I ended the year with 371 species which was my lowest
total for the year since my first year of keeping records on eBird (2011), and
the first time I saw less than 400 species in that time. I saw 304 in North
America (all but 3 in the United States) again missing the optimistic 350
target I had given myself. I had 208
species in Arizona and 203 in California, meeting the goals of 200 I had set
myself in each state. At the county level I saw 170 species in Coconino and 180
in Santa Clara, exceeding the respective targets of 150 and 175. Remarkably my
totals for Santa Clara county and for California were exactly the same as in
2017for each place.
I
saw 2 lifers in 2018, Fischer’s Lovebird and Great-crested Flycatcher, although
the first these is not countable in North America. Black-winged Stilt was a UK
life bird. Common Crane was a fourth ABA bird.
I added 4 species to my Arizona list with Pine Grosbeak, Eastern
Kingbird and both Black and Gray-crowned Rosy Finches. Vermilion Flycatcher,
Fox Sparrow, Herring Gull and Curve-billed Thrasher were also new for Coconino County.
A Vesper Sparrow took my yard list to 98. I added 17 species to my California list,
and a further 4 to those in Santa Clara County.
My
bird of the year was my long sought after Great Crested Flycatcher, that I saw with my son in Chicago.
Birding highlights included finally catching up on Pine Grosbeaks and Rosy Finches in Arizona - the first time these species had visited the state for many years, and seeing the thousands of Ross's Geese at Merced National Wildlife Refuge.
Life List
|
|
ABA List
|
579
|
Arizona List
|
409
|
Coconino County List
|
298
|
Yard List
|
98
|
My 170 species in Coconino had me in 19th spot – four spots higher than in 2017
- and my 180 in Santa Clara had me in 25th for the second year running.
But these are a function of the number of people eBirding as much as anything
else
