Damon's Birds for the Weeks of October 1 - November 30

Yeah, we missed posting last months monthly birds, but it would have been a bit boring anyway. I got six total for October, with most of them ones that I should have gotten earlier in the year. But November was a different story!

I won't go into stories of my adventures too much, but November was a mix of getting birds I should have gotten in the winter plus a few rare birds that I chased down, including me finally tracking down a Snowy Owl.

Now Snowy Owls are all over the freaking place, even in Philly yesterday, though I didn't have time to run to the other side of the city to get it (kids ruin everything). I mean, I did already get one for the year, but a Snowy Owl is still an event you have to go to whenever you get the opportunity. Maybe later in the week.

One thing that is important to note is that, while it is highly unlikely that I can come close to catching Paul (staying in the Mid-Atlantic does make it harder), I am still picking up new birds fairly regularly and Paul is not. The gap is narrowing between us, and there are still some winter birds that I haven't picked up yet, plus rarities and strays that have a higher chance of being near me than to Paul. I may not catch up to Paul, but I'll make it interesting.

I'm pretty sure I will end up with over 225 bird, though 250 seems not likely. My goal, then, is to get 235 birds and hope to break 250 if there is every a storm pushing all the seabirds inland (not likely). That isn't likely, but I didn't think I'd easily get to as many as I did by being a wannabe birder with limited free time (more lately though!).

191; Red-shouldered Hawk; 10/4/13; DuPont Environmental Education Center; Wilmington, DE.
192; Merlin; 10/12/13; Ashland Nature Center; Hockessin, DE.
193; American Pipit; 10/12/13; Ashland Nature Center; Hockessin, DE.
194; White-crowned Sparrow; 10/17/13; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; Philadelphia, PA.
195; Savannah Sparrow; 10/21/13; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; Philadelphia, PA.
196; Ruddy Duck; 10/30/13; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; Philadelphia, PA.
197; American Bittern; 11/9/13; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; Philadelphia, PA.
198; Red-necked Grebe; 11/13/13; Newark Reservoir; Newark, DE.
199; Great Cormorant; 11/13/13; Newark Reservoir; Newark, DE.
200; Virginia Rail; 11/15/13; John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge; Philadelphia, PA.
201; Scissor-tailed Flycatcher; 11/18/13; Bartram's Garden; Philadelphia, PA.
202; American Woodcock; 11/22/13; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; Grasonville, MD.
203; Brown-headed Nuthatch; 11/22/13; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; Grasonville, MD.
204; Tundra Swan; 11/22/13; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; Grasonville, MD.
205; Common Loon; 11/22/13; Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center; Grasonville, MD.
206; Brant; 11/23/13; Sandy Point State Park; Annapolis, MD.
207; Snowy Owl; 11/29/13; Stone Harbor Beach; Stone Harbor, NJ.
208; Dunlin; 11/29/13; Stone Harbor Beach; Stone Harbor, NJ.
209; Surf Scoter; 11/29/13; Stone Harbor Beach; Stone Harbor, NJ.
210; White-winged Scoter; 11/29/13; Nummy Island; Stone Harbor, NJ.
211; Snow Goose; 11/29/13; Nummy Island; Stone Harbor, NJ.
212; Eurasian Wigeon; 11/29/13; Cape May Point; Cape May, NJ.
213; Sandhill Crane; 11/29/13; Cape May Point; Cape May, NJ.
214; Orange-crowned Warbler; 11/29/13; Cape May Point; Cape May, NJ.