This is just a short post to summarize some cool birding experiences from the beginning of this year. The first cool experience was a combination of luck and perseverance.
I rarely check rare bird alerts, I'm often too busy and without a car it's usually too much trouble to bother chasing rarities. One day in early January though, I decided to check the alerts and noticed a report of Pygmy Nuthatches, a species usually found east of the Cascades, and luckily it was only a couple of blocks from my apartment.
While it warmed up at the end of January, the year started out bitterly cold. The first day I walked over to where the Nuthatches had been seen, there was one other birder there already. I spent about 2 hours but didn't hear or see anything. However, I saw my first White-throated Sparrow in the state as well as some great views of Bushtits, Cedar Waxwings, Steller's Jays, and a Bald Eagle carrying nest material.
I went out one other day, but no luck. On the third day it was the coldest it had been all week, when I started my walk it was around 5° F. The sun was shining however, so with all my warmest layers on, my sprits were high and I was optimistic. When I arrived, I first saw a strange Dark-eyed Junco. I'm not entirely sure what subspecies, but my best guess is a Cassiar Junco.
I also saw a Red-breasted Sapsucker, some very fluffy American Robins and Varied Thrushes, and then finally I heard the high-pitched sounds of Pygmy Nuthatches high up in the trees. It took another 20 minutes before one came into view, but I got some clear (if far away) looks and photos. It was definitely an unexpected first lifer of the year.
The other cool January birding experience was near the end of the month. I lead a trip to the Samish Flats with the WWU Birdwatching Club. The highlights of the trip were lots of Bald Eagles, although fewer raptors overall, and a huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds with several Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
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