Nature Done Wright

As you can see from the photo above, 2008 started on a gray note at the Celery Farm.

   But Ace the screech owl is safe in his nesting box, and  the two Carolina wrens are already at the feeder. Not a bad beginning at all.

   Looking ahead…

The 250th species at the Celery Farm was recorded in 2007. What will the next new species be? And what are the unlikeliest candidates?

  Ace birder Rob Fanning says his likeliest candidates are any of the following  25 birds.  Note that more than a third have been seen by one person already but that all-important confirmation was lacking for one reason or another.

   I imagine this list might touch off new debates, but at this point I suggest we all move on with our lives. 🙂

   If you nominate a species not on the list that ends up becoming the next species, you will win a fabulous prize to be determined at some point.

Probables:

-Ash-throated Flycatcher*
-Rufous Hummingbird*
-Cackling Goose*
-Red-necked Grebe*
-Long-billed Dowitcher*
-Cave Swallow*
-Lark Sparrow*
-Henslow's Sparrow*
-Am. Golden Plover*

-Common Goldeneye
-Redhead
-Lesser Black-backed Gull
-Iceland Gull
-Mississippi Kite
-Whip-poor-will
-Kentucky Warbler
-Tricolored Heron
-Forster's Tern
-Horned Lark
-Western Tanager
-Eurasian Collared Dove
-Pine Grosbeak
-Bohemian Waxwing
-Red Crossbill
-White-winged Crossbill

   I am also taking suggestions for bird species you won't see.

   Here are three candidates that a few friends and I came up with:
   Piebald grebe.
   White-crested nut-hatcher
    Red-eyed dipper (today only)