# Seen any new (birdwatching) life list birds **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 1, 2024, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674 "2024-04-01T12:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/21 "2024-05-24T22:40:55Z")
I don’t keep a life list, but I know when I see a new bird. We were at the Alhambra in Granada, Spain last week and saw Sardinian warblers. ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2024, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/22 "2024-06-14T20:31:36Z")
On the Marais on the Cotentan peninsula here in Normandy we saw a couple of black winged stilts. > **[Black-winged stilt](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black-winged_stilt)** > > The black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) is a widely distributed, very long-legged wader in the avocet and stilt family Recurvirostridae. Its scientific name, Himantopus himantopus, is sometimes used to generalize a single, almost cosmopolitan species. Alternatively, it is restricted to the form that is widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, which equals the nominate group of H. himantopus sensu lato. Meanwhile, the black-necked (H. mexicanus) and white-backed stilts (H. melanurus) both i... Birds with extraordinarily long legs. What’s even weirder is, if you check the wiki, their range is all the way up the Atlantic coast of France but not the UK. Which is why we’ve never seen them before, I guess. j ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2024, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/23 "2024-06-15T11:30:33Z")
Those are RIDICULOUSLY long legs. Neat bird! ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/24 "2024-07-11T18:43:36Z")
Saw a bird that I didn’t recognize near a small pond (almost totally dry now, we need rain). Couldn’t get a good picture, but noted the white breast and brownish wings. Also recorded the high-pitched squeek squeek call. Did some research and it seems I saw my first killdeer. (Charadrius vociferus) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/25 "2024-07-11T19:28:19Z")
Now that you recognize it, I suspect you’ll see/hear them all the time. Dark ring around the neck, no? Around Chicago - and seemingly many other places I’ve travelled in the US - they are by far the most common wading waterbirds. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/26 "2024-07-11T21:02:01Z")
We were happy to see Chilean Tinamous (Nothoprocta perdicaria) on our vacation. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/27 "2024-07-12T21:43:36Z")
Not really a “birdwatcher”, but have seen lots of activity in the yard lately. One little guy (I call him Bird Friend) follows me around the yard in the evening. He perches the same places all the time as I go around watering stuff. No idea what he is. Grey, long black tail, and when he flies, his wings have big white stripes down the middle, like D-Day transports. Medium length pointy beak. Another little guy (Mr. Fabulous) is a magnificent little creature. Bright orange body, red head, yellow wings. Really neat to see in the yard. Been eating berries of this bush out back. Bird Friend eats there too. I think me might be on his way elsewhere. Haven’t seen him in a day or two. Finally, got a murder of 5 very nasty, obnoxious crows hanging around and I suspect stealing the neighbor’s eggs and worrying the little birds. They are constantly making a rukus and some brave little sparrows are always chasing them away, but they persist. I don’t really like them, as I had problems years ago when I had a wife who had chickens. But now the new people next door have the foul fowl, and they have returned. That’s my bird business. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/28 "2024-07-12T23:18:16Z")
Your bird friend could be a mockingbird: [![](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/santafenewmexican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/26/3266c166-107f-11ef-b4a2-17537b80dbad/6640f26c68399.image.jpg?resize=750%2C563) ](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/santafenewmexican.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/26/3266c166-107f-11ef-b4a2-17537b80dbad/6640f26c68399.image.jpg?resize=750%2C563) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/29 "2024-07-12T23:20:26Z")
That’s pretty darn close! ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/30 "2024-07-12T23:31:40Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > orange body, red head, yellow wings They’re loaded with personality, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/31 "2024-07-12T23:44:47Z")
Any idea what Mr. Fabulous might be? Also, Bird Fried does this weird thing when on the ground feeding. He half-spreads his wings and kinda flutters. Reminds me of old-timey Dracula movies where he does that thing with his cape. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/32 "2024-07-13T00:01:34Z")
> > Bird Fried does this weird thing KFC? ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/33 "2024-07-13T00:02:29Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > > [@Gatopescado](#): > > > > orange body, red head, yellow wings > > They’re loaded with personality, too. I don’t know what the hell happened here, but I meant the mockingbirds have loads of personality - don’t know what the other bird could be. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/34 "2024-07-13T00:03:19Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Any idea what Mr. Fabulous might be? Western tanager? Might depend on the viewing angle. [![](https://www.birdnote.org/sites/default/files/western_tanager_gregg_thompson_5-26-15_737.jpg) ](https://www.birdnote.org/sites/default/files/western_tanager_gregg_thompson_5-26-15_737.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/35 "2024-07-13T00:03:24Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Also, Bird Fried does this weird thing when on the ground feeding. He half-spreads his wings and kinda flutters. Reminds me of old-timey Dracula movies where he does that thing with his cape. That sounds like mockingbird behavior too. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/36 "2024-07-13T00:07:29Z")
Same body type, but brilliant full red head, orange body and yellow wings. Crazy, I know! So, is Bird Friend actually mocking me? 😁 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/37 "2024-07-13T00:09:11Z")
Hmm. You might Google that plus your region. Some kind of oriole? Western tanager is what comes up when I look, but I’d be happy to put the description and your general location into my bird app (PM me if you don’t want your location in the thread). ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/38 "2024-07-13T01:46:13Z")
On a recent bike ride on a rural rail trail, I saw a big flurry of wings off to my left. It was a [barred owl,](https://www.birdsandblooms.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/best-barred-owl-5-highbanks.jpg) swooping down on something in the grass. He was a big guy, maybe 2 feet tall. When he saw me, he flew back up to a nearby branch. I cycled on for a few feet, then turned back for another look. We both held still, staring at each other for about a minute. This was around 4 p.m. (Central Massachusetts). ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/39 "2024-07-13T02:55:38Z")
Some amusing comedy routines on birdwatching and noises. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ht6QSIzRah0/maxresdefault.jpg "Birdwatching | Joe Zimmerman stand-up") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ht6QSIzRah0) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/2eBRu6DWDkU/maxresdefault.jpg "Brian Regan - Fake Bird Noise in Golf [Audio with Slides]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eBRu6DWDkU) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2024, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674/40 "2024-07-16T23:00:55Z")
So, it turns out Bird Friend ain’t no Friend At All! I look today, and he’s on my deck, pecking on my new, expensive tomato plant! Ruined 3 ripe tomatoes! Had to bring it inside till I devise a way to thwart his thieving activity. Bastard! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seen-any-new-birdwatching-life-list-birds/999674.md?page=1)