Martin's 2022 Bird List (Chevy Chase, MD, USA) (1 Viewer)

[martinboer]

2021 was a productive birding year with 221 different species, up from 115 in 2020, but still much lower than pre-COVID years given the lack of travel opportunities, both private and for work. Unclear how this year will unfold in terms of travel, but I do enjoy birding in my local patch as well and am looking forward to building up my year list again. Here's hoping the world will normalize a bit more.

On the other hand, it is obvious that our planet is under a lot of strain, and bird populations and species are under a lot of pressure. I'm hoping that here too we can work together to reverse some of the damage we have done to our planet.

So far this year, it's been a bit of a slow start but was delighted to already enjoy two lifers for (both owls), including a majestic Snowy Owl at downtown Union Station, and a Great Horned Owl in my suburban neighborhood. Lifers in bold, and any birds I didn't see last year get a (+).

Chevy Chase, MD & Washington, DC, USA

1. Blue Jay
2. Tufted Titmouse
3. House Sparrow
4. American Tree Sparrow (+)
5. Dark-eyed Junco
6. Northern Cardinal
7. Great Horned Owl
8. Northern Mockingbird
9. White-throated Sparrow
10. Song Sparrow
11. Rock Pigeon
12. Cooper's Hawk
13. Snowy Owl
14. Mourning Dove
15. American Robin

Latest lifer: #863 - Snowy Owl (Union Station, Washington, DC, USA)

 

[Owene]

I’ve seen photos of that snowy owl on twitter. Very strange seeing it in an urban environment but an amazing looking bird

 

[martinboer]

I’ve seen photos of that snowy owl on twitter. Very strange seeing it in an urban environment but an amazing looking bird

Yes, I was there on Monday night with about 20 other birders, looking at a Cooper's Hawk attacking pigeons while waiting for the Snowy, and then a few minutes later she swoops down and flies right over our heads. The Snowy returned a bit later and landed on the big dome again. Rare to have it so far South. Was a great sight to behold and what a magnificent bird. Here's a photo one of my neighbors took.

 

[martinboer]

Enjoyed seeing some more common birds in the area today.

January 15

Kentlands Lakes, Gaithersburg, MD, USA

16. Canada Goose
17. Mallard
18. Ring-necked Duck (+)
19. Hooded Merganser (+)
20. Turkey Vulture
21. American Crow
22. European Starling

Audubon Naturalist Society - Woodend Sanctuary, MD, USA

23. Red-shouldered Hawk (+)
24. Red-bellied Woodpecker
25. Downy Woodpecker
26. Hairy Woodpecker (+)

Latest lifer: #863 - Snowy Owl (Union Station, Washington, DC, USA)

 

[martinboer]

Quite cold out (snowing this afternoon, even) and few birds out.

But was rewarded when I drove 45 minutes North to see a continuing Orange-crowned warbler that has been feasting off someone's backyard suet feeder. It was there when I arrived and got some great looks at it. Another lifer!

January 16

Damascus, MD, USA

27. Orange-crowned Warbler

Little Bennett Regional Park, Clarksburg, MD, USA

28. Great Blue Heron
29. Black Vulture
30. Carolina Chickadee
31. Eastern Bluebird
32. House Finch

Latest lifer: #864 - Orange-crowned Warbler (Damascus, MD, USA)

 

[martinboer]

Went birding for a few hours in nearby Washington, DC on Friday, searching for a Snow Goose, which would have been a lifer. While I did not find it this time, it was a nice pre-snow walk and I saw a few more year birds.

January 28

Washington DC, USA

33. Red-tailed Hawk
34. Bufflehead
35. Ring-billed Gull
36. Double-crested Cormorant
37. Herring Gull

Latest lifer: #864 - Orange-crowned Warbler (Damascus, MD, USA)

 

[martinboer]

Went searching for the Snow Goose again today, to no avail....

February 1

Washington DC, USA

38. Northern Flicker

Latest lifer: #864 - Orange-crowned Warbler (Damascus, MD, USA)

 

[martinboer]

A few more in the neighborhood...

February 6

Chevy Chase, MD, USA

39. Common Grackle
40. White-breasted Nuthatch

Latest lifer: #864 - Orange-crowned Warbler (Damascus, MD, USA)

 

[martinboer]

One more in the neighborhood...

February 10

Chevy Chase, MD, USA

41. Gray Catbird

Latest lifer: #864 - Orange-crowned Warbler (Damascus, MD, USA)

 

[martinboer]

Visiting family in Portland, Oregon and getting in some bird-watching.

Saw 21 species today, including a group of American Wigeon.

February 11

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, Porland, OR, USA

42. Anna's Hummingbird
43. Cackling Goose (+)
44. Wood Duck
45. Gadwall
46. American Wigeon
47. Green-winged Teal
48. Lesser Scaup (+)
49. Pied-billed Grebe
50. Bald Eagle
51. Chestnut-backed Chickadee (+)
52. Golden-crowned Kinglet (+)
53. Brown Creeper (+)

Latest lifer: #865 - American Wigeon (Portland, OR, USA)

 

[KC Foggin]

Nice list Martin and I've been lucky to see all except the Bufflehead over my years of birding.

 

[martinboer]

Nice list Martin and I've been lucky to see all except the Bufflehead over my years of birding.

Thanks KC - so many great birds on the West Coast!

 

[KC Foggin]

Think you'll get to 75 by the end of Feb?

 

[martinboer]

Saw some more great birds today in Oregon. Including the amazing site of about 500 Snow Geese flying down the Columbia River.

Ironic, given I wasn't looking for them particularly and had spent multiple days in Washington DC staking out a single Snow Goose...

February 12

Berrydale Park, Porland, OR, USA

54. Barn Swallow
55. Bushtit (+)
56. Pine Siskin
57. Lesser Goldfinch

Multnomah Falls, Bridal Veil, OR, USA

58. Common Merganser
59. Pacific Wren (+)
60. Snow Goose

Bonus points for seeing at least 11 waterfalls at Multnomah.

Latest lifer: #866 - Snow Goose (Bridal Veil, OR, USA)

 

[martinboer]

Think you'll get to 75 by the end of Feb?

Hopefully this week. Saw some more spectacular birds yesterday and going out for a few hours on a walk with local birders this morning. So that should hopefully reveal some more! Hope your year is going great as well.

 

[KC Foggin]

Fingers crossed for you

 

[martinboer]

Went on a walk focused on gulls with a group from the local Oregon Birding Association chapter and had a great morning out on the Willamette river. We saw seven different gulls, among other things, including a lifer: Short-billed Gull.

February 13

Willamette Park, Porland, OR, USA

61. Short-billed Gull
62. California Gull (+)
63. Iceland Gull (+)
64. Glaucous-winged Gull (+)
65. Spotted Towhee
66. Western Gull (+)
67. Glaucous Gull (+)
68. Peregrine Falcon (+)
69. California Scrub-Jay
70. Black-capped Chickadee
71. American Goldfinch

Latest lifer: #867 - Short-billed Gull (Portland, OR, USA)

 

[martinboer]

My last full day in Portland, Oregon and ended up seeing 57 species this trip, including two more lifers today - the Golden-crowned Sparrow and Hutton's Vireo. Always great to visit the beautiful and majestic Pacific Northwest.

February 15

Mt. Tabor Park, Porland, OR, USA

72. Pileated Woodpecker (+)
73. Steller's Jay
74. Red Crossbill (+)
75. Fox Sparrow (+)
76. Golden-crowned Sparrow

Hoyt Arboretum, Porland, OR, USA

77. Hutton's Vireo

Latest lifer: #869 - Hutton's Vireo (Portland, OR, USA)

 

[Owene]

You're doing well for lifers this year

 

[martinboer]

You're doing well for lifers this year

True. I've already seen 8 lifers, but maybe more evidence of how few birds I've seen in my life so far...