2023 Big Sit!

Yesterday was our 5th CMO Big Sit. We tallied more species than we had for any other of our Big Sits. I can't announce our total yet.* Here we are.

I had awakened at 4:30 AM, so decided to go to the oasis (from my nearby quarters) and see if I could get some nocturnal species. I put on an old pair of work jeans over my pants, because it was in the 40°s, planning to take them off when it warmed up. Totally forgot, but I did get all the night species that were here (Elf Owl, Great Horned Owl, Common Poorwill, and Lesser Nighthawk) The birding went great and we had fun. 

Midday, I took a nap, leaving the others to 'hold down the fort.' I missed a few species by doing that, but they count if any participant sees them from inside the "count circle." The Cape May Warbler was no longer at the oasis, unfortunately.

Today I was none the worse for the wear, and got the watering done. For the next week there'll be daily groups, so I'm going to hang around until Thursday. Here's a Lazuli Bunting I photographed yesterday.

Also this foraging Virginia's Warbler.

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak is from today. He seems very pleased with himself that he found a couple of unripe mulberries on a little volunteer bush near the water drip.

While watering today, I raised the lower drip basin up a bit, which will be better for photography. However, I'm positive the javelina will dislodge it if I don't concrete it in. We'll see.

People often ask me how many bird species the oasis has hosted. Per ebird, it's officially 272, but I know there are others that didn't have enough documentation to be accepted, not to mention the ones that surely stopped by when no one was there to see.

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* 2017 = 48 species

  2018 = 51 species

  2019 = 50 species

  2022 = 43 species