[Tweeters] How to 'target' a species?

[Jim Betz via Tweeters]

Hi,

   I'm wondering what others do to target (seek out and find) a specific 
bird species?


          I am -not- talking about rare/unusual birds ... I'm interested 
in viewing and

          photographing species that are new to me.


   I look on eBird and find pics and checklists and pay attention to the 
date and

location - usually I can find a few sightings here in Skagit that are from

approximately the same date.  And the pics help to understand probable

habitat for a sighting.  But going to the same location often does not

produce that bird - and usually is even an 'unbirdy' location. Even checking

recent checklists on eBird does not produce a high probability of finding

any particular species.


   I do most of my birding alone, I'm 80 so I can't just go scramble up a

mountain easily.  I'm pretty poor about birding-by-ear ... I hear the

birds (most of the time) but id-ing them is not one of my strong skills.

I don't carry a scope - I have a long lens on my camera and use it.

However, I usually find the bird visually before I use the camera.  I go

birding about 3 to 5 times a week and  usually for 3 to 5 hours -

always with my camera.


   Is there something else that you do that I'm not doing?

                           - Jim in Skagit

P.S. An example of this kind of search is the Northern Pygmy Owl which I

        just looked up today ... but have close to zero confidence I'd 
be able to

        find one in even a week of birding.