10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2018

Crawling back to work can be tough, but at least you can celebrate Cyber Monday at the office… While Bald Eagles have become nearly as common as Red-tailed Hawks in Upstate New York in winter, I still thrill to every sighting on the long drive from Rochester to NYC and back. What was your best bird of the weekend?

2018 114

2018 Bald Eagle New Jersey New York 114

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2013

Second, even if we do, we have discovered through bitter experience that jewelry can either be snatched or, like very small guns, used against us. asked Marge Gibson, when I asked a group of bird rehabbers about their bling experiences. Raccoons are worse than birds,” said Gay Frazee. As for nice clothing … right!

Bald Eagle 233

Bald Eagle Wildlife Rehabilitation Vet Birds 233

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2016

This Bald Eagle, photographed by Corey, was after Blue-winged Teal in Florida, not Atlantic Puffins in Maine. Did you miss your chance to see Angry Birds in movie theaters? And lastly, add Bullfinches and Grackles to the list of hungry birds smart enough to use a tool —in this case, a string—to reach their meal.

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle Puffins Eagles Pigs 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2014

I was both surprised and pleased to spy a Bald Eagle flying over my house, which is quite uncommon so far from the lake. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was easy to decide upon because he found a new bird for him in Queens, only the second White-winged Dove ever recorded in his home borough. How about you?

2014 182

2014 Bald Eagle Birds Eagles 182

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

But we have splendid birds in Western NY all year long. This weekend, we all enjoyed the sight of a Bald Eagle perched in a farm field along the highway, an uncommon spot for an uncommonly charismatic avian. Corey had a pleasing plethora of good birds from which to choose his Best Bird of the Weekend from this week.

Bald Eagle 135

Bald Eagle 2016 United States Birds 135

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2018

Maybe my perspective is biased, but if you’re feeling left out, you should be making 2018 your Year of the Eagle as well. Of course I saw tons of Bald Eagles chilling on the ice at Irondequoit Bay, but the bird that thrilled me most this weekend was my second Northern Shrike for the year. How about you?

2018 100

2018 Bald Eagle Philadelphia Eagles 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Those Eagles you’re hearing everyone talk about right now aren’t the ones you typically seek while birding, but rather the ones from Philadelphia that just won Super Bowl LII. To get in the mood for the big game, I took a run up to Irondequoit Bay in search of Bald Eagles. How about you?

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle 2018 Philadelphia Game 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2017

Maybe it’s just me… I’m already over winter weather, which means I couldn’t be bothered to chase birds this weekend. Luckily, a Bald Eagle soared overhead while I was leaving the flagship Wegmans supermarket, further enhancing the experience at this beloved Rochester institution. How about you?

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle 2017 Lions Birds 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Newly surrounded by wildlife, he found his love of birds reignited. He now lives in Los Angeles, California where he is employed as a natural history tour guide and as a member of the Leica Birding Team. This is Luke’s first contribution to 10,000 Birds. Great birds. Sociability.

Bald Eagle 246

Bald Eagle Los Angeles Connecticut Eagles 246

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2018

And, there are 300+ species of birds in this breathtaking region of the northern Rockies. What surprised me was the availability of birds, birds, birds on the ground – a cure for that chronic birding condition that I call ‘binocular neck.’. All of the neck-strain-free birds below breed in Montana.

Montana 164

Montana Bald Eagle Birds Bears 164

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 13, 2013

Growing up, you may have been told that a baby bird doesn’t need flying lessons. After three years of observation at a Bald Eagle nest in Washington state, I believe that young birds do, in fact, learn to fly — and they appear to learn much the same way we do. located across a large lake from Seattle.

Eagles 192

Eagles Bald Eagle Seattle Game 192

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2015

Many weekends come and go without great birds, but during the Christmas Bird Count, most field ornithologists have reason to beat the bushes. Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was actually a bunch of birds, none of which he saw! What was your best bird of the weekend? How about you?

Bald Eagle 101

Bald Eagle 2015 Nashville Pelicans 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

The best birds of my weekend were Seahawks, Eagles, Falcons, Cardinals, And Ravens. Corey had a hard time choosing his best bird of the weekend. But the birds he most appreciated were three American Golden Plovers , two of which are pictured below: What was your best bird of the weekend?

Bald Eagle 167

Bald Eagle New Jersey 2011 New York 167

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2014

The 18th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is less than a month away and while we don’t have snow down yet here in New York City I am pretty sick of cold weather and could use some warmth and Florida sunshine! Last year we had an amazing array of great birds and also were lucky enough to see an otter up close.

Wildlife 157

Wildlife 2015 Bald Eagle New York City 157

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2011

Considering that we’re also celebrating Memorial Day here in the States (which extends our weekend a full day) I’m tempted to declare the soaring adult Bald Eagle I spotted to be my best bird of the weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend?

Bald Eagle 157

Bald Eagle 2011 Kentucky Birds 157

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2016

What is the best bird you’ve seen in New York State and why has it stayed in your memory? This is the question I posed to 10,000 Birds readers in celebration of Corey’s first book, the ABA Field Guide to Birds of New York (by Corey Finger, author, and Brian E. Not only did it fly in but it attacked a Bald Eagle!

New York 100

New York Bald Eagle Birds New York City 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

During the decade, I submitted 1,219 checklists and observed 555 bird species, all in the U.S. I started eBirding about the same time I started birding, and I made an early executive decision (a very good one) that any pre-eBird observations simply did not count. Birding trips to Florida , New Mexico , and Texas are obvious too.

Puerto Rico 153

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2017

And though it was not a birding trip we were out in the woods all day every day so of course I saw some birds. Here’s a few of the more interesting encounters I had with some of the birds of the eastern forest. “Corey, what’s that bird?” Camping is the best way to make this happen.

St. Louis 100

St. Louis Cooking Bald Eagle Birds 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2017

Drag some other bird bodily out of a hollow tree and thrash the feathers off them? They want an authentic nature experience, but a relatable authentic nature experience. It makes people feel like they have to choose sides, and who wants to choose sides between the noble bald eagle and the majestic great horned owl or whatever?

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle Belize Iowa Eggs 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2015

So what does climate change mean for birds? Though all birds will be somehow impacted by climate change, I think it is important to note that not all will suffer. As deserts expand, birds suited to arid climates may be just fine. Whats in it for birds? Well…it means everything.

North America 226

North America Birds San Francisco Suffering 226

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2013

Great Gray Owl , Northern Hawk Owl , Snowy Owl – this trinity captures the imagination of most birders with their imposing presence, unique adaptations, and beauty as among the most desired species of bird to see in the world. Within minutes, I spotted a crisp, cold white bird flying right in front of the car.

Minnesota 196

Minnesota Owls Bald Eagle Hoarding 196

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2012

There are probably more identification guides about raptors than there are for any other bird group. This is a second edition that has been rewritten, updated, and re-invented, and it will doubtlessly become the hawk identification bible of our birding era. Yes, I saw the bird and it was incredible.)

North America 234

North America Bald Eagle Birds Eagles 234

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2018

In a recent post, Corey listed five things to do when it is too cold to go birding and one of those things is planning birding travel. Here in Portland, Oregon, it is more frequently too rainy rather than too cold to go birding, at least comfortably. Thus, my “good birds” are likely the opposite of an eastern birder.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Portland United States Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 19, 2011

We here at 10,000 Birds thought this would be a perfect time to look back and figure out what each of us considered our Best Bird of the Year, just like we did last year. Not only did we not expect to see this seabird this far inland, it was a life bird for me! We would like you to join in!

2011 192

2011 Birds South Korea North Dakota 192

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2011

Since I don’t drive, the vast majority of my birding is self-propelled. Such meditative birding is, for me, the heart of the experience. And birding on foot in the July heat can sometimes be less than refreshing on the physical plane, no matter what it does mentally. Spoilers: I saw birds.

Bald Eagle 174

Bald Eagle Rescue Dogs Cooking 174

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

Tara Tanaka described the experience of digiscoping this spoonbill as such: Tara Tanaka : Merritt Island NWR was the last stop on a 10-day Florida birding trip last winter. It was by far the most exciting time I’ve ever had photographing a bird. and content (not just what the bird IS, but what it is DOING).

2011 240

2011 Eagles Bald Eagle Owls 240

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2020

Faithful 10,000 Birds readers will remember Suzie as our wildlife rehabilitation beat writer. Suzie wrote about her experiences as a bird rehabber in Flyaway: How A Wild Bird Rehabber Sought Adventure and Found Her Wings (2009) and used those experiences as the source for her fictional children’s book, Hawk Hill (1996).

Wildlife Rehabilitation 267

Wildlife Rehabilitation Bald Eagle Eagles Wildlife 267

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

These are included as part of the summary and are maintained in the list, despite objections by some purists, to give the full, rich experience as enjoyed by your lucky, lucky beats. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Graylag Goose (Anser anser). Brant (Branta bernicla).

2020 154

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 154

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2018

I had high hopes for the 5th Annual Queens County Bird Club Big Sit this past Saturday at Fort Tilden. We had persevered through four years at the top of Battery Harris Platform and could bring our experience to bear on the task of trying to record as many species as possible on a single day from that single spot.

2018 210

2018 Bald Eagle Battery Birds 210

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2014

kept a special eye out for Bald Eagles ? Corey’s Best Bird of the Weekend was a bird that has frustrated him for quite some time now. Though it wasn’t a life bird or a year bird it was the first Black-billed Cuckoo he had encountered in Queens since 2008 and only the second he has ever had in his home borough.

Bald Eagle 213

Bald Eagle 2014 Jamaica 2008 213

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2016

That’s January for birding. This year, visiting Niagara Falls until January 6th gave me the chance to experience a bit of both latitudes. A cold, productive day spent birding with a friend from Buffalo was marked by two owls, lots of ducks, Tundra Swans , several gulls, and other targets not possible in tropical Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica 2016 San Antonio Sparrows 101

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

For many in the birding community, Miami is a destination meant only for ticking off ABA-countable exotics such as Spot-breasted Oriole or Red-whiskered Bulbul. It was truly heart-warming to see the local birding community participate with so much enthusiasm and fervor. This bird was a life bird for him! Gadwall: 3.

Miami 169

Miami 2015 United States Birds 169

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2016

At Sea With the Marine Birds of the Raincoast opens with the unexpected appearance of a Laysan Albatross. Having shown us the bird, the boat, and the water, Fox then introduces herself: “Albatrosses, petrels, fulmars, puffins and gulls live out their lives along these transect lines; my job is to count them all.”.

Fox 100

Fox Albatross Geese Bald Eagle 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2011

On this final day of 2011 it is time, just like it was on the final day of 2010 , to share your Best Birds of the Year. Well, actually, your Best Bird of the Year will only be shared here if you took the time to respond to the post in which we here at 10,000 Birds shared our Best Birds of the Year.

2011 162

2011 Birds Ohio North Dakota 162

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2013

But no, Jim’s eyes only light up when I talk about the Red-tailed Hawk that observes feeder birds from the top of the pine tree behind our building, or the Northern Harriers that in fall kettle over that grasslands preserve. It’s a Bald Eagle, a hawk. Or, I’ll wax poetic over a Hooded Warbler. And, he’s not the only one.

North America 222

North America Bald Eagle Falcons Owls 222

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2011

One also hopes you’re seeing excellent birds! The unexpected but entirely unholy cacophony produced by one million cawing, croaking crows meant that American Crow was my most memorable, if not best bird of the weekend. What was your best bird of the weekend? What was your best bird of the weekend?

Bald Eagle 154

Bald Eagle 2011 Birds Owls 154

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2011

I enjoyed a few fancy summer breeding birds this weekend, but if I have to choose, my favorites were the Eastern Bluebirds. Corey’s best bird of the weekend was undoubtedly another New York State resident, maybe even a proud Bald Eagle … Happy 4th of July!

Bald Eagle 160

Bald Eagle 2011 New York Birds 160