10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2015

If you thought that migrant traps and spring in south Texas were birdalicious (and they can indeeed be spectacular), how does an ecosystem with 400 and even 500 plus species tickle your birding fancy? This brings us to the first obvious upside of rainforest birding in Costa Rica; a chance at a lot more species than other habitats.

Costa Rica 172

Costa Rica Birds Texas Cattle 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2016

The proximity of both slopes also facilitates seeing a lot of different species in a short span because the montane barrier has resulted in differences in terms of species and habitats. But, if you want to go further afield, fear not, there is some wonderful lowland forest birding up near Nicaragua and down south by Panama as well.

Costa Rica 165

Costa Rica San Jose Panama Birds 165

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). Yellow-billed Stork.

Ethiopia 247

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 247

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2011

Big, bold, beautiful parrots full of character and charm, macaws make us long for some of the world’s wildest places and assure us that, as long as they fly free, those magical wild places are still intact. The Hyacinth Macaw is more than just another pretty face; these birds are social with strong family values.

Protection 191

Protection Brazil Parrots Paraguay 191

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 Birds Bats 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Only, once I got there, I discovered that the coffee, while good, can’t compare to the birds. 1,712 species, 12% of which are endemics. Our group saw over 400 birds on our 15-day tour of the Pantanal, Cerrado and the Amazon (Cristalino Lodge). Oh my gosh! I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Brazil 157

Brazil Birds Los Angeles Tigers 157

10,000 Birds

JULY 26, 2015

This is cattle country and it is actually fenced, which many parts of the Kimberley are not and you pass through Ruby Plains and then Carranya station to reach the crater. The first bird we observed as we climbed up to the rim was a Black-breasted Buzzard followed shortly afterwards by a Nankeen Kestrel. Wolfe Creek Crater-dangerous!

Birds 166

Birds Camels Cattle Zebras 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Among birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, it is renowned for its incredible concentrations of birds at the end of the dry season. During this time, the fish trapped in the shrinking pools of water attract hordes of herons, egrets, storks, and other wetland species.

Brazil 165

Brazil Birds Blackbirds Paraguay 165

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

Following on from last week’s post about Langi Crossing and all that it has to offer in the way of wildlife with an emphasis on crocodiles I thought I should now expand on the birds that you may encounter during a visit! Red-winged Parrots and Red-collared Lorikeets appeared to be constantly on the move.

Birds 100

Birds Pelicans Eagles Ducks 100

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. 156 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 226 Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus. 227 White-crowned Parrot – Pionus senilis.

Sparrows 213

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 213

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!

Miami 168

Miami 2015 United States Birds 168

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 164

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 164

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

Found throughout South America in ever-dwindling numbers these extremely beautiful birds – threatened by habitat destruction and collection for the wild bird trade – are often difficult to see and hard to find. These threats are further exacerbated by the naturally low reproductive rates of these cavity-nesting birds.

Peru 255

Peru Parrots 2011 South America 255

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2016

On my recent short family vacation to Miami, I was granted a single day to get out and really bird like a madman. The reason the location is remaining undisclosed is that reliable Mangrove Cuckoos are difficult to find in the American Birding Association area and are a very sought after species. Come on, Carlos!

Florida 122

Florida Miami Birds Owls 122

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). White-crowned Parrot (Pionus senilis). White-fronted Parrot (Amazona albifrons). The post Collaborative list – April 2020 appeared first on 10,000 Birds. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor).

2020 155

2020 Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds 155

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

MAY 31, 2015

One species we are more likely to find in this area than others is the Varied Sittella. Although there were not a lot of individual species there was a great variety. Boab tree with several Egret species roosting and Whistling Kite nests. You question how there can be one lone Purple Swamphen in the middle of nowhere!

Birds 157

Birds Ducks Species Zebras 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

Continued from: Calilegua National Park Birding Trip Report. This is a very hot and dry region known as El Chaco where many interesting bird species can be found. This land has gone through extensive ecosystem destruction from farming cattle and soybeans. We started our drive towards J.V The closer we got to J.V.

Argentina 191

Argentina Farming Chile Birds 191

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 7, 2014

The second edition of the National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition has one of the longest book names in bird bookdom: National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 2nd Edition: Now Covering More Than 1,000 Species With the Most-Detailed Information Found in a Single Volume.

North America 178

North America America Birds Family 178

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 253

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Niger 253

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 232

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2013

When visiting Sydney I have in the past tended to visit birding sites near the coast and centre, by virtue of that being where my family is. While planning my four day trip I noticed that the Cumberland Bird Observers Club had an outing on the Saturday I was there to Scheyville National Park.

Parrots 145

Parrots Barn Owls Eagles Australia 145

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. 201 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

Woodpeckers 189

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 50 Red-crowned Parrot – Amazona viridigenalis. 251 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 280 Brown-hooded Parrot – Pyrilia haematotis. 281 Red-lored Parrot – Amazona autumnalis.

Woodpeckers 213

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 213

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

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. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

Woodpeckers 244

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 244

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 17, 2012

Nick Sly, a friend of 10,000 Birds who writes intermittently at the thoroughly-recommended Biological Ramblings , is an ornithologist who graduated not so long ago from Cornell only to be cast out into the real world where he keeps a wry eye on all things biological! The youngest bird in this clutch is only two or three days old.

Eggs 269

Eggs Venezuela Porcupines 2008 269

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 29, 2015

It has a small population of approximately 1100 people and is a major hub for the local indigenous people and for the cattle industry. Our reasons for always stopping in Halls Creek are of course to go birding! You can use your vehicle as a hide and view the huge variety of birds. Red-necked Avocet and White-necked Herons.

Australia 100

Australia Ducks Cattle Industry 100

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, 2020

Mike complains of a dearth of birds in his BBOTW post for the last weekend of August and I am sure that many of us know exactly how he feels. “Birding Over Time” compares the number of species recorded over a month with that month from previous years. Blue-headed Parrot – Pionus menstruus. Management ?)

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 151

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

7 countries (Costa Rica, China, USA, UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Serbia) were birded by 11 beats during October. 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. 34 Mealy Parrot – Amazona farinosa.

2020 130

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

2013 was a strange year for me, staring in the UK, ending in Borneo and spending large tracks of the year not really seeing many birds in New Zealand. Birds simply don’t get much better than that, but then again locatins to start and end a year rarely get much better than the famous Danum Valley in Borneo. The List: Birds.

2014 150

2014 New Zealand Singapore Rhinoceros 150

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

MAY 25, 2013

Anyone with more than a couple of hours to kill could easily make a quick birding foray out from the airport. The birding is not exceptional, but you can easily see some of Singapore’s and South-east Asia’s more common species and it does throw up the occasional jewel. My favourite site in Singapore is Paser Ris.

Singapore 161

Singapore Woodpeckers Parrots Zebras 161

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

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. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

2020 156

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 156