10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

Most of all, I love showing people birds, species both common and mysteriously evasive. Whether a birder is eager for eyefulls of common species or needs to test the birding Zen and. Although we didn’t start out the birding that way, on the third day, we did find ourselves wondering if we were approaching 300 species.

Costa Rica 175

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 175

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2018

They get there by snatching the bread right out of your kid’s hand and maybe whacking him around a bit to boot. If we don’t like that, we should take it right up to the top (maybe she’d like her birds back while we’re at it.). Now we know they were wrong, but there’s a lesson about hubris there.

Species 101

Species San Francisco Rats Zebras 101

Reddit Animals

JANUARY 5, 2024

People in North America began using the term “right whale” in the early 1700s, and originally “right” may have meant “typical,” as these whales were considered common and ordinary. However, over time, the term evolved to refer to how they were hunted—they were considered “the right whales to hunt.”

Whales 40

Whales Whaling Rights North America 40

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2023

First birds came in the form of migrants and resident species that live in an oasis of precious green space near home. Those kept me below the 700 species threshhold but I won’t complain about 691 species. 48 Hummingbird Species. I also saw a high percentage of the raptor species possible in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 252

Costa Rica Buffalo Birds Endangered Species 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

The obvious choice was the Mallard , that plucky familiar northern hemisphere species that is the father of the even more familiar domesticated duck. In fact, as the species was quickly identified as as creating hybrids with Grey Ducks, the opinion was by the 1920s that the species shouldn’t be released further.

Species 165

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Recently, while guiding on the slopes of Poas, without too much effort, we had more than a hundred species. Such a birdy day and yet, one that still lacked quite a few species. Poas itself seems to be pretty straightforward but I wondered how far down both sides of the mountain should be included in my species list. Two hundred?

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Species San Jose Birds 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2023

As the rice paddies near Kota Kinabalu described in an earlier post , Tanjung Aru beach is not really a major birding spot in its own right. Even better, just a few meters away from the food vendors, it is not too crowded, and the palm trees attract a number of birds, including two species of parrots. Or US$ 8 for the pair below.

Malaysia 233

Malaysia Philippines Parrots Birds 233

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2015

These and several other species might end up being armchair ticks if and when we take a closer look at their evolutionary history. Taxa that could end up being split into one species occurring north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and one south of the isthmus. (2). Two subspecies of the same species that differ within Costa Rica. (4).

Costa Rica 204

Costa Rica Species South America America 204

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

In the early day, the light was just right. Later in the day, several difficult species decided to be less difficult. There were six species of wild ducks, along with the usual few released domestic ducks. Which is hard. So it was very pleasant when I went birding the other day and the angels of photography went with me.

Ducks 220

Ducks Fish Breeding Species 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 199

North America Birds Owls Canada 199

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2015

Each year, I hope to identify at least 600 species. That 600th species was a Streaked Xenops , an especially uncommon bird in Costa Rica usually seen at Tapanti National Park. 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 2015 Species West Virginia 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2024

But, as most of our readers know, the phrase “trash birds” usually refers to those species that one sees so often that they become tiresome. This is a species that has very much learned to cohabit with humans, causing its population to explode into new areas. Central Mexico has, of course, its own trash birds.

Mexico 209

Mexico Portland Humane Sparrows 209

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

And this remnant lake is very, very birdy: The dominant birds, besides those American White Pelicans seen at the right, were Northern Shovelers — hundreds of them. And when I got home, photos I had taken of a flock flying overhead revealed Northern Pintails , another previously missing-in-action species.

Ducks 200

Ducks Pelicans Collecting Species 200

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2024

Ruili is a Chinese city right on the border to Myanmar, and a major border crossing. The proximity to the Myanmar border is reflected in the presence of Burmese Shrikes here – on the wrong side of the border, but it is well known that this species has never been particularly good at geography.

Myanmar 168

Myanmar Sri Lanka Nepal Birds 168

10,000 Birds

APRIL 24, 2024

Visiting Guyana brought with it the unavoidable expectation of seeing some mind boggling species – some endangered, some emblematic, others downright bizarre. Before we boarded the flight to Guyana we already knew that probabilities of seeing one of the target species was slashed to near zero. After all, there were already rocks.

Guyana 198

Guyana Brazil ALA Eagles 198

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 21, 2021

One of the target bird species for birders when they visit the Broome area is Yellow Chat. The colour on this bird species is incredible and not easily hidden in the environment. For scale I will include some photographs of the Orange Chat with other bird species. It always seems odd when only one of a bird species shows up.

2006 308

2006 Cows Australia Species 308

Critter News

AUGUST 24, 2011

Someone posted a question about why humans have human rights and whether they should considering that others do not. Please note the vast generalizations here, but, in the areas of religion, at least orthodox religion and there are varying levels of how fundamental you want to go, there is only one species with a soul and that is the human.

Humane 100

Humane Rights Stray Dog Stray 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2024

Although an attractive bird, this species was not of particular interest to me as I’ve seen it countless times when I lived in South Africa (and is not present there at this time of year anyway), but the area has much more on offer. A Grey Heron looked quite comical as it seemed lost right in the middle of one of the ponds.

Squirrels 186

Squirrels South Africa Germany Ducks 186

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

Yet they also bring up questions, which I’m going to talk about right now before diving into the specifics of the guides themselves. An associated issue is that the Belize and Costa Rica guides share many of the same descriptions of species, written by Howell. Other species are splits and lumped and have had their names changed.

Costa Rica 202

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 202

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Go to Hispaniola and a birder has the pleasure of admiring two species of tody for the price of one, checking out the odd, mono familiar Palmchat , and listening to the parrotish calls of the White-necked Crow. Watch the streams for fish, we saw a few, unidentified yet cool looking tropical species! Want to see a roosting potoo?

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica Puerto Rico Birds Owls 262

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2022

First, rangers would show some animal dung and teach their guests how to identify it (big deal – it is going nowhere, nor hiding away) and then show, let’s say, a herd of antelopes to their left – only to use the time when no one is watching to print some lion spurs in the dust on the right hand side, so they would be nicely fresh for photographing.

Gazelles 248

Gazelles India 2012 Pakistan 248

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

As soon as I looked at it more closely it was quite clear that it wasn’t a scaup of any species, despite its resemblance to a North American Lesser Scaup. I hadn’t considered the possible parentage more than the two probable species involved, but intriguingly a Pochard drake x Tufted duck looks quite different.

Geese 178

Geese Ducks Falcons Latvia 178

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 27, 2021

That time when if you were keeping track of the bird species you had identified, and wanted to reach a certain number, you better come up with some strict birding strategies. As of today, with my year list standing at 664 species, I suppose I still do have a chance but only if I get moving! It’s getting to be that time of year.

Costa Rica 224

Costa Rica Chile Birds Species 224

10,000 Birds

APRIL 25, 2024

Black-chinned Sparrow , a flagship species for this site. I say that I may someday be unable to climb hills all do heavy gardening, so I am going to do as much of these things right now as I possibly can. And I must be careful to protect my skin, having had a couple of basal cells removed. Going to the gym brings me no joy.

Birds 189

Birds Livestock Sparrows Mexico 189

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2023

In terms of birding, they more easily bring us to a vast variety of species, Costa Rica included. There are several birds in Costa Rica that require walks on forest trails and stalks in deep primary forest but a high percentage can also be seen right from the edge of a road, maybe even from your rental car window.

Costa Rica 235

Costa Rica San Jose Liberia Birds 235

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2022

You can park by the side and check the Boljetinska River Canyon at your right, a true geological history book. Other species include Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit. Easy species here are Corn Bunting , Hawfinch , Spotted Flycatcher , Red-backed Shrike , Woodlark , Eurasian Golden Oriole , European Turtle Dove.

Serbia 232

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Romania 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 5, 2021

In Costa Rica, with around 50 hummingbird species on the list, we have our fair share of minute feathered stars. These unreal birds zip through every level of forest, use every habitat, and, like various others of their kind, several are found right in the garden. I feel fortunate to see one or more of this species on a daily basis.

Costa Rica 257

Costa Rica South America Arizona Species 257

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2023

Nearby western Turkey may have some extra, more exotic species …, but the birding in Greece is much more enjoyable because of the far greater numbers of raptors, warblers, buntings, shrikes and, especially, waterbirds. Gosney writes: ‘‘When I revisited northern Greece in 2014 I was reminded just how exceptional it is for birding.

Greece 186

Greece Bulgaria Macedonia Gambia 186

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2022

The stars of the bird world take many forms and fame is often related to location but some species, some cool groups of birds are accorded priority no matter when or where they are seen. The Olive-crowned Yellowthroat is one of Costa Rica’s resident wood-warbler species. Yes, you read that right. Violet Sabrewing.

Costa Rica 268

Costa Rica Nashville Tennessee Turtles 268

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. Left – 2nd edition, right – 3rd edition So, not much has changed since the 2nd edition?

Europe 246

Europe Birds Woodpeckers Ireland 246

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2021

The data are in: the nesting season proved successful for some species of Florida’s wading birds and… less so for others. Note: Erika works for Audubon Florida. They depend on specific hydrological conditions in order to find enough food for their voracious chicks. If not, nesting can simply fail.

2020 212

2020 Florida Science Birds 212

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

At least most of the resident species can still be seen right along the road, you just have to keep an eye out for cyclists and vehicles on their way up and down the volcano. Either way, its all good, its still birding and if you try it in the right places on Poas, the avian treats will delight you. Just keep watching!

Costa Rica 253

Costa Rica Birds Cows Hunters 253

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2021

Surrounded by native plants and at the edge of the woods, her feeders were always hotspots for interesting migratory and wintering species. On this particular day, I wanted to see one species and one species only: the Purple Finch. I never expected another opportunity to see a Purple Finch in 2021.

Florida 260

Florida Breeding Birds Sparrows 260

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Now, it is much easier for me to achieve first-time sightings of species in Europe than it is in Mexico, at this point of the game. So I might have assumed I would not see new species in the Palmones wetlands. The first gave me eight new species for Spain, of which four were lifers. Gee, I hope I got this one right.

Spain 172

Spain Mexico Europe North America 172

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

But Morelia is part of a large relatively homogenous ecosystem, while the La Escalera area sits right on the junction of our highland pine-oak forest system and the lowland tropical thorn forest biome. Double the ecosystems, double the species. And, in birding as in real estate, the key is location, location, location.

Sparrows 313

Sparrows Species Birds Rights 313

Critter News

JANUARY 24, 2009

On 5th January 2009 a North Atlantic right whale (Eubalaena glacialis) was seen 5 miles south of Faial Island in the Azores by biologists from Whale Watch Azores and the University of the Azores (UA). This sighting is the first confirmed sighting of a right whale in the Azores since 1888.

Whales 100

Whales Whaling Rights Endangered Species 100

Critter News

DECEMBER 23, 2009

The purpose is to protect ocean species as a whole. I'm not sure how this fits into my support of animal rights though. I think that ocean life, with the exception of mammals, are often overlooked because they are not the sentient, communicating species that we identify with, like primates, dogs, cats, etc.

Animal Rights 100

Animal Rights Advocacy Rights Marine Life 100