Lifer Day!

Hello no one, went out for about an hour to bird Oceano Campground and Pismo State Beach Campground. Very beautiful day, nice breeze high 60's. Had some good birds to add to my year list right away including Ruddy Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler, and Bewick's Wren. Right before deciding to leave, I spotted a new life bird a Hutton's Vireo. I've searched for this bird last year when it was reported in Los Osos. Later in the day I had a Cooper's Hawk in my yard which made all the European Starlings, House Finches, and European-Collared Doves take off in a frantic frenzy!

Mini Big year!

Well its now Jan 11, I'm just finishing my week vacation from work. My wife and took our son to Inn at Avila Beach, in Avila Ca. Got to post up ocean view with my spotting scope and peer out into the Pacific Ocean. Great views of Surf Scoters, Western Gulls, Western Grebes and Whimbrels. I started a big year in January, nothing big but living in California will give me a pretty good start and my family and I are moving back to my home state of Ohio so I should pick up some more along the way and end in Ohio. Working some 50 hours a week and having a 6 month old may overload my chances to do much birding, but hey its 2008 I intend to make time for everything! I have always wanted to try a big year since I started birding at age 11, and this year I will make my first attempt.