January:

(No photos of the county Red Crossbill)

January:

Plus continuing Lark Sparrow, Cassin’s Kingbird, Barnacle Goose, etc.

Overall birds: 300 even, 13 new (all in CO)

Massachusetts: 252 (5 new)

Middlesex County: 198 (2 new)

Waltham: 157 (new high, 7 new)

Yard: 57 (2 new: Common Redpoll, Wild Turkey)

Western Greenway: 114 (4 new: Rusty Blackbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Common Nighthawk, Clay-colored Sparrow)

Charles: 97 (9 new: Great Horned Owl, Greater White-fronted Goose, Rusty BlackbirdVirginia Rail, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swamp Sparrow, Pectoral Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Raven)

Butterflies: 59+ several from Colorado, 47 MA, 43 Middlesex, 38 Waltham (10+ ,0, 0, 0 new respectively,)

And to follow up the birds of the year, some insects.

21 new odes, only 1 in Mass.

Runners up: Pygmy and Extra-striped Snaketail, Superb Jewelwing, Umber and Stygian Shadowdragon (DSA writeup still coming)

Best: Spatterdock Darner

10 new butterflies, 1 in Mass

Runners up: Mestra, Arctic Skipper, Pipevine Swallowtail

Best: Two-spotted Skipper

Barely looked for Tiger Beetles and Asilids this year, will have to change that next year.

For the 10,000 Birds Best Bird of the Year post:

With a1 life birds, 10 state birds, 5 county birds, and 6 city birds, not to mention reacquainting myself with an additional 310+ species, there’s lots to choose from.

So the runners up…

Top life birds: Pink-footed Goose, Roseate Spoonbill (photo from later), Great Skua, Northern Jacana, Upland Sandpiper

Massachusetts birds: Sage Thrasher (oops, never posted much about this one), Curlew Sandpiper

Middlesex county: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Laughing Gull

So I suppose I should do a review like everyone else.

Top 10 things in Waltham this year:

10. Prince Baskettail

Not at all unusual, but finally getting a photo of one was nice.

9. Cape May Warbler

One of the less common warblers that I missed in the spring, getting it in fall and adding it to my Waltham list was a good surprise.

8. Iceland Gull

A second sighting for me in Waltham, but much more cooperative than the previous one (and it led directly to one of the other highlights).