birding

After spending yesterday largely inside and doing nothing, I decided to write some nonsense:

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Ebird is a cool tool. You should give it a try! www.ebird.org

I did some looking at my own ebird account, and noticed some funny things:

I'm currently at 283 species for the year in Ontario (Oct 1, 2011)

Last year, on Oct 1, I was at 249 for my Ontario year list (Oct 1, 2010) I ended last year with 286 (my highest year ever in Ontario)

Last year, I hit 283 on Dec 20!


- So from Oct 1, 2010 to Dec 31, 2010 - I added 34 new species to my year list. However, of those 34 species (from 2010) - I have already seen them for my 2011 year list! So only 14 of those "new birds" from the same time last year.. Make sense?

There were some pretty good birds in that 14 (Dovekie, Sooty/Short-tailed Shearwater). But 14 getting roughly 14 new birds (at the end of 2011) would put me dangerously close to the high standard of 300 species in a year for Ontario (297 for those of you who dont have enough fingers and toes)

So anyways, I may keep the blog up to date on how my year list progresses down the stretch... It's kinda fun to see how it plays out, since I continue to be stubborn and refuse to chase birds I "still need" .... (I still need Sora for the year)... Which makes it more interesting/difficult to say the least...

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Sea ice maps for the arctic:

Looks like a lot of open water up there... I wonder what the birds think of it? 

Compare to previous years on the same day:

1998:

2000:

2006:

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Some cool (old) stuff:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregpage/4725009591/in/pool-437129@N20

http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2011/01/hybrid-red-tailed-by-red-shouldered.html

recent: http://www.flickr.com/photos/29883287@N04/6200318796/in/pool-437129@N20

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Also wanted to say thanks to those who follow along with the blog! I hope it keeps up its goal of entertaining you if you're bored (stuck at work etc). September was the highest traffic month to date (just under 4500 visits) -- so thanks!

I'll try to keep things happening here in the future!

The only wild Polar Bear I've seen on James Bay.. And it wasn't even on the polar bear express...  

Netitishi Point, Aug 2011