Our final Big Year adventure took us to Southern California, where coastal preserves, urban parks, and mountain trails delivered the last birds of 2015. From grebes and loons along the Pacific to a lifer California Gnatcatcher and the unforgettable Williamson’s Sapsucker on Mount Wilson, this trip was the perfect finale to an incredible year of birding.
A quick work trip to Savannah turned into a memorable coastal birding weekend. From the historic dikes of Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to the beaches of Tybee Island, we found ducks, marsh birds, soaring Northern Gannets, and even a show‑stopping Clapper Rail. No new year birds this time, but the blend of history, wildlife, and Southern cuisine made it a standout winter escape.
Our first-ever Colorado birding trip became the final push toward our Big Year goal. From foothill feeders alive with mountain specialties to snowy passes and prairie dog fields near Denver, the weekend delivered Rosy-Finches, Barrow’s Goldeneye, a surprise Snowy Owl, and the moment we finally reached 500 species. A whirlwind winter adventure—and one of the most memorable chapters of our year.
Our late‑season Florida run took us from Lake Apopka’s marshes to the windswept beaches of Merritt Island and down the Overseas Highway to Key West. We added key species for our Big Year—including Northern Gannet, Bell’s Vireo, and Common Myna—and soaked in the beauty of the Keys as we closed in on 500 birds.
Our third Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival delivered excellent birding across South Texas, from Sabal Palm Sanctuary and Estero Llano Grande to King Ranch and Harlingen’s evening parrot roosts. A welcoming community, expert guides, and incredible species diversity make this festival unforgettable.
With 470 birds already on our list, we headed south in search of Florida’s only endemic species, the Florida Scrub‑Jay. From Oscar Scherer and Babcock‑Webb to Sanibel and a Fort Lauderdale rarity chase, the weekend delivered great birding and three hard‑earned year birds.
Early October brought peak foliage, crisp air, and memorable birding in New York’s North Country. From a rare Eurasian Wigeon on Lake Champlain to Boreal Chickadees in Newcomb and a magical night of Saw‑whet Owl banding with Larry Master, it was a standout fall trip.
With summer finally fading, fall migration brought waves of warblers, vireos, shorebirds, and a standout Stilt Sandpiper to Florida’s Gulf Coast. From Sawgrass Lake Park to Fort DeSoto and Siesta Key, three weekends of birding delivered classic September movement and familiar local favorites.
Just days after leaving Arizona, we traded desert canyons for the California coast. From Pinnacles National Park to Carmel River State Beach and a spectacular Monterey Bay pelagic, the weekend delivered Elegant Terns, albatrosses, murrelets, and a final lifer Pacific Wren in Big Sur.
Our third trip of the year to Southeast Arizona brought everything we hoped for: Sky Island scenery, rare flycatchers, Mexican Chickadees in the Chiricahuas, and a final Gilded Flicker just before our flight home. A spectacular September weekend in one of America’s best birding regions.