Well, I can't begin to match Matt's Snowy for an end-of-2011 sighting.
Mine was the humble but still wonderful Anna's Hummingbird. First bird
of 2012 was a Song Sparrow under the yard feeders, scratching in the
safflower seeds that the finches throw about. But 2011 was a good year
for life birds, having begun it with a successful chase of the Brown
Shrike in Northern California and having ended it with another
successful chase of the Ross's Gull in Okanogan County. I can only
hope that 2012 will bring such interesting birds for each and every
one of us.

Happy new year to all,

Carol Riddell