White sand, blue oceans, and bayou swamps.

Hello fanbirders,
Here are some updates on my Big Years! 

ABA BY:
I am taking it slow this month, since I want to see yellow stars everyday. I am almost to my goal of 400 species, I am currently at 380. Chances are getting 400, unlikely. I have been spending time in Hawaii lately. Which has gotten me 28 species, plus two provisional species. I'm at the Midway Atoll today. Tomorrow, the Santa Ana NWR in Texas.

Budget Big Year:
$8,500. Yup, that is how much money I spent for the Budget Big Year. But I have 320 species. 

Connecticut Big year:
I am in third place. 

Texas Big Year:
It is going OK

Well, more info later

Red-necked Stint

2020 FANBIRD GAMES! At least the ones I'm playing.

Hello Fanbirders, new and old! It is me, Red-necked Stint! This will be my first blog post of the year, or the new decade! I am playing the Connecticut Big Year, Budget Big Year (more on that later), and of course ABA Big Year. For the Connecticut game, I was on duty to fix the rarity codes. As the fanbird apprentice, I asked Matt Smith, he said sure. So it took me 2 weeks and finished today (1/15). 

Budget Big year:
I am in the top 10, I spend like $400 a day. The budget is: $75,000. Out of interest, it would cost me $7,000 for Attu. 

Connecticut Big Year:
It's good. Tied with my friend for first. 

ABA Big Year:
Not going good. I am in 103rd place, which is bad. 

Anyway, I ended up with 698 species for Big Year 2020. Which is 2 species below my goal (should have chased that warbler in BC).

Well, I will update later!

Red-necked Stint
Official Fanbird Apprentice

HARRIS'S SPARROW AND MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, NEW JERSEY

Hi!
I got Purple Sandpiper, Rusty Blackbird, American Woodcock, Winter Wren, Vesper Sparrow, Mountain Bluebird, and Harris's Sparrow at Cape May!

-Red-necked Stint 

P.S. My total is now 658!

December Part 1: chasing, failing to chase, and the Christmas Bird Count

It happened..... the Hawaiian provisionals escaped, bringing Lizzy Pusche (pusche) to 3rd place, and Matt Smith down to 5th. The Red-necked Stint is at 650, with 2 provisional's (Pink-footed Goose and Hook-billed Kite). I have been changing my Midway Atoll trip for the Pink-footed Goose, hoping for something good when I make my trip tomorrow (Laysan Albatross?). I am not trying hard since the game is almost over, but my goal is to get in the rank of 199, so I can escape Rank 206. But I still got my binocs on first place next ABA Big Year.

Akikiki is still at a whooping 858, leaving Rails_N_Quails and Lizzy Pusche (pusche) in the bobwhite's dust bath

Budget Big Year 2020 is now official! 

Christmas Bird Count:
I am excited for the CBC as I might get to the 700 club! Fort Lauderdale the 14th, New Mexico the 26th, and Buckeye, AZ the 27th etc. 

So hooray for the CBC! 

-Red-necked Stint

Tufted Duck in NL

Well, now I got the Tufted Duck Bowring Park in St.John's last night. Hook-billed Kite and Black-throated Blue Warbler in Provisional. 

-Red-necked Stint

Now what do I do!

I started FanBirding in July, after getting basically all the birds I can get now (need Northern Shrike and Tufted Duck), I don't know what to do! I was chasing the RGV Birding Festival (and got the Aplomado Falcon), and I am currently looking for the Tufted Duck in Newfoundland. I missed out on the Black and Yellow Rail Festival. I don't know what Hawaii is up to right now. If anyone has suggestions, drop a comment. 

Here is what I got at the festival:

Eastern Screech Owl

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Palm Warbler

Blue-headed Vireo

Aplomado Falcon

Wood Stork

Wilson's Plover

Redhead 

and Groove-billed Ani escaped Provisional! My total is now 627 with 3 in provisional

Now what do I do?

-Red-necked Stint 

I've returned, with too many new species

I am back! But one thing is, that has changed since I last wrote in my blog, is that fellow Fantasy Birder, Connie Bickerton passed away due to a sickness. Her last bird was the Code 4 Yellow-browed Warbler that was in Canada, which is not a bad bird (especially for your last one ever). 

Let's hear some happy news!

I recently wrote in the Fantasy Birding Monthly Award email (Thanks to Matt Smith for letting me do this!). Now, I have been chasing the RGBV Festival! And added a lot more species (11 new species). Here is the list:

Today:
White-tipped Dove
Roseate Spoonbill 
Altamira Oriole
Black-throated Green Warbler
Groove-billed Ani (Provisional)
Common Pauraque

Yesterday:
Ferruginous Pygmy Owl
Ross's Goose
Sprague's Pipit
White-tailed Hawk
Olive Sparrow
Audubon's Oriole

The Farallon Islands! ( Nov 1st-5th)
Ashy-storm Petrel 
Clay-colored Sparrow
Barn Owl
Burrowing Owl
Lesser Scaup
Canvasback
Tundra Swan
Eared Grebe
ALSO TWO RARITIES: Black-tailed Gull (main reason why I went to the islands) and the 2nd island record of RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 


Now I really want (or need) Aplomado Falcon! 

I am now at 617 species (Provisional:4) (Rank: 237)

Thanks for reading and maybe Matt Smith will beat Andy Bankert (Matt: 847 and Andy: 849)

-Red-necked Stint