Closing in on 300

In preparation for my upcoming trip to Cape May, New Jersey, for the Autumn Birding Festival, I was reviewing my Life List and studying my field guides for target birds. When I go to a new birding spot, I try to anticipate what birds I might find there, so that I am not totally unprepared. As I was straightening out my Life List, I realized I had left several birds off - birds like Peregrine Falcon, Bufflehead, and, of all things, European Starling. Once I cleaned house, I recounted.

298

Two hundred ninety-eight birds may not be a lot to a hard-core lister, but it is a great number for me, considering that in 2004, I was only at 203. I have been doing a lot of birding in the last 3 1/2 years, and my list is growing by leaps and bounds.

So, I started to wonder - being only 2 birds away from 300, what Life Bird will be the one to put me over the top?

Number one on my Most Wanted List:

Black Skimmers

Thank you to Avi Kenny for this first image.

Thanks also to Sharon Anthony for the second photo.

If there is a cooler bird on this planet, I don't know what it is. The lower mandible of that fabulous bill is much longer than the upper one, and is used to scoop up fish as the bird skims the surface of the water. I can't wait to see that in real life!

As a dedicated sparrow-lover, I'm hoping for Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Either

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, photo by Steve Collins, thanks a lot

which we do have in Ohio,

or Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrows,

Photo from U. Conn site on Saltmarsh Sparrow research

which we don't, would be sweet.

Failing that, a Seaside Sparrow would do nicely.

photo from the National Zoo/Smithsonian

I'd even be happy with Clay-colored Sparrows.Thanks for the use of this photo
by Allan or Cathy Murrant at Capebretonbirds

How can you not love all those Little Brown Birds?

And, speaking of the ultimate in little brown birds, I gotta, I just GOTTA see

a Piping Plover.

from EnviroZine

Cuteness to the max!

Another target bird is the American Oystercatcher.photo from encarta

Just as handsome as the skimmer, and with a similar color pattern, he looks like he is dressed for a formal event. Maybe my 300th party?

So, who wants to hazard a guess what my 300th Life Bird will be? Post your guess in comments, and when I return, I will let you know who the winner is. (The prize? Who knows?)

With my luck, it will be some kind of sandpiper, birds that all look alike to me: brown, spotted or streaked, with long legs.

>>A hearty "Thank You!" to all the nature photographers whose pictures helped illustrate this post.<<