Category Archives: Quest for 700 (*800!)

This blog is meant to journalize the stories and photos captured along the march to see 700 (*800!) North American bird species in my lifetime.

WEISBIRDING TEXAS!

Posted on April 15, 2025 by George C. Wood

Nina’s birding brothers (Dano and Joe – the “Weisbirds”) and I planned a Galveston, Texas trip with hopes of capitalizing on spring migrants. Three days of intensive birding and camaraderie produced many great moments including “lifers” for Dano (31) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

TEXAS “GUT PUNCH”

Posted on March 23, 2024 by George C. Wood

Generally I report successful bird chases on this blog. Not tonight. But I believe it is worth chronicling a failed trip because it does help me (you?) savor the wins. When I went an unprecedented 5/5 in South Texas in … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 12 Comments

TEXAS hosts a 1st in USA…..but will it “count”?

Posted on December 20, 2023 by George C. Wood

I had never heard of a Cattle Tyrant. But when one showed up in the urban center of the large shipping port of Corpus Christi last month, the rare bird alerts were activated! This yellow-bellied flycatcher is native to South … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 15 Comments

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Posted on December 19, 2023 by George C. Wood

The Birding Gods smiled on me this weekend! I succeeded in seeing an unprecedented three Code 5 and a Code 4 “lifer” birds in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. Remember Code 5 is as rare as it gets. Code 6 … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 20 Comments

MIA WIN WIN!!

Posted on April 8, 2023 by George C. Wood

CONGRATULATIONS to my eldest (Sarah) for recently becoming engaged to Ben Yudysky! She is the person responsible for the creation of this blog over ten years ago. A trip to Miami to celebrate them was in order. Bonus for me … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 18 Comments

BIRDING SE AZ

Posted on April 5, 2023 by George C. Wood

I am still smiling after picking up the code 4 Nutting’s Flycatcher – ABA lifer #811. As promised, here are a sampling of photographs of other birds seen in the canyons of Southeastern Arizona. Enjoy!

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 22 Comments

NUTTING’S FLYCATCHER (SE Arizona)

Posted on March 31, 2023 by George C. Wood

I had no intention of traveling to Arizona until Nina mentioned she had a business trip to Phoenix. The timing coincided with my spring break so I decided to hit SE Arizona before joining her for the upcoming weekend. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 25 Comments

PA Landfill hosts a (potential) CODE 5!

Posted on January 2, 2023 by George C. Wood

I have always been fascinated by landfills. In a previous life, I was the Operations Director of The Waste System Authority of Montgomery County (Pa). My responsibility was to license and regulate the municipal waste haulers and, in the interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 28 Comments

YELLOW RAIL & RICE FESTIVAL

Posted on October 29, 2022 by George C. Wood

The best chance one has to see and possibly photograph the very elusive yellow rail, a small chicken-like bird, is to attend the Yellow Rail & Rice Festival in Lafayette, Louisiana. The yellow rail breeds in northern Canada and spends … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 6 Comments

Bird Tales: A Lifetime Pursuit

Posted on September 25, 2022 by George C. Wood

Dear loyal blog followers, I am pleased to inform you that my “bird book” was published yesterday and is available for purchase on Amazon. This 120 page manuscript is basically autobiographical and ties many of my blog posts together chronologically. … Continue reading →

Posted in Quest for 700 (*800!) | 15 Comments