10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2013

There were three profound questions my birding group discussed while we birded Trinidad and Tobago, back in December 2012: (1) How many Bananaquits could fit on a banana? (2) 3) What was the best guide to the birds of Trinidad and Tobago? The bird guide question was a conundrum.

Trinidad 205

Trinidad Birds South America Research 205

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2011

Last Sunday was Grant’s birthday and we decided to bird our local area in search of something special. I noticed a silhouette and we investigated and we got our first Pallid Cuckoo for the year. We discovered another juvenile not far away, so other species have had their eggs swapped out.

Australia 150

Australia Investigation Falcons Eggs 150

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2012

Oil begins to wash up on the beaches throughout May and June of 2010 May 6, 2010 Oil washes ashore on the Chandeleur Islands off the Louisiana coast, an important nesting and breeding area for many bird species. July 24, 2010 BP brazenly says an internal investigation has cleared the company of all gross negligence in the spill.

2010 245

2010 Louisiana 2012 2011 245

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2012

Yes, the warbler formerly known as Dendroica kirtlandii , now Setophaga kirtlandii , is one of those birds that make birders’ hearts pulse quicker and their legs churn faster. Look what happened when the bird made the first of three appearances at the Biggest Week in American Birding at Magee Marsh!

Michigan 240

Michigan Bahamas Endangered Species Research 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 26, 2024

When I finally got around to investigating Bass Rock the week before our trip, I realized why it was at the top of the lists. A visit to Bass Rock unveils the Bass Rock Lighthouse built in 1902, the remnants of an ancient chapel, and a symphony of squawking birds. On a single day, more than 5,000 dead birds were counted.

Puffins 130

Puffins Sanctuary Lamb Research 130

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

The proprietor of our ecolodge guides my small group of birders up a steep slope where we see, just at the point where a scope view deteriorates into pixels, a huge bird—a Chaco Eagle, also known as a Crowned Eagle—on a huge nest. McWilliam realizes he’s dealing someone special, a career falcon egg-thief.

Falcons 224

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 224

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2023

That comes at a price – the HBW describes the species as “stocky and fairly sluggish” and – with a critical undertone – continues to state that the species is “generally less agile in flight than are most flycatchers”. Why the Latin species name is cyaniventer (meaning having a dark blue belly) remains a mystery to me though.

China 147

China Hunting Birds illegal 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2015

Last weekend we went by vehicle to check on the Pied Oystercatchers that breed along that stretch of beach and there has been continued egg loss over the past few weeks. They are persistent at laying eggs and despite the loss of all the eggs from our last visit there were five new eggs. Pied Oystercatcher shading an egg.

Eggs 140

Eggs Birds Investigation Bears 140

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2024

According to the eBird description, it is everything I am not: a “neon-colored, noisy, highly social bird” Shudder to think (not the bird part though). Next, this post has a long section on babblers, a very ill-defined category of birds. If you want to see how this species builds its nest, see here.)

Burma 205

Burma Birds Vietnam Laos 205

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2021

You just have to go birding on your birthday really, because you never know what might show up. Langi Crossing is always a great place for birds, but they do vary on each visit. There is a good mix of bird species both large and small. Goanna investigating the drop-off. Black-fronted Dotterel nest with one egg.

Eagles 151

Eagles Falcons Eggs Zebras 151

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 26, 2022

This year, it seems I wrote one post on birding in Shanghai each month – and I am still not even sure anyone is interested in these. Probably the most interesting bird this month was a Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher showing up in the Shanghai Botanical Garden. I know – sexism is very common in the birding world.

Finland 147

Finland Birds 2016 McDonalds 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2018

The idea behind is simple, some birds may move and if counted within a week or a month, double counting is almost guaranteed. This species has suffered rapid population reductions across most of its range owing to the loss, degradation and fragmentation of its habitat and land-use changes in eastern Europe, says IUCN’s Red List.

Hungary 157

Hungary Serbia Austria Eggs 157