Everyone else is doing a year in review, so I will too.
Winter highlights included my first Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwing in Middlesex County (winter birds at least, the waxwing was in April).
Spring included a Fork-tailed Flycatcher, a Prothonotary Warbler, and finding my own Cerulean.
Summer began with Mississippi Kites and a pelagic. There were also lots of cool bugs. Summer continued with a hard-to-find Moorhen.
Fall had lots of nice things including a Connecticut Warbler, several Fiery Skippers, and scoters inland (both White-winged and Black).
Winter’s been slow so far, but the roost was cool and the goldeneye may still prove to be.
It was a slow year for life birds (only Thayer’s Gull, Mississippi Kite, and Leach’s Storm-Petrel), but I did have 5 county birds (Pine Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwing, Prothonotary and Cerulean Warblers, and White-winged Scoter). I also added quite a few birds in Waltham (Cerulean, Prairie, and Connecticut Warblers, and a two week stretch where I had American Pipit, Black Scoter, Dickcissel, and Blue-winged Teal).
I only added two new butterflies (Hessel’s Hairstreak and Frosted Elfin and 4 new ones in Waltham (Henry’s Elfin, Pepper-and-salt Skipper, Appalachian Brown, and Common Buckeye). New dragonflies included Arrowhead Spiketail and Illinois River Cruiser (also new for Waltham).
Year totals were on the low side, only 231 (229 in MA, about 15 below my average). Middlesex county was 181. I did raise my Waltham record again, reaching 131 (after 129 and 130 the last couple years, so 132 next year). I had 63 butterflies, which was a record but right about my average for the last couple years (43 in Waltham, also 1 or 2 above the last couple years). Dragonflies numbered 58 (34 Waltham), which was down from the last two years, probably because I didn’t go on any group trips for them.
I can say with certainty that 2009 will be a better year. Texas in under 2 weeks alone guarantees that (I should be hitting 500 birds, 100 butterflies, and 100 dragonflies while there) but with any luck we won’t get the ridiculous rains again this summer and I can get shorebirds in the county.
One last statistic: 12722 records added to AviSys (I try to track everything, every day at least to city).