Garden / Yard List 2024 (7 Viewers)

[birdmeister]

There's so much to catch up on since Friday, in a good way.

Saturday started mostly cloudy, but gradual clearing made way for a really good flight (352 migrants) and a coveted 50-species day. By far the best bird of the morning was my third yard record of

BLACK SWIFT

which is still a mega-rarity in Arizona. I think this is the third photo-documented state record, with fewer than 20 historical ones. Naturally, this somewhat overshadowed the fine addition of an early

105. Vaux's Swift

that came through 20 minutes later. Other highlights included Western Wood-Pewee (1), Bank Swallow (1), Purple Martin (3), Bullock's Oriole (12), Wilson's Warbler (1), Western Tanager (5), and Black-headed Grosbeak (5).


Both the Black and Vaux's Swifts were fairly distant, but the shape is readily apparent in photos. I'm also including Purple Martin and (American) Black Vulture below.

 

[birdmeister]

The next day, Sunday the 25th, was sunny and clear. Despite a tough sky, I still got to 242 migrants. Highlights included my first Barn Swallows (3) in a while, good numbers of Phainopeplas (20), singles of Lucy's and MacGillivray's Warblers, and my first

106. Dickcissel

of the year.

Monday's flight was much quieter (105 migrants), again under blue skies with few highlights to report.

 

[birdmeister]

Today I wasn't sure what to expect. I saw that heavy migration traffic was happening overnight, but with forecasted clear skies I didn't expect to pick up a lot of it. To my surprise, clouds built in from the south and even a rain shower passed by, bringing 500 migrants past me and an excellent total of 54 species!

Highlights were many, including another early Vaux's Swift and two Rufous Hummingbirds. Five Bank Swallows were my highest count this year, and 25 Violet-green Swallows were unexpected this early in the fall. I got my first good flight of Lark Sparrows (42) in a while, and Yellow-headed Blackbirds (13) put in a good showing. Bullock's Orioles (26) came through much more than I expected for the end of August, making for my second-highest yard count. Two Nashville Warblers were most welcome, and 17 Yellow Warblers were more than twice as many as I've ever had here. Eleven Lazuli Buntings were good too, but the real highlight came with an impressive flock of

107. White-faced Ibis (new yard species #151, flock of 103!)

White-faced Ibis has been on my wish list for a while, and the end of August is a good time to hope for some. Still, such a big flock was not how I expected my first ones to show up over the desert.

Most photos didn't turn out well under cloudy skies, but I have to include the ibis photos and a representative Yellow Warbler. A female Black-chinned Hummingbird showed reasonably well, and for non-bird critters I had a fabulous look at a majestic Desert Iguana (Dipsosaurus dorsalis).

 

[Oregonian]

#84 for 2024: Red-shouldered Hawk: I had brief views yesterday, but the calls are distinctive. There was one calling behind the house this morning, and I managed a recording. Here it is in this eBird checklist:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S193157686

Good birding,
Jeff

 

[Bismarck Honeyeater]

Up relatively early this morning, and was rewarded with a decent Tit flock, containing maybe double-figures of Chiffchaff and a couple or more Willow Warblers - also, something grey disappeared into a dense Buddleia. I was miffed that I couldn’t clinch it.

10 minutes later, out it popped #84 Lesser Whitethroat, as I suspected. A real result, as despite not getting one last year, it is just about annual, and I was getting worried I would have another blank year. This is the 8th record in the 6 full years I’ve lived here, also the latest by 6 days. So far they have all been between 7/7 and 29/8. Relief, at last a yeartick.



The only other standouts was 2 vocal Hobbies, the first multiple sighting of the year, but unusual at the end of Aug/beginning Sep.

A noisily begging juvenile Kingfisher was by the front door for half the morning, presumably still being fed by a parent.

A random moth in the shower proved to be a Small Dusty Wave.

 

[Euan Buchan]

Just saw a Oystercatcher flying above my garden.

 

[KenM]

How bizarre life can be, there was moi at 8.30am entering up (yesterday’s) 8th sighting foy) Peregrine….when a “loud screech, squawk”
errupted in my ear!
Turning to my left by the bedroom window, just momentarily, a Peregrine at eye level and barely 2m away (so close that even without bins I could see the “grey barring” to the belly).

Flew past brilliantly lit and carrying a presumed RNP, the whole exercise lasted barely a second…such was the shock and brevity of view, I can only remember the birds head and underpart barring, not really seeing the prey item excepting that it was not insubstantial size wise.😮

If that was the main course “starters” was a real appetiser, with 6.30-7.30 being the general time frame period for “action” after a 12 day lapse it didn’t disappoint.
Catching first a WW in the magic Sallow then moments later another, plus a Chiffy eventually got me on to something interesting behind the leafage, albeit seen only for a few seconds through the bins, before using the camera.

Which for all my attempts, didn’t result in any good images, however here’s the best of a bad bunch…no.79 Sedge Warbler.

 

[angusmcoatup]

How bizarre life can be, there was moi at 8.30am entering up (yesterday’s) 8th sighting foy) Peregrine….when a “loud screech, squawk”
errupted in my ear!
Turning to my left by the bedroom window, just momentarily, a Peregrine at eye level and barely 2m away (so close that even without bins I could see the “grey barring” to the belly).

Flew past brilliantly lit and carrying a presumed RNP, the whole exercise lasted barely a second…such was the shock and brevity of view, I can only remember the birds head and underpart barring, not really seeing the prey item excepting that it was not insubstantial size wise.😮

If that was the main course “starters” was a real appetiser, with 6.30-7.30 being the general time frame period for “action” after a 12 day lapse it didn’t disappoint.
Catching first a WW in the magic Sallow then moments later another, plus a Chiffy eventually got me on to something interesting behind the leafage, albeit seen only for a few seconds through the bins, before using the camera.

Which for all my attempts, didn’t result in any good images, however here’s the best of a bad bunch…no.79 Sedge Warbler.

Must have been a more tiring week for me than I thought. I read RNP as Red Necked Phalarope at first. A garden list combo of rarity and distinction though perhaps the odd birding Fetlarian has witnessed such an event.

 

[KenM]

Must have been a more tiring week for me than I thought. I read RNP as Red Necked Phalarope at first. A garden list combo of rarity and distinction though perhaps the odd birding Fetlarian has witnessed such an event.

Ah yes!…I too can remember the alternative translation from yesteryear Angus.👍

 

[Jos Stratford]

Back on patch after a month out. No new birds, but a decidedly autumn feel (bar the blazing sun and 30 C) ...storks all gone, lots of Willow Warblers and Chiifchaffs moving through, plus Nutcrackers on the hazel grove.

Two nice birds from the verandah - Black Redstart actually on the verandah and a real treat this evening with a Red-breasted Flycatcher hanging out in willows aside my half dry garden pool.

 

[pete wragg]

149 - Great Skua, 1 over Humber
garden tick #221
There's currently a wader on Kilnsea Wetlands that hasn't yet been anywhere viewable from mine, but hopefully at some point it will be. would be a nice one for 150🤞

 

[Jos Stratford]

More or less annual bird in my land, always at the end of August or early September, but always very welcome - Red-footed Falcons this morning, three juveniles. Overall a scarce bird in Lithuania, though regular at a few localities at this time of year. Also one Curlew over, not new for the year, but also very welcome, not usually annual on my plot and only my fourth autumn record.

147. Red-footed Falcon

 

[Richard Prior]

149 - Great Skua, 1 over Humber
garden tick #221
There's currently a wader on Kilnsea Wetlands that hasn't yet been anywhere viewable from mine, but hopefully at some point it will be. would be a nice one for 150🤞

Maybe if you bought yourself some stilts you’d have a better view from your place Pete

 

[Richard Prior]

Meanwhile in our corner of France August was a tad disappointing with a total of 56 species after July’s excellent 61, yesterday’s Willow Warbler (the first since the single bird in Spring) put a bit of gloss on the month, otherwise two Firecrest sightings and a much better than usual showing of the two common flycatcher species were the highlights. There’s even a Pied Fly providing some entertainment as I type this post.
September starts with a before breakfast Garden year tick in the old apple tree:

89 Garden Warbler

The species bred within earshot in 2019/20/21 but since then there’s been only one sighting on 2 Sept 2022 so it was a welcome sight!

 

[KenM]

No ticks at the mo….however, a couple of good “stocking fillers” yesterday and this am, albeit to call Buck Muntjac one….might be bit of a stretch.🤣 to include my 2nd Pied Fly foy, and my 3rd Spot fly also.

 

[Jos Stratford]

Red breasted Flycatcher stays for third day, joined by a Spotted Flycatcher today. Great Grey Shrike arrived this day too, an early winter returnee perhaps. White-tailed Eagle too.

Top of the day however came in the early evening - a resplendent Lynx sauntering over the magic bridge at the woodland edge.

 

[Jos Stratford]

New video by Lithuania And Beyond

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[Warixenjalka]

Meanwhile in our corner of France August was a tad disappointing with a total of 56 species after July’s excellent 61

My results were the opposite. After disappointing July (24) I got total of 31 species in August. OK, one species was "some Sparrow" cos I didn't heard that good enough to separated House or Tree.

September started nicely when I saw very long-winged Phylloscopus, with white belly. I couldn't see it properly because it wasn't still for a second, but it can´t be anything else than...

#56. Wood Warbler - almost month later than last year

In last weekend I haven´t seen any Swifts, Swallows or Terns. So, the Winter is coming...

PS. I'm one tick away from last year's overall result 🤞

 

[Frank van Drogen]

Meanwhile in our corner of France August was a tad disappointing with a total of 56 species after July’s excellent 61,

Just checked, 49 species for both July and August each. Both times, we were about 8-9 days in Allier.

We'll go the coming weekend, but that will be a very short stay, with apparently some serious branch cleaning to do after a summer storm a couple of days ago.

 

[pete wragg]

150 - Whinchat, 1 behind Riverside Hotel