47 that I identified to species. There was also a duck I saw in the distance without being able to…
47 that I identified to species. There was also a duck I saw in the distance without being able to identify it to species, and since I had no other ducks that one would count for 48 if you’re inclined to be generous.
I didn’t really pick the spot for maximum species count; if I’d wanted that I would have tried someplace closer to a good variety of habitat, especially wetlands. I was hoping to see a migrating Broad-winged Hawk, a rarity around here, and that spot is one of the best local places for seeing them. I didn’t have any Broad-wings during my Big Sit, but the very next day (last Sunday) I did see two of them just a short distance from there.
The “winner” in terms of local Big Sit bragging rights was Linus, a local birder from whom I learned about the event. He set up at a spot along the coast just west of Santa Barbara and had 72 species (!). Some years a Big Sit team in Los Osos (San Luis Obispo county, not far up the coast from here) has had more than 100 species — not bad for birding in a single day from within a 17-foot-diameter circle.
Links if you’re interested in more details:
My merged eBird list of the whole event:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74759011
My individual Big Sit eBird lists (these include notes, photos, and audio recordings):
0616 – 0636: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74635127
0637 – 0900: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74642614
0901 – 1100: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74649251
1101 – 1301: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74655739
1302 – 1419: https://ebird.org/checklist/S74659808
Linus’ 72-species list:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S74672150
Reposted from https://lies.tumblr.com/post/632018225641750528.
Tags: birds, big sit 2020, obsessive birding.
