10,000 Birds

JULY 12, 2024

My target at the start of the year was 200 species in the UK and 300 in Europe, so I’ve achieved the latter, while the chances of reaching the former are pretty good. That trip was fun, as it reminded me of the delights of watching birds like Golden Plover and even Meadow Pipit on their breeding grounds. Wood Sandpiper.

Cyprus 246

Cyprus Greece Spain Europe 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2022

When you spot a brand new bird identification guide, especially for your home region – in this case, Europe – reaching for it comes naturally. And that became heavier with each passing day… On the other hand, Europe’s Birds cover less than half of that number – 900+ species and a softback weighs 1.4 Highly recommended.

Europe 264

Europe Colombia Birds Ducks 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

The Collins Bird Guide covers Europe, North Atlantic islands, much of North Africa and the Middle East. may be more usual for northern Europe? Introduced breeding species and species recorded only as escapees now have all species illustrated (they were not in the #2) and those illustrations larger than before.

Europe 264

Europe Birds Woodpeckers Ireland 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2015

You see, the Great (White) Heron/Egret is a polytypic species with four subspecies: alba in Europe, egretta in the Americas, melanorhynchos in Africa, and modesta in Asia and Oceania. The Intermediate Egret – by the way – now resides in isolation within its own genus Mesophoyx. Just so you know.

Asia 239

Asia Europe Germany Breeding 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2024

True, most of our migrant breeding birds start to return in April, but in May even the late arrivals – Turtle Doves, Swifts, Spotted Flycatchers and Nightjars – finally appear. Perhaps most spectacular of all were two fine Grey Plovers in full breeding finery, living up to their American name of Black-bellied Plover.

Greece 246

Greece Turtles Breeding Europe 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2024

Griffon Vultures have a long breeding season. Isn’t it a bit late to breed? Why bother with such a risky journey if you aren’t going to breed? We can speculate that it’s part of the learning curve to adulthood or it may simply be that the non-breeding areas in Africa become inhospitable for them at this time of the year.

Africa 246

Africa Morocco Senegal 2003 246

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2015

Furthermore, another redpoll species found in Europe—the Lesser Redpoll—also had extremely similar DNA sequences. In nature, one of the key differentiators among distinct species is assortative mating , that is, members of a group breeding with each other more often than they breed with members of another group.

Species 267

Species Switzerland Europe Groups 267

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2015

We drove for about 290 km through the 400 square kilometres expanse of Pancevacki Rit and found 8 breeding colonies with 252 occupied nests, or a density of 1.6 Birds city birds crows eBird Europe Serbia' Two years ago, I was counting active nests of Rooks in the flat agricultural landscape north of Belgrade, Serbia. nests per 1 km2.

Experiments 260

Experiments Experience Science Serbia 260

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2013

While it might fall within the autumn migration, if you are in the south of Europe, it isn’t in full swing. This timing suites Britain and Netherlands well, I suppose, but Europe is somewhat larger than that.). Birding city birds Europe Serbia' October is a strange month. We met at 10.00 Photos (2): Nebojsa Pantelic.

Serbia 244

Serbia Europe Netherlands Eagles 244

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2015

This is my first visit to this area, known as the Madz Brod, where two new breeding species for the country were discovered a decade ago. They are common winter visitors, but this is my first observation of them in the breeding season. Madz Brod by Slobodan Puzovic. Still, it’s a new bird for my country list. We wait again.

Europe 250

Europe Serbia Russia ALA 250

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2013

Between finishing one graduate program and begining another, he embarked on a whirlwind tour of Europe. Here’s his first stop: Before starting graduate school at the end of June, I planned a whirlwind trip this spring, visiting the major cities in Northern Europe. Trips Europe Iceland seabirds' Total Species: 37.

Iceland 243

Iceland Puffins Europe Birds 243

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2023

Very occasionally though, one might stray down the eastern seaboard of the USA, but for the most part, those that breed in arctic Canada migrate towards Europe and swell numbers there during the winter. The Common Ringed Plover’s two-toned call is lower and less sophisticated than the Semi-palmated’s.

Iceland 264

Iceland Stray Breeders Canada 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2020

And I am in the southeast of Europe. Well, this would be a fitting season for the second, then, this was the strangest Stonechat I ever saw (those birds in January already were in breeding plumage), and it’s either a 1st winter Common male or the Siberian Stonechat. Oh, who’d go back home now? My favourite poplar tree.

Serbia 299

Serbia Birds Cyprus Ducks 299

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2012

The breeding populations of both Barnacle Goose and Pink-footed Goose are increasing in Greenland and it seems that more and more individuals are heading west and south with breeding Canada Geese and make their way to the eastern United States and Canada. Here’s hoping we get another good vagrant goose soon. … a.

New York 220

New York Geese United States Canada 220

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Add more than 350 pairs of White Pelicans to that picture, numerous herons and up to 700 pairs of Pygmy Cormorants breeding in the same reedbeds (cover photo)… It must be bursting with activity in spring, but I was there in mid-September. Have you heard of it? Can you pinpoint it on a map? and dual digits.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Albania 252

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

Other important breeding species include Black and White Stork , Lesser Spotted , White-tailed , and Booted Eagle. Also Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans are resident species, breeding successfully on artificial platforms (close to 300 pairs). Kerkini is one of the most important wintering areas throughout Europe.

Greece 264

Greece Wildlife Boars Otters 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2020

For the last two decades, Europe and the greater Mediterranean have been covered by one of the best field guides anywhere: “Collins Bird Guide” by Lars Svensson et al., published in the US by Princeton as “Birds of Europe”. Still, in this case CBG wins in the JIZZ category as well.

Cyprus 264

Cyprus Saudi Arabia Europe Birds 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2012

Its natural range in Europe was restricted the the surroundings of the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and in Asia it ranged from Asia Minor to central China. Contradicting this relentless shooting were efforts to establish feral populations in many regions of Europe, both within and outside its natural range.

Feral 215

Feral Europe Asia North America 215

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2024

The pelicans are the real stars of the lake, with the Dalmatian Pelicans attracting bird photographers from all over Europe. This indicates peak breeding condition, but by May their pouches are back to pale yellow again. Both species of pelicans breed on the lake, with the Dalmatians the more numerous.

Pelicans 246

Pelicans Greece Fish Bulgaria 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2015

The genus Passer has several well-recognized and recognizable species in Europe, and still holds several enigmas. Then there is the fact that indicus sparrows tend to avoid human habitations while domesticus doesn’t, leading to sympatric breeding with a disputed amount of hybridisation.

Sparrows 258

Sparrows Italy Asia Kyrgyzstan 258

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2019

The toughest thing for me, as a local birder, was to choose the most attractive birds because those that attract my attention are generally all too common in the northwest of Europe, from where most visiting birders are coming. Cranes breed in very small numbers in UK but are always impressive en masse. Hence, I asked my friend B.C.,

Serbia 250

Serbia Woodpeckers Albania Eagles 250

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia. The hide overlooking the breeding colony of Red-footed Falcons. gmail.com or check the maps at birdwatching.rs , so far, only in Serbian).

Serbia 268

Serbia Spain Birds Hungary 268

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

Males of this species are more brightly colored in their non-breeding winter plumage. It used to occur widely throughout South Africa, breeding even on Table Mountain which towers over Cape Town, but over the decades its range has contracted and is now centered around the Drakensberg Mountains and outlying rocky areas.

South Africa 258

South Africa Lesotho Swaziland Africa 258

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2013

Perhaps because of threats to the ecosystems of the many places the Arctic Tern visits (Europe, Africa, South America, and North America), it may be on the decline. Some of those once-popular breeding spots now produce no chicks at all. For example, over the past decade, the population in the Gulf of Maine has dropped by 40 percent.

Bald Eagle 241

Bald Eagle Pandas Puffins Bears 241

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

I was still telling the truth when I mentioned the four subspecies, species, taxa, forms, you name it, of the Great Egret: modesta (Asia), alba (Europe, Asia), egretta (Americas) and melanorhynchos (Africa). This is particularly interesting for birders in North America and Europe (duh!), How then could such a vagrant be identified?

North America 222

North America Europe America Asia 222

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

Presuming that you live somewhere in Europe and plan a car trip to Greece, let me suggest a couple of routes that will increase your tour list. Other species of interest include the southernmost breeding population of Greylag Goose in Europe, Goosander (at bigger and deeper Megali Prespa), Hazel Grouse (at Mt.

Greece 219

Greece Albania Macedonia Europe 219

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2011

If you have been on the receiving end of any guided birding you know that a good guide can make or break the trip and João was up there with the best in terms of his knowledge of the local sites, breeding birds and visitors, coping easily with our constant questioning.

Portugal 255

Portugal Legislation 2000 Europe 255

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2020

And in Shanghai, the situation is relatively relaxed now – a big difference from what I hear from my friends in the US and Europe. Others have wintered here and are now in the process of leaving for the summer, such as the Black-faced Spoonbill – already in breeding plumage so as to not waste any time once arriving in Northern China.

2020 266

2020 China Asia Owls 266

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2024

Few birds sport such magnificent breeding plumage as the male ruff, but not a single bird showed more than a hint of this plumage. These ruffs still had a 1,000 or more miles to fly to reach their northern breeding grounds. They were sharing the same habitat as the resident Kentish Plovers, the only wader to breed here.

Cyprus 246

Cyprus Tethering Breeding Cattle 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

This gull is closely related to, and necessary to separate from, the Black-headed Gull , a bird familiar to any birder from Europe (or even just anyone from Europe!). The Brown-headed Gull is a bird of Asia, breeding from Turkmenistan to Mongolia, and winters along the coasts of Asia.

Turkmenistan 200

Turkmenistan Mongolia Asia Europe 200

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

Carmine bee-eaters occur throughout most of Subsaharan Africa, and many populations migrate widely post breeding. After breeding they also disperse over the rainforests and savannas of West and Central Africa, where they hunt for aerial insects. Two populations exist, the westernmost breeds in the western Sahara (e.g.

Africa 266

Africa Gabon South Africa Uganda 266

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2011

Note the long legs and red bill of the breeding-ready Black-headed Gull below. They are summer visitors to much of northern Europe, wintering in the Mediterranean with resident populations favouring western Europe. They breed noisily and colonially at large lakes with reed beds and marshy areas.

Philadelphia 237

Philadelphia Russia Europe North America 237

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2014

Pygmy Cormorant – winter (it breeds in Serbia, but overwinters in Belgrade). Goosander and Red-breasted Merganser – Belgrade in winter; otherwise, the first one breeds in Serbia. White-tailed Eagle – year round (breeds inside the city). Spanish Sparrow – still ill-numbered but, since recently, breeding near the city.

Serbia 234

Serbia Eagles Sparrows Falcons 234

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2020

It can still be an entirely opposite end of a continent, but – if you are residing in Europe – the flight can be as short as one (from Germany) to two hours (from UK). I am talking of the very heart of the Balkans and the final birding frontier of Europe: Serbia. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 62 more with 100+ birds.

Serbia 317

Serbia Sanctuary Bosnia Birds 317

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2015

One Common Raven is disappearing towards its nest among the branches of the poplar plantation, only to reappear a few minutes later to give a good chase – aerial acrobatics included – to its first neighbour, the White-tailed Eagle which breeds in the vicinity. Birding Europe Mammals otters Serbia' kilometres / 0.7

Otters 236

Otters Serbia Fish Mammals 236

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2012

Actually Little Owls were introduced from Europe during the 19th Century and I believe that they were allowed to fly free indoors to help keep down the vermin populations. A study showed however that despite its very new surroundings, the owl was feeding, as it did in Europe, mostly on invertebrates and small mammals.

Owls 236

Owls New Zealand Europe Mammals 236

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2013

Purple Herons Ardea purpurea are an old world element of the Ardeidae and range widely throughout sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe and central Asia. Within Europe, they are mostly found in the South (around the Mediterranean), and the East.

Germany 196

Germany Asia Europe Africa 196