Man, oh, man! Every time we go out birding I learn something new!
I learned to take photos of EVERYTHING because what looks like a sparrow in the shadows might actually be your first Kestrel sighting.
I never realized how small Kestrels were until I saw one!
Or a pair of birds in a tree when you were taking a photo of just the one.
So, as I wrap up my Big Year, I decided to post some things to keep in mind for my future birding adventures.
Sometimes there is a HUGE difference between juvenile and immature birds and what they will look like when they become an adult. Part of why I had such a difficult time identifying new birds was because I didn't realize this in the beginning of my Big Year.
These Black-crowned Night Herons are like night and day!
Some of our most unexpected (and delightful) bird sightings were from the side of the road. And even in the parking lot.
I love how you can drive down a country road and BOOM there's a Kingfisher on a telephone wire right above your car!
When I'm 80, standing out at the refuge with my binoculars and camera in hand, I still don't think I'll have learned everything there is to know about birds. And that's okay. It's fun to have a hobby that keeps you on your toes and keeps you guessing!