10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2014

After wrapping up our time in the highlands of Honduras, Chris Lotz (owner of international bird tour company Birding Ecotours ) and I arrived at the deservedly famous Pico Bonito Lodge. The Lodge at Pico Bonito is an inviting, idyllic place for relaxation as well as for enjoying wildlife. Photo by James Adams.

Honduras 163

Honduras Monkeys Birds America 163

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

And where all those birds are? This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. And it raises a question: if all the birds are having a party over there, am I in the wrong spot? I am talking 600 or 700+ bird species. Why am I here?

Sri Lanka 257

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Among birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, it is renowned for its incredible concentrations of birds at the end of the dry season. Raptors such as Savanna Hawk , Snail Kite , and Black-collared Hawk and up to five species of kingfisher also join the bonanza in one of the world’s great birding spectacles.

Brazil 165

Brazil Birds Blackbirds Paraguay 165

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2018

Under fire for the last 30 years at varying degrees of effectiveness, the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is threatened again by salivating oil company execs and their political cronies. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But, alas, I’d have colored practically the whole letter. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge PETITION.

Colorado 154

Colorado Protection Bears ALA 154

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2015

Further down the road, we reach a derelict building with a large veranda hidden among the trees – an abandoned hunting lodge (if I were in a situation to invest, I would choose to upgrade this into a luxury wildlife lodge). Birds included common species such as Black Drongos , Jungle Babblers and a Hoopoe.

Tigers 237

Tigers Dogs India Snow Leopard 237

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2011

The American White Pelican ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) is a huge bird! Large flocks of these amazing birds are sometimes seen gracefully flying overhead in formation or soaring high on thermals. I did see several American White Pelicans though, including this immature bird (click on photos for full sized images).

Pelicans 165

Pelicans Fish California Condor North America 165

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to learn how to draw, but alas I never made it past the stickman. More precisely I wanted to learn how to draw wildlife. It seemed to draw you in and I could easily imagine standing beside him, staring as he did at the bird, watching it curve its neck downwards. He died on July 27, 2008.

Birds 214

Birds Woodpeckers Canada Collecting 214

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

Of course, excellent opportunity to go birding with my friends Brad and Laura. My colleague Doug wrote me an email describing the whereabouts of these “rosy finches” and my wife had to manage my excitement with horse tranquilizer… What a fantastic little birds. It is mid-March and I am back in Colorado for meetings.

Denver 165

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 165

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Counting the Birds I was in my teens when I undertook my first bird-survey: it was field work for the British Trust for Ornithology’s The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. The breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland. Published in 1976, The Atlas was, I believe, the very first work of its kind.

Ireland 217

Ireland Turtles Geese Farming 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

They’re not, alas particularly impressive. However, I have to put it in perspective by explaining that during the year I hardly ventured out of East Anglia, and almost every bird was seen in Suffolk or Norfolk – I live on the county boundary. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself.

Estonia 224

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 224

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 , 2011 , and 2012 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. We also want to know what YOUR Best Bird of the Year was. Now on to the Best Birds of the Year for those who write on 10,000 Birds! Sound good?

2013 167

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2011

One of the things I like best is squeezing a little birding in on non-birding trips. In short, as ways of birding go, it’s low-impact. In short, as ways of birding go, it’s low-impact. Writing AND birding (AND, inevitably, a *ahem* few glasses of wine with fellow creative types)? Sign me up!

ALA 160

ALA Bald Eagle Mules Turkey 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

But there was one trip I wasn’t going to miss, a midweek excursion by the Cumberland Bird Observers Club , the people to go out with in Sydney if you want birds. Alas, this wasn’t to be our time for that rarity, but the trail certainly delivered honeyeaters. Spotted Pardalotes are uniquely Australian birds.

Owls 176

Owls Birds Neglecting Hawaii 176

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. 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.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

It’s September and time for birds to start their southerly journeys. Please remember to give migrating birds the space that they need. Jason hoisted his colours in Kansas and claimed the state for 10,000 Birds. In an unusual turnaround during September, more birds were seen in USA than in Costa Rica. 09 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. So please keep at it and keep sending me your shared checklists.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. La Cotinga Birding B&B. 8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2018

May by numbers looked like this; 11 beats shared 194 lists and ticked 943 birds between us. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park / Shioiri Pond). Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. 01 Jan 2018.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

The UK has been birded clean by Tom as he ends his Little Big Year (Part 1). 9 beats visited 8 countries, submitting 102 checklists along the way, accounting for 609 birds. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Malbup Creek Bird Hide.

2018 101

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

10 countries were birded by 9 beats and 892 species were noted from 144 checklists. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park / Shioiri Pond). Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor. Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Does Mel Gibson know?

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2011

Kenn Kaufmann, David Sibley, Pete Dunne, Corey Finger and – it seems the rest of the American birding world have it all wrong. I was living in the hope that Richard Crossley would set it right with his brilliant new book, but alas even he decided to not shake the boat or upset the powers that be.

Hamburgers 226

Hamburgers ALA Fish Wildlife 226

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Is it wrong of me to go birding to get away from the kids now that they are at home all day? Happy birding if you suddenly find yourself single. 458 birds were seen by 7 beats in 8 countries. 458 birds were seen by 7 beats in 8 countries. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge–East Pond. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary.

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100