10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2014

There’s no way around it as the various species are reasonably common, and you will surely want to identify them. And since River Warbler is an incredibly neat species (aka difficult to get on your life list), it sure is worth the effort of peeking at its undies. Option two: abandon bird. Or vice versa. And you know what?

Europe 225

Europe Kazakhstan Sparrows Abandon 225

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2015

This species is still uncommon in the Balkans and despite the recent spread, Kalamas is the most reliable site for it in Greece (and this made my only second ever observation of them in Europe). But, passing numerous Red-backed Shrikes , Western Yellow Wagtails and a herd of sheep among tussocks of long grasses, I remember those egrets.

Greece 237

Greece Dogs Pelicans Fish 237

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2021

January is the month where I allow myself to go only to my very best sites, and rejoice in even the most commonplace species. I correctly suspected that Lake Cuitzeo would be too dry this year to give me its usual 75+ species in the deep of winter. (It But Las Mesas did indeed come through, with 79 species.

2020 264

2020 Birds Ducks Sparrows 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2022

It was an undeniably dank morning at the top of this island watershed, and even though we were able to discern some other species like Rufous-tailed Jacamar and the endemic Trinidad Motmot , activity was a bit slow. We were hoping for some of the more secretive species, however. From hidden perches, Blue-backed Manakins vocalized.

Trinidad 251

Trinidad Woodpeckers Species Ducks 251

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2022

In most years, that wouldn’t be all that special — the lake is normally where I can see the most species in a single day, so I usually go there first. These photos exaggerate the size difference between the two species, which is actually so minimal as to be almost useless for ID purposes.). Was it practicing?

Falcons 195

Falcons Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 195

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2022

It appeared that many of the birds that we had seen on earlier visits this year had abandoned the area due to the huge expanse of water. It really can be too wet for ducks! Glossy Ibis were by far the dominant species and we observed hundreds of them in flight as we crossed Roebuck Plains. Young Giant Frogs.

Ducks 188

Ducks Reptiles 2017 Abandon 188

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2015

Old Halls Creek as a town-site was abandoned by 1954 and everybody had moved to the new site of Halls Creek where an airfield had been built in 1948. Often there are Australasian Grebes present and the varieties of ducks usually include Pink-eared Ducks , Grey Teal , Pacific Black Ducks , Wood Ducks and Hardheads.

Australia 100

Australia Ducks Cattle Industry 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

The birds were right next to an old abandoned farm house, and seemed quite happy to have their photo taken, up to a point, but then like the wind, they were gone, out thru the flat desert areas of New Mexico! This did open up the area to a few new species, like this Wilson’s Warbler. US species – 234.

Albuquerque 125

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 125

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2011

It traditionally holds the most species of all of the sections in the Queens count and is the only shot the count has at quite a few birds. What was worrisome, though, was a lack of ducks. Sure, there were Red-throated Loons , Common Loons , and a few Common Eider but we needed scoters, all three species, and none were in evidence.

2011 160

2011 Birds Sparrows Ducks 160

10,000 Birds

APRIL 1, 2014

I’m going to start with a specific example: species accounts for Common Tern and Arctic Tern. How have these species accounts changed from The Sibley Guide to Birds , published in 2000 (heretofore called Sibley One) to The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition , published in March 2014 (and heretofore called Sibley Two).

North America 248

North America Birds Species America 248