10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2023

When you have birded a single area as much and for as long as I have birded Michoacán, it becomes progressively harder to find first-time species (“lifers”) there. I had seen several species turn up in new and unexpected places there, but none of them were birds that I had never seen before. Alas, mine were sub-standard.

Bats 130

Bats Mexico ALA 2019 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2021

We share seven resident species with different parts of the United States: the Rock , Canyon , Cactus , (Brown-throated) House , Marsh , Sedge , and Bewick’s Wren can all be seen within a half hour of Morelia. (I The raucous Spotted and Gray-barred Wrens are in the Cactus Wren family. First, they answered “my” song.

ALA 166

ALA United States Mexico Family 166

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2023

Even the Latin species name soror (“sister”) indicates the similarity to another pitta species (blue-naped). The eBird description of the Small Niltava starts with the surprisingly dull statement that “size distinguishes this species from other niltavas” Who would have thought.

China 224

China Birds Pythons Eagles 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2022

Not bad given that the 5 families in the inner circle of the laughingthrush family have a combined number of about 68 species. The Hainan version is sometimes considered a separate species, in which case it is classified as Near Threatened. 36, if my counting is right and there has been no very recent split or lump.

San Diego 204

San Diego Malaysia China Zoos 204

10,000 Birds

JULY 29, 2021

and 180 bird species ( Ferruginous Duck , Black Woodpecker ; Icterine , Eastern Olivaceous and Barred Warblers ) recorded so far. I made this tour myself several days ago (late July), and will report mostly on the species I actually found, as well as some mammals. It is a spacious floodplain between the River Danube and the levee, 2.1

Farming 264

Farming Fish Boars Birds 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2024

Called home to the Oregon Coast to operate the family motel, in her free time she leads Tufted Puffin walks and escapes to guide at birding festivals and explore the world as often as possible. The first we went to was a family home with generations of mezcaleros and the process being completed in their front courtyard.

Mexico 184

Mexico Birds Oregon Puffins 184

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2019

But my family moved to northern California when I was four years old, in 1962, effectively quadrupling my hummer list with the addition of the Anna’s , Rufous , and Allen’s Hummingbirds. Here in Morelia, it seems laughable that I once only had access to less species than I could count on one hand. I was born in Minnesota.

Minnesota 126

Minnesota ALA Mexico California 126

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Many Neotropical families and genera have some of their northernmost members here, such as the spinetails ( Rufous-breasted Spinetail ), Tangara tanagers ( Azure-rumped Tanager ), and guans ( Horned Guan ). the species suffering most from deforestation). Alas, our time here was over too soon. We were off to a great start.

Honduras 212

Honduras El Salvador Costa Rica Arizona 212

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2016

I was back in Florida just last week, in Orlando as part of an annual trip with my wife’s family. In many places in Florida, you can rack up 50 species without too much trouble and Orlando Wetlands Park is no exception. But alas, the weather does me no favors on this day. I have yet to see a Short-tailed Hawk.

Florida 123

Florida ALA Blackbirds Family 123

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Slaughter Lake does not sound like it would be a nice place to visit but we three Americans, my small family, were blissfully unaware of what Schlachtensee translates to before our expedition there. Alas, my miserable history with the mythical creature continues.

Woodpeckers 160

Woodpeckers ALA Slaughtered Slaughter 160

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

Feeding birds is generally regarded as a harmless past-time, a wholesome way for people to share nature and enjoy wildlife with the family. Alas, the Swan Lady died and though her husband vows to continue, who will take up the torch of a ton of corn a day when he dies? Do neighbors refer to you as bird species + Lady or Guy?

Bald Eagle 242

Bald Eagle Deer Minnesota 2000 242

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

My best bird of the year is based on the sighting rather than the species. Obviously my best bird of the year is going to come during this trip, what with several species of endemic pitta and broadbill possible, not to mention 8 species of hornbill and numerous babblers, storks, kingfishers, trogons and even the endemic Bornean Bristlehead.

2013 167

2013 Costa Rica Birds India 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2017

Can a family-focused trip—even to one of the world’s most biodiverse countries—deliver enough opportunities for avian observation to satisfy this serious world birder? With enough planning, you can enjoy a family-friendly, bird-rich vacation in the Panama Canal zone. If you have kids, you’re probably as curious as I was.

Panama 100

Panama 2017 Monkeys Family 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2013

Alas, I only heard this super cool caprimulgid, but did get buzzed by a swift Malaysian Eared Nightjar. We got good looks at Yellow-breasted , Crimson-breasted , Yellow-vented , and Orange-bellied Flowerpeckers along with more mundane representatives of the sunbird family, Plain Sunbird and Thick-billed Spiderhunter.

Malaysia 173

Malaysia Singapore Monkeys Asia 173

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

The campus has a pond (above), partially covered by hyacinths full of Northern Jacanas , where I tried to spot at least one caiman (alas, without success), a botanical garden and manicured grounds (with quite a few Green Ibises ) together with a souvenir shop. Next goal: 1100 species, to cover about 10% of the total.

Costa Rica 232

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 232

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

The trip was to visit a handful of sites across North Sydney, which was great for me as they were places I could stand to know better and were close to where my family live (and I was staying). Another nice find by the assembled birders was a Bar-shouldered Dove , a species I had only seen in Queensland before this point.

Owls 175

Owls Birds Hawaii Neglecting 175

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

The tricky thing for me is that Royal NP is in the south of Sydney, and my family lives in the north of the city. Alas this was not to be, and this species remains one of my nemesis birds. Three visits in, and I’ve only just begun to realise how much I’m missing. But I did see a host of little birds.

Australia 173

Australia Ducks Parrots New Zealand 173

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2020

Several of these sites have turned out to be keepers, and have added significantly to my understanding of my region’s avian species and populations. I really thought I had hit the jackpot, when a couple of exciting species turned up: my very first Gray-collared Becard , and a small group of White-naped Swifts.

ALA 156

ALA Investigation Family Species 156