2023 Wrap-up

Between pushing things for end of the year, early push for 2024, and Chaos haven't gotten back to wrap things up for 2023.  Starting back up on the 21st I managed a couple snaps of this abieticola Red-tailed Hawk with a THICK belly-band.  

The Short-eared Owls continued, but with only 4 on the 21st.  No great looks, and very dark out (a theme of the last couple weeks of 2023).  Somehow managed a halfway decent shot of a Northern Harrier, even at 1/250th speed.  

The 23rd managed to be a somewhat banner day for FOY.  We started out at Grever's, still trying to find Red Crossbills.  I debated which way to go after that, and last second chose to track back down H DR N.  As we drove down there I spotted a shape up at top of a dead tree.  Immediately gave off falcon vibes, but was an odd spot for a Kestrel.  Managed to stop without it bolting and got some nice looks at a FOY Merlin.  Had about given up hope on getting one.  After not being able to pick up anything unique at Duck Lake we hit up Voorhees to try for Barred Owl again.  I did a litle playback and had. nothing happen.  As I started to drive off I instinctvely looked back over my shoulder for traffic and saw a noticeable shape in the trees on other side of the road.  There was a Barred Owl staring right at me!!  Managed to catch 1 Short-eared Owl as the light was fading at J DR N.  Then decided to check a spot on G DR N where I have had Eastern Screech-Owl in the past.  A little playback and managed to get a faint "whinny" call.  Early morning on the 24th I had a pair of Great Horned Owls calling.  Not bad, 4 different owls within about 14 hours!

The Screech-Owl got me up to 211 for the year.  24th we headed out yet again, hitting up Kimball Pines Park to try for Crossbills.  I had a Blue Jay that was doing a perfect Red-shouldered Hawk call.  I mean absolutely perfect call.  The Short-eared Owls put on a nice show that evening.  I counted 5 of them with a bonus Rough-legged Hawk attempting to steal a vole from an owl.   

On the 25th the owls didn't put on much of a show, but 8 Northern Harries flagged as rare.  Really close looks of a young male just about geting into full "Grey Ghost" mode!!

Nothing much of note until the 29th we headed to Homer to check for geese at the WTP.  A ton of geese were on the hills around the largest lagoon.  I started to scan through them and saw a very wacky looking bird.  Smaller and much darker than the nearby birds, with a blue-grey color to it.  Turned out to be a young Snow Goose, very dark individual.  This was a nice surprise to get to #212 for the year.  

For a change of pace on the 30th we headed West to Tiscornia Park.  Finally a nice sunny day and what I thought would be nice conditions.  Turned out to be much windier than I had expected.  There was nothing really of note.  A small group of gulls with nothing of note.  Only thing I managed out of this was a couple shots of the lighthouse.  

4 Short-eared Owls continued with some decent looks and nice experiences.  I managed to see a Rough-legged Hawk cause one owl to drop its prey mid-flight.  The hawk quickly drove down to grab it off the ground.  On the 31st we chilled for a little bit and managed a Sharp-shinned Hawk to land about 10 feet from the window trying to nab some birds around the feeder.  That gave me 72 birds for December.  Not bad considering my previous best December was 69.  

I decided to end the year back at the spot that has given me so much joy this year.  We headed back to B DR N, and wow what a show.  3 Short-eared Owls, with 2 of them putting on an incredible show at the road.  Wish I could see the pics the photographers in the white truck with mini-Hubble telescopes managed to get.  2 owls were "fighting" within 30 feet of the road.  Just incredible experience, even from where I was.  Was a perfect way to wind up the year.