The year 2024 was something of a "restful" one for me. My health was not at its best, the cottage demanded renovations, and spending time with my granddaughter was my priority. Despite that, I managed to end the year by reaching a long-dreamed milestone – 300 recorded bird species!
A Year-End Highlighted by Gulls
The journey to the magical 300 began in the summer with the sighting of a Short-toed Eagle at the Lenešice Reservoir, which became my 298th species. Then came an unexpected treasure – the rare Sabine’s Gull at Rozkoš, marking species number 299. And the finale? It was another gull, this time the Black-legged Kittiwake.
A Journey into the Fog
Just before Christmas, Jiří Šafránek and I planned a trip to the Tovačov Reservoirs. The weather, however, was far from ideal. After passing Plzeň, I drove into thick fog that stayed with me all the way to Přerov. Upon arrival, the reservoir was engulfed in dense, swirling mist. Still, we pressed on to the “cross,” a point where the water divides into four sections. Visibility was zero, and our spirits were low.
And then, as if by a miracle, a Black-legged Kittiwake appeared just a few meters above our heads! Fog or no fog, the bird was recorded, and the milestone achieved!
Euphoria Trumps Everything
Later, I learned that the same Black-legged Kittiwake had also been spotted that day at the Jesenice Reservoir, a location 600 kilometers closer to me. But the euphoria of success completely overshadowed this realization.
Thank You to Everyone Who Helped
I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this milestone possible. Among them are Láďa Jasso (who sadly passed away this year and was the one who introduced me to birdwatching), Jaroslav Vaněk, Vláďa Teplý, Robert Doležal, Martin Ouška, Libor Schröpfer, Petr Pavlík, František Pochon, Milan Haas, Jiří Šafránek, and Honza Studecký. Whether they helped me with advice, information, or endless patience – thank you all!
I close the year 2024 with a sense of accomplishment and look forward to what the next year will bring. Perhaps more rare species will find their way onto my birdlist!
You can find the complete birdlist from my observations on my eBird profile
https://ebird.org/checklist/
