10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2018

Lacking the benefit of heated shelters, birds must heed that warning or perish. The coming cold takes a big bite out of life and is why millions of birds flee south to where summer reigns eternal. Even so, warm, friendly weather can’t stop a birder from choosing Costa Rica’s best birds of Halloween. Laughing Falcon.

Costa Rica 153

Costa Rica Bats Birds Falcons 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

2021 is already well underway, are you birding? During anxious times, birding is therapeutic, it brings us back to center, can wipe away the worries and act as a source of mental fortitude. Watch some birds today and see where it takes you. Watch some birds all year long and enjoy the journey, keep a list.

Costa Rica 158

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 158

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

An expanse of habitat as vast as Murchison Falls NP in Uganda, as excessively generous in beauty and biodiversity, permits endless ways to experience both its birds and animals. The Masindi Hotel holds the distinction of being the oldest and most historic hotel in Uganda and has some terrific birds on premises. Mind boggling, I answer!

Uganda 177

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 177

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 25, 2015

The Durango Highway is arguably one of North America’s great birding roads due to the great variety of habitats, the spectacular mountain scenery of the Sierra Madre Occidental, and the numerous Mexican endemics one can target. There are many dusty side roads in this area, many of which offer productive birding.

Mexico 186

Mexico Costa Rica Arizona Birds 186

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

And this doesn’t mean you are obsessed or a little bit too much into birds because keeping track of a year list actually comes with some side benefits. Yeah, many of us living the birding life do so anyways because we can’t help it. Go birding! Hoffmann’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes hoffmannii; Calle Jocote, 1-Jan.

Costa Rica 256

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 256

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

I was wishing I had a birding buddy with me as a mixed flock overwhelmed my abilities. Suddenly, a large bird, which seemed to have a bright yellow breast and black head, flew overhead to a point behind multiple branches. And then the bird was gone. Of course, I can’t bat a thousand on the bad photo rankings.

Mexico 176

Mexico Guatemala South America United States 176

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2016

While I did not go NOLA to bird specifically, I always keep my eyes out. However, I did love the Chimney Swifts that dotted the dimming sky; or, as my cousin called them, “those bat-looking things.” In the hush of a Sunday morning, even “common” birds seemed special. Bird graffiti near Magazine St.

Austin 100

Austin Mississippi Birds Parrots 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2024

Memorable encounters with Mammals: Part I Most birdwatchers enjoy seeing mammals, but the trouble with mammals is that they tend to be much more challenging to see than birds. I remember the guide on my first Kenyan birding safari remarking that “birding groups always see far more mammals than those who come just to see animals.

Fur 176

Fur Bulgaria Otters Estonia 176

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Following some bird call, I walk across the hanging deck bridge. Little by little, that woodpecker-like voice takes me ever further and yet, I see no bird. And in order to see the bubbles underwater, one needs to be right above the bird. Bats flying out of the Lazareva Cave, (c) Jovica Sjenicic.

Bats 207

Bats Woodpeckers Squirrels Game 207

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 222

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2020

Going birding is even more of a no-brainer now than before. Many moons ago, when I used to work in the (supposedly) booming petrochemical industry in Trinidad, most of my time was actually spent birding. I racked up a staggering number of life birds in the surprisingly rich surroundings during my four-odd years slaving for The Man.

Trinidad 207

Trinidad Battery Industry Bats 207

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2018

While we have a bit of a travel plan, finding sites to stay in that provide me access to good birding locations, things are always a bit flexible. At daylight, this area, in just a short walk gave me 5 new birds for the list. Unfortunately, the birding there was bleak. Here is my new Nuttall’s Woodpecker.

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers Oregon California Geese 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2017

The Elephant Cactus , puts out a white tubular flower that open from late March, until early, June, and are visited by nectar feeding bats at night and many birds during the day. The larger birds will break open the round fuzzy balls to get at the white pulpy fruit and black seeds. First the Gila Woodpecker.

Elephants 104

Elephants Woodpeckers Squirrels Shelters 104

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

Last weekend, I guided a trip to Laguna del Lagarto for the Birding Club of Costa Rica. Since that block still hosts Harpy Eagle and every other possible species, it’s not out of the question for those rare birds to also show at Laguna and vicinity. In fact, a friend of mine saw a Harpy Eagle at Laguna in 1998.

Costa Rica 123

Costa Rica Nicaragua Eagles Parrots 123

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2017

Birds with white on them are much more likely to take the form of goodies like the Snowy Cotinga , or two species of tityras. Masked Tityra – the most frequently encountered small bird in Costa Rica with white plumage. The Caribbean slope of Costa Rica also differs from the islands in having a lot more bird species.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Bats Birds 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. They have been waiting for the natural imperative that calls them outside and now the leash has been loosened. I hope that you have made it out too. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 190

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 190

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

8 Lineated Woodpecker – Dryocopus lineatus. 76 Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 115 Eurasian Green Woodpecker – Picus viridis. 206 Smoky-brown Woodpecker – Dryobates fumigatus. 207 Rufous-winged Woodpecker – Piculus simplex. 483 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

Woodpeckers 194

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 194

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2014

In September, I had the fantastic opportunity to travel to an increasingly popular destination for birding: Honduras. Chris Lotz, the owner of the international bird tour company Birding Ecotours , invited me to join him on a familiarization trip that included several highland sites as well as Pico Bonito Lodge.

Honduras 207

Honduras Costa Rica El Salvador Arizona 207

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2018

I have my bird books, field guides and reference material out where they can be gotten to in a moment’s notice. I even have something of a back yard, which I have already made very “Bird” friendly with hummingbird feeders, suet block holders, wild bird seed dispensers, and a bird bath.

Tucson 113

Tucson Costa Rica Arizona Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

The pressure is on if you can only get certain species during the first month of the year but if you just want to add any old birds to the year list, everything is fresh! Since I’m in no big hurry to reach any number of species in 2018, my year birding is going to be a fresh one hopefully touched with a good dose of Zen.

Costa Rica 148

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 148

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

Lock downs and restrictions have curbed our birding, so if you can summon any blessings to mind, count them instead. December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia).

2020 212

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 212

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

Especially if you can fit in some birding? But others actually do some birding, and they paved the way for this Great Ornithologist to do a little bit on a recent vacation to Todos Santos. Of course, the town also boasts some very fun birding. What better way to start the year than with a visit to Mexico?

California 212

California San Jose Birds Mexico 212

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2017

Good choice, the birding is fantastic! If not, I hope the following tips will convince you to come on down to this easy birding paradise: 100s of bird species are closer than you think. Given all that apparent awesome habitat, we can’t help but wonder where the heck all those birds are (!)… Yes, hundreds.

Costa Rica 112

Costa Rica 2017 Birds West Virginia 112

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

273 Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. 274 Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus. 275 Hoffmann’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes hoffmannii. 276 Golden-fronted Woodpecker – Melanerpes aurifrons. 277 Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus.

Woodpeckers 176

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 176

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

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. 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

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

Last weekend, I went on a birding binge. I spent two full days where the birding was near constant, and, just to keep the binoculars from being neglected, topped it off with another half day of birding on our drive back from Cano Negro, Costa Rica. Like most of my birding weekends, this one began somewhere in the Central Valley.

Costa Rica 117

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Farming 117

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Ethiopia, a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa, has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s top birding destinations. Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa).

Ethiopia 235

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 235

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

Are these very early migrants or possibly breeding birds of a wider area? Birds in their second calendar year often do not breed yet and spend time further south from their breeding areas, so this is most likely their year off. Okay, obviously a bird-productive area, but what about the title? and one ad.).

Serbia 159

Serbia Protection Eagles Ducks 159

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

A new year begins and last year’s bird list gets archived. It’s a fresh start, a time when we can start counting once again to see how many birds we can find over the next 12 months. To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

My first birding trip ever was to Arizona. I saw a lot of birds, learned a lot about birding (including the fact that I had lousy binoculars), and gained good birder friends. I had a list of birds I had missed and a list of birds I needed to see again—second lifers I call them. At least for birders.

Arizona 102

Arizona Lovebirds Phoenix New Jersey 102

10,000 Birds

JUNE 18, 2015

You may not have heard about the Florida Bonneted Bat (Eumops floridanus) , and that is fine, not many know this bat even existed. This bat is rare and range-restricted in South Florida, which are some of the reasons it was recently listed as an endangered under the Endangered Species Act. ounces, a body length of 6.5

Bats 166

Bats Florida Endangered Species Cuba 166

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. What could be better?

Bald Eagle 167

Bald Eagle Rescue Dogs Cooking 167

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Which, naturally, got me to thinking about the newly erected order Suliformes, a development I mentioned in my December column, 2010′s Top 10 Developments in Bird Taxonomy and Systematics , but which I thought deserved further examination, for it’s one of those stories that defines the era in which we are living and birding.

2011 151

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 151

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. Bare-faced Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides personatus. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. The life list was pumped a further 27 sp up to 3953.

2019 161

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

The trend at this time of year is a downturn in shared lists and birds reported, nevertheless, 12 (is this a record?) Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. Laguna Lagarto Lodge.

2019 118

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 118

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2022

Over the past couple of weeks I have spent some time exploring this section of my home island and have come to realize its tremendous potential in terms of birding. The archetypical rainforest bird – Channel-billed Toucan. It almost looks as if the bird is underwater! Crimson-crested Woodpecker. Collared Trogon.

Trinidad 262

Trinidad Woodpeckers Bats Venezuela 262

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

We strike up a conversation, and find out that his name is Abner , and he just so happens to be the son of the owner, and is very interested in birds. On my Face Book page, I made the comment that we might be waiting for Noah to come by, rather than getting to see some birds. In the 75-80 degrees F and what seemed like 95% humidity.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica Falcons Mexico Groups 113