For those of you who DON’T know me personally, I am a birder.  For those of you who DO know me, you know I am a LAPSED birder…sigh.

My living environment has gone from that of being primarily nomadic to being primarily stationary.  I have to make the connection that my”drive” to bird was/is intrinsically tied to my “drive” to drive.  My trips have been sparse and my lists?  Even more so.  My birding buddies used to call me the consummate lister.  I had, of course, my life list but I also had year, trip, and state lists.  I listed in the ABA little blue books, spreadsheets, and journals that had not only lists, but copious notes about bird sightings.

Birding wasn’t JUST a hobby, there were times when I literally felt it saved my life; a story for another time perhaps.

So it feels a little disrespectful, or ungrateful, that I have seemingly cast this wonderful activity aside.  Last year, my New Year’s Resolution was to keep up to date on my birding list.  It didn’t happen.  In fact, I found that I hadn’t really kept up to date on 2011′s list!  These photos (BTW I’ve decided to keep a photo list too – lol) are some of the birds I saw in 2011 – if I get my act together, maybe I’ll put together a photo array of 2012 in the near future and, of course, update my lists.

Just a little ol’ Killdeer, found all across North America and one of the first birds I learned to identify as a child.

Northern Shoveler – very common and aptly named for that “honkin” bill which is used to shovel/filter mud as their feeding method.

Savannah Sparrow – These little guys are found in grassy areas and there is a wide variation in appearance.  This one had nicely distinctive yellow lores.

Solitary Sandpiper which so happened to be, quite solitary.

Song Sparrow – I have better photos of Song Sparrows (this one is a little grainy) but I love the setting.

Spotted Towhee – This is my first shot of Spotted Towhee.  Caught, surprisingly, in a tree since they are most often seen in the brush, scratching about noisily. 

Trumpeter Swan seen in Michigan where they have been reintroduced and seem to be recovering nicely.

Yellow-headed Blackbird – always a striking sight in the marshes and ponds.