Species count so far

[Cody]

Hi,

Just curious to see how many species everyone els has seen this year.



Here are mine:

I am currently at 74 species this year and these are my highlights:

Black Vulture
Short-eared Owl
Northern Shrike
Purple Martin (migrating over Beamer)
Eastern Bluebird
Bald Eagle
Golden Eagle
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Purple Finch


The best was the Black Vulture which was seen on March 19 with 3 other Turkey Vultures at Beamer Conservation Area in Grimsby.



My goal is 100 species, but with Warbler season coming up I may update that to  150 in August.

[Bluffs Birder]

Hi Cody,

You're off to a really great start with 74 species already.  You don't know how lucky you were to have been at the Beamer Hawk Watch on the day when the Black Vulture flew over, most of us have never had the pleasure of seeing one in Ontario yet, including myself.  You live in a very good area for bird watching and you should see lots.  I think that you should have no problem reaching your goal of 100 once the Warblers and other little birdies start coming back in to the province.  Good luck!

My 2010 species count is now at 102 and my best bird so far this year is a Varied Thrush.

Walter

[Cody]

Thanks Walter! The Black Vulture that was seen in March, has been possibly seen again around the Hamilton/Dundas area in the past week. Directions have been posted on the ONTBIRDS for anyone who is interested.

[Tyler]

I am currently at 148 for the year.

Some highlights for me ( not necessarily the rarest ones I have seen so far)

Hawk Owl north of Port Hope
Barrow's goldeneye at presquile
Gray Jays at Algonquin
Little Gulls at Oshawa Second Marsh
Gray Partridge in kanata
Short-eared Owls at Fisherville

Cody you should easily hit 150 before June.  
I did a big day in late May on Foot at Oshawa Second Marsh/ Darlington provincial park and got 139. if I decided to drive and chase owls as well I most likely would of been in the 150s just for the day. Last 2 weeks in May seeing a 100 species in one day is easily doable with some effort.

[BIGFRANK]

You have a nice start to your year list Cody. I too have not been lucky enough to see a Black Vulture as yet. My "raptor Mentor" Colin tells me you are very keen and learning fast! My list so far is 104,(counted at 337am..so subject to bleary eyed and fuzzy headed counting error)this year. Best birds so far same Varied Thrush(same trip with Walter) and Loggerhead Shrike. 4 Ravens together and calling at Beamer on Tuesday past was a highlight too.

[thouc]

I'm up to 80 so far (mostly in SW Ontario)

Highlights:
Snow Goose
Wilson's Phalarope
American Woodcock
Osprey
Tufted Titmouse

/Thomas