10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. Ringer Gannets and Boobies (Sulidae) Black-and-white gannets breed on the cold, rocky coasts of the northern and southern oceans. They can soar for hours, or plunge and twist after another bird with spectacular power and flair.

2011

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

Being winter, this bird is in non-breeding plumage with more brown upper parts and lacking the white face it acquires in its aternate (breeding) plumage. A First Christmas Bird Count Experience » To learn more about 10,000 Birds, Mike, Corey, or the many marvelous Beat Writers, please click here. Beautiful bird.

Wildlife

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Informed literature bears out my experience that most birds are seen singly or in pairs. Outside of the breeding season a few birds may join together in a loose flock if the feeding is good. The former British colony’s Z.c. melli strain is one of as many as 12 races and shows a lighter face than many of the others.

2011

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

Here’s hoping this bird makes it back to its home turf to breed and comes back to spend another winter in New York State! But after repeated good experiences with birders as individuals, Mr Jordan has consented to allow the bird to be made public before it leaves. It truly is a beauty, and worth the very long trip.

New York

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. I had a beautifull view on 5 horned grebe here (one in breeding plumage), in Ann Arbor Michigan, for the 3 seconds it lasted, until I heard a huge “CRRACK&# , and I fell through the ice. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2011

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Steve Howell has spent decades of experience in the field studying the birds of Belize, Costa Rica, and especially Mexico. They also occasionally show breeding colonies or isolated populations, possible occurrences, and directions of range expansion. I don’t think scientific artwork holds less value when used more than once.

Costa Rica

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

Hornbills are spectacular under any circumstances, but when a pair lands in a bush beside you at eye-level and begin mutual preening , it makes for a spectacular experience. It was easily one of the best birding experiences I’ve ever had, even impressing my nonbirder fiance. You can read more about his experience here.

2013

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

The seasonal life of one bird species is complex; life cycle events like aging, breeding, molt, and migration are intricately tied to habitat, food availability, genetic ‘instincts,’ hours of daylight, and weather. The effect can be overwhelming, and I found myself reading some sections two, even three times, to understand it all.

Birds

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. So, beside a lot of birds and the sunny sky, I want the coldest thing to experience year-round to be my beer. Peru (1807 / 1761). Why am I here? And where all those birds are? The Neotropics.

Sri Lanka

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

It was a heart-pounding scene straight out of Jurassic Park, an odd experience for a laid-back pursuit like birding. Secretive, silent and undetectable outside of its breeding season, found only in the U.S. I wrote about the experience here. Adam Riley chose a bird that is near and dear to Mike Bergin’s heart.

2012

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

Let us for once judge a book by its cover, and take a thorough look at a Black-headed Gull in breeding plumage. And I haven’t even started to write about ageing them … What are your experiences, and what is the colour of the claws on your local gull species? Greater Black-backed Gull – or Greater Black-dressed Gull?

2011