10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2013

Broward County has one of the highest densities of Burrowing Owls in Florida. Not surprisingly, this brings Burrowing Owls into close contact with humans across the county. The Florida sub-species of Burrowing Owl is now classified as a threatened species in Florida and it is one of the rarest sub-species of Burrowing Owls.

Owls 229

Owls Florida Raised Coyotes 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2018

Owls are mystical beasts that are well loved by both birders and those who casually look at birds. There are many species that captivate those looking at them: Burrowing Owls , Barn Owls , a variety of fishing-owls, Stygian Owl , Elf Owl , the list goes on and on. How dare I say such a thing!

Owls 150

Owls Barn Owls Woodpeckers Bahamas 150

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Here are some of the questions that were running through my mind as I read Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World’s Largest Owl : (a) Is ornithological research always this dangerous? (b) The fish owl is Jonathan Slaght’s grail and also, more prosaically, his dissertation topic.

Owls 131

Owls Russia Fish Research 131

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2018

There are an additional 1,200 acres of surrounding protected refuge, supporting a documented 525 bird species! In the park proper, 358 species have been recorded. One of the highlights of birding in this Texas state park is the chance to see five owl species that breed here. Eastern Screech-Owl. Mottled Owl.

Texas 146

Texas Owls Barn Owls Hunting 146

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2012

These adaptations for avoiding predators has allowed most species of owls to flourish in their own habitat albeit, with reclusive habits. Finding an owl excites the unexcitable and even the most seasoned birders. I can speak for myself and say that finding any owl makes me stop in my tracks.

Owls 199

Owls Colorado Breeding Species 199

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2014

There are birds more prized by North American birders than the Great Gray Owl , but not many*. Like many cold-weather creatures, the Great Gray Owl can to some extent trade altitude for latitude. We made our way to the spot that the owl had, according to our guides, last been seen. The owl wasn’t there.

Owls 220

Owls Minnesota Montana 2014 220

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2023

The official Ontario bird checklist, produced by Ontario Field Ornithologists , June 2022 listed 506 bird species**, putting it in the top tier of U.S. Small Species Accounts: Each species is allotted one page (with certain exceptions) offering basics–bird names and size, one or two photographs, and a one-paragraph description.

North America 202

North America Birds Owls Canada 202

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

Above them, on limestone cliffs, Alpine Swift and Crag Martin breed. The commonest owls are Eurasian Scops Owl and Tawny Owl , while rare ones include Ural Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl. About 120 species have been recorded so far. About 180 species have been recorded so far.

Serbia 257

Serbia Woodpeckers Owls Eagles 257

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2020

Just yesterday I learned that the Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) is the only breeding bird found in New York that has been documented nesting in every month of the year. This bit of trivia was given in an article in my local bird club’s monthly newsletter about the ongoing breeding bird atlas in New York State.

2017 226

2017 Barn Owls Rodents Owls 226

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2015

Here are some things I’ve learned from the Peterson Reference Guide to Owls of North America and the Caribbean by Scott Weidensaul: The Burrowing Owl is the only North American owl species where the male is larger than the female, albeit, only slightly larger. And the term is ‘non-reversed size dimorphism.’).

North America 215

North America Owls America Dominican Republic 215

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2021

The adventure of the second European Breeding Bird Atlas, or EBBA2, was the topic of one of my first posts here at 10,000 Birds: In a warm Catalonian March, Barcelona is filled with sunlight and full of Rose-ringed and Monk Parakeets. A portable speaker is placed on the top of the car, playing Tawny Owl calls from a smartphone.

Europe 264

Europe Breeding Denmark Birds 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2024

Nor have I chased particular birds, either: almost all the birds I have seen have been encountered during a normal day’s birding, not a targeted twitch for a particular species. A lone Whooper Swan on a grey January day in Norfolk As for the ducks – I’m now up to 15 species.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

Lango Camp deck overlooking Lango Baï, by Congo Conservation Company The forests of the Congo Basin contain more than a 1,000 species of birds, together with 400 species of mammals, including Okapi, Hippos, Leopards, Chimpanzees and Bonobos.

Central African Republic 281

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 281

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

Will and I had spoken on Sunday and agreed to go owling on Tuesday night. We had both failed at checking off Eastern Screech-Owl or Great Horned Owl on our New York lists so far in 2007 so we figured we’d take a shot at tracking down either silent nocturnal killer. Not exactly good owling weather but we pressed on anyway.

Owls 166

Owls 2007 New York Fox 166

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2013

We’re particularly interested in recognizing bird species that were of significant conservation interest in 2013, but that also had a compelling story and rallied the public around it.” If this bird doesn’t deserve this conservation award, I don’t know what species does. Click on photos for full sized images.

California 204

California Owls 2013 Factory 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

These lands support countless birds, either year-round, as migratory stopovers, or as breeding grounds. BLM land is particularly important for conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse and other sageland species. For example, most of the world’s Black-footed and Laysan Albatross and Ashy Storm-Petrel breed on these islands.

Virgin Islands 202

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2012

There is an International Festival of Owls. They give out a “Champion of Owls” award. Holt founded the Owl Research Institute , an organization that focuses on long-term studies of a variety of species of owls, as well as their prey species and environments. Saw-whet Owl photo by Todd Zino a.

Montana 158

Montana Owls Denver Barn Owls 158

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2016

Few things can spell out “winter birding” as poetically as the sighting of a rare northern owl that has more or less unexpectedly found its way to southern, more balmy environs. A “winter owl” however has little meaning to German birders for two simple reasons (and male smew aren’t one of them).

Germany 102

Germany Owls 2013 2006 102

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

Seychelles’ small landmass combined with geographic isolation results in few species. That antiquity produces a high level of endemism, e.g. 19% of 62 breeding birds are endemic to the islands! For example, the main islands are the world’s only granitic ocean islands and at 750M years of age are also the world’s oldest ocean islands.

Seychelles 224

Seychelles Wildlife Tortoises Fish 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2016

As I opined in my post back in 2010 (and continue to preach) the Western Burrowing Owl needs a conservation plan. A pair of Burrowing Owls fledged six young! After five years of waiting and watching, we were so elated with this news of a successful breeding at the preserve that we applied for another grant from Audubon California.

Owls 101

Owls California 2010 Colorado 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 12, 2023

One step away from swifts are hummingbirds, and at least 13 species of these winged jewels flutter about from sunrise to sunset. White-necked Jacobin A sizeable vervain/verbena attracts several species to the main entrance, including Blue-chinned Sapphire , Ruby-topaz Hummingbird , and Tufted Coquette. Interesting.

Trinidad 223

Trinidad Barn Owls Owls Reptiles 223

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2012

This post comes courtesy of Mrs Gannet who became rather taken with the Little Owl when we found him in Mote Park last month. There has been a Little Owl living in this hollow branch for at least 3 years as documented in Simon’s Mote Park Blog and it is assumed to be the same individual though I am not sure whether it is a she or a he.

Owls 174

Owls New Zealand Europe Mammals 174

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

Willow Warbler , Garden Warbler , Common Whitethroat , Lesser Whitethroat , Eurasian Blackcap , Common Redstart , Spotted Flycatcher , European Pied Flycatcher , Meadow Pipit , and Tree Pipit were also among the species present in high numbers, and the species we most often caught and ringed.

Sri Lanka 203

Sri Lanka Birds Netherlands Namibia 203

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2020

The 2013 ‘Tyto alba’ from Companhia das Lezírias is a red wine from Portugal’s Tejo region, and – as you may have guessed from its name – there is in fact a Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) on the label. With its ghostly visage and bloodcurdling, otherworldly screeches, the Barn Owl seemed like the perfect bird for a Hallowe’en wine.

2013 200

2013 Barn Owls Owls Livestock 200

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2023

Some 320 species have been recorded here, and in springtime it is possible to observe more than 150 bird species in a week. To round up the day, in our base-village of Chrisochorafa, we later had one adorable Little Owl just a few hundred metres from our hotel. The lake lies at a mere 35 m / 115 ft a.s.l.

Greece 222

Greece Pelicans Birds Stray Dog 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2021

An uncommon species in Costa Rica, it was in a brushy area that reminded me of its breeding grounds. Only two of us got a glimpse but that was enough to add it to our long list of species for the day. 171 Species. Speaking of bird lists, our’s topped out at a crazy 171 species. Agami Heron.

Costa Rica 213

Costa Rica Wildlife Tennessee Owls 213

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

While these birds are very much liked by Chinese birders, the species could unfortunately not be named the National Bird of China as the Latin species name of the bird is Grus Japonicus. It is not quite clear why they do this as it apparently does not affect breeding success. A nice example of gender equality of sorts.

Birds 194

Birds Eggs Bald Eagle Owls 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. It keeps a monthly record of sightings, so I can tell you that it was in February that I recorded my highest monthly species total (106), while my lowest total was in August (39).

Estonia 218

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 218

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2022

A juvenile, if I am correct – and a rather rare bird in Shanghai, this being rather at the southern end of the wintering breeding range. My possible birdwatching highlight this month was Short-eared Owl at Fengxian. Despite (or because of) its slightly anti-German tone, this owl video is worth seeing.

Birds 199

Birds China Pythons Breeding 199

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2013

A breeding bird atlas is a special kind of book. For the nature lovers and birders who participate in breeding bird surveys, the atlas represents hours, often hundreds of hours, of volunteer time spent within a community of citizen scientists doing what they love, observing birds. So, what exactly does a breeding bird atlas contain?

Pennsylvania 222

Pennsylvania Breeding Birds Sparrows 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2021

Decades later, Richard Pough’s Audubon Bird Guide, Eastern Land Birds (I happily own the 1948 edition) included nest and egg descriptions for each species as well. And photographs of feathers in the species accounts, which surprised me. Text retrieved from the Hathitrust Digital Library. The first is accomplished well.

Eggs 221

Eggs Birds United States Sparrows 221

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2022

Snowy Plovers also breed half an hour north of my home, so we have those in common. With 85 species in 6 hours, I’d like to think it was well repaid. He seems to be my Northern (Mountain) Pygmy-Owl whisperer. But how can you complain about an owl that wants to check you out in broad daylight? Feast your eyes.

San Diego 243

San Diego Turtles Mexico Sparrows 243

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Yes, Germans were a particularly supersticious breed in the days of old, and would not dare to use the word devil even when cursing. You see, in German we have three distinct words for different groups of owls. The eagle-owls of the genus Bubo are all called “Uhu“. Yupp, you read that correctly.

Germany 174

Germany Birds Hunters Owls 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2021

This is not a species that loves to be seen, but one helpfully posed on a fencepost for me (although it was early, and a hurricane off the coast was giving us dense clouds with intermittent rains, so the light was bad). I hardly ever see owls, except for Ferruginous Pygmy Owls , so this was another big draw for me.

Barn Owls 253

Barn Owls Owls Mexico Leopards 253

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2022

Since most of the rain happened the evening of the 8th and the following morning, many sites had good weather on the morning of October Global Big Day and because of that, local birders still managed to identify well over 700 species in Costa Rica (!). and ended later that eveing with a final total of 154 species.

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica San Jose Falcons Owls 262

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2023

Last year, in November, I notched up a dozen species of butterflies, an impressive total anywhere in Europe so late in the year. A feature of the autumn is the abundance of Great White Egrets – up to 200 on the lake – but as far as I know they have yet to breed here. Despite appearances, they are remarkably docile.

Greece 201

Greece Pelicans Geese Buffalo 201

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2023

There was one odd reprint in 2018, when the Subalpine Warbler was split into the Eastern and Western species, but the changes in the guide weren’t sufficient to call it a 3rd edition, so it remained the updated reprint of the 2nd edition. I haven’t noticed changes in the few descriptions of harder to ID species that I compared.

Europe 248

Europe Birds Woodpeckers Ireland 248