10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2020

A Field Guide to the Birds of Mongolia by Dorj Ganbold and Chris Smith (2019) offers more than 500 species in one neat edition. I say “more than” because I am not certain what number of species is covered: on page 8, 512 bird species are mentioned, while on the back cover that number rises to 521.

Mongolia 277

Mongolia Falcons Birds 2019 277

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2023

In June 2023, I again went to Balangshan, a mountain about 3 hour’s drive from Sichuan’s capital Chengdu – and again with Alpinebirding , fortunately no longer for them to partly deal with confusing covid restrictions but only to help me find birds that I am too incompetent a birder to find on my own. Evidence-based!

Birds 130

Birds China Science Research 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

February 2023 was a slow month for birding in Shanghai, at least for me – so slow that I almost put the Spotted Dove , possibly my least favorite bird here, on the cover. Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. Maybe those should be protected too?

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2013

At the time this post goes live I’ll be wandering around Hong Hong in a bemused state of mind trying to identify not only the native birds but the multitude of other species released by the inhabitants into the area. The Brown-headed Gull is a bird of Asia, breeding from Turkmenistan to Mongolia, and winters along the coasts of Asia.

Turkmenistan 156

Turkmenistan Mongolia Asia Europe 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2016

Or a bit of a PR disaster for my birding skillz if I am not correct. Baicalensis inhabits southern Siberia around lake Baikal and ranges into the northern half of Mongolia. Now, if you quickly call to mind the pattern of Asian species reaching Europe as vagrants, you will remember that most are from Siberia.

Germany 100

Germany Sharks Morocco Europe 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 7, 2017

It’s a gripping scene, especially as Aisholpan struggles to capture the lively young bird on the small cliff ledge as the parent eagle flies overhead. The Golden Eagle Festival in Olgii (also called Bayan-Ulgii), Mongolia, is full of color and sound. Her confidence is amazing. That’s for the hunters, including Aisholpan.

Eagles 102

Eagles Mongolia Hunters Hunting 102

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2016

I am not entirely sure whether most birders outside Germany know or realize that Germany still has a decent population of one of Europe’s most attractive and desired bird species: the Great Bustard Otis tarda. Never mind the slight over-exposure: look at this bird! But even then, patience will usually pay off.

Germany 101

Germany Abandon Abandoning Abandonment 101