For the first time I can recall I did a purposeful Big Day on January 1st.  My previous best was 28, so I just wanted to get to 30.  With the warm temperatures there was still plenty of open water to explore in the area.  Despite this the waterfowl continued to be around in low numbers, at least for me.  Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Hooded and Common Merganser were in open water that likely wouldn't be around normally.  Homer WTP was even open, not something that normally happens.  There weren't a lot of notable birds, just lots of common birds. Hercules and I got back home for lunch at 31 birds, so now I had a new target of 40 birds.    

​Northern Shrike was still at 23 and O DR N.  I missed it first lap around, but upon turning back it was perched up high on west side of 23 Mile.  Nice bird to get, that isn't always out in the open. 3 Short-eared Owls showed up late in the evening to put me at 39.  One short from my new goal.  Luckily shortly before 8 I managed to get a Great Horned Owl calling in the yard.  

The following weekend, and still plenty of open water, brought me my first January records of Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal at Ackley Lake and the Black-crowned Night Heron was still hanging around at Albion College.  4 Short-eared Owls were still around on Jan 6.  Finally nabbed Rough-legged Hawk while looking for Shorties on the 6th, as well as Bald Eagle.  

No birding the following weekend as we had a storm come through, finally.  Snow has been non-existent this winter except for some in late November.  It wasn't until the 20th that we got back out and I was able to pick off Horned Lark and an unbelievably high county of Snow Bunting.  One frame I counted 1410 Snow Buntings!!  I'm sure there was over 1500 there as not all of them were in the frame.  It was crazy.  I also saw what I initially thought was a Turkey Vulture, but it did rock.  It stayed gliding well over a mile off at B DR N Fields, so I was able to get some distant snaps and even the scope on it.  It really gave off Golden Eagle vibes (flight and glimpses of what looked like limited white and golden nape), but the lighting played some tricks with the underwings.  Finally looking at rough pics and some help from Whatbird.com I confirmed my thought it was a Golden Eagle!!  Wasn't counting on that bird this winter.  My first January record of GOEA.  

Pine Creek Wetlands on the 21st gave up 5 raptors in only 15 minutes, with Rough-legged Hawk, Bald Eagle and a FOY Red-shouldered Hawk that I intially called a Red-tailed Hawk.  The 22nd in the yard I got my first January records ever of Fox Sparrow and Purple Finch, alas just one day wonders.  

An interesting bird behaviour that has happened a couple times is a large flock of American Crows doing a murmuration imitation.  I made the note in my checklist that they were "doing their best imitation of the Crebain of Dunland" (had to look up the name to be sure).  They were circling around and noisy as all get out.  Normally they just fly over well spaced out directly on their way from roost to fields then back to roost at night.  

Somehow I have managed 7 first January records for me this month.  Puts me at 95.  I'd really like to push January and February over the 100 mark.  With the warming temps coming I'm guessing I could still manage Red-winged Blackbird still.  There have been sightings recently of the Blackbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown-headed Cowbird and Field Sparrow.  Also could managed Winter Wren and Barred Owl, maybe even Great Black-backed Gull still.  Guess not completely impossible I could pick up 5 more this weekend, but defintely not counting on it.  Probably have to wait till next year.  On a somewhat related note the county is at 86 birds so far this month, with a previous best of 80.  Quite impressive start to the year.  Still not like we are exceelling compared to nearby counties though. Definitely a very active January.  
Jan Birds to get to 100

1. Brown-headed Cowbird
2. Barred Owl
3. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
4. Winter Wren
5. Red-winged Blackbird
6. Northern Shoveler
7. Great Black-backed Gull
8. Field Sparrow
9. Killdeer

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.