Year Lists/General Discussion 2026

[Kevin]

I haven't done much birding this year but I did make one day of it, it yielded a lifer(Short-eared Owl).
Over all the birding hasn't been too great this year, nearly no ducks at all, and moderate numbers of sparrows.
So far my year list is 84.

[Charlie Spencer]

A Hermit Thrush hung out around the feeders for a few days. It hopped under the deck a couple of times and I hoped it might be sheltering there, but I haven't seen it in a week.

I'm also not seeing many ducks this year. I went to a historically good spot a few days ago and came away with only Ring-neckeds.

I did get great views and shots of a Wilson's Snipe casually poking around the retention ponds at a local grocery.

[Aidan B]

I'm currently sitting at 144 species in 2026. A little behind last year's pace, but not too shabby!

[Kansabirdguy]

I ended 2025 with my record year list both total and for Kansas. I had 307 for US and 287 for Kansas. 44 lifers ranging from a great Kiskadee to a king eider and a whole lot of other awesome birds!

[Braxton L]

Couldn't care less about my year list but i'm at 132. Just continuing to look for vagrants and enjoying getting know and understand the new California Breeding Bird Atlas!

[Charlie Spencer]

I had 307 for US and 287 for Kansas. 44 lifers ranging from a great Kiskadee to a king eider and a whole lot of other awesome birds!

I don't look at county or state but trips to NM and FL yielded 28 lifers for a best year of 206. That was my first year over 200.

[Zoroark]

2025 ended nicely with 342, propped up by several trips (Arizona, California, and Hawaii). Because of those trips, I got an incredible 57 lifers in the ABA area in 2025, going from 494 to 551.

(The Mangrove Yellow Warbler that I saw in 2023 also was split during the year.)

I'm at 88 so far in 2026.

[Kansabirdguy]

Gotta share this as a few years ago I didn’t realize many of these species occurred in the state at all. This is my list of 2025’s Kansas new birds for me. Some insane (IMO) birds showed up last year.

[The Bird Nuts]

Finally got lifer Redhead yesterday! Only took ten years...

[Charlie Spencer]

A Hermit Thrush hung out around the feeders for a few days. It hopped under the deck a couple of times and I hoped it might be sheltering there, but I haven't seen it in a week.

And now it's been back for the last four days. I'm pretty sure now it's living under the deck.

I love the Yellow-throated Warbler that's been here on and off this winter, but I'm annoyed that it triggers a 'Rare' flag in eBird! I took photos the first three times but have since switched to 'Continuing at feeders'. I don't know if that will satisfy a review but I've ceased to care.

Just as I'd given up on Dark-eyed Juncos this winter, four of them popped in this week. I can't buy a House Finch but I'm seeing Purple Finches regularly, including a personal best of nine a couple of times this month.

[Greyhawk]

I can't buy a House Finch

I can give you a bulk rate on them.

Capture.JPG (91.02 KiB) Viewed 240 times

[AveryF]

Tennessee is currently being invaded by northerners! The relentless back-to-back arctic blasts, coupled with a devastating ice storm has pushed hundred of Common Mergansers across the region, as well as dozens of American Tree Sparrows, Tundra Swans, and massive influx of Canvasback and Greater Scaup. I am enjoying the familiar northern weather, and the great birds.

[Charlie Spencer]

I've lived in NC for 21 months, and visited this neighborhood for over a decade. I scored my first NC Orange-crowned yesterday.

EDIT Moved the pelican content to the more appropriate 'Bird Behavior' discussion.

[Hooded Robin]

'Listers" - the movie. Two brothers, novice birders, live in their van for a year doing a big year.

I suspect most birders have seen this by now, it's at 2.9M views and has generated a lot of buzz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-wAqplQAo

[Charlie Spencer]

'Listers" - the movie. Two brothers, novice birders, live in their van for a year doing a big year.

I recall they're scheduled to be at Biggest Year.