Now that it is June and the birding has slowed down, I think it is an appropriate time to take a look at the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the year.
If you remember (and I'm sure you don't), I set a goal for myself to see 245 Kansas birds this year. As I stated before, that may seem modest, but given my current circumstances (baby on the way, not many travel plans, etc.), it seemed an appropriate goal. Currently I sit at 219 birds for Kansas in 2012, leaving me with 26 birds to make my goal. With 6 months left, that may not seem like a difficult goal, but I have seen most of the birds I can expect to see already. Part of the problem was that I had tentatively planned on making a trip to the eastern part of the state for the Spring KOS and to Bird Runner WR in May/June. Those plans fell by the wayside. Had I taken those trips, I would most likely be right near 245 right now. Oh well, this just gives me a challenge.
Let's take a look at the birds I still feel are realistic possibilities:
The almost a sure thing category-
-Virginia Rail (as long as I go to Quivira/CB), I could very well get this bird in Rooks, too, although I have been unsuccessful up to this point.
-Western Sandpiper, I thought I would have this bird by now, but apparently they are more common in the Fall than in the Spring. I found quite a few last Fall.
-Eastern Wood-Pewee, I had them easily in Rooks last Fall. Perhaps I am miscalculating their status this far west, though.
-Ruby-throated Hummingbird, I had my hummingbird feeder out all April...not a thing. Apparently the hummers are much more common in the Fall.
-Yellow-billed Cuckoo, I'm pretty sure I heard one from my yard a week ago, but I just can't convince myself that there is not the possibility that some other bird was making the noise. I should run into one in Rooks either this Summer or in the Fall.
Very possible, but not a sure thing-
-Common Loon, I thought I would have one by now. I guess they are rarer this far west than I thought they would be.
-Western Grebe, Again, I thought I would have one by now, but I didn't have too much trouble finding them last Fall.
-Black-bellied Plover, I'd love to pick this one up in Rooks (I had one last year), but failing that, I should find one in a Fall trip to Quivira/CB.
-American Golden-Plover, I still need this baby for Rooks, and I could easily get one here. A trip to Q/CB in the Fall should yield up some decent numbers, though.
-Bonaparte's Gull, I should be able to pick this one up at Webster in the Fall.
-Least Tern, A Summer trip to Quivira should allow me to see this species.
-Short-eared Owl, While I'm pretty sure I saw one or two of these down in Pawnee this past Winter, I want to be 100% sure. I need to do some owling this Winter.
-Common Poorwill, I've scouted out territory; now I just have to go there at dusk.
-Blue-headed Vireo, We'll see what Fall migration yields.
-Cassin's Sparrow, This one is fairly certain as long as I get to go birding down near the Pawnee area. If not...good bye.
-Swamp Sparrow, I'm really surprised I don't have this one yet.
Migration mysteries-
I'm not used to what migration yields here yet. Here are some likely candidates, though-
-Rufous Hummingbird, I need to have my hummingbird feeder out longer this Fall.
-Alder Flycatcher, This species status this far West is really unknown.
-Willow Flycatcher, Again, there are just not enough birders out in these parts to get a good read on this species.
-Yellow-throated Vireo, This would be much easier to get in the East, but is possible out in my neck of the woods.
-Sedge Wren, I'll have to do some hunting to pick this baby up.
-Marsh Wren, This should be a good candidate for Fall migration.
-Veery, This is possible, but I think I had a better chance in Spring.
-Gray-cheeked Thrush, same as the Veery.
-Sprague's Pipit, I'm almost sure I saw one this Spring, but as it's a lifer, I want to be positive. There's a good chance I can pick one up in Fall.
-McCown's Longspur-This would be another lifer, but it is a real possibility in the Fall (although they won't be in their beautiful Summer plumage).
-Nashville Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Palm Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, and Mourning Warbler, I really don't know what to expect out here. The Spring warbler migration was sad, very sad. I could get 5 or 6 of these, or I could miss them all.
-Le Conte's Sparrow, Again, it's a possibility, but I don't know what to expect.
-Bobolink, This bird is a possibility during migration in Rooks.
The good possibilities at CB/Q if I'm there at the right time-
-Least Bittern
-Tricolored Heron
-Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
-Black Rail
-King Rail
-Sora
-Common Gallinule
-Buff-breasted Sandpiper
The Fall/Winter small possibility category-
-Trumpeter Swan
-Tundra Swan
-Long-tailed Duck
-White-winged, Surf, and Black Scoter
-Pacific Loon
-Northern Goshawk
-Sabine's Gull
-California Gull
-Caspian Tern
-Common Tern
-Long-eared Owl
-Purple Finch
-Pine Siskin
-Red Crossbill
As you can see, I still have a good shot at making 245, but I have some work cut out for me.
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