10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

They were my target species, and I remember being delighted in not only seeing them well, but finding feeding flocks that were remarkably unconcerned about being watched. On a visit in October 2022, I found ibises feeding with cattle in scruffy roadside paddocks adjacent to the marismas ( photographs below ).

Morocco 217

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 217

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

That honor goes to the Gray-crowned Crane , a very sexy species in its own right. Mabamba Swamp is where Corey and I spotted our first Shoebill in the company of an international delegation attending the 2019 African Bird Expo. Having finally seen this iconic species, I can assure you that the experience wildly exceeds expectations.

Uganda 255

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 255

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

The route Corey and I took in advance of the 2019 African Birding Expo may not be the only optimal way to go, but this approach yielded an absolute bounty of wildlife excitement in just 48 action-packed hours. What makes this destination so magnificent? Plus, the food, service, and accommodations meet the highest standards.

Uganda 179

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 179

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. 29 Nov 2019. 28 Nov 2019. 28 Nov 2019. 27 Nov 2019. 27 Nov 2019.

2019 137

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 137

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

eBird have applied their new taxonomy as of July/August 2019. In publishing the most current thinking, eBird have become the month’s biggest contributor to the life list, expanding it by 7 brand new species and pushing it to 3774. Today it stands at 2019 , but watch this space! 03 Aug 2019. 15 Aug 2019.

2019 116

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 116

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

April was a busy time for the beats with 10 of them contributing 164 lists to accumulate 744 species from 7 countries; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Serbia, UK, Brazil and Barbados. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

Whilst the eastern hemisphere still leads the life rankings by 1991 to 1808 , the western hemisphere outbirds by 877 to 705 in the 2019 list and 615 to 385 during March. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list. 03 Jan 2019. 03 Feb 2019.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

The first sharer of 2019 was Clare who narrowly beat Duncan by 5 hours. The engaged and generous beats ( 10 of them) have shared 188 checklists during January and have accounted for 859 species from 8 countries (USA, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, UK, New Zealand and Serbia. 03 Jan 2019. 01 Jan 2019.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2019

There is very little traffic about at this time of year, but there are a lot of cattle wandering across the road and you need to be alert. We were able to add a few new birds to the 2019 Year List and had a good day out. Around fifty bird species were observed between 11:15am and 12:30pm. Two Australian Spotted Crake.

Ducks 114

Ducks 2019 Cattle Species 114

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

“Birding Over Time” compares the number of species recorded over a month with that month from previous years. We are 140 ticks behind our August 2019 figures and 340 behind on the year as a whole. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. That equates to almost six and a half days in South Africa. Any volunteers?

2020 150

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 150

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 23 May 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. The equanimity occurred as the two totals passed 3560. Alphabetic Taxonomic. 04 Apr 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

They noted 598 species as a team, bringing the year total to 2118 and pushing the life list to 3555. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. They are hungry, tired and don’t need to be chased. Claire and Grant went walkabout for 20 FOYs. Las Vegas – Sunset Park. 04 Apr 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Tom and Pat were toe to toe in Costa Rica , so the numbers from there outshone anything else on the list for November, with over 60% of the month’s total shared between them. 01 Jan 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. Cattle Tyrant – Machetornis rixosa. Cutler Wetlands. 01 Jan 2016. Reddish Egret – Egretta rufescens.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154