Re: Which three trips would you take?

Gregory B Miller (gregorym@erols.com)
Thu, 05 Nov 1998 21:05:41 -0500 

David,

Not knowing your targets, here are my personal favorites:

> Feb. 6-7 College Station, TX (too far from the coast)
> Feb. 20-21 Raleigh, NC (too far from the outer banks and too early)
> Feb. 20-21 Lincoln, NE (a little early for booming G Prairie-Chickens)
> Feb. 26-27 Provo, UT (3rd)

*** THIRD PLACE

Winter birding here should be most interesting to a Virginian.  Although
not a high species area this time of year, you'll get some unique
birds.  Some goodies might include Clark's Grebe, Prairie Falcon,
Chukar, California Quail, California Gull, Stellar's and W Scrub-Jay,
Black-billed Magpie, Mtn Chickadee, Golden Eagle, Townsend's Solitaire,
and maybe a Bohemian Waxwing or Barrow's Goldeneye...

> Feb. 27-28 Grove City, PA (less variety than Herndon...)
> March 6-7 Columbus, OH (too early for migrants, although a good time for Saw-whets)
> March 6-7 Berkeley, CA (1st)

*** FIRST PLACE

Far and away the best birding at this time of year.  Daily totals of
over 100 are quite easy.  Already a few spring birds like Allen's
Hummingbird.  Resident goodies close by would include Tricolored
Blackbird, California Thrasher, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Oak Titmouse,
Red-naped Sapsucker, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, etc.  A few good winter
birds still around would include Varied Thrush, Golden-crowned Sparrow,
Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, and Surfbird, Red-necked Grebe,
and Wandering Tattler.  You should be able to see 3 species of loons and
5 species of grebes.  Great numbers of ducks, geese, and shorebirds,
too.  If you dedicate one morning, you're in driving distance of a
couple good spots for Yellow-billed Magpie, too.  If you had a whole
day, the best spot (according to the records) in the US for Tufted Duck
is up at Bolinas Lagoon, near Pt Reyes.  You're on the tail end of the
best time of year for it, too.  As you can tell, I like the place.

> March 13-14 Boston, MA (2nd)

*** SECOND PLACE

What a great place to bird.  I'd head up to Plum Island (Parker River
NWR).  Boston itself has plenty of good birding areas.  See the ABA/Lane
guide for locations and birds.  Most will be of the winter variety,
similar to Ocean City, MD in the winter, but what you see will be more
common:  Great Cormorants, Iceland and possibly Black-headed Gulls,
Common and chance at King Eiders, Harlequin Ducks, Purple Sandpipers,
Red-throated Loons, Gannets, and all three scoters although White-winged
is predominant.  You may also get a few lingering Lapland Longspurs and
Snow Buntings as well.  And who knows what might be on the
RBAs--Massachusetts birding coverage is VERY good.  Maybe a Bar-tailed
Godwit?

> March 13-14 Springfield, MO (too early for Miss Kites and Scissor-tailed Flyc.)
> March 20-21 Baton Rouge, LA (too far from coast; a little early for migration)

-my two-bits

Greg Miller
Lusby, MD