What an excellent year of birds! So much to comment on. Told you I was sitting on this one, so strap in.
1. Very apt about the blank canvas of a new year to fill with birds. For these first weeks everything is exciting. New Year's morning I saw the usual suspects (Blue Jay, junco, White-throated Sparrow) but they were the first of 2025!
2. I envy your Mississippi Kite, but was pleased we shared some lifers in 2024: Black-throated Gray Warbler, Bell’s Vireo, and Brewer’s Blackbird. I agree: "Vastly more important than the numbers was the connection I made with birds in 2024."
3. Great shot of those Osprey, I love the darker eyes and white-tipped feathers of the younger birds. Sorry about the Skimmers. Saw my first in '24, they won't disappoint when you see yours.
4. Birding is great for introverts. I lean introverted, but enjoy being able to share with others: "Good morning, there was a Barred but he just flew into the trees, let's find him."
5. Glad to have found you, your writing, and the birding community on Substack as well. I started writing here in Dec. 2020, shouting into the void about harriers, but as time went on I found writers like you who provide bird pieces to read and who might enjoy what I write.
Hard agree on point 5 James. So much of our lives is digital these days, and if I'm going to be looking at a screen, so much better to be connecting with birders and writers while doing so!
Fun thing about some of these lifers is how out of range I saw them. Black-throated Gray in Cleveland, Brewer's Blackbird in New York City, Pacific Loon in Akron. And yes, so cool we got a number of the same ones!
Black Skimmer was just a liiiiiittle too far of a drive for that trip. Will have fun seeing them this year I hope
You should come to Chicago during spring migration to see a Connecticut! They are pretty reliable here and I’ve even gotten to see them perched up and singing for the last few years. And it’s so cool you have a trip in the works for Costa Rica! I am going on my first ever birding-centered trip and am going to Colombia in July.
Whoa!! Colombia! The grand prize of birding travel. Two thousand birds waiting. So excited for you!
Someone else was touting Chicago to me recently for Connecticuts. I think Greg Niese. Said pretty much exactly what you said. Someone else said Magee Marsh is pretty much a guarantee
Getting to Costa Rica is an uphill fight this year, but fingers are crossed!!!
2024 sounded like an impressive birding Nathaniel! Congratulations on the lifers as well. I like that clip of the crows. I too do not see crows as an ill omen. I've made friends with two crow families at the local conservation area I frequent. both have helped me locate such a variety of wildlife like red foxes, raccoons, owls, hawks, and eagles.
I have 1 birding goal for 2025: to see a Great Grey Owl. I have never see one before and am hoping this is the year.
It was a lovely year! Yes, crows are so helpful that way! I'm hoping that I'll find my first Saw-whet Owl with the help of crows
I recently made a list of five birds that I need to see before I die, and Great Gray Owl was number 1. I'll journey to the Sax-Zim Bog one of these winters to look for them. Good luck in your search for them in 2025!
besides the wonderful photos and "lifers" what i smiled about is how you underlined "in love".. such a gift. a lifer and friend.. sweet Nathaniel. all the best
Great year of birding! 183 birds in Allegheny County is seriously impressive—200 is a tall order around here, haha. The variety in Long Island birding sounds like a dream. An American Oystercatcher would be amazing to see; they almost don’t look real with those bright eyes and bill, lol. But as much as I love the thrill of seeing new birds, I completely agree about the value of fostering a connection with them beyond listing. Like, watching birds nesting is the sweetest reminder that they’re little guys with their little own lives. Seeing the Louisiana Waterthrushes fledge must have been an incredible experience.
Thank you so much! You facilitated some of my favorite birding experiences—the Ross's Goose was so worth freezing my ass off, and I can't deny that I loved the Pipits (apologies to your uncle). I was blown away by your repertoire of bird knowledge! I have to admit, I hadn’t even heard of a Botteri’s Sparrow before our Ross’s Goose quest lol. And hey, two for two so far! I’m really looking forward to more birding together as well.
I fully agree with being content to sit and watch. This is something I love to do in the yard because I’m fortunate to get a lot of different bird species in the yard. It’s a prime opportunity to observe all the different personalities and characteristics. It sounds like you had a successful year in 2024. May 2025 bring all the birds you hope to see!
I can't get over how cool and eerie those osprey chicks look! Maybe in 2025 you could have a series of baby bird photos! Fecal sacs not necessary but welcome!
What an excellent year of birds! So much to comment on. Told you I was sitting on this one, so strap in.
1. Very apt about the blank canvas of a new year to fill with birds. For these first weeks everything is exciting. New Year's morning I saw the usual suspects (Blue Jay, junco, White-throated Sparrow) but they were the first of 2025!
2. I envy your Mississippi Kite, but was pleased we shared some lifers in 2024: Black-throated Gray Warbler, Bell’s Vireo, and Brewer’s Blackbird. I agree: "Vastly more important than the numbers was the connection I made with birds in 2024."
3. Great shot of those Osprey, I love the darker eyes and white-tipped feathers of the younger birds. Sorry about the Skimmers. Saw my first in '24, they won't disappoint when you see yours.
4. Birding is great for introverts. I lean introverted, but enjoy being able to share with others: "Good morning, there was a Barred but he just flew into the trees, let's find him."
5. Glad to have found you, your writing, and the birding community on Substack as well. I started writing here in Dec. 2020, shouting into the void about harriers, but as time went on I found writers like you who provide bird pieces to read and who might enjoy what I write.
Hard agree on point 5 James. So much of our lives is digital these days, and if I'm going to be looking at a screen, so much better to be connecting with birders and writers while doing so!
Fun thing about some of these lifers is how out of range I saw them. Black-throated Gray in Cleveland, Brewer's Blackbird in New York City, Pacific Loon in Akron. And yes, so cool we got a number of the same ones!
Black Skimmer was just a liiiiiittle too far of a drive for that trip. Will have fun seeing them this year I hope
You should come to Chicago during spring migration to see a Connecticut! They are pretty reliable here and I’ve even gotten to see them perched up and singing for the last few years. And it’s so cool you have a trip in the works for Costa Rica! I am going on my first ever birding-centered trip and am going to Colombia in July.
Whoa!! Colombia! The grand prize of birding travel. Two thousand birds waiting. So excited for you!
Someone else was touting Chicago to me recently for Connecticuts. I think Greg Niese. Said pretty much exactly what you said. Someone else said Magee Marsh is pretty much a guarantee
Getting to Costa Rica is an uphill fight this year, but fingers are crossed!!!
2024 sounded like an impressive birding Nathaniel! Congratulations on the lifers as well. I like that clip of the crows. I too do not see crows as an ill omen. I've made friends with two crow families at the local conservation area I frequent. both have helped me locate such a variety of wildlife like red foxes, raccoons, owls, hawks, and eagles.
I have 1 birding goal for 2025: to see a Great Grey Owl. I have never see one before and am hoping this is the year.
It was a lovely year! Yes, crows are so helpful that way! I'm hoping that I'll find my first Saw-whet Owl with the help of crows
I recently made a list of five birds that I need to see before I die, and Great Gray Owl was number 1. I'll journey to the Sax-Zim Bog one of these winters to look for them. Good luck in your search for them in 2025!
besides the wonderful photos and "lifers" what i smiled about is how you underlined "in love".. such a gift. a lifer and friend.. sweet Nathaniel. all the best
She's my gal :)
All the best to you, Nettie. Happy New Year!
Great year of birding! 183 birds in Allegheny County is seriously impressive—200 is a tall order around here, haha. The variety in Long Island birding sounds like a dream. An American Oystercatcher would be amazing to see; they almost don’t look real with those bright eyes and bill, lol. But as much as I love the thrill of seeing new birds, I completely agree about the value of fostering a connection with them beyond listing. Like, watching birds nesting is the sweetest reminder that they’re little guys with their little own lives. Seeing the Louisiana Waterthrushes fledge must have been an incredible experience.
Thank you so much! You facilitated some of my favorite birding experiences—the Ross's Goose was so worth freezing my ass off, and I can't deny that I loved the Pipits (apologies to your uncle). I was blown away by your repertoire of bird knowledge! I have to admit, I hadn’t even heard of a Botteri’s Sparrow before our Ross’s Goose quest lol. And hey, two for two so far! I’m really looking forward to more birding together as well.
It's okay. Pipits can't hurt my uncle anymore
Let's get some good ones this year. My big ask is for you to open your field guide to Swainson's Warbler in April
GREAT PICS! thank you and Happy New Birding Year!
Thank you Sandra!! HNBY to you too!
I fully agree with being content to sit and watch. This is something I love to do in the yard because I’m fortunate to get a lot of different bird species in the yard. It’s a prime opportunity to observe all the different personalities and characteristics. It sounds like you had a successful year in 2024. May 2025 bring all the birds you hope to see!
Thanks for subscribing and Happy New Year!
We're lucky to have a very birdy yard too, which I'm hoping our native plant project will make even birdier :)
Yes, may 2025 be filled with much sitting and watching!
I can't get over how cool and eerie those osprey chicks look! Maybe in 2025 you could have a series of baby bird photos! Fecal sacs not necessary but welcome!
The Osprey look more dorky than cool to me but that’s just one man’s opinion