I love how determined you both are, Sarah you are stoic! I love your gentle smile! What fun, you have no idea how much I am enjoying your adventures! You Work? Why? lol Oh, to buy gas and find place to put your head down. Nice Snowy Owl.
Congrats on the new birds on the way back! I has so enjoyed following the birding adventures over the year, can't wait to follow along with next year's birding adventures
Greetings from Melbourne in Australia. Congratulations on an amazing 2024! You've both done a terrific job locating so many birds, regardless of the final number you reach. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching every episode and always look forward to receiving an alert that you've posted a new one. All the best for 2025!
Snowy owl is an awesome find, the sheer graft bts can’t be understated, it’s pretty inspiring and relatable. Only just started watching your channel and I have loved it so much, great learning curve too. Keep ‘em coming and happy new year 🎉
Thank you and welcome to the channel. We are on a journey as birders and looking to learn along the way, so it's always nice to know people are learning with us.
Happy for your finds, sorry for your misses. Btw, the bird at 4:36 appears to be a subadult Cooper's Hawk -- short wings, pale nape, and white spots on the back are a good combo of clues.
Birding is a funny thing- you often don't get what you are after (boreal birds, I'm talking to you!!) but somehow the universe presents a little something else to keep you coming back🤣. I'm rooting for you getting those last six but regardless, it was an awesome year of birding for you! Cheers.
Yep, you're so right. A few times through the year, we would target one thing, but end up with something different. Sometimes something more exciting 😄
Good Morning 🌅 to both of you from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. All the best to you both for a peaceful, healthy, joyful and prosperous new birding year. Looking forward to more exciting birding journeys in Canada 🇨🇦 🍁.
Congratulations on getting to 294, the Snowy Owl is fantastic. I’m glad you found some more time to spend on the challenge, all the very best for the last push.
It's very possible that the deceased Canada Geese in Rochester succumbed to the avian flu rather than exposure to the elements. There had been quite a few reports of dead waterfowl in Minnesota (and surrounding states) in December. Congrats on your new birds!
That's also possible. We have, tragically, lost two Snowy Owls in Toronto in the last couple of weeks. I reckon the likely cause is accidental poisoning. But I don't think avian flu can be fully ruled out in this case, either. Thanks for watching!
Hopefully one day you can. Enjoy the moment if you do! I didn't realise it at the time, but the first time I saw a Snowy Owl will probably remain my best ever view of one. Perhaps 40 yards away as it perched on a fence post.
Congrats for 294 and the lifer. I really hope you get those 6 in the last video. Since I am watching this now it 2025 I wish you both and everyone here a very happy New Year.
I just found your channel 3 videos ago. Ironic that you came through my neighborhood of Rochester, Minnesota during this video. Looking forward to the next one and hoping you can get to your goal. If you don't, it was not due to lack of trying.
Hey, thanks and welcome to the channel. We loved our time in Minnesota, everyone we met was very friendly towards us. Final video should be out next week 😊
Congrats on the loon, the snowy, and that beautiful snow goose. Have to admit I laughed out loud when you said you’d gone looking for the pipit (sorry)! Such a shame you got so unlucky with the weather, I hope your last few days of the year brought some new birds your way.
Congrats on some good finds on the way home! I enjoyed watching this three-parter. I've loved going on road trips since becoming a birder because you get to look for stuff on the way to and from your destination. And the Great Gray Owl was so good to see in the last video! What a cool one! You're awfully close to meeting your goal, but your year is such a success regardless!! Looking forward to the next video and whatever 2025 holds for this channel!
Thank you Hayden, we love a good road trip where we scan eBird and a few other sources to see what is nearby while jumping between new or favourite birding locations. Every vacation is pretty much built around birds, these days!
Y’all were so close to me! Markham, IL is 2 towns over and I’m very close to the South Side! Wish I would’ve known. A meet up would’ve been so fun! You been to a ton of places I have! I’ve even been to your stops in Gary and Michigan City. Also there have been reports of dead geese in IL, Will County. At least 30 found by my birding friend. Your dead geese may have been a part of that avian flu. 🥺
Yeah, it could well have been bird flu rather than exposure. Ive heard stories of geese getting frozen to the ice and not being able to take cover (or eat). We've had outbreaks of bird flu in the Toronto Area, too, but mostly early last year. Thanks for the Snow Goose, Markham! 😁 Happy birding 😊
Happy New Year guys!!! Congrats on the red-throated loon, the snow goose and the snowy! Nothing like seeing a snowy - they are so stunning. Can’t wait to see the video of the final 5 days.
Yay for 294! You guys definitely get an A+ for effort! I haven’t seen any Snowies yet this winter, but I’m been driving on days off, tho it’s -28°C today so there’s that.
Thanks for your support, Tracy, both as a channel member and in general. We really appreciate it. We've been fortunate to see a couple of Snowies now. So far, they seem to be a little more abundant, so we will keep our fingers crossed for you.
Happy New Year! It was nice to see you picking up some new birds on the way home. I really want to check out the bog some day but it would be a long way to go for not much if I had as rough a time as you did. 😬
We went through a phase where we were questioning whether we really wanted to use up a week of vacation by spending it in freezing conditions. Especially since we'd then be coming back to a similar couple of months of it in Toronto, too. But we decided.... if we don't go now, we may never go. So we stuck to it. I'd recommend going - but I would recommend doing it closer to February. The owls are raising young and hunting more frequently. The temperatures will be consistently lower that it might drive down some of those boreal perching birds, and the Grouse might also be out by then. Of course, for us, we had to do it before Dec 31st and we weren't organised enough to do it at the beginning of 2024! One of many lessons learned this year.
Great video as always. I am a big fan of the channel and the simple premise of the challenge! I look forward to bonus birding. I do hope you plan to do something similar now that 2025 has arrived!
How many species did you get this year, not including the challenge requirements? You should be pretty happy with your list? You have gotten some great birds and have been to really interesting places. I appreciate your travels to plan for my future travels. If only you were a week or two later, the White Wagtail was found in Sturgeon Bay, WI. But really enjoy your videos. Happy New Year!
We would already be over 300 without a couple of the requirements. Because this went down to the wire, I'm still having to edit stuff together. So there's one more video next week and I'll break things down a bit in that final video! Thanks for following us along 😊
I love how determined you both are, Sarah you are stoic! I love your gentle smile! What fun, you have no idea how much I am enjoying your adventures! You Work? Why? lol Oh, to buy gas and find place to put your head down. Nice Snowy Owl.
Ugh, work is the main thing from stopping us making more of these lol
Thank you for watching. We truly appreciate everyone's interest and support 😊
Keep looking up! You never know what will come your way!!! You're so close!!!
Haha thanks. Next (last) video soon!
Congrats on the new birds on the way back! I has so enjoyed following the birding adventures over the year, can't wait to follow along with next year's birding adventures
Thanks for joining us, Shayna 😊
So glad you got your Snowy Owl 🙌 looking forward to seeing your final video for your challenge ❤
Thanks Kate. My face is currently buried DEEP into the footage 😂
Greetings from Melbourne in Australia. Congratulations on an amazing 2024! You've both done a terrific job locating so many birds, regardless of the final number you reach. I've thoroughly enjoyed watching every episode and always look forward to receiving an alert that you've posted a new one. All the best for 2025!
Greetings. Thank you for the kind comment, we both appreciate it.
More to come in 2025, for sure. Working on getting stuff out soon.
Snowy owl is an awesome find, the sheer graft bts can’t be understated, it’s pretty inspiring and relatable. Only just started watching your channel and I have loved it so much, great learning curve too. Keep ‘em coming and happy new year 🎉
Thank you and welcome to the channel. We are on a journey as birders and looking to learn along the way, so it's always nice to know people are learning with us.
Happy for your finds, sorry for your misses. Btw, the bird at 4:36 appears to be a subadult Cooper's Hawk -- short wings, pale nape, and white spots on the back are a good combo of clues.
Ack, of course it is. Thanks for the tips. I think I need to work on my attention to detail 😁
I'll add a correction to the video description.
Good try, well done! Important distinction between bet and challenge ❤
Thanks MJ! It ain't over yet! One more episode 😁
Glad you got your Snowy Owl finally. Shades of the “Big Year” movie lol
Man, people keep saying that. I'm embarrassed to say that I've never watched that movie, but it's at the top of my list and I will get to it.
😊🦉👍✌
Thank you Ernie!
Birding is a funny thing- you often don't get what you are after (boreal birds, I'm talking to you!!) but somehow the universe presents a little something else to keep you coming back🤣. I'm rooting for you getting those last six but regardless, it was an awesome year of birding for you! Cheers.
Yep, you're so right. A few times through the year, we would target one thing, but end up with something different. Sometimes something more exciting 😄
That was a great trip.Thank you.
No worries, appreciate you following us along. Happy birding! 😊
Good Morning 🌅 to both of you from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. All the best to you both for a peaceful, healthy, joyful and prosperous new birding year. Looking forward to more exciting birding journeys in Canada 🇨🇦 🍁.
Thank you Mark, here's to a new year of birding 🐦 🐦⬛ 🦜 🦚
Good morning to you from Hong Kong 🇭🇰 SAR. Have a great 👍🏻 birding year. Happy birding 🦆🐦⬛🦅🦉🪿🐥🦚🦜🦢🦩
Thanks Stu & Sarah. I have enjoyed watching your 300 list videos, came across your channel researching Florida birding.
Thanks Christopher. A great birding trip, Florida. Hope you have/had a great time.
Congratulations on getting to 294, the Snowy Owl is fantastic. I’m glad you found some more time to spend on the challenge, all the very best for the last push.
Thanks very much. Will be getting that final part out as soon as I can. Thank you for following along 😊
It's very possible that the deceased Canada Geese in Rochester succumbed to the avian flu rather than exposure to the elements. There had been quite a few reports of dead waterfowl in Minnesota (and surrounding states) in December. Congrats on your new birds!
That's also possible. We have, tragically, lost two Snowy Owls in Toronto in the last couple of weeks. I reckon the likely cause is accidental poisoning. But I don't think avian flu can be fully ruled out in this case, either. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic! You two have done Amazingly! Can’t wait for your next video!
Thanks Kim, out next week!
The snowy owl is a magniificent bird. I would love to see one one day. Thank you.
Hopefully one day you can. Enjoy the moment if you do! I didn't realise it at the time, but the first time I saw a Snowy Owl will probably remain my best ever view of one. Perhaps 40 yards away as it perched on a fence post.
@@BritHikesOntario Thank you so much. As you will be aware, the Snowy Owl is extremely rare in the UK. LOL
Good for you on the snowy. I sent it from Manitoba.
I didn't realise that was an option. What took so long? 😁
Noooo ... more suspense to see if you both get to the elusive 300 :p :p. Looking forward to the next video !!!!
Haha, thanks. Don't worry, I'm beavering away at the editing. That's the problem when it goes right to the wire!
Congrats for 294 and the lifer. I really hope you get those 6 in the last video. Since I am watching this now it 2025 I wish you both and everyone here a very happy New Year.
Thank you Marcus, Happy New Year. I am beavering away at the next video to get it out as soon as I can!
There're a few Snowy in GTA, Ontario a few weeks ago, and a Harris's Sparrow was observed too.
Stay tuned 😉
I just found your channel 3 videos ago. Ironic that you came through my neighborhood of Rochester, Minnesota during this video. Looking forward to the next one and hoping you can get to your goal. If you don't, it was not due to lack of trying.
Hey, thanks and welcome to the channel. We loved our time in Minnesota, everyone we met was very friendly towards us. Final video should be out next week 😊
Congrats on the loon, the snowy, and that beautiful snow goose. Have to admit I laughed out loud when you said you’d gone looking for the pipit (sorry)! Such a shame you got so unlucky with the weather, I hope your last few days of the year brought some new birds your way.
Honestly, I talk about it a little bit more in the next (and final) video, but that Pipit has got to be my least favourite bird right now 😂
😂🤣😂
Congrats on some good finds on the way home! I enjoyed watching this three-parter. I've loved going on road trips since becoming a birder because you get to look for stuff on the way to and from your destination. And the Great Gray Owl was so good to see in the last video! What a cool one! You're awfully close to meeting your goal, but your year is such a success regardless!! Looking forward to the next video and whatever 2025 holds for this channel!
Thank you Hayden, we love a good road trip where we scan eBird and a few other sources to see what is nearby while jumping between new or favourite birding locations. Every vacation is pretty much built around birds, these days!
Y’all were so close to me! Markham, IL is 2 towns over and I’m very close to the South Side! Wish I would’ve known. A meet up would’ve been so fun! You been to a ton of places I have! I’ve even been to your stops in Gary and Michigan City.
Also there have been reports of dead geese in IL, Will County. At least 30 found by my birding friend. Your dead geese may have been a part of that avian flu. 🥺
Yeah, it could well have been bird flu rather than exposure. Ive heard stories of geese getting frozen to the ice and not being able to take cover (or eat). We've had outbreaks of bird flu in the Toronto Area, too, but mostly early last year.
Thanks for the Snow Goose, Markham! 😁
Happy birding 😊
Happy New Year! Congrats on your lifer red-throated loon.
Happy New Year Nathan, hope you had a good holiday season
Just recently discovered your channel and have been enjoying your chase to 300. Good luck in 2025!
Thanks so much. More chasing in 2025 😊
Happy New Year guys!!! Congrats on the red-throated loon, the snow goose and the snowy! Nothing like seeing a snowy - they are so stunning. Can’t wait to see the video of the final 5 days.
Thank you Denise, Happy New Year! Hopefully more Snowies to come as we head into Jan-Feb :)
Yay for 294! You guys definitely get an A+ for effort! I haven’t seen any Snowies yet this winter, but I’m been driving on days off, tho it’s -28°C today so there’s that.
Thanks for your support, Tracy, both as a channel member and in general. We really appreciate it. We've been fortunate to see a couple of Snowies now. So far, they seem to be a little more abundant, so we will keep our fingers crossed for you.
First! Happy New Year Stu & Sara! 🎉
Surprised you didn't swing by the airport in Minneapolis/ Saint Paul for the Snowy Owls
Don't think we knew about those!
@@BritHikesOntario They started around the 20th so perhaps they had not yet been reported when you passed through.
Happy New Year! It was nice to see you picking up some new birds on the way home. I really want to check out the bog some day but it would be a long way to go for not much if I had as rough a time as you did. 😬
We went through a phase where we were questioning whether we really wanted to use up a week of vacation by spending it in freezing conditions. Especially since we'd then be coming back to a similar couple of months of it in Toronto, too. But we decided.... if we don't go now, we may never go. So we stuck to it.
I'd recommend going - but I would recommend doing it closer to February. The owls are raising young and hunting more frequently. The temperatures will be consistently lower that it might drive down some of those boreal perching birds, and the Grouse might also be out by then.
Of course, for us, we had to do it before Dec 31st and we weren't organised enough to do it at the beginning of 2024! One of many lessons learned this year.
Great video as always. I am a big fan of the channel and the simple premise of the challenge! I look forward to bonus birding. I do hope you plan to do something similar now that 2025 has arrived!
Im sure we will continue to chase fancy birds in some format or another!
Thanks for watching 😊
@@BritHikesOntario Great I can't wait!!
🎉🦉🪿🎉
Haha thanks 😁
294 so close so close
Thanks Rick. One last push!
How many species did you get this year, not including the challenge requirements? You should be pretty happy with your list? You have gotten some great birds and have been to really interesting places. I appreciate your travels to plan for my future travels. If only you were a week or two later, the White Wagtail was found in Sturgeon Bay, WI. But really enjoy your videos. Happy New Year!
We would already be over 300 without a couple of the requirements. Because this went down to the wire, I'm still having to edit stuff together. So there's one more video next week and I'll break things down a bit in that final video! Thanks for following us along 😊
Your video was truly beautiful and inspiring. As a fellow creator, I appreciate the effort you put into it. Sub and 👍
Thanks, appreciate it. Definitely a time consuming process 😂
Can you tell how many birds you gonna trying to see in 2025 in your next video
Hi Nehan,
We've decided how many, but sorry. You'll have to wait until we announce it. Not the next video, but the one after that.
@BritHikesOntario thanks,so that means you gonna do another 1 video of the 300 bird challenge after this video