10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2013

Teams were composed of experience birders in their respective countries, but levels of expertise among birders varied from those with plenty of experience in the Neotropics, including some of the authors of the book “The Birds of Peru” to those for whom coming to Peru was their first time in Latin America. Photo: Peru Birding Rally.

Peru 259

Peru South Africa United Kingdom Birds 259

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

This is where Gila Woodpecker and Yellow-breasted Chat meet Squirrel Cuckoo , Bat Falcon , and Black-throated Magpie-Jay. As the sun began to set, a flock of Mexican Parrotlets alighted in a tree with brilliant red bark, and we all noticed a Bat Falcon watching silently from a high perch above all the action down below.

Mexico 236

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Bats 236

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2020

A pair of Peregrine Falcons came in and started strafing the pigeons and It. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend? Tell us in the comments section about the rarest, loveliest, or most fascinating bird you observed.

2020 195

2020 Falcons Birds Experience 195

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2012

As promised, I watched Falcons get plucked, pinioned, and debeaked this weekend. Note that I only condone this treatment for the highly localized Atlanta Falcon. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. Don’t you agree? What was your best bird of the weekend?

Debeaking 168

Debeaking Atlanta 2011 United States 168

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

The Shoebill serves as the symbol of the magnificent wildlife experiences Uganda offers visitors, which may seem a bit odd. Having finally seen this iconic species, I can assure you that the experience wildly exceeds expectations. After all, the Shoebill isn’t endemic to the country; only Fox’s Weaver currently holds that title.

Uganda 298

Uganda Africa Penguins 2019 298

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2021

Both falconers and wildlife rehabilitators have to study, gain experience, and jump through various hoops in order to get their licenses. It’s under the jurisdiction of the Exotic Species Division of the Department of Environmental Protection, which is a division of US Fish and Wildlife.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 264

Wildlife Rehabilitation Tethering Giraffes Alabama 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2024

A pair of Jabiru were locked in a chase, one tucked in its eight foot wingspan and made a dive not too dissimilar from that of a falcon. Cameras were still tucked away, but the experience left us all without words. The second bird followed suit, physics itself noisily straining to keep the bird airborne as it wheeled overhead.

Guyana 246

Guyana Otters Trinidad Bats 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

Most of all, the time and effort is worth it when we see new birds, surpass our goals, and when we share those trying, challenging, exuberant and triumphant times with others because the birding party is always better, always stronger, when you you can enjoy the experience with like-minded souls. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis; Curu, 4-Jan.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Babita Tours has many years of experience organizing tailor-made wildlife tours for private groups in this wonderful country. We travel from Delhi via Agra to visit the Taj Mahal, a truly magical experience with the added bonus of Black-winged Stilts and River Lapwings on the Yamuna River.

India 246

India Wildlife Tigers Rhinoceros 246

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

The book is organized into ten chapters, framed by a Prologue and Epilogue focused on Weidensaul’s banding experience in Denali National Park. His participant observations connect to his own research experiences, providing history and perspective. Weidensaul traveled to each location to witness the research in process.

Cyprus 264

Cyprus Slaughter Slaughtered Research 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2013

Speaking of hawks, two talented and extremely knowledgeable falconers, Marie Gaspari Crawford and Chloe Bowen, shared with us their birds and their experiences. It’s small enough to provide hands-on, interactive experiences with experts that may not be so easy to achieve at larger festivals with crowds of people.

Nevada 211

Nevada Barn Owls Cows Lamb 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2011

Our night was filled with both fun and falcons; not only did I spy one of the famous Rochester Peregrine Falcons , but I was also able to point out a bug-hawking American Kestrel to the fans around me. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. And the Red Wings won… nice!

2011 160

2011 Falcons Blackbirds Game 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2012

My Best Bird of the Weekend was a Peregrine Falcon gracing an enjoyable Rochester barbecue; good food, good company, and good birds make a powerful combination. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. The first weekend of September is a volatile time.

2012 163

2012 Falcons Owls Birds 163

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

In this first installment, I will focus on my impressions and experiences in the highlands portion of our tour. Birds came fast during the first few hours, including a wide array of classic Neotropical species such as Keel-billed Toucan , Bat Falcon , Bright-rumped Attila , Buff-throated Saltator , and Boat-billed Flycatcher.

Honduras 252

Honduras El Salvador Costa Rica Arizona 252

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

The best birds of my weekend were Seahawks, Eagles, Falcons, Cardinals, And Ravens. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. Mine was fun and footballtastic. In fact, a game is on even as I write this, which means I’ve got no time for idle banter.

Bald Eagle 167

Bald Eagle New Jersey 2011 New York 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2017

Dunne has a rich store of anecdotes from his own experience and that of his many, many acquaintances in the birding world, as well as a good sense of when to dip into the literature of our birding forefathers like Bent and Wilson. Birds of Prey: Hawks, Eagles, Falcons, and Vultures of North America by Pete Dunne with Kevin T.

North America 111

North America Falcons America Eagles 111

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012

I, of course, was focused mainly on Eagles, Falcons, and Seahawks this weekend. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. I’m looking forward to hearing about some astounding avifauna on the move. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2012 168

2012 Falcons Farming Eagles 168

10,000 Birds

JULY 29, 2012

We haven’t seen many birds yet, but did enjoy the sight of a juvenile Peregrine Falcon unruffled by a mob of belligerent Blue Jays. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. Do folks on the southern side of the globe, I wonder, do the same thing around the end of January?

Michigan 160

Michigan 2012 Falcons Birds 160

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2011

The lagoon outside offered other experiences too. It was exciting to discover local Peregrine Falcons surveying Bolinas Lagoon and getting to know the tides helped me find secretive Clapper Rails on the edge of SF Bay. So still that a Red-shouldered Hawk once used me as cover while sneaking up on some pigeons. I was transfixed.

San Francisco 245

San Francisco California Condor Coyotes Iceland 245

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 16, 2013

After over a year of planning and preparation (and after a quick trip to the Pantanal and Chapada dos Guimaraes), I finally arrived at Cristalino Jungle Lodge on the afternoon of August 1st, 2013 to begin my nearly three month long guiding experience here.

Parrots 202

Parrots Brazil Ecuador Eagles 202

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2015

The early Monday night game will feature a battle between Eagles and Falcons, so be sure to set up your scopes and snack bowls! If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2015 154

2015 Falcons Game Eagles 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2016

Sadly, the award must be posthumous, as birders at the pond later on Saturday watched the one-eyed wonder get killed by an opportunistic Peregrine Falcon. If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

2016 154

2016 Jamaica Falcons Killing 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

Fruska Gora National Park with British journalist Mike Unwin who later described the experience: “The road passed through a region of short-grass steppe on the lower slopes of the ridge, where we spotted several Sousliks scampering for their burrows. For the fourth sighing, I have to go back in time, to August 2004, birding the slopes of Mt.

Serbia 259

Serbia 2004 Eagles Chickens 259

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2012

Highlights here (while drinking the thrillingly strong coffee) include Channel-billed Toucan , Crested Oropendola , Turquoise Tanager , Bat Falcon , Barred Antshrike , Blue Dacnis , Green Honeycreeper , Gray-headed Dove , Yellow Oriole , and a suite of hot hummingbirds that deserve their own report.

Trinidad 250

Trinidad South America America Ecuador 250

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Raptors to look for in this reserve are Golden Eagle and Short-toed Snake Eagle , European Honey-buzzard and Peregrine Falcon. The good side of this popularity is presence of restaurants and inns (from personal experience I can recommend a place for carnivores called Vodopad – By the waterfall).

Serbia 264

Serbia Woodpeckers Owls Eagles 264

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

An expanse of habitat as vast as Murchison Falls NP in Uganda, as excessively generous in beauty and biodiversity, permits endless ways to experience both its birds and animals. Plus, the food, service, and accommodations meet the highest standards.

Uganda 241

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 241

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2016

At the same time, a Peregrine Falcon flies across the valley. Our guides were researchers from Callisto, patient and always smiling Yannis Tsanakis (above) and Maria Petridou with her infectious laugh and stories of her Sun Bear and Jaguar research experiences. Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus.

Bears 271

Bears Greece Europe Slovenia 271

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2021

An Aplomado Falcon came in like a bullet late one evening and made off with an unlucky Lesser Yellowlegs in a wetland only 20 minutes from where I live. There is an unquantifiable joy one experiences when genuinely surprised. A male Tropical Parula (below) attempts to woo a female with constant attention. Hook-billed Kite.

Birds 264

Birds Falcons Raised Species 264

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The many small ponds and waterways attract quite a few ducks, though presumably due to their China experience, they are extremely wary of people. P eregrine Falcon. These Eurasian Teal s know they are treading on thin ice in China. Ferruginous Ducks are relatively rare here – a pity, given how attractive they are.

China 202

China Ducks Transported Suffering 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

My own trip was not an intensive birding experience, and August is clearly not the most productive month. “I would certainly recommend Serbia to visiting birders. I chalked up 132 species in a pretty relaxed eight days, during which birds shared the agenda with culture. eBird bar chart. #4 4 Beljarica Foreland (Kovilovo floodplain), Belgrade.

Serbia 199

Serbia Bulgaria Farming Turtles 199

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2011

If you’ve blogged about your weekend experience, you should include a link in your comment. On the other hand, a woefully brief glimpse of a Hook-billed Kite at Bentsen State Park was all it took to move it from my world list to my ABA list. While pondering that, also share your best bird of the weekend!

2011 157

2011 Mississippi ALA Sparrows 157

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2014

shocked everyone with a suggestion that passerines were most closely related not to woodpeckers and kingfishers but to parrots, falcons, and seriemas. So if you need me, I’ll just be over here thinking about doves and flamingos, parrots and falcons, hummingbird brains and our own. Jarvis et al. Eight years ago, Ericson et al.

Family 279

Family Parrots Birds 2014 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2014

People asked me what target birds I had in mind, but really I had very few; I’m not a list-ticker and my goal was to experience the raptor migration. One of the responses was from a couple who own a beautiful little guesthouse near Casares, a small, white town located centrally and strategically close to the birding action. Griffon Vulture.

Spain 193

Spain Ostriches Africa Canada 193

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2011

Kirby Adams had a magical experience with his Best Bird of the Year and he blogged about it on his blog, Sharp Tern. The African Pygmy Falcon finally showed itself after years of being a nemesis bird I didn’t even know I had. Here, without further ado, are your Best Birds of 2011, in no particular order.

2011 166

2011 Ohio North Dakota Bald Eagle 166

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

However, the great birding experience that is Sani starts lower down. However, it’s not just the birding that makes a trip up Sani Pass such a memorable experience. Photo by Adam Riley. From the quaint historic village of Himeville, the Sani road winds through green pastures and grasslands dotted with lakes and wetlands.

Lesotho 213

Lesotho Rats Africa Woodpeckers 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2020

The following year, 2014, I elected to join a different group birding the lowland seasonal forest at the opposite end of the CBC radius from where I had that wonderful experience the year before. This hulking Peregrine Falcon was very accommodating to say the least. Trinidad Lancehead , or Fer-de-lance. Pinnated Bittern.

Trinidad 223

Trinidad Livestock 2015 Buffalo 223

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2019

I counted them very roughly, but I do have a lot of experience estimating flocks. Red-footed Falcon by BartBotje/Wikimedia Commons. The next specialty is the Red-footed Falcon in the Deliblato Sands Nature Reserve in the east of Serbia: “Two European Rollers await us on the wires, while one Eurasian Hoopoe flies by.

2018 128

2018 Serbia Greece Falcons 128