10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2015

Each year, I hope to identify at least 600 species. That’s not as daunting as one might think when you have a 900 plus list of possibilities in a place the size of West Virginia. That 600th species was a Streaked Xenops , an especially uncommon bird in Costa Rica usually seen at Tapanti National Park. Streaked Xenops.

Costa Rica 154

Costa Rica Species 2015 West Virginia 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 28, 2024

This time, they counted 3,000 Northern Shovelers , 1,000 Green-winged Teals , 2,800 American Avocets , 2,150 Stilt Sandpipers , 820 Long-billed Dowitchers , 1,000 Least Sandpipers , 500 Western Sandpipers , and 150 American White Pelicans , along with lesser numbers for 30 other species. Flamingos !”

Mexico 174

Mexico Cuba Chile South America 174

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2020

I was shocked to still find a number of shorebird species up at Braddock Bay, perhaps because of how much productive mud the dropping lake levels have exposed. The end of September doesn’t necessarily mean the end of what you might enjoy about September birding but it definitely signals the beginning of what you love about October.

2020 214

2020 Connecticut Virginia New York 214

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2018

North Bend State Park, West Virginia. Strong populations of birds reside in the hardwood forests and dense understories in this north-eastern location of West Virginia. Sky Meadows State Park, Virginia. Known as a warbler haven, 30+ species visit this bi-state park near the Kentucky and Virginia southern border.

West Virginia 163

West Virginia Virginia Kentucky South Carolina 163

10,000 Birds

MARCH 24, 2021

On the way, I pass through a wonderful mixed habitat with lots of native trees that keep fruit-eating birds happy, and flowers that attract all of our region’s hummingbird species. I had only seen this species at one other site in Michoacán, and that site is too far away for casual visits.

Sparrows 207

Sparrows Birds Virginia Protection 207

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2017

One particular resting place brought me to familiar birding territory: Pleasure House Point, Virginia Beach. When I was first learning to bird in the summer of 2013, I spent a summer living with my fiance in Virginia Beach. During my three days in Virginia Beach, I knew I had to walk that path again.

Virginia 100

Virginia Blackbirds 2013 Protection 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

As of mid-October 2018, the Collaborative had submitted more than 1,700 checklists and observed 618 species in the United States. The heat map is revealing: Unsurprisingly for a site founded and run by two New Yorkers (one of whom literally wrote the book on birding New York), the Empire State boasts the highest number of species (316).

Rhode Island 114

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 114

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2022

Canyon Wrens are another resident species that appears more often in the spring, even though they don’t visit the birdbath. There seem to be only one each of the Virginia’s and Black-throated Gray Warbler , which would seem sad if I didn’t love solitude so much myself. Black-vented Orioles really know how to bathe.

Nashville 169

Nashville Virginia Sparrows Species 169

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2021

Only a month ago, a good morning spent gazing at my garden could yield 20 species; but now, suddenly, my goal is 10. And in another month, when the rainy season makes my birdbath less attractive, that number will drop to around 5 species.). I was able to see 2 species of Grebes and 6 Egrets/Herons at a small reservoir on Monday.).

Mexico 243

Mexico Trafficking Sparrows Virginia 243

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2022

Even so, we do have some sandpipers and plovers around; there have been recent reports of Surfbirds and various other wading species. Their local guide excitedly confirmed the bird as a Harpy Eagle (only the most dearly wanted species for every birder in Costa Rica), took photos and video, and spread the news.

Costa Rica 177

Costa Rica Eagles West Virginia Albatross 177

10,000 Birds

JULY 14, 2021

But it does offer plenty of the endemics and other species that make our area distinctive, and many of them were waiting for me on this latest visit. For the taxonomy fans out there, the American Ornithological Society just announce that this species should be moved to the Chlorophonia genus. Blue Mockingbird.

Mexico 205

Mexico Sparrows United States Virginia 205

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2019

I definitely didn’t see much, but sometimes the usual species satisfy well enough. Despite getting good looks at Virginia Rail , lots of Eastern Kingbirds , and a host of other birds he decided to stick by his old standby as his Best Bird of the Weekend, a Green Heron. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

2019 128

2019 New York City Virginia New York 128

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2024

Well, my eBird records give me a total of 86 species, so far. At the height of our rainy season, I am likely to see only a dozen or so species here. And in the past few years, a Virginia’s Warbler has also become a regular.

Nashville 130

Nashville Virginia Bears Woodpeckers 130

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2022

The thing is, you can’t reach the birding stratosphere without shirking off all earthly attachments, and doing nothing but travelling the country looking for “just one more species” I, in contrast, have a day job, and a family. Yes, Virginia, that is a large number of Sinaloa Martins.

Mexico 147

Mexico Virginia Family Woodpeckers 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 28, 2015

In addition to North Carolina, six other states have named the cardinal their state bird, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. ” That same sentiment is probably true for us all!

North Carolina 172

North Carolina West Virginia Legislature Virginia 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2019

No, the problem with “empids” is that they all look exactly alike… all 15 species! Why they can’t all agree on a single species and lump themselves, I’ll never know. All because you do not live in central Mexico, where most of these species spend the winter, all jumbled together. Indistinguishably.

West Virginia 133

West Virginia Mexico Illinois Rabbits 133

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. El Temascal does not (to the best of my knowledge) host the Ovenbird , Northern Waterthrush , Lucy’s , or Virginia’s Warblers , although I do see these species elsewhere each winter.

Mexico 163

Mexico Nashville Virginia Shelters 163

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. I have still seen each of these species out in the forest between two days and three weeks after they abandoned my yard. That is a garden first!

Nashville 124

Nashville ALA Louisiana Breeders 124

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2014

Proving that cruelty knows no bounds, some (language unsuitable for a family blog) in Virginia Beach is shooting blow darts at birds. Meanwhile, an Oregon farmer caught a beating from a neighbor irritated by his loud “bird cannons.” (Who Who knew there was such a thing?).

Israel 185

Israel Science Hawaii South America 185

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

This being an uncommon species in upstate New York, I appreciate having an abundance of Cliff Swallows to look at. Bank and Barn Swallows also migrate through in huge numbers, maybe even the majority of the individuals of these common species that breed in North America. Swallows Everywhere. Those birds don’t need to stop here.

Costa Rica 303

Costa Rica West Virginia New York South America 303

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2019

According to eBird.org, 303 species have been observed there, and as of this writing, 14,579 submissions have been sent in for this area. In the short few months I have been in the area, I have personally identified 98 species at Sweetwater so far! This allows for some great looks at very secretive birds like this Virginia Rail.

Tucson 114

Tucson Arizona Sanctuary Virginia 114

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2013

But sometimes it’s not a matter of learning different species, but learning the different calls of the most common species. My friend Virginia texted me the other day with the message with an MP4: “What is making this high pitched sound in my yard??” ” Bird Call.

Virginia 193

Virginia Cats Species Birds 193

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2014

I’ve only been in Virginia Beach for a few days and I’ve already knocked down most of my targets, including Blue Grosbeak and Yellow-breasted Chat at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It is the first record of this invasive species for New York City and it served as a nice contrast to the hordes of pigeons in the neighborhood.

New York City 160

New York City 2014 Breeders Virginia 160

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2019

The tropical habitats of Costa Rica are home to a surprising number of raptor species. Although the country is around the same size as West Virginia, 39 species of diurnal raptors are on the list. Of those 30 plus species, some of the raptors most coveted by visiting birders are the hawk-eagles. This curassow is great.

Costa Rica 166

Costa Rica Eagles West Virginia Opossums 166

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2013

For January 1st, 2013, I decided to do something a little different this year — a Big Day in Miami-Dade, which involves seeing or hearing as many species as possible within a 24-hour period inside my home county. By the time I left Homestead, I was already approaching 70 species for the day. .

Miami 136

Miami Virginia Bald Eagle 2013 136

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 154

Nashville Virginia Sparrows Species 154

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

I don’t want to be too hasty in my response,” wrote Gay in Virginia. Why is there no state or federal money available to care for federally protected species? I want all of the above,” wrote Gay in Virginia. Let me ponder it while I’m picking up two gulls and an egret.”. I’d wish for respect for what we do.”. Creative muscle. “I

Wildlife 235

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma Michigan 235

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2016

My annual Piping Plover pilgrimage to Assawoman Island on the Virginia coast struck gold as usual. However, more impressive than shorebirds for me were the seven species of tern that (hehe) turned up, especially the cackling flocks of Black Skimmers that wheeled right overhead.

2016 100

2016 Virginia Jamaica Birds 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

I am sure that was the reason I was not able to spot the Virginia Rail, with its two babies that had just previously been spotted by a Bob, resident birder. For those of you following along on my “ Little Big Year” the numbers are as follows: Little Big Year species – 814. USA species – 111.

New Zealand 108

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 108

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2017

I asked Virginia Guhin, Education Programs Coordinator of the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve (ES NERR). I had never seen this species of kite before, but Guhin explained that they often hunted in the natural acres of the reserve. “What’s that?” Guhin knew without binoculars, “ White-tailed Kite ,” she identified.

Research 100

Research Virginia Birds Protection 100

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. It’s a fine selection of birds for a place the same size as West Virginia but it also comes with a catch commonly found in tropical forest ecosystems.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica West Virginia Eagles Monkeys 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2019

Their populations, plus those of other species that ‘wore’ the coveted long, colorful feathers used for women’s fashionable hats, were being dangerously depleted by hunters intent on feeding the millinery industry. Only–Virginia Woolf was not in Surrey on December 14th, 1918.

Virginia 117

Virginia Portland Industry New York City 117

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2019

Critically, NWRs preserve habitat and wildlife, often for endangered species. Chincoteague NWR (Virginia/Maryland): 7,000,000; $390 million; 3,647. Of course, the study does not purport to rank refuges based on visitation-based economic output, as that is just one metric. Nisqually NWR (Washington): 289,000; $15.1 million; 111 jobs.

Wildlife 232

Wildlife Maryland San Francisco Minnesota 232

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2018

As part of a stabilization and park construction project, I act as bird monitor, prowling the shoreline and hills looking for nesting birds and reporting on the range of species utilizing the site. When I was 23 and just learning to bird, I spent a summer living in Virginia Beach with my boyfriend Brian (now husband).

Florida 101

Florida Birds Virginia Pelicans 101

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2018

To get there we would need to get out of New York, through New Jersey into Delaware, and then on through Maryland and Virginia until finally reaching our destination. But much more entertaining was my first visit at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where a mid-day visit that was also an hour-and-a-half long totaled forty-three species.

North Carolina 100

North Carolina New York Delaware Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2013

Virginia’s Warbler. Fortunately, the folks at Princeton University Press agreed, and the person who correctly guesses my 300th species of bird in Queens will get a free copy of The Warbler Guide ( which Donna reviewed ). If you guess multiple species I will only count your first guess. Red-necked Stint. Little Gull.

Pelicans 154

Pelicans Mississippi Virginia Game 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2016

According to the data the authors gathered from banded and recovered Blue Jays , the species shows both a northward post-breeding dispersal (which we’re probably seeing right now, in September) and a southward migration. That last bit is my own interpretation of the data.)

Alabama 103

Alabama West Virginia New York City New York 103