January was a good birding month for me in Washington County. I missed by monthly goal of 35 by one but also picked up several birds I didn’t expect: a Bald Eagle and a Barred Owl, and saw my nemesis bird, the Northern Shrike, for the first time. I now see one at least weekly but we knew that would happen. I got two new life birds, the aforementioned shrike and a Barrow’s Goldeneye (over in Chittenden County.) In spite of my whining about missing Texas birds, it was a good winter birding month.
Looking over the birds I missed in January, I’m only concerned about one — Pine Grosbeak — because if I don’t get them now they may not be here in November or December this year. I have reviewed historic eBird sightings in Washington County for February and frankly, there aren’t a lot to add to my missing list. Things will heat up a bit in March as early migrants return.
Here’s the list of birds I am targeting for February:
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Black-backed Gull (a little iffy but seen at Grow Compost)
Golden-crowned Kinglet (I know they are here but hard to spot, or hear)
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Pine Grosbeak
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
House Sparrow (I’ve been walking around parking garages and strip malls with no luck)
Red-winged Blackbird (Perhaps an early returnee)
Common Grackle (Perhaps an early returnee)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Perhaps an early returnee)
While I know I won’t get all of these, I may pick up something I hadn’t counted on so my modest February goal is 14 more for a total of 48. Stay tuned.
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