Your Most Recent "Life" Bird (20 Viewers)

[Mysticete]

So this bird is pretty easy in LA? I have a conference there in October...be nice to get Mannikin and squirrel away some other exotics, although LA traffic kind of terrifies me

 

[Birdingcraft]

New and very satisfying lifer this past weekend at the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge- Oilbird!
I wrote a post about the experience at my blog.

 

[avesjohn]

Do you have an alternative list of species you've actually seen? Just because it's not of the ABA list doesn't mean it doesn't exist and that you've actually seen it! It would seem a pity not to list it somewhere and politics shouldn't really enter the realms of reality, they(the polititians) tend to ignore reality when making decisions anyway

I agree, and I do make note of the other species I've seen that are not yet "countable" (e.g., Yellow-headed Parrots in San Diego, feral Egyptian Geese and Mandarin Ducks here in L.A.), such that, if the rules change and these species become "officially" established, I'll already have them on record. Obviously, just because a bird isn't native doesn't mean it has no effect on the local environment. Really, the main reason I follow the ABA rules is for convenience. Even then, I have exceptions (e.g., Yellow-chevroned Parakeet, not on the ABA list - though based on their population size here in L.A., they should be - but grandfathered onto my life list since I first saw them before I began actively following the ABA guidelines).

 

[Peter C.]

New and very satisfying lifer this past weekend at the Monteverde Wildlife Refuge- Oilbird!
I wrote a post about the experience at my blog.

This is great news, Patrick! (And to think I spent a ton of money and went all the way to Trinidad....).

I have to wonder if the species has been going through a genuine expansion, or if it's just a case of more eyes in the field in recent years. Either way, it's a long way from the "...single wing found under a powerline" reported in Stiles and Skutch!

Peter C.

P.S. Haven't been to Monteverde in 20 (ack!) years, but it's reassuring to see that the road still looks familiarly appalling.

 

[Ian Lewis]

The critically endangered Crow Honeyeater, Riviere Bleu, New Caledonia today.

 

[Larry Lade]

Nice bird to add to your list, Ian! Congrats!

* I was not even aware of this bird's existence!

 

[Cheshire Birder]

Stilt Sandpiper recently added.

CB

 

[timsg80]

About 40 Balearic Shearwaters flying past Portland Bill in Dorset this morning.

 

[Andy Hurley]

I saw 2 male Wood Ducks in Central Germany today, accompanied by a male and female Mandarin Ducks. The former were new for me (531)

 

[Birdingcraft]

This is great news, Patrick! (And to think I spent a ton of money and went all the way to Trinidad....).

I have to wonder if the species has been going through a genuine expansion, or if it's just a case of more eyes in the field in recent years. Either way, it's a long way from the "...single wing found under a powerline" reported in Stiles and Skutch!

Peter C.

P.S. Haven't been to Monteverde in 20 (ack!) years, but it's reassuring to see that the road still looks familiarly appalling.

I suspect that more eyes in the field is the case but who knows? Yes, a long way from that first bit of evidence!
There are plans to place a transmitter on one of the birds if they show up next year to hopefully discover where they are coming from.

 

[osprey31]

Stilt Sandpiper for me

 

[Reader]

Semipalmated Sandpiper (juvenile) at Keyhaven Laggon, Hampshire this morning.

John

 

[avesjohn]

On Thursday afternoon, I went to Elysian Park just north of downtown L.A. on my second attempt to find the Chimney Swifts that had been flocking with the White-throateds and Vaux's over the river. If the fact that I'm posting in this thread and the change to my signature are any indication, I succeeded this time.

 

[Ian Lewis]

Large Lifou White-eye, not the most exciting of lifers.

 

[dalat]

Bearded Vulture, finally! After living 2 1/2 years in Switzerland, this was about time...

 

[avesjohn]

Thanks to the little invasion we appear to be having along our coast this past week, I was able to see multiple Blue-footed Boobies off the Playa del Rey breakwater this morning (as did many other birders).

 

[Reader]

The fabulous, ultra confiding Great Snipe at Beacon Lane, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire.

John

 

[Larry Lade]

Nice lifer avesjohn!

* I have seen the Blue-footed off the coast of Ecuador, but not in the US yet!

* Photo #1 is Isla de la Plata (Silver Island), #2 some BFBOs which nest on the island.

 

[Larry Lade]

Bump the photos added to post today.

 

[A2GG]

Magnolia Warbler today on my lunch break at a local park (wooded area next to pond).