New Birds John Saw in 2013

In spring 2013 I graduated with my Wildlife Management degree from Humboldt State, but not before making several more trips first. That March, my classmates and I went to the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and after networking with local birders there I saw 4 new finches (including 2 of the 3 rosy-finches); then, barely a week after returning to HSU, some other birders and I drove up to Washington state for the weekend to see the wintering Snowy Owls in Ocean Shores and a Slaty-backed Gull in Tacoma. Upon returning home to L.A. that summer, I picked up a steady stream of rarities like Arctic Loon and Red-necked Stint. Fall brought the largest-ever invasion of Blue-footed Boobies to the California coast, among other delights. Finally, I also caught up with three long-time nemesis birds (Least Bittern, Common Poorwill and Scott's Oriole) in 2013. It was a good year.