10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2021

I did that with Peacocks & Picathartes – Reflections on Africa’s birdlife (published by Penguin Random House South Africa ). In case you didn’t know, yes, there is an indigenous peacock living in Africa, the Congo Peafowl. When was the last time you chose a book by its covers? Some are incredibly rare and hard to find.

Congo 264

Congo Africa Madagascar Kenya 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2023

At vulture family gatherings, it is always a bit of a bother for the organizers to cater to the needs of the Palm Nut Vulture. Then, in 2018, other researchers did DNA testing on the sample specimen and found it was just an ordinary Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird with some kind of slight color mutation ( source ).

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa 2018 Birds 147

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

Despite filling very similar garbage disposal related niches, the vultures in North America and the vultures in Eurasia/Africa are really not that closely related. Old World Vultures are nestled within the family Acciptridae along with the hawks and eagles. Cape Vultures in South Africa – Alex Lamoreaux, The Nemesis Bird.

California Condor 193

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 193

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

For long it was assumed that the saplings cannot survive being under water half a year, from spring to August, but recently another theory was tested. The colony is still big, as Naziridis told me, but the total number is now lower due to willows dying out without young saplings to replace them. Then, there was a herd of buffaloes.

Greece 201

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 201

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

The guide presents 69 species and 1 subspecies, from “NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartiformes” to “OSPREY: Pandioninae” to “FAMILY: Accipitridae” (Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Hawk-Eagles), to “FALONIDS: Falconidae” (Falcons, Forest-Falcons, Caracaras, Kestrels, Merlin). Owls are not included, though they sometimes are in ‘raptor’ guides.

Mexico 176

Mexico America North America Falcons 176

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

I bought a new rucksack yesterday and the first thing I checked when I brought it home was, how easily my spotting scope with a mounted window clamp fits in – test passed with flying colours. Next time, see you in Africa. What purpose rucksack did I choose? I clearly miss travelling, long distance travelling.

Asia 277

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 277

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2024

As an aside, outside Africa “bird parties” are called “mixed feeding flocks” – it says it all, doesn’t it? In my family, we have a tradition (in place since 1347 when we survived the Black Death) of “ wait over the weekend and see what happens ”. Once I got home, I started feeling very sick.

Mozambique 234

Mozambique Ghana Namibia Birds 234