As I sit here, it is 95 degrees outside and 85 inside. I’m not too crazy about being here in August when I could be lakeside at Paugus Bay. A few days ago I drew up a list of about a dozen more species left to get in Arizona and I got four right off the bat. This leaves only a few odds and ends like Cassin’s Vireo and Clay-colored Sparrow that will be coming through soon and hard ones like goshawk and Barn Owl. There is always the chance of a rarity showing up, and when the alarm goes off I will be out the door in an adrenaline rush. In the meantime, there is a lot of down time. So I am filling my days with planning for the next trip in three weeks – first Monterey for two pelagics then up to Washington for two more pelagics and landbirds/shorebirds around the Puget Sound/Olympic Peninsula. The possibility of reaching 500 in Washington is real. Until then I have to endure the next three weeks with patience.
Here is an update on the Big Year list from April to the present:
robsbigyear2019.com 