Nemesis birds

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

Pauls topic on top bird photos which by the way are great to see got me thinking of people posting birds that have been seen in their area maybe yearly or every few years but have missed them and in birding circles they are usually called nemesis birds.Birds that no matter how hard you try to find one just no luck.I have to admit that I am a bit of a chaser but with more effort I would have found some on this list but I just figure someday one will pop up and no real big deal if I don't see them maybe it was just meant to be.So I will start my list off with Yellow-billed Loon lifer
Tufted Puffin. Lifer
Bohemian Waxwing Lifer
Golden Eagle not a lifer
Common Redpoll lifer
Thanks Ted Ardley

vanislebirder · **Posted:** Dec 16 12:15 pm

Nice list! I have a few on mine as well, though I did get a couple this year!

1) Great Gray Owl (lifer)
2) Yellow-billed Loon (not lifer)
3) Common Redpoll (for Victoria)
4) Red-naped Sapsucker (for Victoria)
5) Stilt Sandpiper (for Canada)
6) Buff-breasted Sandpiper (lifer)

Jeremy Kimm

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

Good luck on your list.I need the owl to.Ted

MDB8 · **Posted:** Dec 17 10:45 am

Does that mean that the Redpolls are no longer around Elgin Heritage Park? I haven't been out since I photographed them there, but noted how much they liked those seeds (Birch?).

Also, it has been said that they quickly adapt to feeders when they move into an urban area. As I wrote in another thread, someone has placed a number of feeders in the park and when I was there, they were filled with seeds.

So I expected the Redpolls to hang around.

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

Yeah checked last Thursday but no luck.Thanks Ted

Steely · **Posted:** Dec 17 6:28 pm

Being relatively new to this game, my list is long, but if I look at birds I have spent the most time at with the least result (even though often the unexpected birds you encounter might be just as exciting), then my top three would be:
1) Acorn Woodpecker (a long shot but put in way too much time looking for the Matsqui Village visitor)
2) Yellow-breasted Chat (it won't escape me this next year)
3) American Redstart (I let the mosquitos defeat me searching for Mike's Glen Valley beauties... I know I'm a wimp)

Looking forward to the year ahead, and seeing all the board members find their targets!

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

Good luck with your list in the new year.Tough birds but you never know!Thanks Ted

Sherms · **Posted:** Dec 18 1:58 am

Hmm, so many but I think my top 3 would have to be

1) Virginia Rail (Lifer)
2) Saw-whet Owl (Lifer)
3) Lazuli Bunting (Would be nice to have better look)

Sherman

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

I know you go to Swan Lake at times and could get lucky there for Rail.Also seen them a couple of times at Rithets Bog.Of course Lazulis usually show up at Mt Tolmie in spring.Sometimes with quite a few sightings sometimes none.Good luck with your list.Ted

Keithmac · **Posted:** Dec 18 9:18 am

Still so many that I want to get but on the top of the list (all lifers) are:

1 Great Gray Owl
2 Saw-whet Owl
3 Virginia Rail

Sherms · **Posted:** Dec 18 12:27 pm

Thanks for the tips Ted. The Rail is always on my mind when going to Swan Lake but somehow I have yet to see it. One day that bird will make me really happy. At least I was able to take the Bittern off my list since I finally saw it this year. I'll have to check out Rithets bog more often for the Rail, I sometimes forget about the bog. It seems with the tall reeds that it make it difficult for me to see into the bog until some winter storm pushes them back.

Sherman

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

I am not surprised to see Rails on lists as they are so secretive.In 12 years birding have seen them 3 or 4 times maybe for a total combined time of 2 minutes they jump off the path or bridge or go back into weeds.It just kills me when people say hey did you see the rail or sometimes sora back there it sat out in the open for a good ten minutes!ARRRGH!!!
Thanks Ted

Canonshooterman · **Posted:** Dec 18 5:10 pm

Chichester wetlands in Kelowna has been the best spot I know of for them sitting out in the open. Everytime I have been there in the early morning there has been at least one or two sunning themselves. Also lots of Sora there to. I also seen a dozen VR at Iona in one day, just a little harder to spot sometimes.

birder · **Joined:** Oct 25 2:58 pm **Posts:** 552

Thanks Mike.Ted

featherweight · **Posted:** Dec 19 12:45 pm

I have quite a few nemesis birds that I seem to miss every year, but am determined to get a good number of them this coming spring. :wink:

Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Lewis's Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Northern Pygmy Owl
Great Gray Owl

Good luck birding to everyone in 2012!

Nemesis birds

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