This isn’t a complete list but it is definitely a list. I consider this my first real year of birding since my goal was to bird as much as possible and identify at least 50 species.

My birding year started out pretty good birding in the Dominican Republic in February. I definitely learned a lot about being prepared for a new area. In late February I had shoulder surgery and was unable to do much at all except therapy until late April and early May.

In November I finally visited my local Audubon chapter and participated in some bird walks. Some days were brutal along the shoreline of Lake Geneva but it was worth it.

Identifying various bird species is definitely a challenge foe and takes some time to look up but I am getting better. I am also starting to use a Skopecase for my phone so hopefully I will be able to photograph the birds I see and look at the details later after it flies away.

The bird(s) that were the most exciting for me this year was the Rose Breasted Grosbeak and the Pileated Woodpecker. I had never seen either of these birds but in one day I saw 11 Rose Breasted Grosbeaks. The Pileated Woodpeckers we observed near Bigfoot Beach in Lake Geneva. The first time two flew into a tree about 30 feet or less from us. The next time we observed them entering and exiting a hole in a cherry tree.

The list below contains 66 species.