10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2021

January is the month where I allow myself to go only to my very best sites, and rejoice in even the most commonplace species. I correctly suspected that Lake Cuitzeo would be too dry this year to give me its usual 75+ species in the deep of winter. (It But Las Mesas did indeed come through, with 79 species.

2020 264

2020 Ducks Birds Abandoning 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2023

While the P-a-P Wildfowl Trust’s main thrust is the breeding and release of five duck species, the habitat encourages a number of native wetland birds to inhabit and proliferate the area. Due to the plethora of bird species around, invariably we were to experience something breathtaking.

Trinidad 260

Trinidad Birds Ducks Fish 260

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2024

In the book, one picture stood out in particular: the White-headed Duck. There were only a few dozen of these ducks left and the photographer – using old-fashioned analog film – took just one, very fuzzy shot. Even so, the idea of one day going out to find this rare duck appealed to me. Time to look for that UFO myself.

Spain 218

Spain Ducks Morocco Europe 218

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2022

One of the old jokes I always hear at Christmas Bird Count dinners pops up we get to the ducks, which is now pretty early in the compilation thanks to the current taxonomic order. “Summer or Wood Duck” from The Birds of America by John James Audubon (1785-1851).

2018 214

2018 Ducks France California 214

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Would it still be deep enough for the ducks that prefer that half? Would there be enough deep water to see Ruddy Ducks and Clark’s Grebes ? The western half still has enough water for some shorebirds, but the thousands of ducks I would usually see now number in the dozens. But, as always, new sites bring new species.

2020 248

2020 Ducks Sparrows 2019 248

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2024

But for birders, the name bluenose might more easily be applied to ducks of the genus Oxyura. The six species in this genus are all… Source I imagine that this is due to the cold winters up there, rather than suggesting that all Nova Scotians are prudes.

Ducks 212

Ducks Species Mexico Birds 212

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Later in the day, several difficult species decided to be less difficult. There were six species of wild ducks, along with the usual few released domestic ducks. There were six species of wild ducks, along with the usual few released domestic ducks. ” And so do I.)

Ducks 227

Ducks Fish Breeding Species 227

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2014

I already have a history of searches for this species. Actually, when I started to bird, my second ever duck, after the Mallard , was a Ruddy Shelduck! I was in a kayak, the duck was some 4-5 metres from me, easily tolerating my interest for some 5 minutes or more, implying that it was almost certainly an escapee.

Serbia 235

Serbia Ducks Poland Kazakhstan 235

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2020

It happens to every birder and it may take a while but eventually, every person who strives to see different species of birds comes across that one warbler, that particular shorebird or bunting or crossbill that they really, honestly, should have seen. My former nemesis was the Masked Duck. It also shows there every year!

Costa Rica 258

Costa Rica Ducks Birds Laws 258

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

I’m posting this video I shot at Delevan NWR in case you haven’t seen these elegant ducks in action. Birds dabbling ducks Delevan National Wildlife Refuge ducks Gaadwall National Wildlife Refuges' Our National Wildlife Refuges are special places where we can observe wildlife in their natural habitats. v=HcgOFQtcyAo.

2006 209

2006 Ducks Wildlife New York 209

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2019

I’ll be the first to admit the selection of ducks so far at Booze and Birds has been rather paltry. Stumpy Duck is an American pale ale by Trillium Brewing Company of Boston, Massachusetts, one of the most popular breweries in New England for the past few years. Trillium Brewing Company: Stumpy Duck American Pale Ale.

Ducks 103

Ducks Houston Boston Fowl 103

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2020

A strange duck, let’s see… an eclipse male Red-crested Pochard ! This was the last of the local ducks that I managed to find (it took me years of birding), and ever since I have seen it only once in every 2-3 years. Nearby are four very dark brown ducks… Tufted Duck females!

Serbia 266

Serbia Birds Cyprus Ducks 266

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

For mankind to snatch away a species’ very existence is wrong on so many levels that I can’t begin to explain them. However, despite our best efforts to wipe them off the face of the earth, some of the more vulnerable species have managed to hang on. this species breeds. Here are some U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Albatross 202

Albatross Endangered Species Bald Eagle Alaska 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2014

The Veliko Ratno Island birdlist is about 170 species long, of which more than 90 were observed from the Dorcol Promenade. Highlight species: Ferruginous Duck , Goosander , Red-breasted Merganser , Red-crested Pochard , Greater Scaup , Velvet Scoter , Black-throated Diver. In March and November, Common Cranes are a possibility.

Serbia 231

Serbia Ducks Birds Eagles 231

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2024

Now that this bird has seemingly moved on, I had to find other species to distract me, but fortunately that was not too hard. Fortunately, I did not only see the standard species, but was also rewarded with less regular species. Perhaps the scaups are bad luck for me, but I’m sure I’ll get my bittern one day.

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Birds Ducks Groups Species 201

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 13, 2024

I was very happy about this lifer as I had been hoping to see this species in autumn during my stay on Heligoland. Greater Scaup The female was rather shy, but I was happy to compare it to the many Tufted Ducks that were around as well. A Water Rail was hidden, calling from the reeds. Something special can always turn up!

Netherlands 220

Netherlands Birds Ducks Hunting 220

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2022

Over the course of the following hour or so we observed many different species *coincidentally* alight on the wall near to the body of the fallen yellowlegs. This Black-bellied Whistling Duck was on its way to visit its mate and young brood further afield in the same pond but made a detour. Spotted Sandpiper. Paying respects?

Elephants 268

Elephants Ducks Humane Family 268

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

And when I got home, photos I had taken of a flock flying overhead revealed Northern Pintails , another previously missing-in-action species. I had not expected to determine the whereabouts of a a remaining duck species, the adorable Ruddy Duck. But it was two more species that made my day complete.

Ducks 208

Ducks Pelicans Collecting Species 208

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2024

First there was the Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, a species I had long wanted to see. The following week, I finally got some great photos of a male Ruddy Duck with its fantastic reproductive blue bill. A pattern seems to be developing this summer, of birds with really striking faces. I wrote about this encounter a month ago.

Ducks 204

Ducks Species Birds 204

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2022

pounds) heavy Colombia field guide with its 1900+ species. 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 The number of species per page varies from one to two, rarely 3.

Europe 249

Europe Colombia Birds Ducks 249

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2021

That green grass is not a meadow; it is growing in water deep enough for swimming ducks. The dot in the center of the second photo is a lone Mexican Duck flying just over the water. Most of these are migratory species, for which Lake Cuitzeo is a vital wintering ground. Still life with Avocet and Shoveler.

Ducks 201

Ducks Battery Species Breeding 201

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2020

In late July, I travelled a half hour north of Morelia to Lake Cuitzeo (kweet-SAY-oh) to see if our two inevitable first migratory species from up north, Baird’s Sandpiper and Wilson’s Phalarope, had begun arriving. At that point, neither species was yet present, and there wasn’t much of a lake, either.

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Ducks 2020 Eggs California 252

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

The Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching offers two types of information: Species Accounts–descriptions of 112 birds within 15 families as they appear over and on the water, and Where to Watch, brief descriptions of 47 sites on the North American eastern coast and interior recommended for seawatching. No rails or gallinules.

Ducks 230

Ducks Groups North America North Dakota 230

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2014

With about 110 recorded species, the Kozara becomes truly magical place when the Danube swells and reclaims what is rightfully his. On the other side of the river, underneath the very buttresses of the Belgrade Fortress, with its 170 recorded bird species lies the Veliko Ratno Island (44°49’53.20″N, 20°26’4.98″E).

Serbia 239

Serbia Stray Dog Botswana Protection 239

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2019

And here in Europe, they are the real deal, an indigenous species and not domesticated animals gone wild. When I reached the levee earlier that morning, I met an elderly hunter from whom I learned that there was an ongoing duck and pheasant hunt, but no one was shooting from, nor towards the embankment, hence I should be safe there.

Serbia 244

Serbia Otters Boars Hunters 244

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2022

The usual ducks were also present – Black-bellied Whistling Duck and White-cheeked Pintail. Both of these are dabbling ducks while the scaups are divers. Checking some of the other ponds revealed more ducks, namely a group of ten Blue-winged Teal and a staggering number of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks.

Falcons 236

Falcons Trinidad Ducks Livestock 236

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2019

Nisqually NWR is a major staging area for migratory birds , a wintering area for many ducks and geese, and a breeding area for numerous songbirds. According to eBird , 278 bird species have been observed and approximately 14,000 checklists have been submitted. There’s a $3 day-use fee, but it is free if you have a Duck Stamp.

Washington 233

Washington Portland Birds Geese 233

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2022

As it turned out, the remaining water was too shallow for ducks, except a few Northern Shovelers. Admittedly, early May is too late to find most duck species in Michoacán, even in a good year.) But I did find a wonderful surprise on that trip , a species to which I will return below.

Ducks 209

Ducks Mexico Fish Breeding 209

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2024

and I would like to take good photos of this species. The waterbirds were fun to watch, as they often are at this park, and all the standard species were there particularly Mallard , Common Pochard and Tufted Duck (you might have noticed I mention Tufted Ducks a lot in my posts – I’m not sure why but I really like this species!)

Germany 165

Germany Ducks Birds Woodpeckers 165

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

And I decided to search it for the forest species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk , Syrian Woodpecker (okay, not truly a forest sp.), And I decided to search it for the forest species: Eurasian Sparrowhawk , Syrian Woodpecker (okay, not truly a forest sp.), And at the beginning of February, my list is still ridiculously low at 55 species.

Otters 257

Otters Croatia Eagles Protection 257

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Scores of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks circled overhead, these vocal ducks are often hunted illegally here so it was refreshing to see so many. Two species of icterids populated the area, the presence of either was a direct indicator of the degree of water present. We had no idea if the nighthawks would hunker down or flee.

Livestock 210

Livestock ALA Ducks illegal 210

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

I observed this species in the Little Rann of Kutch in India and since then, have been burning with desire to see them back home. First stop and – bingo – Northern Shoveler , the last of the common duck species that I haven’t seen this winter. He will think twice before guarantying the GGS next time’ the British birder wrote.

Serbia 238

Serbia Owls Rodents India 238

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

It was also great to finally travel overseas again, meet a lot of people I did not know (and some I did), to be in a new country… and not just the new country, but its best birding area, where almost all local hotspots are yellow (150+ species) and several are ochre (200+ sp.), impressive for Central Europe.

Austria 296

Austria Factory Asia Battery 296

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. I will not name all ducks, but Bufflehead and Canvasback were lifers so they deserve a call-out. Sandpipers up in the air and a general panic among the coots and ducks. The birds warmed us too.

Ducks 152

Ducks Emotional Cattle Owls 152

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

If you are like me, it is likely that you usually have a target species or two for each of your outings. So does this Mexican Duck (NOT a Mallard sub-race, according to the 2020 AOS decision): Note the (lack of) depth of this water. But the Fulvous Whistling-Ducks were the ones that really won my hearts. Of course they did!

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South America Ducks 2020 Mexico 221

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

Green Cay Wetlands at sunrise for the specials – Limpkin, Purple Gallinule, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks and of course the ever-reliable (at this time of year) male Painted Buntings. Nearly every species of heron and egret in North America forage only feet away, some of them in their dazzling breeding displays.

Factory 220

Factory North America Alligators Trafficking 220

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2021

But only 13% purchased a Duck Stamp. “A The results: “The most important attributes in the choice of birdwatching trips were: (1) travel distance; (2) chance to see rare or unusual bird species; and (3) the naturalness of the area. Thus, birders like natural areas close to home with rare species, and perhaps some ducks.

Minnesota 264

Minnesota Pennsylvania Ohio United States 264