Jan 32 min read

Wrapping up & Catching up...

The holidays always make birding a little challenging and the fact the switch flips on 1/1 just enhances the pressure. Here are some highlights from last year -- my World Life list is up to 735 - I am very happy with that. I had 418 new birds this year -- more than in my lifetime so far. I actually remember most of them...

Here are some highlights since 12/26 -- took a trip on the Block Island Ferry -- but it was very foggy -- saw the Black Guillemot that has been in the Harbor for the last few week, but had better luck in Narragansett after I got off of the boat.

Black-Headed Gull

Red-tailed Hawk with lunch

Had a Chiropractor's appointment on Wednesday, so I thought I would try for the Ross's Goose one more time. This time I was lucky it was a drive up bird.

Ross's Goose

Bonaparte's Gull

Red-shouldered Hawk

Spend time in the Matunuck Quadrangle - Moonstone Beach Road, Mud Pond, Card's Pond Road, Matunuck Beach Road & Matunuck Schoolhouse Road. Not much happening, so off to the Charlestown Breachway & Perry (Firehouse) Pond.

Juvenile Cooper's Hawk

Common Eider taking up aqua-yoga

Charlestown Breachway with a new breach -- last week this was an @20 foot Sand dune.

Northern Pintail & American Wigeon at Perry Pond

Took another ride on the ferry for New Year's Eve -- better visibility, but pretty much the same birds. AND cold!

Gray Seal in Galilee Harbor

Common Eider preening in the harbor

Razorbill

Purple Sandpiper

Black Guillemot -- Block Island Harbor

Surf Scoter

Lots of checklists and birds on 1/1 but only a few photos. Matunuck Quadrangle, Succotash Marsh, Perry Pond & all around Westerly. Actually started the year with two Great Horned Owls dueting outside my condo in the early early morning.

Cooper's Hawk

Greater White-fronted Goose -- found by Sue Palmer on New Year's Eve -- traveling around with the Westerly Canada Goose flock.

A trip to Adquidneck island again today -- was hoping to hear the Eastern Screech-Owl that was reported the night before -- no Owl, but an unexpected American Woodcock. Some nice ducks off of Second Beach, add Coots & Grebes at Easton's Pond and I already had a good day. A few more waterbirds down at Ocean Drive -- but interesting that I still haven't seen a Great Cormorant and only one Double-crested Cormorant. Weird!

Ran into Dan Finizia & a newly retired Sue Talbot on Harrison Avenue -- and boy am I glad I did. They were pretty sure they had just seen the Ross's Goose that was here for about a week, but hadn't been seen for several days. Dan had good photos and they helped me find it and get some less good photos. They had also seen a few Snow Geese up the road -- so that was two more new 2024 birds for me. A good start to the year (although not as good as last year).

Greater Scaup