10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2019

It is always hot in Kununurra and you can easily observe many of the bird species around town from your air-conditioned vehicle. Right beside the road and the irrigation channel were a mixed flock of Cattle Egret , Intermediate Egrets and Little Black Cormorants all “caged” in.

Cattle 103

Cattle Research Family Rights 103

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2019

We started our Singapore bird list at Pasir Ris and leaving the train station we were delighted to see several Cattle Egrets on the grass and several photographers. We encountered several bird species there including a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and a nesting Red-breasted Parakeet. Oriental Pied Hornbill. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

Singapore 114

Singapore Otters Owls Zebras 114

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

There has also been another tropical low that came very close to Broome dumping heavy rains and then continued around the coast of Western Australia. This bird species is known to travel large distances around Australia. Wedge-tailed Eagle -bigger than the cattle!? Three Wedge-tailed Eagles.

Geese 251

Geese Eagles Australia Breeding 251

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

I do not get too many comments on my blog posts, but it seems that whenever I write about jacanas – whether in Africa, Australia, or Asia – there is an unusually high number of reactions (well, maybe one or two rather than the usual zero) from female readers. This Cattle Egret has just read a paper stating that it would be 3.6

Birds 162

Birds South Korea Japan Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

This is the only highway around Australia in this part of the country and we don’t need it falling to bits! They were busy feeding around the cattle water trough that the cattle can’t get to unless they want wet hooves! We always travel through the shallowest section to prevent damage to the highway.

Barn Owls 180

Barn Owls Cattle Ducks Reptiles 180

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

It is often a lot hotter there than closer to the coast and many bird species roost in the area or come in for a drink and bathe during the day. Last Sunday there were plenty of bird species to see and it was easy enough to stand in the shade and watch the birds come in for a drink.

Cattle 203

Cattle Birds Zebras Wildlife 203

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.

Sparrows 197

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 197

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2021

We have observed huge flocks of Galahs there on previous visits and other times there are more bird species, but only one or two of each species. Walking out onto the bridge we soon observed a good mixture of other bird species. Brolga had come into drink and there were all three species of Ibis present. Cattle Egret.

Cattle 259

Cattle Ducks Zebras Australia 259

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2020

The main bird species around the quarry were Zebra Finch , Painted Finch , Spinifex Pigeons , Crested Pigeons , Peaceful Doves and Diamond Doves. Cattle have been in the area and so there will be small remaining pools from their hoof prints if rain does not come to the area soon just like last time. A bush full of Zebra Finch .

2020 286

2020 Zebras Birds 2016 286

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

7 beats contributed their sightings from 7 countries (Hong Kong, UK, China, USA, Serbia, Australia and, of course, Costa Rica). 149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). The total for the year has been pushed to 1478 , whilst the life list has reached 4009. Great Egret (Ardea alba).

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 151

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2013

Let’s take Singapore’s Changi International Airport as an example; it is a huge hub airport with large numbers of people passing through in transit to Australia, Indonesia and south-east Asia. My personal list for Paser Ris runs to 75 birds over 15 visits that average out at around 25 species per outing. and take 23 minutes).

Singapore 159

Singapore Woodpeckers Parrots Zebras 159

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

9 beats submitted 140 checklists from 7 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) during October to account for 585 species. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 1 Little Tinamou – Crypturellus soui. 6 Brant – Branta bernicla.

Woodpeckers 227

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 227

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia). The year list ends on a provisional 1803 species from 1608 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Most species-prolific was Patrick in Costa Rica, followed by Paul from Mexico.

2020 215

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 215

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2022

8 of them sent 153 lists, noting 645 species of bird across 7 countries (Mexico, UK, USA, Serbia, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia). It has not resulted in extraordinary numbers of sightings personally, but the beats have been busy on their respective patches and have sent me their lists to collate. The year list finishes at 1628.

Sparrows 224

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 224

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 201 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

Woodpeckers 177

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 177

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2015

Halls Creek is situated inland on the Great Northern Highway, which is the only bitumen road around the north of Australia. It has a small population of approximately 1100 people and is a major hub for the local indigenous people and for the cattle industry. This is exactly where you want to be! Spinifex Pigeons inside the fence line!

Australia 100

Australia Ducks Cattle Industry 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2021

At the shallow natural clay-pan where the three Pink-eared Ducks were hiding in plain sight there were many other bird species. As you can see it does not take much water to attract birds in Australia! The same applies when you come further north to the Kimberley in Western Australia.

Australia 264

Australia Birds Eagles Cattle 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

172 lists were shared and 1004 species were seen, both records for October, so well done beats! Visited this month were; Germany , France , Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Indonesia , Switzerland and Singapore). Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia.

2019 113

2019 China Battery Jamaica 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2016

There actually could not have been much less water really, because it was little more than a hoof print full after the last of the cattle gave up on it for a supply of water! This particular quarry north of Fitzroy Crossing was almost dry when we last visited, but not dry enough that there were no birds at all. Quarry landscape.

Zebras 140

Zebras Birds Cattle Species 140

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143.

Sparrows 155

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2016

Life’s been pretty hectic since we returned from a trip into the Pilbara area of Western Australia and I have hardly touched on all of our adventures due to other exciting bird news back home. Hundreds of Budgerigars were swooping down to the water and almost blocked our view of the cattle! Budgerigars roosting around the dam.

Cattle 101

Cattle Australia Birds Rights 101

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

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. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

9 countries were visited during March by your tireless beats ( 11 of them); India, UK, USA, Serbia, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list. Western Australia. Western Australia.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

This is cattle country and it is actually fenced, which many parts of the Kimberley are not and you pass through Ruby Plains and then Carranya station to reach the crater. I am uncertain of the exact species of dragon that we commonly found on the rim. Dragon on the rim. Grevillea wickhamii flowers. Mulla mulla. Camel bush.

Camels 166

Camels Birds Cattle Zebras 166

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. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2013

New Zealand, where I live, am the 10,000 Birds Beat Writer of, and of which I very occasionally actually write about, is home to several species of heron. Like most of the rest of the world this species is kind of new here, having recently colonised from, well, wherever those things actually came from. It wasn’t always this way.

New Zealand 148

New Zealand Indonesia Cattle Guinea 148

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2020

Over recent weeks I have been able to share some of my observations along the Great Southern Rail Trail in Victoria, Australia. They are very similar to the Masked Lapwings in the north of Australia, but of course they have ‘black shoulders”! Two Cattle Egrets with four cows! Black-shouldered Lapwings.

Buffalo 159

Buffalo Fish Koalas Cattle 159

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. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. May I extend my thanks to all the beats.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. The year and life lists have been pushed to 2214 and 3564 respectively. 04 Apr 2018. 19 Jan 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. Western Australia. Western Australia. This is inevitable even when the beats are so spread out. The equanimity occurred as the two totals passed 3560.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

9 beats shared 100 checklists from 8 countries (Costa Rica, USA, UK, Brazil, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Australia. They noted 598 species as a team, bringing the year total to 2118 and pushing the life list to 3555. Western Australia. They are hungry, tired and don’t need to be chased. 25 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 30, 2015

On our trip to the north of Western Australia we took the opportunity to visit the Pentecost River, which is south of Wyndham and is near the start of the infamous Gibb River Road. It really didn’t matter if the Pentecost River could not offer us many other species, because Gouldian Finch are a rare bird to observe in the wild.

Birds 151

Birds Australia Cattle Pelicans 151

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2021

This particular bird species is not common around Broome, but easily found in Derby. The tide was out and we were hopeful of a Great-billed Heron , but luck was not on our side for this species on this visit. Both of these bird species are easier to find in Derby than in Broome. Little Egret. Kimberley Flycatcher.

Breeding 228

Breeding 2014 Cattle Australia 228

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2018

They found 673 species and advanced the yearly total to 1019. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. This month is when the hard work to fill the winter quota is put in. 20 Jan 2018. 05 Jan 2018.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Last year they shared over 1200 checklists and managed to achieve a stunning total of 2647 species from 32 countries. Last year’s magnificent total of 2647 species is the target to beat, but other results could prove interesting. 1499 species were seen in the eastern hemisphere in 2016. Western Australia.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2018

Tom’s odyssey continued through New Zealand and passes on to Australia. April’s number are below; 11 countries were visited by 9 beats; Australia, USA, UK, India, Serbia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Brazil, New Zealand and Argentina. Their 185 checklists contained 951 species during April! Western Australia.

2018 100

2018 Australia Los Angeles Albatross 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

10 countries were birded by 9 beats and 892 species were noted from 144 checklists. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Western Australia. Who is going to tell the clans? Does Mel Gibson know? The Year List has been boosted to 1999 and the Life List has passed another landmark to reach 3519.

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100