Well, belated Happy New Years to those who have followed my birding this year. If anything, the year exceeded my expectations. I visited some incredible places, met and birded with wonderful people, saw lots of new birds, and my love of this (I truly don't know what to call it - hobby doesn't go far enough- maybe) lifestyle increases.
I thought I would highlight some of the best birding experiences of the year.
- Parker River NWR, Mass. - I got the year off to a kickstart by visiting this wonderful refuge in January, and spent a good part of the day with two great birders and wonderful gentlemen, Tom Wetmore, and Doug Chickering. Got my first lifer of the year - Black Scoter
- Visiting Huntley Meadows, Virginia with my son, Matt - On a visit to Washington, DC, Matt and I revisited this nice wildlife refuge just outside of DC. I have to say there is little more fun than birding with my son, whose interest in birding seems to be growing.
- Birding in New Mexico - my wife and I have a little place that we visit in Santa Fe, and during the year we spent quite a bit of time here, particularly with our daughter Alyssa getting married this year. Exploring the arroyo near our place, finding new birds; a first visit to Embudito Canyon in Albuqerque where I found Crissal Thrasher; visits to the Davey Center in Santa Fe, and finding all three Rosy-Finches in December at Sandia Crest. I look forward to growing my small state list.
- Finding Yellow-crowned Night Heron in Western SD - My wife and I sighted a beautiful YCNH in June, eating a frog, at the time. It was only later that we realized that the Night Heron, always a good sighting in South Dakota, had never been seen west of the Missouri River. My report to the SD Rare Birds Committee was accepted later in the year.
- Visiting Kauai - In February, my wife and I spent a week in Kauai. Fantastic place, and the birding was very interesting. On the one hand there were migrants like the Pacific Golden-Plover, who make incredible journeys to the islands. There were also many non-native birds like Red-crested Cardinal, from Brazil, and Erkel's Frankolin, from Ethiopia. Then there were the incredible native birds like the Iiwi. We spent a full day searching for and finding 6 of the eight possible native honeycreepers. Throw in the great seabirds like both Red and White-tailed Tropicbirds, and this was a really great trip.
- Greatest Week of American Birding - hate the name, loved the event. Northwest Ohio in mid-May may just be the greatest place to be for Warblers, and plenty else. I spent 4 days at Magee Marsh, Ottawa NWR, and the surrounding area, met people like Kenn Kaufmann and Michael Retter, and saw bunch of new lifers, helped fill out my warbler list. Even though the weather was pretty bad, I won't forget this trip for a long time.
- California birding, including my first Pelagic - visited the Monterey area in September. Brian Sullivan helped me find a number of California Specialties like Wrentit, Nuttall's Woodpecker, California Thrasher and Towhee, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee. And the following day, had a memorable first Pelagic trip out in Monterey Bay on a beautiful day (when no one got sick!), and I saw a good number of seabirds that I had never seen before, including all three Jaegers, a South Polar Skua, and a Manx Shearwater, not usually seen in the Pacific.
- Lower Rio Grande Valley - my first trip to this mecca of American birding. I was lucky enough to spend three very full days of birding. Saw many of the iconic birds of the region - Green Jays, Chachalacas, Altamira Oriole, Black-crested Titmouse, Black-bellied Whistling Duck, White-tipped Dove, Least Grebe, Gray Hawk, Long-billed Thrasher, Great Kiskadee, and many more. Spent some time with some wonderful park rangers - Roy Rodriquez, and John Yochum, and will most definately return in the future. Incredible birding.
Lastly, I want to acknowledge the encouragement, understanding and love that I recieve from my wife, Karen. Although she, too enjoys birding, her tolerance for the depths of my obsession is something that I truly appreciate, and none of this would be possible without her love and support.
Enough, already. I've got to get my 2012 list started. Thanks for taking the time to read my posts.
Veagle (Dick Latuchie)
