10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2022

After writing this last sentence, I looked up the species in the HBW and found the sentence “Song poorly documented” in the appropriate section, while with regard to calls, the description is that “call is a two-note raspy nasal ‘ryeeh-reh’”. In New Zealand, the Spotted Dove is an introduced species.

Mountain Goats 147

Mountain Goats Singapore Giraffes Birds 147

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2021

I pointed at the bird shown below but he insisted it could not be that species – no long tail … For people of a certain age, gender and background, at some point The Smiths were the most important band in the world. Cattle Egrets have perfected that smudgy look. She got excited: “Birds with sunglasses!”

LACS 236

LACS Birds France Japan 236

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2020

It is interesting to see the different evolutionary strategies of closely related bird species – the various snow-white egrets with their “I don`t give a damn who can see me” attitude contrasting with the ridiculously well-camouflaged yellow bitterns. If you see 50 cattle egrets following a plough on a rice paddy, less so.

Singapore 176

Singapore Fish Cattle Breeding 176

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

Maybe better not to ever meet such a “mother” (given that I have been living in China for too long to be up-to-date regarding political correctness etc., This Cattle Egret has just read a paper stating that it would be 3.6 I am not sure whether it is ok to use the word “slut” My guess is it is not).

Birds 162

Birds South Korea Japan Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2022

Notes on bird species and locations shown: Amur Paradise Flycatcher (Nanhui, China). Bar-tailed Godwit (Tiaozini, China). Barn Swallow (Nanhui, China). Daurian Redstart (Nanhui, China). Eastern Buzzard (Nanhui, China). Curlew (Tiaozini, China). Eurasian Oystercatcher (Tiaozini, China).

China 223

China India Homelessness South Africa 223

10,000 Birds

JUNE 24, 2021

The fields near the Tiaozini mudflats look very much like a lunar landscape, but this does not seem to keep a number of species from breeding there, sometimes directly on dirt roads. The fourth species apparently breeding on these fields is Grey-headed Lapwing. Much better than some fiddly spoon-billed sandpipers. Not this one.

Uganda 223

Uganda Birds Rats Breeding 223

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

10,000 Birds has yet to take a stance on the developing situation between mainland China and Hong Kong. Until The Management decide whether or not to wield their significant political influence in this matter, China and Hong Kong will remain on the list of contributing states. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

2020 156

2020 Blackbirds Sparrows Woodpeckers 156

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 201 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

Woodpeckers 187

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Ducks 187

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2013

We did have the good fortune of finding an individually marked Bar-tailed Godwit that was marked in Yalu Jiang Nature Reserve in China last April 15th and was last seen there on May 11th 2012. As we travelled around the hinterland we discovered that the Cattle Egret in that area of Queensland were with the cattle!

Cattle 151

Cattle Birds Litter 2012 151

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

7 beats contributed their sightings from 7 countries (Hong Kong, UK, China, USA, Serbia, Australia and, of course, Costa Rica). 149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). The total for the year has been pushed to 1478 , whilst the life list has reached 4009. Great Egret (Ardea alba).

2020 153

2020 Niger Sparrows Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2022

Nabang is a town in Yingjiang county, Yunnan province, China – it is right on the border with Myanmar (there actually is a border crossing more or less right inside Nabang). Though my expertise regarding another animal species – homo sapiens – leads me to believe that this show-offish pose indicates a male bird).

Bangladesh 179

Bangladesh Birds China India 179

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

172 lists were shared and 1004 species were seen, both records for October, so well done beats! Visited this month were; Germany , France , Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Indonesia , Switzerland and Singapore). Nanhui Dongtan (China ). Nanhui Dongtan (China). 23 Oct 2019.

2019 118

2019 China Battery Jamaica 118

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

During July, 11 beats birded 11 countries (USA, UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Japan, UAE, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia) and submitted 82 checklists. They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. These are the numbers. Alphabetic Taxonomic. Lago de Cuitzeo.

2019 120

2019 Idaho Sparrows Woodpeckers 120

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Laguna Lagarto Lodge.

2019 121

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 121

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

The list for the year has reached 1276 and the life list has been stretched to 4066 with red ticks from China, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, thanks to Kai, Claire and Grant and Faraaz respectively. 9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species.

Woodpeckers 154

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Parrots 154

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.

Sparrows 211

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 211

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2023

Like the Eastern Crowned Warbler (which eBird mysteriously calls a “boldly marked songbird” despite its similarity to about 50 other warbler species) … … and the Arctic Warbler (or maybe some other warbler looking very similar). Here is a mugshot of a Long-tailed Shrike. T-shirts will be available soon.

Birds 130

Birds China Taiwan Raised 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia). The year list ends on a provisional 1803 species from 1608 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Most species-prolific was Patrick in Costa Rica, followed by Paul from Mexico.

2020 230

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 230

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

At time of writing (usually a couple of days early to avoid the deadline panic), UK is fielding 63 species. 8 beats contributed 70 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, China, Serbia, Australia and Singapore). 102 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 102 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. UK El Campeón!

2020 160

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Woodpeckers 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Marsh Grassbird and Rufous-faced Warbler come to you all the way from China and bring the life list to 4061.

Sparrows 159

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 159

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

7 countries (Costa Rica, China, USA, UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Serbia) were birded by 11 beats during October. They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 646 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

2020 129

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 129

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. The year has started well with 10 new birds from India, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica. 12 beats birded 10 countries (Costa Rica, USA, Brazil, China, India, Serbia, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico), submitting 187 lists and spotting 902 birds.

2020 160

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

In publishing the most current thinking, eBird have become the month’s biggest contributor to the life list, expanding it by 7 brand new species and pushing it to 3774. 7 species were added to the life list in the time-honoured fashion of actually identifying the birds in the field. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

2019 118

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 118

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

December’s numbers looked like this; 10 beats visited 11 countries (Bahrain, New Zealand, USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Australia Nigeria, Uganda and Serbia) during December. They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 02 Dec 2019.

2019 173

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 173

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2023

The Fairy Pitta is listed as Vulnerable, with the HBW that the species is “rare; global population probably no more than a few thousand individuals” While the sexes are alike, my guess is that the Fairy Pitta in the photo is a male given its early arrival date in Shanghai. ” Good point, I think. I hope he is right.

China 130

China Tenant Pakistan Birds 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

11 beats collaborated to enter 163 checklists from 8 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago). They noted 719 species between them. 217 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 217 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 3 Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor.

2020 292

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 292

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

The beats are famed for their inclusion on the nice side of the ledger and this month 9 of them shared 163 lists from 7 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) and accounted for 735 bird species. Mike doubled up with “smushed”, a new addition to the adjective list.

Sparrows 191

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 191

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Their Ugandan contribution reached 258 before contact was lost.

2019 141

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 141

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2020

9 beats visited 9 countries (China, Costa Rica, USA, UK, India, Australia, Jamaica , Serbia and Japan) and submitted 151 checklists when they got back. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. You may notice that the list only reaches as far as 879 even though I claimed that there were 928 species recorded during February.

2020 156

2020 Sanctuary Australia Sparrows 156

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2022

Shanghai parks are rather crowded and noisy places, but the goshawks – who unlike me have lived in China all their lives – apparently do not mind. Coming from somebody who has exiled himself to China, this is not exactly a compliment. Swinhoe’s White-eye was just promoted to the rank of a full species in 2018.

China 147

China Birds Eggs Breeding 147