A few people have asked or suggested that seeing more than 100 birds in the first month, I should easily reach my goal of seeing 300 species of birds in Connecticut this year, being more than a third of the way there already. Well actually, not so much. I don't actively keep a list of birds I see every year, but I do have a notebook with a checklist that I update once every year or two, usually after seeing a really rare bird that appears in the state. I recently went back and counted all my checked birds from Connecticut ....... 295 species ........ in 20 years! That includes rarities like Great Gray Owl, Western Tanager and most recently Fork-tailed Flycatcher, that are likely once in a lifetime sightings in the state. 

To be sure, there are birders who see more than 300 species in the state most years. It has become fairly routine, although I'm sure they would tell you it requires great effort, birding skills and experience. To do it, you have to see almost all the expected birds and many of the rare ones. As I mentioned in my earlier posts, I have not "chased" many of the rarities seen in the state in deference to my photographic pursuits. It's also true that I rarely find uncommon birds, especially considering the amount of time I'm out photographing. This, too, is based on my preference to look for the closer subjects, that I can study and try to photograph rather than looking for the field markings that distinguish a rarity.

To reach my goal, I know I'll have to keep a keener eye out for uncommon birds. I'm trying to study birds, even the seemingly common or very distant ones, to pick out  a rarity. This year, I've been checking sparrows and gulls much more closely and straining to turn a distant speck on Long Island Sound into a Pacific Loon or an alcid, so far without success. I know I'll need to "chase" more birds, and I did make trips to see Pine Grosbeaks and White Ibis, but without success. So far I have elected not to make the long drive to see the Bullock's Oriole and Hoary Redpolls that are visiting bird feeders at private residences. A recently reported Northern Shrike, one of my nemesis birds, is one I should chase but old habits die hard, and after a couple disappointments, it's easy to fall back into the comfortable routine of checking my local patch. 

To summarize the results this month, most of the sightings are fairly common birds that you would expect to see every year. Even the ones that are not common in January would likely be seen later in the year. I've had a few good finds, like a Long-eared Owl and Razorbill, that I don't see every year. Winter finches like crossbills and redpolls are not every year occurrences either and seeing Black-headed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull so close to home is a nice bonus. New sightings are likely to slow dramatically for the next couple months, until the spring migration brings a new wave of birds to the state. But missing out on the real rarities like Hoary Redpoll, Bullock's Oriole, Pine Grosbeak and White Ibis will likely hurt my chances of reaching 300.

Here is a photo recap from the past month or so.

JANUARY SIGHTINGS  - In order of appearance and town where first seen.