10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Just under a fortnight ago, I saw a report on the local bird alert of a sighting of a group of approximately 20 Nacunda Nighthawks at a wetland not more than 20 minutes from where I live. It seemed to be good birding judgement to scan the seasonally flooded wetland in the couple hours of daylight available before the storm arrived.

Livestock 227

Livestock Ducks ALA illegal 227

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 237

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 237

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. 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis.

Woodpeckers 248

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 248

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. Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor. Wood Duck – Aix sponsa.

2020 157

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 157

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2020

Who remembers birding parties? With some of the beats locked down still, or again, the birding has been patchy. However, 10 beats from 7 countries were able to submit some 127 checklists containing 597 birds from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica). Nice distancing.

2020 183

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 183

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2022

For Global Big Day on May 14th, we decided we’d try our hand at birding as much of the island as possible. One of the first birds we actually got a proper visual on was a true rainforest specialty, impossible elsewhere: this gorgeous adult male White-tailed Sabrewing ! Around a bend on the trail, we came upon a clearing.

Trinidad 250

Trinidad Woodpeckers Species Ducks 250

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2018

Trinidad Colorado is located just a few miles north of the Colorado – New Mexico border, and home to the Trinidad Reservoir. This area also is where I hope to fill in a few target birds, like the newly spilt Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Pinyon Jays and Prairie Falcons. This all mixed in with a very nice bunch of birds.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2023

After leaving our hotel in the dark, we arrived at the small dock about half hour after sunrise – making one of many salient points about birding in Guyana: the country is vast! If there was any doubt we were near to water, this flock of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks made it absolutely clear.

Guyana 148

Guyana Trinidad Bats Falcons 148

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

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. 9 beats submitted 172 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China and Trinidad and Tobago) for 640 species.

Woodpeckers 156

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 156

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

11 beats collaborated to enter 163 checklists from 8 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, Australia, Serbia, China, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago). October’s birds are listed below; 1 Little Tinamou – Crypturellus soui. 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. 10 Wood Duck – Aix sponsa.

2020 294

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 294

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2012

In June 2012, I had the great fortune to visit Trinidad and Tobago in a group that included birder and artist Matthew Dodder. Matthew began birding (and drawing birds) as a boy in Boston, during the Great Blizzard of 1977. There was often a goodly description of how to draw a Duck step-by-step also. Enter John Muir Laws.

Laws 218

Laws Birds California Nevada 218

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2022

Not many birds showed, but thankfully my little group of enthusiastic birders were happy with Purple Gallinules , Wattled Jacanas , and a single pair of Least Grebes. The birds were already out and about, and so were the mosquitoes! The birds were already out and about, and so were the mosquitoes!

Ducks 224

Ducks Groups Experience Experiments 224

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 197

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 197

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 230

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 230

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

If I know the readership at 10,000 Birds, they are already way ahead on this one, but please remember to give the migrants a little space. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni. Pacific Black Duck – Anas superciliosa. Pink-eared Duck – Malacorhynchus membranaceus. The migrants are coming (Hurray!).

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

We can use the figures above to compare the birds that cross between the hemispheres. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni. White-faced Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna viduata. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2019

Despite looking way older than his years, we cannot attribute Regannet’s haggard appearance to hard birding, scoring only 19 during eBird’s Big Day was not the greatest effort expended on May 4th. Mandarin Duck – Aix galericulata. Freckled Duck – Stictonetta naevosa. So that was May. Margaret’s Bay.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni. White-faced Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna viduata. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. West Indian Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna arborea. Wood Duck – Aix sponsa.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

It’s September and time for birds to start their southerly journeys. Please remember to give migrating birds the space that they need. Jason hoisted his colours in Kansas and claimed the state for 10,000 Birds. In an unusual turnaround during September, more birds were seen in USA than in Costa Rica. 28 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

They birded 6 countries; USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, and Mexico. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni. White-faced Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna viduata. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor. Western Australia.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

As 2012 draws to a close we here at 10,000 Birds thought that it would be a great idea if we, like we did in 2010 and 2011 , shared our Best Birds of the Year. We also want to know what YOUR Best Bird of the Year was. Now on to the Best Birds of the Year for those who write on 10,000 Birds! Sound good?

2012 155

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Electric storms closed the new walkway there and he amassed a total list of just 3 birds! It is a dream, nay, a mission statement of 10,000 Birds to see as many of the World’s birds as possible. Should the fancy take you, you could call up a 10,000 Birds life list (from 2016 onwards. Western Australia. 08 Jan 2016.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Duncan has contributed to break through the unspoken target of 2000 birds for 10,000 Birds and on to a running total of 2011 as at August 31st. It is a dream, nay, a mission statement of 10,000 Birds to see as many of the World’s birds as possible. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni.

2016 101

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 101