10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2021

The rains have ended, the sun is back out, and new species arrive each week from up north. Males of this species, and of their very close relative the Black-chinned Hummingbird , tend to winter far downhill on the coast. So I am surprised and delighted to have seen males of each species in the past few weeks.

Nicaragua 234

Nicaragua Mexico Guatemala Nashville 234

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2014

Danny let us know about a bird he had earlier that he was convinced was a Connecticut Warbler , something I teased him about because he has never seen one and it was fun to tell him that he actually had a Nashville Warbler , of which there were at least two in the park.

Connecticut 183

Connecticut Nashville 2008 Killing 183

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2017

Even though there are several spots where different species can take baths at their leisure, this male Lesser Goldfinch ( Spinus psaltria ) decided to evict a Ruby-crowned Kinglet ( Regulus calendula ) that was really enjoying itself! I also added a new surprise species to my yard list, a Northern Mockingbird ( Mimus polyglottos )!

Nashville 104

Nashville Squirrels 2000 California 104

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2020

What my previous experience had not prepared me for, was that this summer I would see many of those species for the first time all at once. I did not yet see Orange-crowned , Nashville , MacGillivray’s , or Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warblers. Of course, one never limits oneself to a single taxonomic family.

Mexico 169

Mexico Nashville Virginia Shelters 169

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Nashville Warblers are quite common down here, but I did kind of like this one’s pose. Since I had seen neither species on my January visit to Lake Cuitzeo, these were year-birds. Surprisingly, both were FOY (first-of-year) species. Check in next week to see which species these were!

Woodpeckers 187

Woodpeckers Nashville ALA Mexico 187

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2020

Just as your conationals up north are rejoicing over the return of hundreds of migratory species, you sadly say goodbye to the same. The same can be said for my garden’s Black-throated Gray Warbler (last seen on February 24th), Orange-crowned Warblers (March 19th), Yellow-rumped Warbler (March 27th), and Nashville Warblers (April 7th).

Nashville 129

Nashville ALA Louisiana Breeders 129

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 19, 2020

I don’t consider my little garden to be a terribly birdy patch, although years of observation have resulted in my seeing 59 species there (64, if you count the White-throated Swifts , Black and Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks and Common Ravens that may fly high overhead). Días de precipitación = Days of precipitation.

Nashville 166

Nashville Mexico Turkey 2015 166

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

A late Nashville Warbler , an Orange-crowned Warbler , and a bunch of dabbling ducks were some of his top species. Some lakewatching at the Irondequot Bay Outlet was rewarded by my FOY Purple Sandpiper , a rather brown bird feeding on the rocks of the jetty. Corey saw some decent birds this weekend but nothing that really astounded.

Nashville 100

Nashville 2017 Birds Ducks 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2019

That fallacious family name seems to have encouraged all manner of knaves, dunderheads, and miscreants when time came to label species. Most of the warblers south of the border escaped this ignominy; those Basileuterus and Myiothlypis species generally appear exactly as advertised. I love Nashville Warblers from every angle.

Rights 113

Rights Connecticut Tennessee Nashville 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2021

But winter, with our many migratory visitors, and spring, with the height of our dry season pulling many non-urban (and some unexpected) species to the birdbath, can make even my back window a thrilling spot. Earlier in the day in which I write these words, I saw 21 species, all without leaving my home and yard.

Nashville 157

Nashville Virginia Sparrows Species 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2012

I had to work for the morning so by the time I got to the waterhole at 1 PM there were already tales of Cape May Warblers , Bay-breasted Warblers , and twenty other species spreading among the birding crowd. Add those twenty to the species I saw before work and I totaled 23 species of wood-warbler for the day!

Nashville 175

Nashville Baltimore Suffering Canada 175

10,000 Birds

MAY 18, 2015

In the one hundred and six minutes I spent at the waterhole seventeen species of wood-warbler stopped by for a drink or a bath. At least one Nashville Warbler came through and I didn’t hear a single person call it a Connecticut Warbler. Can you blame them when you consider that we were treated to views like these?

New York City 176

New York City New York Connecticut Nashville 176

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2015

The count totaled 119 species, which is historically a very good number. How about you?

Bald Eagle 101

Bald Eagle Nashville 2015 Pelicans 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2013

Birds, especially those that return to spring earlier than other species or stay later are hardier than we expect. Sure, they may arrive well before other bird species and risk getting caught in a cold snap without an ample source of food, but they are willing to investigate new sources.

Minnesota 198

Minnesota Coyotes Nashville Fox 198

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

It had been a long time since I’d seen any warblers besides Yellow and Nashville ; it had been a long time since I’d seen any Northern Cardinals or Blue Jays , period. My last species in the park was Wood Duck , which we have in Montana too but which is always fun to see. Anyone have any idea what species this is?

Montana 162

Montana New York City New York Nashville 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2020

It doesn’t seem to offer food or shelter for birds; but, being the tallest tree on the block, is an important stopover for lots of species. A Nashville Warbler , on the jacaranda tree. Ash: My ash tree is at least 50 feet tall. And it sprouted on its own from seeds among leaves I brought in to add humus, so that is another plus.

Birds 155

Birds Madagascar Woodpeckers Nashville 155

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2018

Our first three days were spent bouncing around from area to area, looking to find the species on my wish list. At the same water spot, there were severa l Nashville Warblers coming and going. With the addition of these new species, the Little Big Year numbers look like this: Little Big Year species – 1267.

Texas 129

Texas Tucson San Antonio Owls 129

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2014

Sure, Miami and the Florida Keys do not boast any endemics ( ‘Cape Sable’ Seaside Sparrow is close) at the species level. Many visitors who come through Orlando or Tampa see maybe eight or ten species on a winter trip. However, few realize how unique and how good the birding can be here.

Florida 171

Florida Miami Stray United States 171

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla). Other sightings have been included from legitimate outings for work and exercise (at all times maintaining a respectable distance). 7 beats contributed this month. Graylag Goose (Anser anser).

2020 153

2020 Woodpeckers Blackbirds Sparrows 153

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2014

Then again, considering that the count list included more than 500 potential species, any effort to track down as many as possible for a single-day snapshot of avian diversity demands massive commitment, focus, and energy. Ismael, Corey, and I scouted these areas the previous day and turned up lots of great species.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica 2014 Birds Nashville 203

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2012

Over twenty species of wood-warbler may be recorded in a single winter in Miami-Dade County, with several more species recorded regularly in Monroe and Broward. In addition to these widespread species, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush are reliably seen in the right habitats.

Florida 158

Florida Miami Cuba Bahamas 158

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2013

The Black Swift is considered a Species of Special Concern in California. Plus the fact that they only lay one egg per season which is incubated for about four weeks and the chicks don’t fledge for another fifty days gives you some notion as to why these birds are a Species of Special Concern.

California 207

California Costa Rica North America Niger 207

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2014

A good state bird guide needs to offer details about a bird’s look, sound, behavior and habitat in language that is specific enough to differentiate the bird from similar-looking species, but nonscientific enough not to intimidate novice birders. Species are organized in American Ornithologists’ Union taxonomic order.

New Jersey 240

New Jersey Birds 2014 Tail Banding 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2014

I spent as much time as I could out and about in the parks of Queens and enjoyed every single second, spotting twenty-two species of wood-warblers. Or the Nashville Warblers like the one at the top of this post? American Redstart. Saturday was sublime and Sunday was superb. Or the sweet Yellow Warblers that I spotted in several parks?

New York City 172

New York City New York Kentucky Abandoning 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 18, 2011

Birds that had been banded in Nashville, Tennessee. I always look forward to their return in the Spring, but swifts, like too many species of birds, aren’t doing so well. This is doubly concerning because this is a species that, for over 200 years, has tied its fate to our own.

North Carolina 167

North Carolina Nashville Tennessee South America 167

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

This did open up the area to a few new species, like this Wilson’s Warbler. Along the irrigation canal, there were over a dozen species flying around. This leaves the Little Big Year numbers looking like this: Little Big Year species – 903. US species – 234. eBird.org submissions – 307.

Albuquerque 121

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 121

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2011

Turning in the other direction to reach the Kim Williams Nature Trail, I was treated almost immediately to the most confiding Nashville Warbler I have ever met, a handsome male bird who landed on a branch just a few yards from my face to sing. Whatever species they were considered these days, they were clearly planning to propagate more.

Landlord 168

Landlord Mules Bald Eagle Nashville 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2011

However, the species sometimes referred to as the Barbary Duck appears very much out of place just about everywhere else. Part 1 Freeport Pelagic Trip: 9/16/07 Nashville in New York Collared! While most domestic ducks descend from the mighty Mallard , the other barnyard duck is the much maligned Muscovy.

Ducks 215

Ducks 2011 Deer Costa Rica 215

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla). 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. The total for the year has been pushed to 1478 , whilst the life list has reached 4009.

2020 152

2020 Niger Sparrows Woodpeckers 152

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 196

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Parrots 196

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. 601 Nashville Warbler – Leiothlypis ruficapilla.

Woodpeckers 180

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Ducks 180

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 508 Nashville Warbler – Leiothlypis ruficapilla. Beats are getting restless too with a couple of them venturing further than of late. The year list 1516 and life list 4078. 3 Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata.

Woodpeckers 201

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 201

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2020

The book offers numerous facts about many species, findings of hundreds of research projects, notes on trends and exceptions from the norm, but little that captures the poetry of winter bird behavior or ignites a passion for change.

Hoarding 167

Hoarding Research Birds Sweden 167

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 201

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 201

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

“Birding Over Time” compares the number of species recorded over a month with that month from previous years. Nashville Warbler – Leiothlypis ruficapilla. But Fall is almost upon us and a gentle breeze stirs the Summer doldrums. Management ?) That equates to almost six and a half days in South Africa.

2020 150

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 150

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

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. 493 Nashville Warbler – Leiothlypis ruficapilla. This brings our all-time total to 4040. 1 Common Shelduck – Tadorna tadorna.

2020 128

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 128

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

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. December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia).

2020 219

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 219