Best Bird of 2007
With many of us closing out the final hours of 2007 by chasing birds to fill out our year lists, whether they be yard, state, or regional (ABA), it is hard not to look back on the year without a sense of accomplishment over the spectacular feathered jewels we discovered along the way. This post was generated to celebrate each of our own finest discoveries over the past 365 days. We are looking for each of you to recount your best bird of 2007 with a brief description of the species, location, and what made it so special. Enjoy!
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December 30th, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Well, to start things off with this post, my favorite/best bird of 2007 was clearly one of the first ones that I observed way back in the month of January, it was of course a Black-headed Gull. The Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) was directed to me from another birder in Gloucester Harbor, MA. This species was so special to me because not only was it a life bird, but it is one that I have tried for on numerous occasions over the past 5 years at the same destination. And on top of that, it was shared with a very special person, my girlfriend, who at the time was just getting into birding and was on her first official birding trip.
December 31st, 2007 @ 12:38 pm
My birdiest memory from the past year happened out in front of my house at dusk on a warm summer evening after a bike ride. A Barred Owl hooted in the distance and I hooted right back at him. Five seconds later, he hooted from much closer so I hooted back again, then he swooped right in front of us and just would not stop hooting and barking and carrying on for over 15 minutes -way cool. Of course likely the same owl tried taking a chunk out of my dog’s back -not cool.
January 4th, 2008 @ 9:25 pm
I’ve been debating this in my head for a couple days now and I’m still torn between the Northern Goshawk and the Pine Grosbeak.
Both were life birds, and life yard birds. Both have visited a number of times.
The goshawk was magnificent, acting so, well, goshawk-y, even doing a fly-by through the yard with me standing right there as if to say, “I’m not scared of you!”
The Pine Grosbeak is not shy either and at times I think, this is it, after this year, I’ll probably never see one again.
Tough choice, so I’m not gonna choose!