Farewell 2013! - 31 Dec 2013

2013 proved to be an exceptional year for both Robin and me.  We got through the year relatively healthy, and had some wonderful adventures.  So many stories, and so many photos later its hard to think that 2014 could be better, but who knows.  Here's my ten 'highlights' of 2013:

10. Digiscoping.  Digiscoping was quite enjoyable this year with many a bird recorded through the spotting scope w/ a Nikon V1 mirrorless camera.  In October I got to test drive a new Digidapter™ designed for Zeiss spotting scopes.

09. Biggest Week in American Birding.  Not only did I have the pleasure of being an official blogger for the annual warbler migration through NW Ohio, but I also got to present a digiscoping workshop during the festival, meet new and old friends, and see some wonderful birds!

08. Pheasants!  A late summer 'work' outing to Fighting Island in the Detroit River gave me the opportunity to see and photograph a nemesis bird of mine: the Ring-necked Pheasant.

07. Snowy Owl Invasion of 2013.  This is truly an exceptional year for seeing these birds, and one can only wonder (and hope) how many of these majestic birds will survive the winter so far south of their normal range.

06. Hawk Owl.  Hard to believe that such a great bird is so far down the list.  Getting to see and digiscope this special raptor in the UP in January was a great beginning to 2013.

05. A Peregrine in Costa Rica.  I digiscoped this banded Peregrine Falcon in late summer 2012. It turned up months later in a tiny town in Costa Rica and became an instant celebrity.

04. Bird of the Century!  A late summer trip to England gave me the chance to photograph the stunning Red Kite while drinking champagne during a backyard wedding celebration.

03. The Great Migration! Witnessing the Zebra migration in SW Kenya was truly awe-inspiring. We were left speechless as we watched thousands of animals cross the Mara River while monster Crocodiles waited for them.

02. Balloon Ride over the Masai Mara.  A champagne breakfast in the middle of the Great Migration. Need I say more?

01.  The Elephants of Amboseli.  Watching a stampeding herd of 60 Elephants coming at us while the sun set on Mt. Kilimanjaro is a memory I'll not soon forget.

May 2014 bring happiness, health, prosperity and sharp photos to all!