Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year

23 August 2021 Many of you have probably caught on that I end up at Chatfield State Park a lot. It's true! Chatfield is a great place for birds, especially if you know where and when to bird there. I have recently started just birding there a lot in search of green year birds. I have targets in mind and I need to put in the time to try to find them. I made a couple trips in the last week or so, which has been a lot of fun. Ok, one trip was hot and not birdy at all, but I had some great mornings.   Quick summary: 14 Aug 2021 I rode to the sand spit at sunrise, which can be a hit or miss venture. I lucked out and found a Long-billed Curlew! Amazingly I already have one for the big year. A stunning and fun find regardless! There was also an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull with a juvenile, which is early and odd. Photos of both and audio of the curlew in my list. https://ebird.org/checklist/S93204483 I rolled over to the west side of the park to scan the South Platte Delta from one of m

9 August 2021 I had a friend in town looking to get some year birds, so I got some intel on a couple targets. This involved DRIVING for birds. Weird. But I note it is way easier to drive for birding! One target he had was Canyon Wren. I need that one too for the green bird year! We went to a hogback ridge in Littleton at dawn via recommendation and a male was singing his heart out! That was too easy, but we drove.  The next morning (Aug 10), I left at first light and got there at 5:45 am and he was singing!  I was riding there wondering whether today would be the day he isn't singing and did I get up early for no reason again. There was a bit of dread and uncertainty in my head about this trip. These thoughts cross my mind on nearly every chase trip!  However, I was riding along the shoulder of the road at the hogback and heard him singing!! I opted to stop and enjoy the moment, but could have easily kept riding and just ticked the bird and said good riddance!  This was WAY TOO EAS

UPDATED: 30 August 2021. Northern Waterthrush #250! UPDATED: 17 Oct 2021. Neotropic Cormorant and Pacific Loon, #264 and 265! UPDATED: 29 Dec 2021. Trumpeter swan was #284. Several folks have asked what do you still need? Do you need this bird or that bird?  I have gotten so many species already ( 247 species as of August 23), so what's left to get? A LOT! I realize no one is following my list nor knows what I still need, so I thought I could provide a needs list for you all to memorize (just kidding). :)  But seriously, below is the list of more possible/probable birds that I can still get this year. T he following list is the Code 1-4's that I can still get. Recall Code 1 are pretty easy birds (I have one left to get), whereas Code 4 (and 5) are rarities or tough to get from my house.  I did not include the Code 5's below as they are all really rare stuff, so if you hear about a mega-rarity around here like Brant, Arctic Tern, Little Gull, Red Knot, Vermilion or Scissor-t