Do you realize that you have only 9 more shopping days (and counting) until Christmas? Maybe you don’t celebrate the modern Yule holiday or maybe you’ve prudently purchased all the presents you’ll need for loved ones both naughty and nice. No matter what your situation, I suggest you give yourself the gift of nature this weekend; get out there and get centered before the holiday madness really kicks in!  What are you doing that this weekend and will birding be involved? Share your plans in the comments below!

I’m still nursing a wounded wing after my recent shoulder surgery (healing nicely, thanks for asking) so I don’t expect any real birding this weekend. Corey, on the other hand, will be birding the coast of Queens for the Queens County Bird Count on Sunday. To clarify, this is the Queens County Christmas Bird Count  (QCCBC) which is sponsored by the Queens County Bird Club (QCBC) so the event can be considered the QCBCQCCBC!

Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Also be sure to come back Monday to share your best bird of the weekend!


Epic skies over Coin de Mire as seen from Cap Malheureux, Mauritius
(For more exquisite photos of this exotic destination, read this terrific post by guest blogger Graham Langley!)

Written by Mike
Mike is a leading authority in the field of standardized test preparation, but he's also a traveler who fully expects to see every bird in the world. Besides founding 10,000 Birds in 2003, Mike has also created a number of other entertaining but now extirpated nature blog resources, particularly the Nature Blog Network and I and the Bird.