10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Even though you know that you saw a Yellow-eared Toucanet and heard a Spectacled Owl the day before, you can’t really expect them on a rainy count day. Spectacled Owl from another day. Despite rain during part of the day, the other teams also did very well and we ended up with a final overall tally of more than 270 species.

Costa Rica 245

Costa Rica Birds Owls Bats 245

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

Many are familiar with dissecting owl pellets, but several birds will caste a pellet including hawks, eagles, gulls, herons and heck, I once witnessed a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher hack up a small one. Above is a pellet from one of a pair of Great Horned Owls that nested a few blocks from my apartment.

Bats 211

Bats Dissection Owls Minnesota 211

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2023

This bird had been extinct for more than a century before it was rediscovered – a Lazarus species! We made camp at the “roça” – the ruins of a cocoa plantation house, ate a one-pot meal flushed away with palm wine, conversed with a São Tomé Scops-Owl and slept like logs while the São Tomé Free-tailed Bats flew all around us.

Emotional 230

Emotional ALA Bats Birds 230

Critter News

MARCH 28, 2010

I like this opinion piece from the Christian Science Monitor which calls for an "Endangered Species Hour." The Christian Science Monitor rightly points out that citizens and consumers need to get involved in endangered species protection, because at the CITES level, it's all about money and international politics.

Endangered Species 100

Endangered Species Science Species Japan 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2020

The graveyard shift is on duty: several bats are chasing insects through the evening coolness. There are more than 1100 plant species, the most valuable being the 76 endemics. Other species include Roe Deer (also spotted), Wildcat , European Pine Marten and Otter. The Song Thrush becomes silent. The shades are impenetrable now.

Serbia 264

Serbia Bears Birds Mammals 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2019

As with any home inhabited by birders, we have kept track of all species heard or seen, night and day. The farm would have even more birds if not for the bio-diminishing blend of poison and monoculture but the adjacent hedgerow does support quite a few species especially when the figs and other trees are in flower or draped with fruit.

Costa Rica 165

Costa Rica Barn Owls Birds Parrots 165

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

The prospect of identifying a certain number of species in a given amount of time pushes us to pay more attention to birds no matter what the circumstances (although I suggest keeping the exclamations about species identifications to yourself during such solemn situations as funerals, graduations, and watching episodes of The Sopranos).

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 263

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Larry starts us off right with an owl that makes birders drool: I was able to see and photograph many great birds in 2014 but my Best Bird of the Year would have to be the Great Gray Owl , the largest Strix in North America. Larry’s BBOTY – Great Gray Owl. What was yours? I also blogged about that dreamy day.

2014 194

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2018

Our first three days were spent bouncing around from area to area, looking to find the species on my wish list. What did find right off the bat, was an amazing group of people, all willing to help out in so many ways. That lovely little owl represented bird number 34 for the run thru Texas! Here that Eastern Screech Owl.

Texas 133

Texas Tucson San Antonio Owls 133

10,000 Birds

MAY 6, 2016

Rehabbers are very responsive, although constantly living under the gun makes us sometimes vent about species that aren’t necessarily the ones in question. Bats just love to fly into human hair!” Three: Why would anyone , no matter what their species, want to become tangled in human hair? Porcupines throw their quills!

Wildlife Rehabilitation 183

Wildlife Rehabilitation Porcupines Raccoons Birds 183

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2018

Thanks to a fair degree of participation in the right places, I daresay that we birders in Tiquicia did quite well in garnering a total of 650 plus species. In fact, in terms of percentage of possible species identified, we were only surpassed by Argentina (felicidades para los observadores de aves de Argentina!).

Costa Rica 142

Costa Rica Argentina Bats Birds 142

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 31, 2018

Today, with assistance from the Tucson Audubon Society, this world-famous destination is “The Place” to go for not only rare hummingbirds, but dozens of other species as well. By the time we left there four hours later, I checked off, seven total hummingbird species. US species – 257. We will be back often! 12 House Finch.

Tucson 113

Tucson Costa Rica Arizona Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

The guide presents 69 species and 1 subspecies, from “NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartiformes” to “OSPREY: Pandioninae” to “FAMILY: Accipitridae” (Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Hawk-Eagles), to “FALONIDS: Falconidae” (Falcons, Forest-Falcons, Caracaras, Kestrels, Merlin). Owls are not included, though they sometimes are in ‘raptor’ guides.

Mexico 170

Mexico America North America Falcons 170

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2018

At last count, there are 25 species of birds named for U.S. But only two states have more than one bird named for them: Hawaii and California, with nine and seven extant and eponymous species, respectively. states, with varying degrees of geographical relevance (sorry, Tennessee Warbler ). Good birding and happy drinking!

2015 113

2015 San Diego Family California Condor 113

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 241

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 241

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2014

Like leg hold traps, glue traps are indiscriminate, with non-targeted species making up a large proportion of their catch. But be it a mouse, bird, bat, gecko, kitten … it’s a very bad way to go, and no creature should have to suffer death by torture. “My We had to euthanize the poor bird immediately.”.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 279

Wildlife Rehabilitation Mice Rodents Rescue 279

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2017

This past Saturday, 07 October, was the day for the Queens County Bird Club Big Sit, our fourth year of counting every species we could see from the hawk watch platform at Fort Tilden, in southwestern Queens. Well, during a Big Sit a bird is a bird is a bird and they all count as one species. It was so bad I never even blogged it.)

Birds 111

Birds Dolphins Canada Sparrows 111

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. 242 Barn Owl – Tyto alba.

Woodpeckers 189

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

It’s almost a bucolic place; sea turtles nest on the beaches, Humpback Whales and bat rays frolic just offshore, and you can buy the freshest fish from the panga fisherman at Punta Lobos every afternoon. Other desert denizens (that we missed) include Harris’s Hawk , Elf Owl , and Pyrrhuloxia.

California 227

California San Jose Birds Mexico 227

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

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. December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia).

2020 232

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 232

10,000 Birds

APRIL 23, 2014

We found some more sleeping birds, lots of frogs, and a Lesser Mousedeer – a new species for me! Best of all the lodge also set out a large white board with lights on, which attracted lots of insects and in turn bats. I love doing this, what you lose in expert guides or powerful lights you make up for with reduced disturbance.

Badgers 154

Badgers Wildlife Reptiles Monkeys 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

And of course you’ll be keen to keep an eye open for Mantell’s Moa , one of ten species you should see on your tour. This species, the smallest, is endemic to North Island and should be fairly common in the wet lowland forests. Like many of its relatives, this species was also flightless.

New Zealand 207

New Zealand Ducks Australia Mountain Goats 207

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2014

Betty’s Bay was also a great place to see all of South Africa’s cormorant species, including the endangered Bank Cormorant. We observed far fewer Lesser Flamingos, a near-threatened species. It was the first of six bustard species I would see over the course of both trips. And then there were the Flamingos.

South Africa 254

South Africa Africa Leopards Penguins 254

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Imagine that, 13 lists per year where once there were only 12.

2020 225

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 225

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2017

Along that stretch, we enjoyed Fork-tailed Flycatchers and other species in the open fields and marshes including Harriss’s Hawk , the local Nicaraguan Seed-Finch , and, best of all, a pair of normally sneaky and secretive Yellow-breasted Crakes walking in the open through a grassy marsh!

Costa Rica 126

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Farming 126

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 7 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium brasilianum. 92 Crested Owl – Lophostrix cristata. 111 Mottled Owl – Ciccaba virgata. 271 Spectacled Owl – Pulsatrix perspicillata.

Woodpeckers 213

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 213

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2013

In the end, it was birding that has taken him from his native Serbia, across the Balkans and Turkey, to the very borders of the Old World: East Anglia and Spain, southern Africa and India, where he chased that country’s rarest owl. We look forward to many more missives from Dragan. Steve answers: Bonelli’s Eagle !

Spain 226

Spain Terrapins Eagles Europe 226

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 6, 2021

The beats are famed for their inclusion on the nice side of the ledger and this month 9 of them shared 163 lists from 7 countries (Australia, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) and accounted for 735 bird species. Mike doubled up with “smushed”, a new addition to the adjective list.

Sparrows 193

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 193

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

At time of writing (usually a couple of days early to avoid the deadline panic), UK is fielding 63 species. 121 Barn Owl – Tyto alba. 122 Barred Owl – Strix varia. 141 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 121 Barn Owl – Tyto alba. 122 Barred Owl – Strix varia.

2020 161

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 161

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

He quickly starts pointing our different species that are all around us, with exceptional and obvious knowledge. This Ferruginous Pygmy-owl image was taken at 5:30 AM, and with no flash!! Even with what I consider to be two completely lost days, the numbers are as follows: Little Big Year species – 1141. eBird submissions – 347.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica Falcons Mexico Groups 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species. The list for the year has reached 1276 and the life list has been stretched to 4066 with red ticks from China, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago, thanks to Kai, Claire and Grant and Faraaz respectively.

Woodpeckers 155

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 208

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 208

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Our methods have changed over time — Linneaus, for example, chose not to classify bats among birds — but now, detailed molecular analyses can confound even the most comprehensive and rigorous morphology-based hypotheses, not to mention “obvious&# groupings. RECENT POSTS More Habitat for Snowy Plover?

2011 154

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 31 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 231 Mottled Owl – Ciccaba virgata. 320 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium brasilianum.

2020 130

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

“Birding Over Time” compares the number of species recorded over a month with that month from previous years. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. Barn Owl – Tyto alba. Barking Owl – Ninox connivens. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium brasilianum. Management ?)

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 151

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. Please be careful, Corvid is still out there. Marsh Grassbird and Rufous-faced Warbler come to you all the way from China and bring the life list to 4061.

Sparrows 159

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 159