10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

With only a few more days left, 2017 was coming to a close. Birdwise, it turned out to be a good one and my year list was almost 400 species long, which made me happy… almost. I counted them very roughly, but I do have a lot of experience estimating flocks. At home, I may find a new bird, perhaps two, but four? The solution?

Greece 181

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2024

All the so-called grey geese – Greylag, Bean, White-front, Lesser White-front, Swan – look very much alike, and it takes experience to identify them by their calls and their shape and size. As the BTO notes, wild vagrants are usually found mixed in with Brent and Barnacle – both typical carrier species.

Bulgaria 130

Bulgaria Geese Romania Estonia 130

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

It’s a unique bird, even its scientific name is wonderful, so it’s not surprising that Gerard Gorman, Woodpecker Expert Supreme, has written a book all about the species. I was surprised to learn that there are two Wryneck species in the Jynx genus: Eurasian Wryneck, Jynx torquilla, and Red-throated Wryneck, Jynx ruficollis.

Woodpeckers 232

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 232

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago covers 1,417 species, 601 endemics, 98 vagrants, 8 introduced and 18 undescribed species. Only one bird species has become extinct (Javan Lapwing), but many others are endangered, with some considered close to extinction (not surprising in an area with species restricted to one or two small islands).

Indonesia 125

Indonesia Brunei Birds Malaysia 125