10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2016

Alas, now that the Arizona Cardinals have fallen to the Carolina Panthers, we face the prospect of a Super Bowl without bird-themed football teams. I got a good dose of seaducks this weekend up at the mouth of Irondequoit Bay; the most interesting species amidst the mixed flocks was a lone Bufflehead hobnobbing with Common Goldeneyes.

ALA 101

ALA Arizona 2016 Horses 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

They’re not, alas particularly impressive. My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. My 100th species was a Spoonbill. It’s a total I’ve never approached since, which might explain why in recent years I stopped counting.

Estonia 217

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 217

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2024

Alas, East Anglia, where I live, isn’t an area renowned for its sea cliffs, so to visit a major seabird colony I have to drive either west (the coast of West Wales has some superb colonies) or north. These birds are all cliff nesters. Such a bountiful source of food was appreciated by the Gannets.

Puffins 175

Puffins Eggs Fish Culling 175

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

Alas, those sightings will be for another time as the weather had thrown a spanner in the works: half a meter of snow had closed off our intended destination. After a pleasant morning with ducks, crisp snow and sunshine, we followed the wildlife trail on our way out. My hosts could confidently tick off the species on their life list.

Denver 158

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 158

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

MARCH 30, 2012

Around thirty miles from Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley lies the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. My specific goal was to see Trumpeter Swans , which, let’s just say it’s lucky that they’re not my new nemesis species – we spotted a group of three from the parking lot as soon as we got out of our cars.

Wildlife 165

Wildlife Montana Bald Eagle Geese 165

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

WinGS volunteers visit gull roost sites, counting six key species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. One count I undertake every year is the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Big Farmland Bird Count.

Ireland 209

Ireland Turtles Geese Farming 209

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2014

The Lodge at Pico Bonito is an inviting, idyllic place for relaxation as well as for enjoying wildlife. Lovely Cotinga is the flagship species at Pico Bonito, where it is perhaps easier to see than anywhere else within its range. More than 400 species have been recorded at the lodge to date. Photo by James Adams.

Honduras 162

Honduras Monkeys America Birds 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to learn how to draw, but alas I never made it past the stickman. More precisely I wanted to learn how to draw wildlife. Until recently, it was considered to be the same species as the Eurasian three-toed Woodpecker (P. I guess it’s a gift you either have or you don’t. tridactylus).

Woodpeckers 207

Woodpeckers Birds Canada ALA 207

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Another nice find by the assembled birders was a Bar-shouldered Dove , a species I had only seen in Queensland before this point. Alas, this wasn’t to be our time for that rarity, but the trail certainly delivered honeyeaters. I talked to an American visitor from Hawaii who had brought his wildlife-mad son along.

Owls 173

Owls Birds Hawaii Neglecting 173

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species. Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary–Flamingo Hide. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

They noted 598 species as a team, bringing the year total to 2118 and pushing the life list to 3555. Ra’s al-Khor Wildlife Sanctuary–Flamingo Hide. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond.

2018 113

2018 Australia Los Angeles Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

10 countries were birded by 9 beats and 892 species were noted from 144 checklists. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Veliko blato lake NR / Mika Alas fish farm–IBA Uš?e Who is going to tell the clans? 23 May 2018.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. Garret Mountain Reservation (Park).

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113