10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

If you like birds on posts, if seeing “little brown jobs” posing nicely in the distance as you drive or walk along a dirt road only to have it fly away as you approach makes you deliriously happy, then North Dakota is the place for you. I wanted to see prairie birds and I wanted to experience a new state. Scott Barnes, N.J.

North Dakota 143

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2020

Over the years I’ve seen a variety of open-country birds there, including Bobolinks , Vesper Sparrow , and American Kestrel. Over the years birding Willow Lake I had added nearly eighty eBird checklists at the preserve and netted myself 127 species, good for number two on the eBird hotspot list. I really hope so.

Bald Eagle 191

Bald Eagle New York City Birds New York 191

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

Wherever you might be birding, please stay safe and keep those around you safe too. 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. 424 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 6 Brant – Branta bernicla.

Woodpeckers 243

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 243

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. Lifers are in caps and the most outstanding species are in bold. Go birding!

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 262

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

I am shocked to be writing this post already, and doubly shocked that I’ve seen six new species for Queens since I guessed what my next five Queens birds would be just eight months ago, back in March. It’s been a good year for birding in Queens! Fortunately, there are birds to help. I’ll make it three!

New York City 152

New York City Birds New York Blackbirds 152

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

…we bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird, bird in the marsh the whole day thru. My birding list for November totals 15 species. 376 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 393 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 394 Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus.

Sparrows 212

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 212

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

However, no matter how one enjoys or takes in interest in the avian side of life, an official list of the birds for a given area is of vital importance. With the rise in birding tourism, bird lists for entire countries have also become increasingly important. Not every list has Great Tinamou on it. Juvenile Gray Hawk.

Costa Rica 202

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 202

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 163

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 163

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Although it was nothing like going from New York to California or even Buffalo, New York to North Carolina, a change of location, however slight, can bring new birds especially in Costa Rica. In typical blackbird fashion, this common garden bird gave occasional, loud, ringing calls. Right at home. These were. Great Kiskadee.

Costa Rica 177

Costa Rica Barn Owls Stray Dog Blackbirds 177

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 10, 2022

For some reason that I do not quite understand myself – given that I really rather dislike children and am not too positive about the rest of humanity either – I recently put up a little display of bird photos inside my Shanghai compound, which I share (as the only foreigner) with about 1700 Chinese. Some Birds of Shanghai.

Birds 162

Birds Fish Germany China 162

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

It’s a wonder that any of the beats managed to get out and wave their binoculars at birds this July. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.

Sparrows 250

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Blackbirds 250

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

I had set aside the morning of Sunday, June 10th to cross the San Francisco Peninsula to the Pacific Ocean town of Half Moon Bay, a mere 25 minute drive away, for a few hours of birding. Not only was I very, very wet, so were the birds that I saw. I’m fond of photos of birds in a visible mist or drizzle.

San Francisco 147

San Francisco San Jose California Battery 147

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2018

Just a few miles northwest of downtown Tucson, the Sweetwater Wetlands is truly a birding gem. This is a water reclamation plant, so the water is not quite as sweet as the name might suggest, but it certainly is a magnet for a lot of bird species. Deborah and I had a wonderful morning, and found 39 species. Stay tuned!

Tucson 127

Tucson Arizona Blackbirds Texas 127

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2014

Big news about a small bird broke earlier this month when bird researchers from several nations announced that the species formerly known as Spotted Wren-Babbler ( Spelaeornis formosus ) — a tiny, secretive bird of montane forests from the eastern Himalayas to southeast China — is not a Spelaeornis wren-babbler at all.

Family 271

Family Comoros Asia Birds 271

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2021

Insects were held back by weird spring weather, but now the warmth returns and the birds are feasting on the late stirring bugs. June saw 8 beats get their birding boots on and share 90 checklists for your pleasure. Between them, they found 389 species in 5 countries. Flaming June is busting out all over.

Woodpeckers 252

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Niger 252

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 240

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2021

I have often sung the praises of the beautiful birds I can see by driving 3,000 feet / 62 km / one hour down to the little town of Paso Ancho, on the edge of what Mexicans call Tierra Caliente (the Hot Country). And many of these species are also strikingly beautiful. And many of these species are also strikingly beautiful.

Mexico 178

Mexico Blackbirds Sparrows Owls 178

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). Turdus sp.).

2020 155

2020 Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds 155

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

We conduct four Christmas Bird Counts in our part of Northern California, the first of which is the Fall River Christmas Bird Count coming up in just about two weeks. We began birding at Fall River overlook, a vista parking area overlooking a canyon. All in all, eight enthusiastic birders had a great time, and I got a lifer!

California 104

California Sparrows Birds Philadelphia 104

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2014

Northern California’s Christmas Bird Counts started out with a bang this year. Saturday, December 14th, the first day of the 114th Christmas Bird Count, 27 enthusiastic counters had unseasonably warm and sunny weather to count 21,695 birds for the Fall River Mills Christmas Bird Count. Tri-colored Blackbird.

California 167

California Blackbirds Turkey Birds 167

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2014

Is this a Song Sparrow ? Sometimes bird rehabbers who end up with tiny, semi-feathered little mystery birds end up playing a game called “Name That Bird.”. Hence: Name That Bird. Blackbird mentality. Birds identifying birds nestling birds wildlife rehabilitators' Nearly inaudible.”.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 229

Wildlife Rehabilitation Birds Georgia Kentucky 229

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 207

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 207

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2013

For those of us in the Americas, nine-primaried oscines are among our most familiar and beloved birds: finches; sparrows, juncos, and towhees; warblers; blackbirds, meadowlarks, and orioles; cardinals and grosbeaks; and tanagers. Passerellidae : the New World sparrows. Spindalidae : Caribbean spindalises.

Family 181

Family Blackbirds Groups Sparrows 181

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

8 countries were birded by 11 beats and I am delighted to include Faraaz and Trinidad and Tobago in those stats. 10,000 Birds has yet to take a stance on the developing situation between mainland China and Hong Kong. The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

2020 156

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 156

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2018

I hope everyone participated in at least one day of the four day Great Backyard Bird Count of 2018. I submitted five checklists from four different locations yielding 44 species. As I walked out on my back porch on Friday morning, the first day of the count, it was a cool, clear day and the birds were very active at the feeders.

2018 100

2018 Bald Eagle Woodpeckers Turkey 100

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). Corey was far and away the most regular contributor.

2020 231

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 231

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

In 2013 I birded in two countries, submitted eBird checklists for seven U.S. states and thirty-seven counties, and added a whopping ninety-two species to my life list. I would like to end 2013 with 303, 512, and 1,150 birds on those lists. But what were my top ten birding moments of 2013?

2013 177

2013 New York City New York Trinidad 177

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

One of these days, Jeopardy will feature a category called “Field Guides” and the first clue will be: “This landlocked South American country finally got its own bird field guide in 2016, but it wasn’t available in the United State until 2019.” Bolivia doesn’t come up much in discussions of birding travel.

Bolivia 178

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 178

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2014

I have participated in something like twenty Christmas Bird Counts since I started birding in 2005. And now for two years I have been a compiler for the Queens County Christmas Bird Count, which is a whole other pile of headaches. As a compiler I have two main goals.

2005 154

2005 Birds Blackbirds Branding 154

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula). Chinese Blackbird (Turdus mandarinus). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina).

2020 153

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2019

I like seeing as many species as possible on my life list, year list, state list, patch list, any kind of list. But even in summer I can usually count on 60+ non-endemic species per visit, and in winter, a decent effort can usually result in 80 or more species. Which can also be said for the Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Ducks 116

Ducks Blackbirds United States Pelicans 116

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 15 Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. 16 Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus. 33 Brewer’s Sparrow – Spizella breweri. 65 Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow – Melozone kieneri.

Woodpeckers 212

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 212

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

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2017

When I was a kid, and couldn’t travel, I thought patch birding sounded dreadfully boring. For example I added two new species just this morning. Species #75 for Socrates Sculpture Park is Red-winged Blackbird. Why an asterisk? Nichols describes them as “a common resident of Central Park” in the 1890s.

New York 105

New York New York City Illinois Wisconsin 105

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2019

62 species have been added to our combined life list, breaking through the next hundred which has been proving very stubborn. 10 Beats have been out in 9 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Serbia, China, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Italy and Mexico) and have shared 125 lists to account for 916 birds. Italian Sparrow – Passer italiae.

2019 119

2019 China Italy Argentina 119

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

Every part of the world has it’s suite of parking lot staples, those urbanish species that seem to prefer to linger about humanity subsisting in no small amount to the magnanimity, or more likely the laziness, of humankind. The western half of the continent sees a lot of Brewer’s Blackbirds mixed in.

North Carolina 188

North Carolina Fast Food Sparrows Birds 188

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. 487 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

Woodpeckers 188

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 188