Now that I’ve made it into February in the Bird-a-Day Challenge, I thought I’d start posting semi-regular updates as the weeks roll on. Since my last update on January 25th, I’ve added 11 birds, three of which were dreaded yard birds.
| 04-FEB-12 | Killdeer | Gemini Springs |
| 03-FEB-12 | Ruby-throated Hummingbird | yard |
| 02-FEB-12 | Northern Harrier | Gemini Springs |
| 01-FEB-12 | Bufflehead | Kennedy Space Center |
| 31-JAN-12 | Palm Warbler | yard |
| 30-JAN-12 | Eastern Phoebe | Spring-to-spring Trail |
| 29-JAN-12 | Painted Bunting | Merritt Island NWR |
| 28-JAN-12 | Eurasian Wigeon | Merritt Island NWR |
| 27-JAN-12 | Common Grackle | yard |
| 26-JAN-12 | California Gull | Frank Rendon Park |
| 25-JAN-12 | Black Rail | St. Johns NWR |
I attended the Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival in and around Titusville from January 25th to 29th, which meant I was seeing birds I don’t expect to see here at home and at my local patches – great birds for the challenge!
Painted Bunting: January 29
The Black Rail on January 25th was one of at least three heard-only (yes, that’s legal!) birds during a festival field trip designed especially for finding these elusive little rails. Notice the yard bird there in the middle of the festival on January 27th – I was sick and spent most of the day in bed, and when I finally got to peek out the window I didn’t see anything more rare than a flock of Common Grackles. I also got to pick up a good bird on February 1st when Arthur and I took a hastily-planned trip to Kennedy Space Center (to see this) and I found a single female Bufflehead in a small pond during our tour. The rest of the birds were found locally and most are pretty common right now. The Northern Harrier was a nice surprise as I’ve only found them at Gemini Springs on two other occasions since moving here. On to week 6!
California Gull: January 26
