reward, but a year in one county will not be enough for 2015. The new year will bring a new challenge. For the moment we'll call it practice, but I am confident that once we start, there will be no turning back. Attacking the lower 48 states will be the goal. 

It started with an idea to fill in holes in my life list and then to build Jacob's list and then to full out try for as many birds as possible.  The idea took hold and now we are running with it. Running straight down to Texas on January 1. We've added another passenger to our adventure so there will be three of us basically going full throttle for 10 days. The drive alone should add new birds but the adventure will be the real story behind the birds. Where will we start? Where will we go? How's my birds will we see? Those unanswered questions will soon have definitive answers and photos that follow. Stories and chases shared. 

All I can say right now is I cannot wait for it to be January 1st. Can't wait to get this show on the road. Bring it on 2015. Let's see whatcha got! We're ready for you. Stay tuned...

Minnesota: Day 2.... Sort of

We woke early. Coffee. Bagels and waffles all around. It's cold but still not really snowing so we get moving. We cruise the roads looking for more birds as we make our way back up to the Stoney Point area. We again are searching for owls. Our newest arrivals have only ever heard a Boreal Owl so I am dead set on finding them one. We drive slow and steady along the area and find another large flock of Bohemian Waxwings. These fat ass cousins of the Cedars give us all great looks as they move about and then fly off down the road. Chickadees are everywhere. It's pretty slow for the most part though. A Pileated Woodpecker puts on a little show playing peek a boo as it works a pine. Snap, snap, shutter shutter...more photos. We stop a million times for scenic pictures but still no owls.
We decide to try the 4th Avenue alley. This is a very pretty little spot nestled in behind some houses. The snow is deep but what the hell....we dive into the woods looking for Boreal anyway. An hour later we are still empty handed. Lots of whitewash around but no owls. We press on. Checking harbors and the lighthouse area. At the lighthouse we have five Long-tailed Ducks. Two striking males and three standoffish females. But for whatever reason it is lackluster. They are not why we are here.
At is point I make a decision to head up to the forest roads where Spruce Grouse have been seen. This is one of those birds that is becoming a nemesis. I want it. We head north along the lake and then into the Superior National Forest. It's scenic and pretty. Pretty birdless as well. Fourteen miles of driving 10 miles an hour is starting to get to me. And then it started to lightly snow. It's pretty. The tall evergreens covered in snow look like something from a post card. Our spirits are still high but we just aren't finding birds. The snow picks up a little and yet we just keep heading north. The snow is a little heavier now. But it's just snow right? And then it happens. Before we know it the road starts to disappear in front of us. It's whiter and whiter. I stop a few times to clean off the wipers which are doing their job but having a hard time removing the snow.
It becomes time that we are all thinking the same thing. Let's get the hell out of here. We are miles from the last time we saw a house or a store or another human for that matter. We stop for another wiper cleanse. That's when it happens. The blade slips from my hand snapping down onto the windshield. Upside down. The blade itself goes flying. Flying across the road. Uh oh. Except that's not what I said. Or yelled. Ask anyone in that van. My lips told another story..
I think for a minute my head must evaporate into the snow because I am surely as white as the squall in the background. I retrieve the blade and kind of inspect it. What the hell do I know? I can't remember the last time I even held one of these things. There are people who get paid to do it when I get an oil change after all. I might as well be holding a protractor. Deep breaths. That sick in the knees feeling. The panic begins to take hold. We'll NEVER make it back in a blizzard without this plastic and rubber device I now hold in my near frozen fingers. Deep breaths. For whatever reason the logic gods are on my side. I figure out how to reattach the, now lifesaving, blade to the arm with a deft little snap. All is not lost. We are saved.
Sort of.
The 20' wide road is now a white blanket in front of me. At times the snow is so strong that I can't see the hood of the van. That little wiper blade I almost assassinated slaps back and forth piling snow below it but the windshield remains mostly clear. We inch along. Blizzard Orko. Yes Orko, stupid fucking name, by the way, continues to pound us. The snow is two, then four, or five inches deep on the road. Where the firm road and the certain death of the berm are, I have no idea. I just keep moving. Stopping every now and then to VERY CAREFULLY clean the blades which I now admit are the single best invention of mankind. Of all time. The person who invented the wiper blades should be on every single monetary note used across the world. Screw fire and Google, wiper blades are the shit. (thank you Mary Anderson, for inventing them in 1904...PS. I wouldn't know that without Google).
We make it to a restaurant where we are entertained by the waitresses extended "O"s and rehash the days events only after the guys in the van push us up a hill into the parking lot. It's a pleasant experience but for me it is soured by one thing. The Herculean task that I know lies ahead. Getting this gigantic van up that ski slope of a driveway to the hotel.
We attempt it. We make it ten feet up and know that there is no way. Back it up. We will park at the gas station and walk up to the hotel. In a blizzard. With a thousand pounds of gear. Awesome. But of course we can't get up the six foot hill into the gas station either. Does not a single snow plow exist in this frozen wasteland of a city? We decide to try the last entrance to the gas station which is off the main road just up a slightly less intimidating hill. At the red light we search for the number to the hotel so I can, in no uncertain terms, tell them we are not paying for this night in the place. Green light. Slow left hand turn and then there it is. Like a sign from god, in gleaming blue and white, an actual sign:

Spirit Mountain Inn
<----------------

Seriously? A second entrance? Not one of the hotel employees we have encountered with their extended "O"s could have said " Oooohhhh yaaaaa, there's a second entrance to the hotel" ? Bastards.
We make it in. Almost easily. Then lot isn't plowed and the van sits where it stops. Taking up two handicap spaces and a regular spot. I don't care. If a tow truck can get up here then by all means....as for me? I'm going to bed. As I close my eyes I still see the wipers moving back and forth. Good enough for me...me and my Bobby McGee plays in my head. Tomorrow will better. Unless it's a blizzard then my ass is sleeping in.

Minnesota Excursion: Let the crazy begin...

Day 1:

Well a last minute trip to the Duluth area, prompted by a friend having the weekend off, turned out to be a very productive jaunt. We pulled out Friday night at around six. Seven excited folks ready to bird the shit out of the Minnesota bogs and birds. A quick stop at the Toledo airport for our eighth passenger and we were off. So after blasting through Chicago I decided to just push through the night. We arrived in Duluth around 7:30 the next morning. 3 redbulls, lots of coffee and I was ready to go. We pulled into a parking lot and everyone layered up with subzero gear. Our main target was a boreal owl that had been seen in this area a day prior. A few phone calls, a little reconnoitering and piling back in the van we decided to try a bit of a more reliable spot.
Up north a ways along scenic 61 we stopped at Stoney Point Road and spread out looking for this tough little owl. An hour and 25 minutes later and still no bird. We decided to drive a bit farther to Alseth Road and park and try again. Everyone wasn't even out of the van before we were on the bird. Perched out on the end of a deciduous branch for all the world to see. Bam. Within five minutes 50+ birders decended on the spot. Cameras snapped and shuttered. High fives all around. Fist bumps. Life bird dances. It was kind of fantastic. The little ruffian sat and intently listened and watched the snow covered ground below him. He flew to a small tree then another branch before he decided to hunt further down the road. Score one for the trip. A life bird for all eight of us!


After soaking in this amazing moment we decided to make a very necessary food and bathroom break. I caught ten minutes of power sleep in the van while the others regaled and chowed down and we were off again. This time in search of yet another boreal visitor. Northern Hawk Owk. Twenty minutes later we pull over on Martin Road and scan the area where this bird has been seen numerous times. I'm out scanning when the van door flies open and the crowd says there's a car pulled over with a scope out a few hundred yards down the road. A few moments later we are all standing there looking at the next beautiful owl of our trip. He's perched high on a snag with his wicked face looking about intently. Again more photos. Conversation with a local guide who was there who shared lots of info. High fives. Fist bumps. Life bird dances for some. This is a bird that I have seen before but still can't seem to tear my eyes from. He takes flight and sails down the road to another perch. A collective sigh of relief and smiles overtake our group. Score! Target #2. Check!

From here we decide to gun it up to Sax-Zim Bog. A fabled place of owls and woodpeckers, grouse and magpies, chickadees and jays. It doesn't completely disappoint. The Admiral Road feeders are bustling with activity. Common redpolls descend in whirl of noise and feathers. Among them two crisp Hoary Redpolls. Black-capped Chickadees are all over and among them are at least two Boreal Chickadees. Beautiful cousins to our normal fare. They move about making quick business of suet and seed. Stopping only for the briefest of moments. Shutters of cameras fill the air again. Another life bird for most of the group. A gray jay pops in to add to the icing on the cake that is already pretty sweet. At this point it's about 4 pm and honestly I'm a bit tired but rejuvenated a bit by these birds. We press on.
Exploring the entirety of this bog would, I think, take days. We simply don't have that much day light left. We cruise the roads slowly looking for signs on life. A flock of pine grosbeaks in the distance are a nice find and later after speaking with another very friendly local guide we find a distant Black-billed Magpie. These birds are at their farthest eastern point of existence. It's a really cool bird that I wish we had had better looks at. But the view is distant and in fading light before the bird drops from sight. Regardless, we'll take it. Tonight we strike out on the big bad boy. Great Gray Owl. We still have a few more days. It's now almost dark and I'm spent. We head to the hotel to check in after driving up the worlds steepest driveway. We are all thankful the roads are clear and this drive clean. Maybe too thankful.....tomorrow is another day and in Minnesota the weather and road conditions can change pretty rapidly.
Check in. Discard 14 layers of clothing. Eat a pizza. Pass out. Tomorrow would be an early day.