10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

Normally the lighthouse is obscured in fog, but when we arrived the air was crystal clear, and in addition to seeing groups of Gray Whales migrating past, I spotted hundreds of Surf Scoters , a Pigeon Guillemot , and a pair of Peregrine Falcons from my perch atop the lighthouse cliff. White-crowned Sparrow.

Seals 228

Seals Elephants Whales Whaling 228

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

The prospect of identifying a certain number of species in a given amount of time pushes us to pay more attention to birds no matter what the circumstances (although I suggest keeping the exclamations about species identifications to yourself during such solemn situations as funerals, graduations, and watching episodes of The Sopranos).

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa). Quality time was spent with a friendly Hamar family at their homestead of grass huts surrounding their cattle corral. Yellow-billed Stork.

Ethiopia 255

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Cattle 255

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2024

There was a large raft of hundreds of American Coot , an American White Pelican and lots of duck species. A Merlin had just attempted to grab breakfast before our very eyes… She missed and while we were happy for the sandpipers – they are very pretty – the excitement we felt was for the falcon. The birds warmed us too.

Ducks 201

Ducks Emotional Cattle Owls 201

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2023

Some 320 species have been recorded here, and in springtime it is possible to observe more than 150 bird species in a week. We also observed nests of Pygmy Cormorants , Dalmatian Pelicans , Little Egrets , Cattle Egret (with a chick), Squacco Heron , and Spoonbills. The lake lies at a mere 35 m / 115 ft a.s.l.

Greece 246

Greece Pelicans Stray Dog Tortoises 246

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 16, 2018

Serbia has 317 eBirded species so far, or 89% of the 356 in the national checklist. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. Spring migration March to April , 270 eBirded species.

Serbia 188

Serbia Macedonia Geese Owls 188

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

From there, we entered a side tributary full of Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers , with Chestnut-fronted and Scarlet Macaws in flight… and then the noise: groans, croaks and grunts… and the smell… of this 65 million years old species, so old that the last dinosaurs must have fed on them!

Dolphins 264

Dolphins Colombia Otters Monkeys 264

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2014

The second edition of the National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition has one of the longest book names in bird bookdom: National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition: Now Covering More Than 1,000 Species With the Most-Detailed Information Found in a Single Volume. This volume is no exception.

North America 186

North America America Family Falcons 186

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

In an unhurried half-day of birding, we racked up over 90 species, including killers like Denham’s Bustard , Northern Carmine-throated Bee-eater , and Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow. Plus, the food, service, and accommodations meet the highest standards. How is birding in Murchison Falls, you ask? Mind boggling, I answer!

Uganda 240

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. In any case, our hang-ups with vultures clearly stem from our own issues rather than any inherently bizarre trait of the species themselves. Vultures famously feed on carrion. Dead things. New World Vultures.

California Condor 224

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 224

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2012

Other species I was looking forward to as possibilities included Anhingas , Magnificent Frigatebirds , and seeing as the sun was supposed to shine, some raptors soaring. Creatures like another species of monkey, White-headed Capuchin , Cebus capucinus , which are also known as White-faced Capuchins.

Honduras 179

Honduras Wildlife Monkeys Bats 179

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

This is a very hot and dry region known as El Chaco where many interesting bird species can be found. This land has gone through extensive ecosystem destruction from farming cattle and soybeans. This road trip took us south-east moving away form the mountains and to lower flat land which had been converted to farmland.

Argentina 229

Argentina Chile Farming Birds 229

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

The warm, sunny climate beckons a wide variety of passerines, raptors, and shorebirds to spend the winter, inflating the species diversity to the extent that Miami-Dade can go toe-to-toe with counties in Texas and Arizona during this season. Can we hit 200 ABA-countable species in four days next year? Cattle Egret: 133.

Miami 183

Miami 2015 United States Florida 183

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

We are entering the mixed colony of 11 species ( Grey , Squacco , Purple and Black-crowned Night Herons ; Great , Little and, recently, Cattle Egrets ; Eurasian Spoonbill (below) and Glossy Ibis ; Pygmy and Great Cormorant ). What is the status of this species in the Kerkini NP? I’m in Greece, after all.

Greece 203

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 203

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2017

Birds with white on them are much more likely to take the form of goodies like the Snowy Cotinga , or two species of tityras. In Costa Rica, even the super shy Slaty-backed Forest-Falcon is seen more often than the island pigeon with the snow-white cap. The Bat Falcon that joined us for breakfast. .

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Tigers Bats 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2018

The photo blind at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge gave me this close up of a Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ). This refuge offers such a wide variety of species, that I wrote a post awhile back showing several species of wading birds in the same location on the auto tour route. Click on photos for full sized images.

Wildlife 105

Wildlife Sacramento Bald Eagle Falcons 105

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

In keeping with high diversity in other aspects of the avian kingdom, including falcons and excluding owls, this small country has a raptor list that tops fifty species. There might be a lot of species, but competition and other factors result in fewer individuals of each species. and Short-tailed Hawk.

Costa Rica 102

Costa Rica West Virginia Eagles Monkeys 102

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

We have nearly 930 species on the official list and with some effort, 700 in a year is a feasible goal. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. Snowy Egret – Egretta thula; Tirimbina, 9-Jan.

Costa Rica 193

Costa Rica Parrots Birds Baltimore 193

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

The pressure is on if you can only get certain species during the first month of the year but if you just want to add any old birds to the year list, everything is fresh! Since I’m in no big hurry to reach any number of species in 2018, my year birding is going to be a fresh one hopefully touched with a good dose of Zen.

Costa Rica 188

Costa Rica Parrots Woodpeckers Birds 188

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2017

Nevertheless, I still have over 232 species including the latest addition- a Striped Owl heard from my bedroom window as it called into a moonlit night. With luck, this bird list will also see species from other countries, I hope “wherever else” ends up referring to Colombia and Brazil!

Costa Rica 114

Costa Rica 2017 Woodpeckers Parrots 114

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 237

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Ducks 237

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 255

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Parrots 255

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.

Sparrows 264

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Blackbirds 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Surely they couldn’t be the same species, across a continent. The Internet was prepared to offer plenty of information on what Carolina grasshoppers eat – grasses and forbs, mostly weed species but sometimes crops like tobacco,corn, and alfalfa. But they are. Far scarcer are specifics on what eats Carolina grasshoppers.

Montana 194

Montana Cooking Texas Cattle 194

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans). Other sightings have been included from legitimate outings for work and exercise (at all times maintaining a respectable distance). Graylag Goose (Anser anser).

2020 170

2020 Woodpeckers Blackbirds Sparrows 170

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 251 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 279 Collared Forest-Falcon – Micrastur semitorquatus. 483 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 557 Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus.

Woodpeckers 257

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 257

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Collared Forest-Falcon – Micrastur semitorquatus. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. Prairie Falcon – Falco mexicanus. These are the numbers.

2019 134

2019 Idaho Sparrows Woodpeckers 134

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

Munkajarra Wetlands is always a good location for the various duck species and you can expect to observe Plumed Whistling-Ducks , Wandering Whistling-Ducks , Pacific Black Ducks , Hardheads , Grey Teal and sometimes Radjah Shelducks and Pink-eared Ducks. Dragonflies photobombing on the right as we approach. Purple Swamphens.

Geese 253

Geese Ducks Breeding Cattle 253

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Amur Falcon – Falco amurensis. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. Collared Forest-Falcon – Micrastur semitorquatus. 01 Jun 2019.

2019 137

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 137

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. In case you were worried, Our Man in Shanghai is still flying the flag. He is currently safe and well and watching, with his cats, from the window. The year list now stands at 1613.

2020 174

2020 Blackbirds Sparrows Woodpeckers 174

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2015

The first 25 kilometres of the Gibb River Road from the east is good bitumen, enabling those without four-wheel drives to visit some of the gorges, but there is a warning straight away that it is unfenced cattle country and everything roams free. The start of the Gibb River Road from the east. Juvenile and adult Gouldian Finch.

Birds 155

Birds Australia Cattle Pelicans 155

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2016

Back in Costa Rica, walks through coffee and fields near the house, and a few other day trips have upped the list to 250 species. The year has just started, there are hundreds of other bird species to look for, I wonder if I can reach 700 species for Costa Rica by December 31st? White-eyed Vireo! .

Costa Rica 105

Costa Rica 2016 San Antonio Sparrows 105

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2020

Some parts of the trail offer views over much more open country and I am lucky enough to encounter a Peregrine Falcon and a Nankeen Kestrel. When I returned to the small dam where there had been so many Australian Wood Ducks earlier in the day I discovered that the eleven cows had been joined by two Cattle Egrets. Australasian Grebe.

Buffalo 193

Buffalo Fish Koalas Cattle 193

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2018

Here we will actually stop for a full day, as there is a 10,000 acre wetland refuge, which should hold several species of gulls, White-fronted Geese and Black Brant, just to name a few. As far as my year’s list, this last weekend netted me 6 more species, putting me at 127 species.

Ducks 122

Ducks Blackbirds California Sparrows 122

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). I know that we are all looking forward to a time when we might return to the old normal, but until then, please stay safe and keep your distance. Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea). Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea).

2020 166

2020 Niger Sparrows Woodpeckers 166

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

Due to the fact that we have recorded up to eighty species on any visit in recent weeks I will break them down into the larger species and then the smaller species next week. There are no trails as such, but you can follow in the cattle tracks along the edge of the river or the gravel tracks used by vehicles. Great Egret.

Pelicans 100

Pelicans Birds Eagles Ducks 100