At a certain stage in one’s “career” as a lister, one has to really zero in on a specific lifer species to find it. I think I have reached that stage as I find myself switch from "birder" "hunter", chasing that thrilling number 500. As the 2009 birding season went into serious winter hibernation, I found myself stranded on 456! I started to list my opportunities for the second half of 2009. And, hey, funny thing… there are some South African birds you have to (can) target specifically in winter! So, winter birding opportunities one must create… and I found myself taking a major birding trip in winter.

Instead of seeing upcoming birding outings as a nice chance to walk in the woods and list whichever birds happen to cross my path, I now thought of this birding trip with specific targets in mind – much more like planning a major event. Precision and detail are the keys!

This palmnut vulture was the result of good strategy and detailed planning - lifer #14 on the Natal leg of my birding trip  

All of a sudden I had very specific mission-oriented outings! Not that that sort of planning guarantees success – it does raise the ratio of success vs failure though.

31 new species added… man, winter is not so bad for birding after all! And I have a new strategy waiting come summertime…