Take a look at this perfect photo of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/192843549
@jtmartin54 Nice pic!

@abiggs2
@captainmantis37
@jtmartin54
@kimiller
@kjmurph
@lenrely
@matthew_campbell
@norm_shea
@patrickbelk
@pwilson96
@ryan84
@sharleen_j
@toxmace

Starting today and running until January 1st, 2024, at midnight, is the December Bird Count.

It must be observed in the state of SC during the allotted time. The person with the most species wins!
Even this is a competition, we should have a goal as to how much total species of birds we can observe. Please post below what our goal should be. There will be weekly updates every Saturday. May the best birder win!

@abiggs2
@captainmantis37
@jtmartin54
@kimiller
@kjmurph
@lenrely
@matthew_campbell
@norm_shea
@patrickbelk
@pwilson96
@ryan84
@sharleen_j
@toxmace
.

This weeks highlighted observation is this American Flamingo! by @toxmace
https://www.Inaturalist.org/observations/194147187
This may be a shocker to some of you but this has been the third time flamingos have been spotted wild in SC. All of these observations were took in, or near the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. What do you y'all make of these sightings?

@abiggs2
@captainmantis37
@jtmartin54
@kimiller
@kjmurph
@lenrely
@matthew_campbell
@norm_shea
@patrickbelk
@pwilson96
@ryan84
@sc_beetles
@sharleen_j
@toxmace

This has so far been really successful, so I want to thank everyone for their contributions. So far we have 78 species and 240 observations. We even have a flamingo. Thanks @toxmace
@abiggs2 Is currently in first place with number of observations and diversity of species.

@abiggs2
@captainmantis37
@jtmartin54
@kimiller
@kjmurph
@lenrely
@matthew_campbell
@norm_shea
@patrickbelk
@pwilson96
@ryan84
@sc_beetles
@sharleen_j
@toxmace

Our own individual website is up! I decided to make this just to keep track of events, etc... Forgive me if it is of poor quality (my budget is 0 and my tech skills are 0). Let me know if there are any changes that y'all think I should make.
https://free-4333254.webador.com/

@abiggs2
@captainmantis37
@jtmartin54
@kimiller
@kjmurph
@lenrely
@matthew_campbell
@norm_shea
@patrickbelk
@pwilson96
@ryan84
@sc_beetles
@sharleen_j
@toxmace

If anyone has knowledge of articles that would help Id a certain species(s), I will add it to our website as a resource. I have collected several myself but I feel like y'all will have a lot more to add. Just add the links below. You can wait till after Christmas that's fine.
Merry Christmas

Thanks,
Luke

My goals for 2024:

Reach 2,200 species.
This I feel like would be fairly easy to acheive. I only need less than 400 lifers.

Reach 65,000 identifications.
This might be a little difficult but I feel like I can make it. I need close to 25,000 more ids.

Reach 20,000 observations.
This might be a little to ambitous but I think there is a chance I can make it. I observe around 5,000 obs a year so I would have to double that in 2024 to reach my goal.

This takes nothing but commitment, an observation every day.
My longest streak I think is like 3-4 months (don’t quote me on it) so it will take some work, but certainly in the realm of possibility.