Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

So as the first day of this new year begins to wane, I'm sitting down and thinking about some of my favorite birds I saw from this year, as well as from years past. After spending some time going through my eBird lists and looking up what birds (including lifers) I'd seen, I began the process of figuring out which was the best bird I had seen overall for each year from 2010 onwards. For each year leading up to this past year, I'll list the single "bird of the year" and then elaborate when talking about birds from 2014. The birds I will mention from 2014 will be three honorable mentions, the last year bird species I saw, and my favorite life bird. So here goes. 2010: Swallow-tailed Kite ( Elanoides forficatus ) Photo by Brian E. Small 2011: Snow Bunting ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) Photo by Pat Watts 2012: Long-tailed Duck ( Clangula hyemalis ) Long-tailed Duck in Norwalk Harbor. Photo taken myself. 2013: Snowy Owl ( Bubo scandiacus ) Imm...

With the weekend upon me once more and a lack of an update this past weekend (Alison was visiting me so I have a good excuse), I figured I would update with a fun report from the field. On Friday night at about 8:15pm, I decided to go owling (not to be confused with the practices of "planking" or smuggling sheep in the early 12th and 13th centuries). While my goal was to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl ( Aegolius acadicus ), I did end up getting an unexpected lifer Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) near the Pennypack Farm fence instead. Upon leaving the house and heading up the gravel road that leads to the girls cabins and eventually the back field, I felt the usual feelings of dread, fear, and anticipation at what I might find on my night hike around the Outdoor School property. My adrenalin was pumping as I had elected to walk most of the journey without a headlamp. The looming half moon overhead gave out enough light for my limited human night vision to use to gauge my surroundings. Al...