10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

8 countries were birded by 11 beats and I am delighted to include Faraaz and Trinidad and Tobago in those stats. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2020 160

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2023

Some days ago I had the opportunity to explore the grossly underbirded southeastern corner of Trinidad. The Nariva Swamp is the largest wetland on Trinidad, giving to and taking from the relentless Atlantic Ocean on its eastern boundary. My humble advice is to never stop listening as there are often avian lurkers in the shadows.

Trinidad 29

Trinidad Falcons Primates Monkeys 29

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2020

However, 10 beats from 7 countries were able to submit some 127 checklists containing 597 birds from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica). 77 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 152 Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Nice distancing.

2020 192

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 192

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Red-breasted Meadowlarks controlled the drier sections while Yellow-hooded Blackbirds occupied the more flooded areas. Two species of icterids populated the area, the presence of either was a direct indicator of the degree of water present. White-headed Marsh Tyrants and Pied Water Tyrants were abundant, the former more so than the latter.

Livestock 239

Livestock Ducks ALA illegal 239

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list. As such, a parallel post will appear here simultaneously with the year list.

2020 247

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 247

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

Folks want to know what they can see, if it’s worth traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, if they should to to Ecuador for three days or three weeks, or if one should drive to Wisconsin to look for a vireo with white eyes or a blue head. Red-breasted Blackbird is a meadowlark.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 203

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

It starts with water and wading birds and ending with meadowlark, blackbird, and bobolink.^ The Accounts utilize the “user-friendly” field guide sequence proposed in “The Purpose of Field Guides: Taxonomy vs. Utility” by Howell and five other notable birding authors ( Birding , 2009^).

Costa Rica 236

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 236

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Add that to the fact that here in Trinidad & Tobago we’re still under a strict curfew – the earliest I’m allowed to leave home is 5am. They are resident in Trinidad and their population is slowly expanding. As a birder and photographer, I have a clear preference for arriving on location at least by dawn.

Trinidad 357

Trinidad Groups Species Blackbirds 357

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

The list for the year has reached 1276 and the life list has been stretched to 4066 with red ticks from China, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, thanks to Kai, Claire and Grant and Faraaz respectively. 9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species.

Woodpeckers 158

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 158

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

11 beats collaborated to enter 163 checklists from 8 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago). 525 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 558 Trinidad Euphonia – Euphonia trinitatis. 603 Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

2020 297

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 297

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2020

These intrepid travelers have captivated the very essence of my being, years ago when I used to work on an industrial port on the west coast of Trinidad I noticed each year these alien looking birds would appear, stick around for a while and then depart. Their mysterious nature piqued my interest and it’s never waned since.

Trinidad 199

Trinidad South America Blackbirds Industry 199

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2018

The Alkali Lakes was a different matter, with a good bunch of birds, including Ring-bill Gulls, Mallards, Blue-wing Teal, green-wing Teal, Killdeer, Baird’s Sandpipers, red-wing Blackbirds, Osprey, Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese. We are on our way to Colorado, and the famous Trinidad Lake area. Little Big Year species – 888.

Wyoming 109

Wyoming Wolves Grizzly Bear Mountain Goats 109

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

The beats are famed for their inclusion on the nice side of the ledger and this month 9 of them shared 163 lists from 7 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) and accounted for 735 bird species. Mike doubled up with “smushed”, a new addition to the adjective list.

Sparrows 208

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 208

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries.

2020 241

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 241

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152). Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Tricolored Blackbird – Agelaius tricolor. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. 20 Jan 2019.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Brewer’s Blackbird – Euphagus cyanocephalus. Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152).

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

Tricolored Blackbird – Agelaius tricolor. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152). Brewer’s Blackbird – Euphagus cyanocephalus. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Unicolored Blackbird – Agelasticus cyanopus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. 28 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

Trinidad Lake Watchable Wildlike Trail and Hides, Colorado. Unicolored Blackbird – Agelasticus cyanopus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2023

It was the first record of this species in Trinidad & Tobago and looks almost identical to our regularly seen Tropical Pewee. Summer Tanager On a boating trip to an island sanctuary on the east coast of Trinidad, we were treated to excellent views of three species of kingfisher.

Trinidad 248

Trinidad Bats 2020 Sanctuary 248

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. Beacon Hill Park.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. Beacon Hill Park.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Trinidad Head. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Tricolored Blackbird – Agelaius tricolor. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Trinidad Head. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus.

2016 102

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 102