HAPPY NEW YEAR !

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Feller, Charlie, Kathryn and I "compete" for most species each year, and we usually begin together on New Years Day.
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Yesterday Charlie and Kathryn couldn't make it, so Feller (and Judy and Connie and Dayle) and I met to get a head start on the pack.  This felt good to me because I traditionally come in last.  (Unofficially last year it was Feller-216, Charlie-212, Kathryn-209 and Yours Truly-201.)
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After perusing the South Breakwall, "Nugent Lake", DeWitt's and the Wastewater before the weather turned from ugly to really ugly, I was pleased to have 33 species for 2012, probably my best first day number ever.  Most were the regular suspects, but a few were problematic birds for any year and good to have in the book (Purple Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull, Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike).
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Charlie emailed last night that he'd finally been able to get out for a 30-species day.  So at least for a few days, I have a lead on somebody, though one of Charlie's birds was also a good problematic species: Red-headed Woodpecker.  (Fortunately a couple of these will probably migrate over the Channel this fall while I'm hawk-watching; I'd not want to bet I'd get one around Muskegon in its regular habitat anymore.)
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This morning after shoveling snow for the first time this winter, I took a brief walk around my neighborhood collecting six new species along the way:  Blue Jay, House Finch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Rock Pigeon, House Sparrow and Red-breasted Nuthatch.  So I'm at 39 species and may even have put some distance between me and the competition.  I'm realistic enough to know that I'll probably finish last again when 2012 is over.  But it's fun all year, especially at the beginning of a new one!
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- Ric
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