10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2013

So as many of my loyal readers know, I have a very mixed relationship with vagrants and the chasing thereof. Nevertheless, when a Baikal Teal was reported by the illustrious Radd Icenoggle just outside Missoula, I couldn’t very well ignore the siren call.

Ducks 182

Ducks Hunting 2013 Birds 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 , 2011 , and 2012 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. The end of the year is nigh and birders the world over are looking over their checklists and reminiscing about their amazing sightings and devastating dips.

2013 169

2013 Costa Rica Birds India 169

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2013

Snowy Owl in Queens, New York, 1 December 2013. Snowy Owl in Queens, New York, 1 December 2013. The midwestern and northeastern United States, especially coastal regions and areas along the Great Lakes, is currently experiencing an invasion of Bubo scandiacus. If I were in Newfoundland I would probably be going crazy.

Owls 278

Owls Rhode Island North Carolina New Hampshire 278

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2012

I had a great time and hoped to be back again in 2013 but life gets in the way sometimes and we don’t always get what we want. Fortunately for you the 16th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival promises to be every bit as good as the 15th and I highly recommend that you go check it out January 23-28, 2013.

Wildlife 261

Wildlife Alligators 2013 Reptiles 261

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2014

I’m at a yearly disadvantage when it comes to deciding my Best Bird of the Year (BBOY) here on 10,000 Birds. This is because unlike most of the writers here I live in the Southern Hemisphere, which means that like a lot of people over here I take my yearly long break over the Christmas period.

2013 204

2013 Rhinoceros Thailand Birds 204

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2013

One of the perks about living in Miami is that plane tickets to the bird-rich Caribbean, Central, and South America are often cheaper than going to places like Arizona, Colorado, or California.

Jamaica 203

Jamaica Puerto Rico 2013 Cuba 203

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2013

Here in the United States, April 15 is Tax Day, which means that countless Americans have toiled through the last 48 hours to prepare their taxes. Some are surely at it still. What a way to ruin a weekend! With the foresight to get my taxes taken care of early, I was free to enjoy the cold spring weather and lingering winter species around here.

2013 233

2013 United States Jamaica Birds 233

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2013

Winter in the temperate portions of the Nearctic ecozone might be cold, but fine birds choose to visit no matter what the weather. I’ve always equated winter with big predatory birds like Snowy Owls and Rough-legged Hawks. But on second thought, smaller birds like Horned Larks and Lapland Longspurs spring to mind.

2013 230

2013 Owls Birds Experiments 230

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2013

One question every self-described birder must grapple with is to twitch or not to twitch. Some of us love to chase down preposterous vagrants, while others eschew bird chasing for contemplation of standard local fare and seasonal specialties. I raise this perennial issue because I found myself twitching a rare ABA bird this weekend.

Oakland 228

Oakland 2013 ALA Raised 228

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

Were there any birds about this weekend? The only ones that concerned me were Ravens, Falcons, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Eagles. Welcome back, NFL football! Of course I still kept my eyes out for other types of birds. This time of year is perfect for finding juvenile Eastern Bluebirds , which I was happy to do.

2013 224

2013 Falcons Eagles Birds 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2013

Keep your eyes to the skies for fun celestial bodies! Did you see Pan-Starrs? Clare Kines spotted the charismatic comet above Admiralty Inlet in Nunavut!). Spring is here! I know this not from the gradual appearance of robins, grackles, and blackbirds around me, but rather from the fact that our local schools are about to embark on spring break.

2013 231

2013 Blackbirds New York Eggs 231

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2013

No matter where you live in the world, you’ve probably noticed how interesting the unfolding of this season is becoming. True, many of you live in locations that are verdant and vibrant all year long or cold and white most of the time. But from pole to pole, creatures are on the move and blossoms and berries are bursting to greet them.

2013 217

2013 Birds America Experiments 217

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2013

No need to draw this question out. Many of us are still enjoying the final weekend of May, so let’s cut to the chase and talk about our best birds. My best bird this weekend was an Eastern Wood-Pewee calling from a bare branch.

2013 213

2013 North America Eggs Birds 213

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2013

At last, we stand on the threshold of a new season, moving inexorably into a period of phenological flux. Nature lovers love those magical months between winter and summer, so get your affairs in order… migration is either coming or may have already come!

2013 211

2013 Blackbirds Birds Experiments 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2013

Before this lovely June weekend began, I bemoaned the evident end of spring migration. What I failed to recognize were all the great things that happen around here when the waves of migrants subside. For example, the local farmers’ markets are back in action! If you can’t get fresh birds, at least enjoy fresh produce.

2013 211

2013 New York Birds Experiments 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2013

Is it coincidence or conspiracy that Father’s Day falls on a weekend where very good birding can still be found in most areas? You be the judge… I got into a bunch of great grassland and forest birds this weekend. Honors go to American Redstart which somehow escaped me for the year until now.

2013 210

2013 California Birds Experiments 210

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2013

This weekend had something for everyone: celebrations, congregations, and migrations. And also sports! Please tell me you found something special to do… I took my kids on our traditional Easter morning hike, though the timing this year meant that spring has scarcely sprung.

2013 208

2013 Birds Experiments Experience 208

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

We’re particularly interested in recognizing bird species that were of significant conservation interest in 2013, but that also had a compelling story and rallied the public around it.” One way we can do that is by voting for the Burrowing Owl as the California Audubon Bird of the Year in 2013.

California 252

California Owls 2013 Factory 252

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2013

Another long, lovely summer weekend has slipped into history. Midsummer will be giving way any moment to late summer. I know that families in the United States are already fretting/anticipating September’s arrival. How do you feel about it?

2013 207

2013 United States Birds Family 207

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2013

One weekend does not dictate the tempo of a year, but it never hurts to get a year off on the right foot. How did that work out for you this weekend? Are you looking forward to more like it or hoping for better? I’ve spent most of my weekend beating my head against this blog (in a metaphorical sense of course.)

2013 190

2013 Birds Experiments Experience 190

10,000 Birds

JULY 14, 2013

Birding and wildlife watching can be, as we all know, a solitary activity. And our practices, though familiar to anyone in our phenologically-attuned culture, can seem strange, sometimes even threatening, to the uninitiated.

2013 201

2013 Birds Wildlife Experiments 201

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 18, 2013

I’m wondering if Best Bird of the Weekend is too restrictive a way to consider the avians we encounter from Friday to Sunday. Of course we should seek reasons to celebrate every bird species we share our weekends with, but is the species that delights us most always the most memorable?

2013 199

2013 Jamaica Birds Wildlife 199

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2013

How’s May migration treating you so far? We’re early in the month, but many birds are late compared to last year, at least in my part of the world. Then again, migratory birds arrived very early last year. So I frankly have no idea what to expect.

2013 199

2013 Ohio Birds Family 199

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2021

2013 – 24 March. And was it late or early? 2021 – 13 March. 2020 – 15 March. 2019 – 17 March. 2018 – 30 March. 2017 – 12 March. 2016 – 18 March. 2015 – 28 March. 2014 – 29 March. 2012 – 15 March. Enjoy spring! The post First Phoebe of 2021 appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

2019 263

2019 2017 2018 2020 263

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2013

I made some uncharitable and in some ways inaccurate comments about the month of February last week which were starkly contradicted by some excellent birding reported in different parts of the world. However, I don’t take any of it back. In any case, we won’t have February to kick around any more once this week moves us into March.

2013 197

2013 Sparrows Birds Experiments 197

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2013

Can you handle it? It is fall, the time of year when wood-warblers are at their most difficult, and I have curated three images of wood-warblers for you to destroy yourself upon, pulling out your hair as you frantically flip through your field guides.

2013 185

2013 Birds 185

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 11, 2013

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Must be from all that shoveling this weekend. But when life becomes most inconvenient, I become most impressed with those who blow past those inconveniences to pursue their passions. How did you pursue your (non-Valentine) passions this weekend?

2013 195

2013 United States Sparrows New York 195

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

Keep your eyes to the skies for flying pink birds like these Roseate Spoonbills , which are really ibises with big flat bills ! Excited about the equinox? One half of our global population will be surrendering minutes and then hours of daylight for darkness while the other half enjoys the inverse transaction.

2013 205

2013 Birds 205

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2013

The most flamboyant of all hummers, the Marvelous Spatuletail will be one of the many endemic bird highlights along the route of the Second International Birding Rally Challenge in Peru. Photo: Courtesy of Dubi Shapiro. I can’t convey how thrilled I am about the upcoming International Birding Rally Challenge in Peru.

Peru 215

Peru 2013 Louisiana South Africa 215

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2020

2013 – 24 March. As I have for years now, I will now ask the same question of midwesterners and northeasterners that I ask every year: When did you see your first Eastern Phoebe of 2020? And was it late or early? 2020 – 15 March. 2019 – 17 March. 2018 – 30 March. 2017 – 12 March. 2016 – 18 March. 2015 – 28 March. 2014 – 29 March.

2020 254

2020 2017 2018 2019 254

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2013

When citizens of the United States tout the superiority of our country, we tend to focus on debatable issues of culture, economy, and government. However, if we’re being fair, one of the irrefutable elements that makes America great is our proliferation of Northern Cardinals.

St. Louis 191

St. Louis 2013 United States Arizona 191

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

As of 27 August 2013 the California Bird Records Committee has voted to add the introduced Nutmeg Mannikin to the state checklist. Image retrieved from eBird on 1 September 2013.). Just check out the map showing Nutmeg Mannikin reports in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The red markers are sightings in the last thirty days.

California 239

California Los Angeles 2013 Eggs 239

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2013

Summer, the season that we in the Northern Hemisphere are currently enjoying or suffering depending on your latitude and state of mind, is a time when birds often take a backseat to other diversions. But we naturalists notice them no matter what we’re doing. Aren’t we lucky?

2013 189

2013 Suffering California Birds 189

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2021

Before Saturday Corey had only seen two in Queens ever, one in 2013 and one in 2015. He joined his pal Meryl who spotted a previously reported light morph Rough-legged Hawk as soon as she arrived and then, as they were leaving, she spotted a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk. Seeing one in Queens is impressive but seeing two was mind-blowing!

Lovebirds 259

Lovebirds Turkey 2015 2013 259

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

After all, 2013 was a pretty great year and there is no reason 2014 can’t be the same! Let us know in the comments…and, if you wrote a blog post or have a picture of your first bird of the year online somewhere, well, leave a link in the comments too. Happy New Year from all of us at 10,000 Birds! Birding 2014 first bird of the year'

2014 220

2014 2013 Birds 220

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2013

Even the solo birders out there have to appreciate that birding together is often better than birding alone. Corey and I don’t get out in the field together much, since we’ve determined that the ongoing security of 10,000 Birds requires the two of us to live in separate cities. Blog security is serious business!

New York City 188

New York City 2013 Nashville New York 188

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2013

Winter may not technically begin for another couple of weeks, but frigid temperatures and wicked snow are assailing various parts of North America. The weather outside is frightful, but winter birds are so delightful… guess that’s as good a reason as any to brave the cold.

ALA 187

ALA United States 2013 North America 187