It has definitely been a delightful year for Cary BirdCam. With the able assistance of two Wingscapes BirdCams, I’ve been able to share some wonderful encounters. Here’s my picks of the 20 best moments of 2009.Returning seasonal species are always a special delight. I particularly savored an Easter hummingbird, the arrival of the juncos in November, and the return of the Ruby Crowned Kinglets in December.
Unexpected species visits and encounters are a treat, too. We had several of note, including irruptive Pine Siskins, a feeder-visiting Hermit Thrush, a female Summer Tanager in August, and a migrant Ruby Throated Hummingbird in late September.
Sometimes the simple things can be sublime. As when I photographed a juvenile Towhee in June, or followed the maturation of “Baby Blue”, or observed a cascade of copycat behavior at a hummingbird feeder in the summer.
Getting more out of the BirdCam equipment was always on my mind in 2009. It was a great feeling to find a practical use for Time Lapse mode during nesting season, to have some fun with Manual Mode at the beach, and to upgrade to BirdCam 2.0 in November. And sometimes my passion for crunching numbers yielded fascinating discoveries,
I enjoyed some personal triumphs during the year. Among these? Finally life listing a Red Cockaded Woodpecker in April, capturing an image of Hermit Thrush behavior that impressed an expert, being interviewed by Wingscapes in September, and being named “Bird Cammer of the Year” last month.
My ongoing battle with grey squirrels ranged from the use of heavy artillery to achieving a truce, of sorts.
I await 2010 with a wider range of tools, knowledge, and experience. It is likely I shall have my share of exciting encounters and marvelous moments. It starts tomorrow!
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