Hi from Sacramento,CA.

[Vermfly]

Hi everyone. I'm Cliff Hawley. I'm a birder and working biologist in the Sacramento area. I've been into birding since I was 14 and I found a male Vermillion Flycatcher in my yard in the town of Lincoln where I grew up. It's still the only county record and my favorite bird. :certifiable:

I'm into California county birding and I hope to soon make my first trip out of the country to go birding. Some friends want to road trip through Mexico. I'll be headed to NZ in the summer of 2010 so I'm already researching birding options there. That's all for now. Good birding.

Cliff

[AndyB]

Hi Cliff and welcome to the forum and the introduction. Agree with you that Vermillion Flycatchers have to be one of the smartest birds out there. Sounds like you have some exciting trips ahead of you.

[Vermfly]

Yeah I'm really looking forward to them. It looks like NZ might get pushed back to the Summer of 2011 instead. I have a friend who lives in Hawaii so I'm going to be visiting him sometime soon.

[sue-o]

Hi Cliff,

Welcome to the forum, hope to hear of some Cal birding days. Not too many though, I'll get homesick.
Sue

[Vermfly]

Thanks Sue-O. I see you are in Italy. My gf and her family are going over there this summer. They aren't birders though. I wouldn't be able to do a great trip like that without doing some major life-ticking. That Yellow Wagtail was really great. The biggest excitement around here was a Mountain Chickadee that showed up in Sacramento. It's probably only like the 4th or 5th record for the county. They usually don't stray so far downslope from the Sierra.