10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2024

On my 21-day Kenyan safaris we reckoned to find around 600 species of birds and around 60 mammals, both impressive totals. In 2023 I attempted to keep a year list of mammal encounters: the list barely exceeded 20 species, while it became complicated by seeing bats and voles that I was unable to name specifically.

Fur 207

Fur Bulgaria Otters Estonia 207

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

In all that swirling of swallows, I am not certain was there a third species, so I keep watching. The forest grows on the new lakeshore and it, too, is a mere 15 years old, but already provides an important corridor for large mammals such as Roe Deer and even Brown Bears , which sometimes come down to feed on beans. Practicalities.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

They claimed 15 species of bejeweled hummingbirds, 36 wood warblers, a Flame-colored Tanager , Greater Roadrunners (straight from the cartoon), and an oddly perched, metallic green-headed fellow called the ‘elusive’ Elegant Trogon. Pre-Internet, I got all my birding info from print magazines; and WildBird was my go-to back in the day.

Arizona 158

Arizona Tucson Birds North America 158

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

Watching birds isn’t much of a challenge if you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting one. In your back yard, if you have a feeder and exclude insects, birds may represent 100% of the animal biomass until either you our your cat walks outside. It made me think that birdwatchers are loafing. Peter and St.

Mammals 182

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 182

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2014

Between the 22 of December and the 31st I managed to see 171 species of bird, this had climbed to 219 by the time I had left of the 11th of January. This included 5 days without family, but I didn’t get more than 35 extra species without them. And the birds? I saw plenty. Think of the Jungle Ride at Disney.

Birds 194

Birds Bats Elephants Family 194