We started January 1, 2024 after having a record 2023 with 811 birds in the US, 716 birds in the lower 48, 1094 in the AOU, and ranking #1 in all 3 categories in eBird for the 2nd year in a row! Additionally, we had a record year with our McQuade Family Christmas Lightshow. \240We had more lights and raised more money for our sponsored family this year than in any previous year. \240For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about go to The McQuade Family Christmas Lightshow on Facebook! We ended our Lightshow on Christmas night and got up a 4:30am on the 26th to start taking down the yard lights and to prepare the house for us to be gone for 3 weeks. Thanks to our incredible friends the Warren's and the Lusk's who came over that morning to help us, we got everything accomplished and made it to the airport on time!

Of course typical of air travel lately, our United plane was going to be delayed and we would miss our connection to Albuquerque. So I worked some magic on my travel apps and got us on a Delta flight. And of course it was delayed as well. \240We would have hopefully 30 minutes in Atlanta to get from Terminal T to Termimal B! \240We ended up having only 20 minutes but ran thru the airport and \240boarded our Albuquerque flight and discovered our bags even made it to the plane!

After landing at ABQ,we met our friend Gino Ellison (#3), who was also doing a big year. \240We would spend the last couple days of the year picking up our last few possible year birds in New Mexico, Arizona, and California. \240And we even ran into another Big Year birder Linus Blumquist (#6)

For the last 15 days we have been on the road birding starting with a big day in the Los Angeles area on Jan 1, 2024. \240We birded down to San Diego for the Little Stint and over to Phoenix for the Streak-backed Orioles. \240Then down to Patagonia for the Rufous-backed Robin. \240By Jan 5th we were in New Mexico for the Nuttings Flycatcher and on the way to Albuquerque got a surprise Varied Thrush! \240We had client meetings for a couple nights in the area but also managed to score a Yellow-billed Loon 2 1/2 hours from ABQ! And finished up there with a Eurasian Wigen and a total of 235 year birds! \240On Jan 8th we flew into Harlingen TX but so did 35-50 mph winds! \240So not much birding that day! \240However Jan 9th was one of our best days scoring he following rarities - Gray-collared Brevard, Golden-crowned warbler, a lifer - Fan-tailed Warbler - and a Crimson-collared Grosbeak! Texas still had some great birds for us on the 10th - when we got our Road-side Hawk and a night trip to Santa Margarita Ranch got us incredible views of the Mottled Owl! \240On the 11th we returned to Santa Margarita Ranch during the day and got the Brown Jays and our first look at the Bare-throated Tiger-heron (previously heard only).