Friday, January 2, 2009

First Bird of 2009

After having my first bird of the year be a common species, like Song Sparrow (2007) or American Goldfinch (2008), I vowed to work a little harder at getting a more interesting First Bird for 2009. And here it is:

Great Horned Owl


No, not this owl. This is RAPTOR's GHO, from a program at the Cincinnati Nature Center last year. No, mine was a "heard only" bird, hoot-hoot-hooting at me at 7:15 am on Jan.1, in the Crooked Run Nature Preserve. (More on my New Year's Day birding adventure next post.)

And, for my sister, who complains that I only rave about first birds, the LAST bird of 2008 was a Red-bellied Woodpecker, who was watching me fill my bird feeders on New Year's Eve, and complaining that I was taking too long about it.

"The service at this diner is terrible.
Well, at least the food is good."
mmph
, snarfle, gulp

4 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

It's been dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home since he first of the year so I haven't SEEN a bird yet! Maybe tomorrow on my day off...

Shelley said...

I love your red bellied and I can already hear his protests!

Mary said...

Kathi, don't you love that hoot? I hear one occasionally at 5:30 a.m. Twice seen its silohuette on my neighbor's rooftop. Wow.

Nice red-bellied!

Happy New Year!

Kathie Brown said...

My fisrt bird was a Gila woodpecker. I'll have to check and see which bird was my last!