What a beautiful video! Thank you for the heartwarming message and for taking us on this journey with you. Congrats on 2️⃣9️⃣8️⃣ , Stu & Sara! 😊 p.s. - everyone else, go join their membership!
Thank you so much Tracy, we're very touched and appreciative of your generosity. We'd like to take the channel to new places and improve various technical aspects, so every little helps and goes towards that.
Gosh, you were so close, but you should be proud of yourselves! Only 2 shy of 300 - means you still got to count 298 different species, even though you both work jobs! And in the end really saw 304!! FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks for taking us along on your journey! See you soon!! Can't wait to see what you'll be up to!
I've quite enjoyed following along on the journey. Excited to watch the final episode! And who knows maybe one day we will bump into each other now that I myself have moved to southern Ontario.
Fantastic, thank you so much for taking me on this adventure with you. I watched every single episode this year. The last 5 mins were particularly touching. Happy birding in 2025
Greetings from a snowy UK. Thank you for a wonderful set of videos over the year and for introducing me to a whole range of new species. As I have said in a previous post, you have inspired me to come to Canada to see them for myself. Your enthusiasm for birds shines from your videos and I love the way that you describe their habitats and include the plants and other wildlife too. I look forward to what comes next!
Thanks David. I'm looking forward to trying to include more wildlife. Certainly not the best time of year for that right now, although there's a little more chance of catching some mammals that are forced to scavenge around more bravely for food. We had a really cool sighting of a porcupine up close recently... future video spoiler! I'm looking forward to visiting The UK again at some point soon and birding with a little more Euro-bird knowledge. Not sure when... but Bearded Tit/Reedling is high on my bucket list!
Well done on 298 species! What a year, I’m sure enough memories for a lifetime in on year. Your motivation has been truly inspiring, to just keep trying. Thank you Stu and Sarah.
I got a bit emotional at the end. What an incredible message. And thank you both for all the time and hard-earned money that went into making all of these incredible videos for us to enjoy! The effort doesn't go unnoticed!
I totally agree that the challenge was about way more than the 300. I too love to hike and bird, the community and joy from these activities is just incredible. Thank you both for the effort you’ve put into this challenge and sharing it so beautifully, it’s been a fantastic and inspiring series.
Loved watching your bird challenge. I know how frustrating it is to find a specific bird. But I absolutely love every second I am out looking for and photographing birds. We live in Minnesota and there aren’t too many birds around right now which made your videos extra special this time of year - thank you!
Loved it all, never thought of it as a step too far just a great adventure and road trip. Thank you guys so much as a birder that lived very briefly in Toronto you are living out and filming my dreams not just yours.
I’m going to say you got there -304 species! I have adored all the videos and I can’t wait for the plans for 2025 ! Thank you for sharing your adventures! Kathy n Kim in s e Florida
Congratulations on an amazing journey. 298 birds is quite a feat! I thoroughly enjoyed watching your birding adventures: your filming, editing and storytelling skills are topnotch. Thanks so much for sharing!
I've only been seriously birding for six years and like you I travel a lot, which just adds spice to the main dish: birding. I learned after about 2 years, the numbers get in the way of my enjoyment. Sure, I'm always looking for lifers and I have a 2 month, 6,000 mile journey planned across the US starting in March. But it's not about the numbers for me. I'll count my lifers but what I relish is watching the birds feed, take care of their young, defend their territory, and just be birds. They're all different in behavior and niches occupied. It's fascinating. I loved the journey you took and appreciate the time you took to take videos and edit them into very good YT videos. I'm sorry you didn't make your goal but in reality, two more birds wouldn't have change your journey in any appreciable way. You made new friends, saw new places, and had some amazing adventures. Your accomplishment was amazing and you should be proud of every minute of it. Thanks for sharing and I would be delighted to run into you both birding...any interest in Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania May 12-19, 2025? There's a lot of warblers and other migrants.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and for watching along. What you write about was very much on our minds. Sometimes the pressure of the challenge can mean missing some of the "smaller" stuff. I don't want to say much more because we haven't revealed plans yet... but believe me, I'd like to fit in some "slower birding" at some point. We are currently formulating plans for where to visit this year. I'd really love to take in the spring migration to the south of us, such as Cape May, Magee Marsh or, as you mention, Presque Isle. I think we are probably engaged in something late April-mid-May this year, though. But we will definitely bear in mind all of these amazing birding destinations.
A huge well done to you both for getting 298 species. That's still a great achievement, and you should be proud of yourselves. I've enjoyed watching your birding adventures and look forward to watching future birding adventures 🙂
How bittersweet! I am so glad i found you earlier this year. I enjoyed catching up on all your older videos and then further enjoyed the anticipation of the next video to be posted. Can't wait to continue the connection.
I've thoroughly enjoyed every video this year, can't wait to see what's next :) Congratulations on reaching 298 birds (or 304, if you will), that's a huge achievement!
Congratulation Stu & Sarah for a wonderful years adventure, it was a real rollercoaster ride!! You both gave it your all and that needs to be celebrated🎉. Thank you for allowing me to bird vicariously thru you both and I really look forward to seeing what comes next. Until then….rest and regroup🙃
Like other people have said, I got (just a bit) emotional by the end of the video. It's the end of that wonderful adventure that you shared with us. Congratulations! You inspired me to start my own challenge in Quebec but I don't think I will set a goal and since I'm zero at camera, I won't make a youtube series :) :) I never expected you would see a pipit in the end of December... maybe the climate around the Great Lakes is different from what we have around Montreal.
Thanks so much for following along, we both appreciate it 😊 Pipits are more common in sep-nov here, when they migrate through. But there's usually a few stragglers like the ones we found! Most of the times we've seen them, it's been on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Wow. I'm so impressed. I know you came so close to meeting the goal but as you said, the numbers aren't what matters. I enjoyed meeting you two briefly in earlyish 2024 on one of your stops in Algonquin at the Opeongo Road parking lot, where you and a friend of yours shared some wonderful cheese with me during a break in your filming. Although you both seemed super nice and I took your business card to give the channel a look, I wasn't really prepared for what I saw when I started watching your videos. Right off the bat, I was so impressed with the editing and organization of the video. No, it's not Nat Geo but you clearly have a passion and some skill. What really blew me away was Stu's storytelling as I've mentioned in a previous comment. He is a natural and is so engaging. Combined with Sarah's extensive ecology/biology skills, it's easy to see why your channel has increased in popularity. I hope others have followed your journey for the same reasons I have. The numbers are a fun target but I tune in for the adventure and for how it's told. Regardless of what the theme or goal of the channel is in 2025, I am eager to hear the tales and see what you see. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your journey. The last few years haven't been easy for me and your 2024 tales have provided a small escape for me to a happier, easier place where I can listen to Stu's storytelling and immerse myself in where you've traveled to. Thanks again, and have a great 2025.
Thank you Mark, I don't really know what to say besides... congratulations on bringing a tear to my eye. We appreciate the heartfelt comments. I'm sorry to hear of your hardships. I would like, if possible, that 2025 is a lot kinder to you. We intend to carry on doing what we have been doing. That it seems to be an inspiration to some people motivates us to continue. I'm glad you gave the channel a chance. I wouldn't blame anyone for having apprehension when some random guy in a forested parking lot starts to bring up TH-cam channels haha... All the best to you.
I have not seen every video of this series but I do enjoy the ones I have watched. Those Goldfinches shown at the beginning are showing soft feathers because they have just fledged. They still have their natal feathers as the nests are constructed in August and eggs are present from mid August to the beginning of September. The young ones that have just fledged I can watch begging for food from their parents at my tray feeder in the winter months. Sometimes the parents will accommodate them and give them a seed. Once late winter arrives they start to get their adult feathers and they lose those downy head feathers. Good count!.
So close guys. You didn’t get it but, I enjoyed tuning in whenever you guys posted a new video and we can all say you had all of us along on this challenge enjoying every minute of it.
Good Morning 🌅 to you two from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. Hoping that you’ll complete your 2024 bird count and can’t wait till you start a NEW YEAR 2025 with new bird count series. Good luck to you and Happy Birding. 🦆🐦⬛🪿🐓🦚🦩🦢🦜
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Congratulations on 298 species. My daughter and I enjoyed watching every episode together! We were thrilled with your valiant effort at the end to try to make 300! And we were physically clapping when you almost gave up and then saw the American Pipit on the beach! My daughter is 11 and an advid birder. She saw 77 species this year. Thanks for the inspiration. We look forward to continuing to watch your birding adventures.
Thanks so much. We've had a few interactions and messages from parents who tell us their sons/daughters enjoy what we do and that it inspires their love for birds or the outdoors in general. We both find that very touching, so thank you for sharing. We'll have more to come, for sure. Say hi to your daughter from us 👋
Oh God! What an amazing couple and effort in birding. The ending was spectacular; I watched through tears welling up in my eyes. So much heart. The two of you really knocked it out the park. Beautiful!
I have really enjoyed following along and learning more about birds - thanks for such enjoyable videos. I appreciate all the time and energy you put in. I love your positivity, your appreciation of nature, and the consideration for others that was evident as you travelled around pursuing this challenge. Your message at the end was very touching and shows much about your character as people. Thank you
I don’t know what to say. What a year it has been. Thank you for the company you have kept from afar through your videos and updates. It’s been a true pleasure to have followed your journey so far and I wish you both all of the very best for 2025 whatever you decide to do. What a beautiful message at the end. Congratulations on all you have achieved xx
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful video, tears stared coming down but at the same time they were tears of sadness and joy at the same time because you make me feel like I was walking with you guys on every adventure and I am so happy that you shared so many beautiful pictures and videos, you and your wife are awesome and I look forward to seeing more birds in 2025 🤗❤️🙏🐦
Nail biting video. Thank you so much for taking us along for the journey. As an amateur 5 have learned a lot and got to see a side of Toronto and the surronding areas that I could have never imagined while sitting in Toronto traffic.
@@BritHikesOntario also funny coincident, I will be moving to the UK Birmingham later this year and the bird population is as rich there as it is here.
Congrats on an amazing journey and thanks for taking us all along for the ride. Looking forward to seeing where you travel in 2025. It has been a pleasure to watch your stories and see new birds.
Congratulations is still well deserved. You both had an amazing year and added to that your sharing the journey was equally impressive. So thank you for taking us on the journey this year. ...not rubbing salt in a wound but the Pog Lake campground and Kearney across the road would have been worth a walk around for the Black Backed since both locations have the Pine trees that are not very healthy and the BB Woodpecker likes these trees. And Mew lake may have been a good spot for the Pine Finch.
Thanks for the tips. I've never tried Pog Lake, to be honest. But we do quite like the "old airfield" location near Mew Lake and we saw the Black-backed there last year. Just not enough time on this occasion.
I've loved to watch you try to hit you goal this year and you've inspired me to set my own and get out and bird as often as possible. Thanks for taking us along for your journey! ❤
Most sincere congratulations to both of you! I will pass on some life advice that was given to me - I am a marathoner. I was trying to complete a marathon in a specific time. I did all of the training, was totally ready, but on the day of the race, I just didn’t have it and missed the goal by only a few minutes. I was devastated. Someone told me that I am crazy to not feel elated. Missing the ultimate completion of the goal doesn’t negate everything that you did to get to that point. It means a lot to me now looking back on it. It makes me think of you after watching this video.
You wait all year to get 1 pipit on camera, and then 2 come along at once! 😂 Aww, I was rooting for you guys right till the end. What an incredible year you had - so many wonderful memories. Fantastic last video, and as far as I’m concerned you completed that challenge with bells on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 What an amazing variety of wildlife you’ve been blessed to see. Happy New Year to you both, all the best for whatever’s next. You’ve inspired me to go back through my photos and footage from 2024. I wasn’t doing a challenge (just out photographing nature), but so far I’ve found about 114 recorded bird species, just from my random trips in southern Alberta (and my backyard). I wonder how many I’d see if I was actually trying… Thanks so much for sharing your rollercoaster adventures with us. All the best, Dee 😊
Thanks so much for your nice comments throughout the year, it has been appreciated. I hope you have fun reviewing your pictures. I've been photographing for a few years, but I only started listing more recently. I found it time consuming, but fun, to go through photos and add them to websites like eBird and iNat.
So close! But as you said at the end the whole year was more than just a number. Your videos have been great and I look forward to watching them every week. Well done!
Haha your friends with birds landing on their head at 20:54 and 21:00 before your close up shots too. They were hilarious! Thanks for bringing us along on this incredible journey. I loved the message at the end! I always love your videos regardless on whether or not you hit your challenge. I hope you found it equally as enjoyable to create and I look forward to more videos in 2025.
Really enjoyed following along on your adventures. The videography and the story telling were great. I was cheering for you to get your 300, but not the least disappointed by the outcome. After all, it's always the journey, not the destination. I did go to your web site and read through the list of birds you'd seen. I didn't count the birds on the page to see if it was 298, but I did notice that your list is missing the ruffed grouse. Could it be you got 299????
Thanks for catching that, I missed adding a handful of more recent sightings. Ruffed Grouse was seen when we were at Sax-zim Bog. List is now updated with Ruffed Grouse and the birds from this most recent video. 298 remains the correct count, but I appreciate your optimism lol 😁
Thank you so much for sharing this journey. Thanks for making me cry while at work too. This series was so well told and your narration was always riveting. Your final thoughts for the year was incredibly moving. Good luck on your future plans..I look forward to them.
Wow what an amazing accomplishment. 298 official on camera, but over 300 spotted. That's remarkable!!! For 2025, please think of Lake Wilcox in Richmond Hill. You can get an easy dozen I would think. Let me know ...
What a great series of videos, I have enjoyed watching them all and am gutted for you that you did not reach the target. What an incredible couple you are, please keep up the good work of inspiring people to love birds and birding. I cannot wait to see what your next adventure will be.
Thanks for the comment. We're on our own learning journey (I make a fair few mistakes!) and all levels of birder are welcome here! There's some pretty seasoned birders that have commented here, plenty of people that are new, and everything inbetween 😊
Thanks Dave, it was nice to bump into you a couple of times this year. Pesky jobs! Looking forward to some brighter evenings soon, to escape after work.
A great final video to end 2024 with. Really enjoyed watching your year unfold, thankyou! Congrats on your final listing of 304 species, seeing is believing & an image often not possible! Best wishes to you & Sarah and look forward to 2025. 😊
Great wrap up video!! Great last couple birds for the list too! Too bad you didn't hit 300, but you're right that that's not even what this is about. All the best in the new year!
So close! Congrats on ending with the solitaire, a great bird in the east! Lots of travel, adventures and great birds. A successful year regardless of the number! (Plus you actually saw over 300) I enjoyed following your journey!
Thanks for following along. As much as we didn't stick around long for the Solitaire, it was still nice to see one for the first time in a couple of years 😊
Well done. Good production. I am using your Florida videos in my planning for a Florida trip in April 2025. Thanks for letting us tag along and become inspired ourselves.
Ouch! Haha. Super close. What do you think was your biggest miss out of the ones you got close to? I think for me, it has to be Crested Caracara. Although we saw it and didn't get it on camera, it's such an iconic bird I would love to have counted it according to the rules we set.
@BritHikesOntario I dipped a Marsh sandpiper on the south coast, over 6hrs of driving round trip in 1 day, the bird had been there for 1 week and disappeared the day I went for it, c'est la vie
Hi Stu and Sarah, Congratulations on all your efforts in this birding challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed your story telling and sense of adventure. I gained some new ideas for birding trips. Thanks again for your excellent work.
I have recently joined your adventures and absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for taking us along! Can wait to see what’s next 😊 Happy birding guys 🦅
Congratulations on the new Lifers... Well done. Man I love Dark Eyed Junco's, only ever saw one and that was in the New Forest. Cracking looking Sparrow, quite a big boy too! Nearly Pipited at the post :) Just have to say, Canada Jay's are gorgeous birds so thank you for bringing them to my knowledge. It was this channel that first introduced them to me. Thank you. Looking forward to next years adventures...
Thanks for following along with us Marcus and all your supportive comments, it really is appreciated. Which DE Junco did you see? The Eastern slate one like we get here? I personally really like the Oregon one, but that would be an even more seriously lost one in The UK. I like Canada Jays, too. They're inquisitive and gregarious with humans. But the always seem to appear out of nowhere in silence. When I was very new to birding and photography, I was really keen to get a good picture of a Canada Jay lol.
Great finish well done! 298 birds is amazing so is all effort you guys put into this. I have been watching and rooting for you guys all year. I seen my hand (glove and coat) and the Chickadee 😊 was this a test to see if I was paying attention? I enjoyed that day in Algonquin.
Haha thanks Rick Yeah, a test. I wasn't sure if you were still watching 😉 That was one of my better experiences in Algonquin, we got to see a lot of stuff over that weekend. No moose, but I forgive you 😉
Ahh, what a heartbreaker -- defeated by the weather with the finish line so close. Still, you gave it a great try, and it was a heck of a trip along the way. I wonder if you might have done better to stay north earlier in the year and then flown south south in December, where there's more birds and less ice fog. In any case. congrats.
Yes. I think this is probably the biggest lesson from the year. Your suggestion about North first, South later is true. But more generally, we also did a little bit too much last minute scrambling around going to places that are awesome.... but could be even better at a more appropriate time. Cape May, for example. Which also wasn't helped by hurricane weather the week before. We will take these lessons into 2025.
Thank you! I'll have to ask you to just hold on for a few more days and we will be releasing an outline of what we're doing this year. Bear with us a little but longer, but I think you'll like what we're doing.
Such an awesome video! The end was so touching. Can't wait to see your plans for this year. I'm missing all the rare one's here. The Scissor tail fly catcher, Artic tern, Wilson snipe,Red headed loon to name a few. Just can't afford and the time to travel. I'm planning to go North to the UP. Trying to get those winter bird's. Take care!
Thanks so much for your supportive comments through the year. We both enjoyed hearing from you. We will defintely announce our plans soon, but we came to them quite late while we discussed what to do. Good luck in the UP!
Solid try. It has been awesome following your journey. Glad you finally knocked off the pipit before ending the year. I'm trying my own 300 bird challenge this year but luckily I don't have to film every species. I currently don't have any major trips planned but who knows what I can make happen.
Thanks Cliff, appreciate it. Best of luck with your challenge, I'll try to remember to ask how it's going. Do us a favour and send a Stilt to Toronto, will ya.
Wow, my first viewing of your channel is the last day of your 2024 challenge. I'm wanting to get into photographing birds. Your video here really put me in the mood. This is a great video! Top quality. Thanks for all your work over the year.
Hey, welcome to the channel. Glad to have you here and hope you'll stick around for 2025. We'll have more to come starting this week. Thanks for watching! 😊
Well done you two! This last episode was so emotional and heartwarming and had my husband and I both choked up. We have so enjoyed following along this year. We're in Durham Region and visit many of the wonderful hotspots you filmed. We are so lucky to live near Lake Ontario and within a few hours drive of so many diverse birding hotspots. The thrill of the chase, the disappointment at the dipping and the friendly competition with the numbers are all part of it, but there's so much more too it and you expressed that so well. Our goal this year is more "slow" birding where take time to expand our knowledge on the birds and watch their behaviour. Your videos have been a great resource with your fun storytelling and Sarah's excellent facts. Wishing you all the best for 2025 and hope to run into you on the trails one day. Cheers!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment. Yep, loving it in Southern Ontario. A great place for birding through most of the year. Hard to know how to spend May in particular. So much happening all at once 😁
Well Done on getting to 298! Journey just as important the destination and looks like you guys had a blast in 2024. Videos very professionally done, I wouldn’t have guessed you haven’t been vlogging in this way for very long. Happy birding in 2025!
Well done!! And you've provided an excellent database of birding sites across eastern North America in the process. Out of curiosity, what is your total if you include the one where only one of you saw it or you didn't manage to catch it on video, i.e. if you don't stick to your strict imposed self-limits?
Thank you Norman. Making an actual list online of some of the places we visited is maybe not a bad idea, actually. In my spare time lol 😁 I don't think there are any species that one of us saw that the other person did not see during this challenge. Our life lists are also fairly similar. I saw a Cerulean Warbler a few years ago that Sara is yet to see. And we were in California in 2023. Sara saw a Yellow-headed Blackbird and I was too busy filming something else and it flew away before I saw it. The species I list at the end are ones we saw but I didn't get on camera. Northern Bobwhite, Virginia Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Hooded Warbler, Crested Caracara. They were missed either because I was driving or they flushed. Birds seen would be 304 if we included these.
I've just watched this journey over the past week and it's been EPIC. Really well done on that total you were so close. Really enjoyed the series and how you got on. I'm a birder based in Cornwall, England U.k where I'm doing a 200 bird challenge in a 10km circle of my local area. W ether I will do it I'm not sure but I will give it a go. I've always been a patch birder but you've certainly driven me to get out even more and see what I can find. Good luck in 2025. Mark ..
Hey Mark, thanks for the comment. When I got the email to say you'd commented, your profile picture was a Brentford FC crest. Are you a fan? If so, I should also thank you for giving us Ollie Watkins 😂 Good luck with your bird target in a lovely part of The UK. Thanks for following along last year. We will be doing something similar this year, to be announced later this week. All the best, happy birding 👍
@@BritHikesOntario Yes I've just recently changed my icon. My dad is from Brentford hence why I'm a fan. And it was very hard to see Ollie Watkins go but hey these things happen. Look forward to following you in 2025 :) Happy Birding.
What a beautiful video! Thank you for the heartwarming message and for taking us on this journey with you. Congrats on 2️⃣9️⃣8️⃣ , Stu & Sara! 😊 p.s. - everyone else, go join their membership!
Thank you so much Tracy, we're very touched and appreciative of your generosity. We'd like to take the channel to new places and improve various technical aspects, so every little helps and goes towards that.
A truly fantastic journey, I for one feel privileged to have been part of.
Thanks Bruv, glad you enjoyed it. And Ali, too! 😊
What an amazing journey! Let’s be honest, reaching 298 is truly a remarkable achievement! Congrats!
Thank you! 😊
Gosh, you were so close, but you should be proud of yourselves! Only 2 shy of 300 - means you still got to count 298 different species, even though you both work jobs! And in the end really saw 304!! FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks for taking us along on your journey! See you soon!! Can't wait to see what you'll be up to!
Thank you! So glad that you've been watching since you found us a little while ago 😊
Back soon!
I've quite enjoyed following along on the journey. Excited to watch the final episode! And who knows maybe one day we will bump into each other now that I myself have moved to southern Ontario.
Fantastic, thank you so much for taking me on this adventure with you. I watched every single episode this year. The last 5 mins were particularly touching. Happy birding in 2025
Thank you! Happy 2025 Birding 😁
Greetings from a snowy UK. Thank you for a wonderful set of videos over the year and for introducing me to a whole range of new species. As I have said in a previous post, you have inspired me to come to Canada to see them for myself. Your enthusiasm for birds shines from your videos and I love the way that you describe their habitats and include the plants and other wildlife too. I look forward to what comes next!
Thanks David. I'm looking forward to trying to include more wildlife. Certainly not the best time of year for that right now, although there's a little more chance of catching some mammals that are forced to scavenge around more bravely for food. We had a really cool sighting of a porcupine up close recently... future video spoiler!
I'm looking forward to visiting The UK again at some point soon and birding with a little more Euro-bird knowledge. Not sure when... but Bearded Tit/Reedling is high on my bucket list!
Superb footage all year guys. Brilliant sentiments in the final video, good luck for the future.
Thanks so much 😊
Well done on 298 species! What a year, I’m sure enough memories for a lifetime in on year. Your motivation has been truly inspiring, to just keep trying. Thank you Stu and Sarah.
Thanks Chris, appreciate you watching through the year 😊
Your angst was palpable! Valiant effort; congratulations ❤
Lol thank you 😊
So close, but I'm glad you got the American pipits on camera.
Thanks Nathan! Finally got them! 😂
I got a bit emotional at the end. What an incredible message.
And thank you both for all the time and hard-earned money that went into making all of these incredible videos for us to enjoy! The effort doesn't go unnoticed!
Thank you for watching, Shayna, and all of your support. Happy birding to you in 2025. But seriously. Stop hoarding all those boreal birds.
Thank you for bringing us along! It was great fun watching your adventures! I would say you won even if you didn't hit 300.
Thanks! Glad you could join us. Would have been nice to get to the big 300, but we're pretty happy.
Loved watching your journey!
When we were planning a Florida birding trip your videos were a huge resource in finding places to visit.
Thank you. Glad they helped!
I have really enjoyed watching you guys try to get 300 birds. I can't wait to see what you guys do next.
Thanks for watching along! We will be back very soon 😊
You folks did great. Thanx much
Thank you!
I totally agree that the challenge was about way more than the 300. I too love to hike and bird, the community and joy from these activities is just incredible. Thank you both for the effort you’ve put into this challenge and sharing it so beautifully, it’s been a fantastic and inspiring series.
Thank you so much, we're grateful and maybe little bit pleasantly overwhelmed by all the support.
Loved watching your bird challenge. I know how frustrating it is to find a specific bird. But I absolutely love every second I am out looking for and photographing birds. We live in Minnesota and there aren’t too many birds around right now which made your videos extra special this time of year - thank you!
Thank you! Yeah, it's feast and famine for birds, sometimes. Around here, you have to really like ducks in the winter!
You certainly gave it a gallant effort. Your adventures were inspiring and I look forward to even more.
Thank you 😊
More coming quite soon!
Loved it all, never thought of it as a step too far just a great adventure and road trip. Thank you guys so much as a birder that lived very briefly in Toronto you are living out and filming my dreams not just yours.
Thanks, glad you liked it and pleased we were able to bring you a little piece of "Tronna"!
@@BritHikesOntario Should have said I'm a Brit too. At least we have snow like you but not quite -20.... brrrrr that's cold
Enjoy your adventure, thanks for sharing!
Thanks!
I’m going to say you got there -304 species! I have adored all the videos and I can’t wait for the plans for 2025 ! Thank you for sharing your adventures! Kathy n Kim in s e Florida
Thank guys, we appreciate it. And we had a really amazing time in your state! Thanks for watching 😊
Congratulations on an amazing journey. 298 birds is quite a feat! I thoroughly enjoyed watching your birding adventures: your filming, editing and storytelling skills are topnotch. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you, much appreciated. More to come! 😁
I've only been seriously birding for six years and like you I travel a lot, which just adds spice to the main dish: birding. I learned after about 2 years, the numbers get in the way of my enjoyment. Sure, I'm always looking for lifers and I have a 2 month, 6,000 mile journey planned across the US starting in March. But it's not about the numbers for me. I'll count my lifers but what I relish is watching the birds feed, take care of their young, defend their territory, and just be birds. They're all different in behavior and niches occupied. It's fascinating. I loved the journey you took and appreciate the time you took to take videos and edit them into very good YT videos. I'm sorry you didn't make your goal but in reality, two more birds wouldn't have change your journey in any appreciable way. You made new friends, saw new places, and had some amazing adventures. Your accomplishment was amazing and you should be proud of every minute of it. Thanks for sharing and I would be delighted to run into you both birding...any interest in Presque Isle State Park in Pennsylvania May 12-19, 2025? There's a lot of warblers and other migrants.
Thanks for the thoughtful comment and for watching along. What you write about was very much on our minds. Sometimes the pressure of the challenge can mean missing some of the "smaller" stuff. I don't want to say much more because we haven't revealed plans yet... but believe me, I'd like to fit in some "slower birding" at some point.
We are currently formulating plans for where to visit this year. I'd really love to take in the spring migration to the south of us, such as Cape May, Magee Marsh or, as you mention, Presque Isle. I think we are probably engaged in something late April-mid-May this year, though. But we will definitely bear in mind all of these amazing birding destinations.
A huge well done to you both for getting 298 species. That's still a great achievement, and you should be proud of yourselves. I've enjoyed watching your birding adventures and look forward to watching future birding adventures 🙂
Thanks so much, so nice to have people following along. We'll defo be back soon.
Excellent video! Even though you didn't get the 300 on camera, the fact is you saw 304!! Can't wait for 2025.
Thank you for watching! I think we're also looking forward to getting out a bit more now we're into 2025. Stupid jobs getting in the way!
Well done! Thanks
Thanks! 😊
How bittersweet! I am so glad i found you earlier this year. I enjoyed catching up on all your older videos and then further enjoyed the anticipation of the next video to be posted. Can't wait to continue the connection.
Thank you! We will definitely have more soon 😊
I've thoroughly enjoyed every video this year, can't wait to see what's next :) Congratulations on reaching 298 birds (or 304, if you will), that's a huge achievement!
Thank you. Appreciate it and appreciate you watching 😊
Congratulation Stu & Sarah for a wonderful years adventure, it was a real rollercoaster ride!! You both gave it your all and that needs to be celebrated🎉. Thank you for allowing me to bird vicariously thru you both and I really look forward to seeing what comes next. Until then….rest and regroup🙃
Thanks. We're both itching to get out birding, so there will be more to come 😊
Like other people have said, I got (just a bit) emotional by the end of the video. It's the end of that wonderful adventure that you shared with us. Congratulations! You inspired me to start my own challenge in Quebec but I don't think I will set a goal and since I'm zero at camera, I won't make a youtube series :) :) I never expected you would see a pipit in the end of December... maybe the climate around the Great Lakes is different from what we have around Montreal.
Thanks so much for following along, we both appreciate it 😊
Pipits are more common in sep-nov here, when they migrate through. But there's usually a few stragglers like the ones we found! Most of the times we've seen them, it's been on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Wow. I'm so impressed. I know you came so close to meeting the goal but as you said, the numbers aren't what matters. I enjoyed meeting you two briefly in earlyish 2024 on one of your stops in Algonquin at the Opeongo Road parking lot, where you and a friend of yours shared some wonderful cheese with me during a break in your filming. Although you both seemed super nice and I took your business card to give the channel a look, I wasn't really prepared for what I saw when I started watching your videos. Right off the bat, I was so impressed with the editing and organization of the video. No, it's not Nat Geo but you clearly have a passion and some skill. What really blew me away was Stu's storytelling as I've mentioned in a previous comment. He is a natural and is so engaging. Combined with Sarah's extensive ecology/biology skills, it's easy to see why your channel has increased in popularity. I hope others have followed your journey for the same reasons I have. The numbers are a fun target but I tune in for the adventure and for how it's told. Regardless of what the theme or goal of the channel is in 2025, I am eager to hear the tales and see what you see. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your journey. The last few years haven't been easy for me and your 2024 tales have provided a small escape for me to a happier, easier place where I can listen to Stu's storytelling and immerse myself in where you've traveled to. Thanks again, and have a great 2025.
Thank you Mark, I don't really know what to say besides... congratulations on bringing a tear to my eye. We appreciate the heartfelt comments.
I'm sorry to hear of your hardships. I would like, if possible, that 2025 is a lot kinder to you. We intend to carry on doing what we have been doing. That it seems to be an inspiration to some people motivates us to continue.
I'm glad you gave the channel a chance. I wouldn't blame anyone for having apprehension when some random guy in a forested parking lot starts to bring up TH-cam channels haha...
All the best to you.
I have not seen every video of this series but I do enjoy the ones I have watched. Those Goldfinches shown at the beginning are showing soft feathers because they have just fledged. They still have their natal feathers as the nests are constructed in August and eggs are present from mid August to the beginning of September. The young ones that have just fledged I can watch begging for food from their parents at my tray feeder in the winter months. Sometimes the parents will accommodate them and give them a seed. Once late winter arrives they start to get their adult feathers and they lose those downy head feathers. Good count!.
Thanks for the interesting Goldfinch info and for watching along 😊
So close guys. You didn’t get it but, I enjoyed tuning in whenever you guys posted a new video and we can all say you had all of us along on this challenge enjoying every minute of it.
Thank you so much for the nice comment 😊
Good Morning 🌅 to you two from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. Hoping that you’ll complete your 2024 bird count and can’t wait till you start a NEW YEAR 2025 with new bird count series. Good luck to you and Happy Birding. 🦆🐦⬛🪿🐓🦚🦩🦢🦜
Thank you Mark! More birding to come 😊
Fantastic, exciting right up to the last minute, better than a crime thriller or any series on Netflix. I'm looking forward to 2025. Thank you.
Oh wow, thanks. Very high praise but appreciated by us both 😊
Thank you, Stu & Sarah, really enjoyed your video. And congratulations on the amazing journey in 2024.
Thank you. And thanks for watching 😊
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Congratulations on 298 species. My daughter and I enjoyed watching every episode together!
We were thrilled with your valiant effort at the end to try to make 300! And we were physically clapping when you almost gave up and then saw the American Pipit on the beach!
My daughter is 11 and an advid birder. She saw 77 species this year. Thanks for the inspiration.
We look forward to continuing to watch your birding adventures.
Thanks so much. We've had a few interactions and messages from parents who tell us their sons/daughters enjoy what we do and that it inspires their love for birds or the outdoors in general. We both find that very touching, so thank you for sharing.
We'll have more to come, for sure.
Say hi to your daughter from us 👋
Thanks Stu & Sarah - really enjoyed following you along and I really appreciate everything you have done to make these awesome vids.
Thanks so much 😊
Fantastic! I loved every second of your journey! Do it again, Do it again!❤🦆🐦⬛🪿🦉🌲🪶
Haha thanks
Will defo have something I think you'll like 😊
Thank you so much for these videos! Sorry that you didn’t make it- we were cheering you on! Learned a lot from you this year!
Haha thanks for the support and for following along 😊
Oh God! What an amazing couple and effort in birding. The ending was spectacular; I watched through tears welling up in my eyes. So much heart. The two of you really knocked it out the park. Beautiful!
Thanks so much 🥲😊
I have really enjoyed following along and learning more about birds - thanks for such enjoyable videos. I appreciate all the time and energy you put in. I love your positivity, your appreciation of nature, and the consideration for others that was evident as you travelled around pursuing this challenge. Your message at the end was very touching and shows much about your character as people. Thank you
Thank you for the lovely comment, we're very touched by your words and those of others 😊
I don’t know what to say. What a year it has been. Thank you for the company you have kept from afar through your videos and updates. It’s been a true pleasure to have followed your journey so far and I wish you both all of the very best for 2025 whatever you decide to do. What a beautiful message at the end. Congratulations on all you have achieved xx
Thank you so much, Kate. Really appreciate the moral support and encouragement you give.
Well done!
Thanks 😊
Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful video, tears stared coming down but at the same time they were tears of sadness and joy at the same time because you make me feel like I was walking with you guys on every adventure and I am so happy that you shared so many beautiful pictures and videos, you and your wife are awesome and I look forward to seeing more birds in 2025 🤗❤️🙏🐦
Thank you Miguel, we've really appreciated your supportive comments throughout the year. We'll be back with more soon!
Nail biting video. Thank you so much for taking us along for the journey. As an amateur 5 have learned a lot and got to see a side of Toronto and the surronding areas that I could have never imagined while sitting in Toronto traffic.
Thanks for watching. Yep, we're lucky to have a city with some natural gems around us. Very much enjoy the free time I get to spend in our province.
@@BritHikesOntario also funny coincident, I will be moving to the UK Birmingham later this year and the bird population is as rich there as it is here.
Congrats on an amazing journey and thanks for taking us all along for the ride. Looking forward to seeing where you travel in 2025. It has been a pleasure to watch your stories and see new birds.
Thank you!
We are formulating early plans for where our birding will take us this year 😊
Congratulations is still well deserved. You both had an amazing year and added to that your sharing the journey was equally impressive. So thank you for taking us on the journey this year.
...not rubbing salt in a wound but the Pog Lake campground and Kearney across the road would have been worth a walk around for the Black Backed since both locations have the Pine trees that are not very healthy and the BB Woodpecker likes these trees. And Mew lake may have been a good spot for the Pine Finch.
Thanks for the tips. I've never tried Pog Lake, to be honest. But we do quite like the "old airfield" location near Mew Lake and we saw the Black-backed there last year. Just not enough time on this occasion.
@BritHikesOntario yes it looked like a whirlwind time for both of you. Again it was amazing watching the adventure. Hats off to you both.
I've loved to watch you try to hit you goal this year and you've inspired me to set my own and get out and bird as often as possible. Thanks for taking us along for your journey! ❤
Thank you for joining us and happy birding to you! 😊
You guys are such an inspiration! I loved every minute of your 300 Bird Challange. You got some great lifers and should be so proud of yourselves.
We've loved it, too. It was a great motivation to see a lot of cool birds and wildlife 😊
Beautiful summary!❤🥹❤️
Thank you lol 🥲
Most sincere congratulations to both of you! I will pass on some life advice that was given to me - I am a marathoner. I was trying to complete a marathon in a specific time. I did all of the training, was totally ready, but on the day of the race, I just didn’t have it and missed the goal by only a few minutes. I was devastated. Someone told me that I am crazy to not feel elated. Missing the ultimate completion of the goal doesn’t negate everything that you did to get to that point. It means a lot to me now looking back on it. It makes me think of you after watching this video.
Thank you for watching and the kind advice. Emotional rollercoaster, especislly the last few days lol. But we're good and are ready for more 😊
You wait all year to get 1 pipit on camera, and then 2 come along at once! 😂
Aww, I was rooting for you guys right till the end. What an incredible year you had - so many wonderful memories. Fantastic last video, and as far as I’m concerned you completed that challenge with bells on 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
What an amazing variety of wildlife you’ve been blessed to see. Happy New Year to you both, all the best for whatever’s next. You’ve inspired me to go back through my photos and footage from 2024. I wasn’t doing a challenge (just out photographing nature), but so far I’ve found about 114 recorded bird species, just from my random trips in southern Alberta (and my backyard). I wonder how many I’d see if I was actually trying…
Thanks so much for sharing your rollercoaster adventures with us. All the best, Dee 😊
Thanks so much for your nice comments throughout the year, it has been appreciated.
I hope you have fun reviewing your pictures. I've been photographing for a few years, but I only started listing more recently. I found it time consuming, but fun, to go through photos and add them to websites like eBird and iNat.
So close! But as you said at the end the whole year was more than just a number. Your videos have been great and I look forward to watching them every week. Well done!
Thanks 😊
We'll try to keep them coming 😁
Bravo... what a lot of fun to watch l thoroughly enjoyed all of your videos
Thank you!
Haha your friends with birds landing on their head at 20:54 and 21:00 before your close up shots too. They were hilarious!
Thanks for bringing us along on this incredible journey. I loved the message at the end! I always love your videos regardless on whether or not you hit your challenge. I hope you found it equally as enjoyable to create and I look forward to more videos in 2025.
Thanks Hawkin. I sometimes think those guys, particularly Jason, luke a little bit of video sabotage 😉
Thank you thank you!! Enjoyed all of it! Has also inspired me to bird more often and keep a list. I too cant wait for your next adventure!
Thank you Peggy, glad we were able to give you some inspiration. Thanks for following along 😊
Enjoyed your vids very much, congrats on the 297! Thats still a BIG YEAR!!
Thank you! 😊
Really enjoyed following along on your adventures. The videography and the story telling were great. I was cheering for you to get your 300, but not the least disappointed by the outcome. After all, it's always the journey, not the destination. I did go to your web site and read through the list of birds you'd seen. I didn't count the birds on the page to see if it was 298, but I did notice that your list is missing the ruffed grouse. Could it be you got 299????
Thanks for catching that, I missed adding a handful of more recent sightings. Ruffed Grouse was seen when we were at Sax-zim Bog.
List is now updated with Ruffed Grouse and the birds from this most recent video.
298 remains the correct count, but I appreciate your optimism lol 😁
Loved the series and learned so much about birding!!
That's great to hear, thank you!
Thank you so much for sharing this journey. Thanks for making me cry while at work too. This series was so well told and your narration was always riveting. Your final thoughts for the year was incredibly moving. Good luck on your future plans..I look forward to them.
Thank you so much, appreciate it. Sorry about the tears lol. Tell them you've got a cold and need to leave early 😉
Wow what an amazing accomplishment. 298 official on camera, but over 300 spotted. That's remarkable!!! For 2025, please think of Lake Wilcox in Richmond Hill. You can get an easy dozen I would think. Let me know ...
Thanks for joining us.
I've made a note about Lake Wilcox and we'll try to get up there at some point 😊
Great video , so close 😮 but the memories and fun are priceless
Definitely! Thanks for following along 😊
What a great series of videos, I have enjoyed watching them all and am gutted for you that you did not reach the target. What an incredible couple you are, please keep up the good work of inspiring people to love birds and birding. I cannot wait to see what your next adventure will be.
I'm defintely grateful that we both share the same passion for birding 😊
Thanks for the lovely comment. More coming soon 😊
Congrats on a great year and thanks for inspiring novice birders like myself.
Thanks for the comment. We're on our own learning journey (I make a fair few mistakes!) and all levels of birder are welcome here! There's some pretty seasoned birders that have commented here, plenty of people that are new, and everything inbetween 😊
Sorry you didn't make it. It's tough to do when you are working and can't just drop everything. Thanks for bringing us along.
Thanks Dave, it was nice to bump into you a couple of times this year.
Pesky jobs! Looking forward to some brighter evenings soon, to escape after work.
A great final video to end 2024 with. Really enjoyed watching your year unfold, thankyou! Congrats on your final listing of 304 species, seeing is believing & an image often not possible! Best wishes to you & Sarah and look forward to 2025. 😊
Thanks very much 😊
Also looking forward to another year of birding, wildlife and maybe a bit of camping.
Thoroughly enjoyed this series which I followed from the beginning. Thank you.
Thank you! 😊
Great wrap up video!! Great last couple birds for the list too! Too bad you didn't hit 300, but you're right that that's not even what this is about. All the best in the new year!
Thank you! Happy New Year to you, too.
So close! Congrats on ending with the solitaire, a great bird in the east! Lots of travel, adventures and great birds. A successful year regardless of the number! (Plus you actually saw over 300) I enjoyed following your journey!
Thanks for following along. As much as we didn't stick around long for the Solitaire, it was still nice to see one for the first time in a couple of years 😊
Well done. Good production. I am using your Florida videos in my planning for a Florida trip in April 2025. Thanks for letting us tag along and become inspired ourselves.
Excellent! Thanks for watching 😊
Thanks for the journey, I’ve enjoyed every episode, best wishes from the UK….. my target was 270, I got to 269 😂
Ouch! Haha. Super close. What do you think was your biggest miss out of the ones you got close to? I think for me, it has to be Crested Caracara. Although we saw it and didn't get it on camera, it's such an iconic bird I would love to have counted it according to the rules we set.
@BritHikesOntario I dipped a Marsh sandpiper on the south coast, over 6hrs of driving round trip in 1 day, the bird had been there for 1 week and disappeared the day I went for it, c'est la vie
Hi Stu and Sarah, Congratulations on all your efforts in this birding challenge. I thoroughly enjoyed your story telling and sense of adventure. I gained some new ideas for birding trips. Thanks again for your excellent work.
Thanks for following along, Mike. Glad you enjoyed it and found some new places. Hope they work out for you. Happy birding! 😊
Incredible video you two! Loved the end finale! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us this year! Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Jordan. Seems like a well received ending for sure!
Thanks for sharing your adventures this year!
A pleasure, thanks for watching along 😊
I have recently joined your adventures and absolutely loved it! Thank you so much for taking us along! Can wait to see what’s next 😊 Happy birding guys 🦅
Welcome to the channel, Helen, and thanks for watching. We'll have something coming this year, for sure 😊
Congratulations on the new Lifers... Well done. Man I love Dark Eyed Junco's, only ever saw one and that was in the New Forest. Cracking looking Sparrow, quite a big boy too! Nearly Pipited at the post :) Just have to say, Canada Jay's are gorgeous birds so thank you for bringing them to my knowledge. It was this channel that first introduced them to me. Thank you. Looking forward to next years adventures...
Thanks for following along with us Marcus and all your supportive comments, it really is appreciated. Which DE Junco did you see? The Eastern slate one like we get here? I personally really like the Oregon one, but that would be an even more seriously lost one in The UK.
I like Canada Jays, too. They're inquisitive and gregarious with humans. But the always seem to appear out of nowhere in silence. When I was very new to birding and photography, I was really keen to get a good picture of a Canada Jay lol.
@@BritHikesOntario You're welcome. It was the Dark Eyed and not the Slate so East coast rather than West I think :)
It was a great journey to follow! Looking forward to next year!
Thanks! Happy birdtubing lol
Great finish well done!
298 birds is amazing so is all effort you guys put into this.
I have been watching and rooting for you guys all year.
I seen my hand (glove and coat) and the Chickadee 😊 was this a test to see if I was paying attention?
I enjoyed that day in Algonquin.
Haha thanks Rick
Yeah, a test. I wasn't sure if you were still watching 😉
That was one of my better experiences in Algonquin, we got to see a lot of stuff over that weekend. No moose, but I forgive you 😉
Ahh, what a heartbreaker -- defeated by the weather with the finish line so close. Still, you gave it a great try, and it was a heck of a trip along the way. I wonder if you might have done better to stay north earlier in the year and then flown south south in December, where there's more birds and less ice fog. In any case. congrats.
Yes. I think this is probably the biggest lesson from the year. Your suggestion about North first, South later is true. But more generally, we also did a little bit too much last minute scrambling around going to places that are awesome.... but could be even better at a more appropriate time. Cape May, for example. Which also wasn't helped by hurricane weather the week before.
We will take these lessons into 2025.
@@BritHikesOntario Also, watching you trudge around in those sub-Arctic temperatures was making me shiver ... ;)
I watched all of your videos, I really enjoyed the videos and the narration was professional level. Are you going to do the challenge this year?
Thank you!
I'll have to ask you to just hold on for a few more days and we will be releasing an outline of what we're doing this year. Bear with us a little but longer, but I think you'll like what we're doing.
Just amazing !! Boy what a journey to reach 298. The American pipit did not really disappoint you guys!! 😊
Thank you 😊
Still a great accomplishment…congrats!!!
Thank you!
enjoyed the challenge thank you it was a great year take care see next year 😊💕🦆✌
Thank you for following along 😁
Back soon!
Such an awesome video! The end was so touching. Can't wait to see your plans for this year. I'm missing all the rare one's here. The Scissor tail fly catcher, Artic tern, Wilson snipe,Red headed loon to name a few. Just can't afford and the time to travel. I'm planning to go North to the UP. Trying to get those winter bird's. Take care!
Thanks so much for your supportive comments through the year. We both enjoyed hearing from you. We will defintely announce our plans soon, but we came to them quite late while we discussed what to do.
Good luck in the UP!
Fantastic ending ❤
Thanks!
Solid try. It has been awesome following your journey. Glad you finally knocked off the pipit before ending the year. I'm trying my own 300 bird challenge this year but luckily I don't have to film every species. I currently don't have any major trips planned but who knows what I can make happen.
Thanks Cliff, appreciate it. Best of luck with your challenge, I'll try to remember to ask how it's going. Do us a favour and send a Stilt to Toronto, will ya.
Great video’s. I enjoyed it. Greetings from The Netherlands
Greetings! Thanks for tuning in from your country! 🇳🇱
Looking forward to this one... will comment again after
Well done, proud you are, as you should be, great effort and videos I enjoyed watching/following thankyou..
Thanks for following 😊
Wow, my first viewing of your channel is the last day of your 2024 challenge. I'm wanting to get into photographing birds. Your video here really put me in the mood. This is a great video! Top quality. Thanks for all your work over the year.
Hey, welcome to the channel. Glad to have you here and hope you'll stick around for 2025. We'll have more to come starting this week.
Thanks for watching! 😊
Thank you for all the videos!!!! God Bless
Thank you! 😊
Well done you two! This last episode was so emotional and heartwarming and had my husband and I both choked up. We have so enjoyed following along this year. We're in Durham Region and visit many of the wonderful hotspots you filmed. We are so lucky to live near Lake Ontario and within a few hours drive of so many diverse birding hotspots. The thrill of the chase, the disappointment at the dipping and the friendly competition with the numbers are all part of it, but there's so much more too it and you expressed that so well. Our goal this year is more "slow" birding where take time to expand our knowledge on the birds and watch their behaviour. Your videos have been a great resource with your fun storytelling and Sarah's excellent facts. Wishing you all the best for 2025 and hope to run into you on the trails one day. Cheers!
Thank you so much for the lovely comment.
Yep, loving it in Southern Ontario. A great place for birding through most of the year. Hard to know how to spend May in particular. So much happening all at once 😁
Your videos are very entertaining and I look forward to watching those of 2025.
Thanks so much. More soon 😀
Well Done on getting to 298! Journey just as important the destination and looks like you guys had a blast in 2024. Videos very professionally done, I wouldn’t have guessed you haven’t been vlogging in this way for very long. Happy birding in 2025!
Thank you! 😊
Funny I got a Harris's sparrow on the 3rd of Jan. here in Chatham-Kent. Lifer for me too!
Ah cool, I saw the alert for that. Congrats on your lifer.
Well done!! And you've provided an excellent database of birding sites across eastern North America in the process. Out of curiosity, what is your total if you include the one where only one of you saw it or you didn't manage to catch it on video, i.e. if you don't stick to your strict imposed self-limits?
Thank you Norman. Making an actual list online of some of the places we visited is maybe not a bad idea, actually. In my spare time lol 😁
I don't think there are any species that one of us saw that the other person did not see during this challenge.
Our life lists are also fairly similar. I saw a Cerulean Warbler a few years ago that Sara is yet to see. And we were in California in 2023. Sara saw a Yellow-headed Blackbird and I was too busy filming something else and it flew away before I saw it.
The species I list at the end are ones we saw but I didn't get on camera. Northern Bobwhite, Virginia Rail, Wilson's Snipe, Hooded Warbler, Crested Caracara. They were missed either because I was driving or they flushed.
Birds seen would be 304 if we included these.
@@BritHikesOntario Ah yes, I see that list at the end now. Well, as far as I'm concerned, you met your challenge!
Congrats on 298! Pretty suspenseful photo finish. Looking forward to following along in 2025.
Haha yeah, sure was. Thanks for watching. Should have some new plans revealed next week.
I've just watched this journey over the past week and it's been EPIC. Really well done on that total you were so close. Really enjoyed the series and how you got on. I'm a birder based in Cornwall, England U.k where I'm doing a 200 bird challenge in a 10km circle of my local area. W ether I will do it I'm not sure but I will give it a go. I've always been a patch birder but you've certainly driven me to get out even more and see what I can find. Good luck in 2025. Mark ..
Hey Mark, thanks for the comment. When I got the email to say you'd commented, your profile picture was a Brentford FC crest. Are you a fan? If so, I should also thank you for giving us Ollie Watkins 😂
Good luck with your bird target in a lovely part of The UK.
Thanks for following along last year. We will be doing something similar this year, to be announced later this week.
All the best, happy birding 👍
@@BritHikesOntario Yes I've just recently changed my icon. My dad is from Brentford hence why I'm a fan. And it was very hard to see Ollie Watkins go but hey these things happen. Look forward to following you in 2025 :) Happy Birding.
Amazing journey for 298 birds. Can't wait to see your plans for 2025
Thanks Ilene. Plans to be revealed in the next week or so.