Chirps and Cheeps

A Photo Journal of My Birding Experiences & Observations

My birding blog site


  My Bird Wish List

I've already seen all of the birds that normally frequent WNY as well as many of the more rare birds that have visited our area. But there are still a few vagrants that have eluded me. Birders refer to a species you've missed or can't find as a "nemesis bird". Well, I have a few of those as well as some hoped-for birds that might be possible to catch up to here in the Northeast (and beyond!).

Pretty much all of the birds below are out of the Western New York area. They're listed in no particular order - I just add them as I think of them... (A few are nemesis birds, having missed them on a trip or two...)

Brown-capped Rosy-Finch  

I'm hoping to see this bird in Utah in the winter of 2026!

Western Screech-Owl  

January 2026 might be a good chance to see this species, finally!

Pinyon Jay  

January 2026 might be a good chance to see this species. I might have all the jays in the US then!

Juniper Titmouse  

January 2026 might be a good chance to see this species. I would have all the US titmice then!

Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay  

January 2026 might be a good chance for me to see this species. I would have all 4 scrub-jays then!

Mexican Duck  

January 2026 may provide this on my trip to Utah, but it's pretty rare and I'd have to have a measure of good luck.

Black Rosy-Finch  

I hear this is a very difficult bird to get - but one can hope!

Ash-throated Flycatcher  

I've missed this flycatcher several times. That makes me want it more!

Lesser Nighthawk  

I've heard it said that some of our early migrants in WNY could possibly be Lessers. I will try listening / watching for those this coming year.

Broad-tailed Hummingbird  

We were just a little too early on our AZ trip in 2015 and we missed several hummers, this one included. Hoping for another chance one day!

Virginia's Warbler  

A bit plain looking and somewhat similar to a Nashville Warbler... Its range is south west and might be a good reason to visit my cousin in Mexico!

Grace's Warbler  

What a beautiful Warbler - similar to the Yellow-throated but with more yellow on its face. Its range is south west and not too common so chances are slim but maybe one day...

Swainson's Warbler  

I'm pretty sure I had this guy in Florida this past spring (2025) but I just didn't get a good enough look at it to be 100% sure. Maybe in 2026!

Scott's Oriole  

I'll have to head west for this guy during the breeding season. What a beautiful bird - fingers crossed for some day...

Hooded Oriole  

Another beautiful western bird for some day...

Plumbeous Vireo  

I missed this on a couple of trips and hope for another chance...

Gray Vireo  

Even though it's rather plain and drab, it's another bird I missed on a couple of trips out west and would like to see.

Chukar  

This is a pretty little game bird that was introduced to North America in 1893. I'm told I have a decent chance to see it when I go to Utah in 2026.

White-tailed Ptarmigan  

I hear this is a very tough bird to see as it inhabits high mountainous areas out west. I saw a Willow Ptarmigan that was a vagrant to New York in 2014 - so hey, ya never know!

Greater Sage-Grouse  

Since seeing a Sage Grouse in Montana this past spring (June 2025), I'm now keen to see its cousin!

Black Rail  

A secretive marsh bird that I wasn't willing to pursue in Louisiana. I hope another chance will come around.

Yellow-billed Loon  

A very pretty loon from out west - I would love to catch up to this bird some day.

Couch's Kingbird  

Willie, Celeste, and I missed this bird in December of 2016, so now I really want to see it!

Fork-tailed Flycatcher  

I just think they look soooo cool with those really long, long tails!

Yellow-billed Magpie  

Magpies look so cool and have a lot of personality. I'm really hoping to catch up to a Yellow-billed one of these days.


button link to my bird search