10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

Of course, it is hard to justify such an obsession in a blog post ostensibly all about birds. But now I do, courtesy of Phoebe Bridgers: “ Nothing else matters “ I have not figured out a link to birding yet). Fortunately, the lack of eBird lists does not mean there is a lack of birds. Neither had the wife.

China 254

China Birds Nevada North America 254

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Re-evaluate the songs Double-pack with a photograph Extra track (and a tacky badge) So sing The Smiths in “ Paint a vulgar picture “ As you can probably guess, the main purpose of my posts not centered on a specific location (e.g., “Birds of Shanghai”) is to reuse photos I have already used in such location-specific posts.

South Africa 236

South Africa Africa India China 236

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2019

India and Pakistan are mostly left to get on with their conflict with little intervention from the outside world. This week however, it appeared that the conflict may escalate after India targeted terrorist activity within Pakistan and had one of their aircraft shot down in the process. White-breasted Kingfisher.

Pakistan 113

Pakistan India Squirrels Collecting 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2019

On a recent trip to India, a non-descript tree caught my attention. The koel and coucal are both from the extended cuckoo family Cuculidae. They hold a similar status in their family as the Common Gallinule and American Coot cling to amongst the Rallidae. The post The cuckoo tree appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

India 175

India Eggs Family Species 175

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2022

. “I am not bad-looking, I am just badly photographed”: A Bay Woodpecker (Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia) using a joke from “Roger Rabbit” The pinkish eyerings of the Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Tansa, India) make it look as if it is constantly suffering from a hangover. Kind of like a diesel version.

Woodpeckers 256

Woodpeckers South Africa China Singapore 256

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2022

With the lockdown lasting until the end of May (ironically thus pretty much including the whole spring migration – the divine sense of humor is a rather malign one, I am afraid), June still had the freedom of birding anywhere in Shanghai, not just inside a smallish compound. Accessorizing for birds.

Singapore 147

Singapore Birds Mountain Goats Giraffes 147

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 194

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 194

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 28, 2020

The hapless Sooty Tern ( Onychoprion fuscatus ) is the classic hurricane bird, but other pelagic species are entrained in storms and blown ashore as well, like Bridled Terns ( Onychoprion anaethetus ), White-tailed Tropicbirds ( Phaethon lepturus ), and Magnificent Frigatebirds ( Fregata magnificens ).

India 185

India Squirrels North America America 185

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

Only, once I got there, I discovered that the coffee, while good, can’t compare to the birds. Our group saw over 400 birds on our 15-day tour of the Pantanal, Cerrado and the Amazon (Cristalino Lodge). I have a thing for birds with large eye-rings (also for birds with ‘spectacles,’ a similar look).

Brazil 173

Brazil Birds Los Angeles Tigers 173

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2013

Grey Hypocolius is a Holy Grail of Middle Eastern birding. Part of its attraction lies in it being a monotypic bird in the family Hypocoliidae – there are no other bird species in its genus and family. No, birds are way too smart for that stupid trick. Soon, the bird leaves her bush.

India 241

India Iran Pakistan Afghanistan 241

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

Of course this is nonsense, and they are clearly close to swifts, but with a hind toe that lets them perch like a swallow, they sit outside the family as well, in their own, rarely thought about, family. There are four species in the family, ranging from India to the Solomon Islands. Birds Borneo Danum Valley treeswift'

Solomon Islands 167

Solomon Islands Singapore India Family 167

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2014

It took me a while to wrap my mind around the concept of Birds and People , Mark Cocker and David Tipling’s book that, in 592 pages, explores the intersection of just that—birds and us. Nor have I overlooked “sightings” of birds in movies mouthing other birds’ calls. I’m not sure why.

Birds 234

Birds Egypt Family Eagles 234

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

As the story goes, way back in the late 19th Century and organization called the American Acclimitazation Society was working hard to introduce every one of the 600 species of birds mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays to North America. But we forget that the family Sturnidae consists of more than our familiar European Starling.

India 162

India Stray Dog United States Stray 162

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2013

The family Tyrannidae, the tyrant flycatchers, are found only in the New World. But surprisingly, this niche is not frequently filled by the birds Eurasian birders call flycatchers, which are those more chat-ish species in the family Muscicapidae. Even more, the large head and broad based beak are the same.

India 172

India Lifestyle North America Groups 172

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2021

At the time, Dreher’s family owned the greatest brewing empire in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and in the 1830s, young Anton embarked on a “Grand Tour” of sorts befitting a promising young brewery heir. Good birding and happy drinking! The post Devils Backbone Brewing Company Vienna Lager appeared first on 10,000 Birds.

Boston 204

Boston Austria Industry Europe 204

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2013

Lakshmi rides an owl as her Vahana (a spirititual being or animal that transports a God) and the Spotted Owlet has been chosen to represent the family. Common throughout India with a range that covers much of South-east Asia, it can often be seen around habitation where it catches small rodents, insects and invertebrates.

Owls 193

Owls Rodents Transported India 193

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2018

I didn’t intend to turn over a new leaf with my first review of the new year, but this week’s beer represents a few firsts for the “Birds and Booze” beat here at 10,000 Birds. This the first drink I’ve reviewed featuring a bird not yet on my life list – and it’s not one I’m counting on adding any time soon.

New Zealand 100

New Zealand India Massachusetts United States 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

There’s a Three-striped Palm Squirrel by the side of the track, while Jungle Bush Quails are running across it in front of our Maruti Gypsy, almost the official safari vehicle of India. At least 274 tigers have died in India in the last four years, more than 70 per cent of them due to poaching. Very dusty Swarovski CLs.

Tigers 257

Tigers India Killing 2012 257

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2012

…so here’s a post about some birds at a spring. The spring the birds I’ll show you today is far from the seat of New Zealand’s government where I now work. Striolated Bunting ( Emberiza srtriolata ) This member of the bunting family (that’s bunting, not sparrow. I’m sorry. Long may it last.

United Arab Emirates 161

United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia Oman Yemen 161

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2012

As they grow and the creases and wrinkles start to flatten out, it is possible,… just… to appreciate the beauty in other peoples’ children, but imagine how socially awkward it must be for new mothers of members of the Gruiformes family whose offspring, even once they have matured slightly, are surely the ugliest of all.

India 182

India Asia Africa Mexico 182

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2012

Garigal National Park (the name always makes me think of those odd long-snouted crocodiles from India) is a long series of just about connected strips and chunks of land linking one of the coves of Sydney Harbour to the much larger Kuring-Gai Chase National Park (which forms a chunk of the northern border of Sydney).

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Game India Eagles 157

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Knowing that there are reserves with long lists of 600 or more species, I set my threshold at more than 600 birds… and found only a few such hotspots. Such places are clearly under-visited, under-birded or eBird isn’t that popular in those parts of the world. Other countries still have to reach the 300 birds threshold.

Asia 278

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 278

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 3, 2014

As New Zealand’s beat writer I think I’ve done an okay job of discussing the birding of an entirely different island for most of the year, so it’s only fair that I keep that winning streak going by talking about my target for the trip. A Leopard in India by Yathin Krishnappa (CC). Still haven’t seen one.

Sharks 183

Sharks Leopards Whales Whaling 183

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 11, 2021

This is just one of the usual blog posts from me, trying to get you to look at some of my bird photos via adding some semi-funny words. Let’s start with band names referring to birds in general (and let’s keep in mind that this blog post only mentions music deemed of sufficient quality by the almighty writer).

South Africa 253

South Africa China Germany Birds 253

10,000 Birds

MAY 17, 2019

Apologies for the unintended three-weak break here at Birds and Booze. members of the family Spheniscidae. This week’s beer (which comes to us courtesy of fellow 10,000 Birds beat writer Jason Crotty – thanks so much, Jason!) is Outta Line, a West Coast India pale ale from Rogue Ales & Spirits of Newport, Oregon.

India 113

India Penguins San Diego Peru 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

“ There is, perhaps, no better place in the world for birds than this country. The bulk of the population (approximately 80%) belong to the Zulu tribe, but significant numbers of Xhosa and Afrikaans, as well as immigrants from India and Britain call this beautiful patch of land on Africa’s eastern seaboard their home. At 36,433 sq.

Mozambique 206

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 206

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Furthermore we have another very special stork-like bird, the regal Shoebill , previously known as the Whale-headed Stork but now placed in its own family. Further to the east, Asian Openbill displays the same special feature but is mostly a white plumaged bird.

Africa 249

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 249

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2012

The photo of the bird below, from Sultanpur National Park , near New Delhi, may suggest that they are slightly shy and they are frequently described as such, but this is not always the case. It is an acrobatic little bird and showed off as it searched through the reeds and rushes for a meal. and Camaroptera.

Asia 163

Asia Africa Ducks Family 163

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

The Plain Sunbird is the plain vanilla version of the otherwise often very colorful family (ok, a very low-budget sort of joke). Ok, Kai, nobody is really very interested in your thoughts on political issues – could you get back to the topic of birds? However, the HBW lists nectar among its food.

Los Angeles 216

Los Angeles Birds Woodpeckers Owls 216

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 22, 2020

I was lucky to visit India several times, but as a keen birder I carried along only a bird book, and even upgraded it to a new edition between the trips. Beside India, Lynx Illustrated Checklist of the Mammals of South Asia covers Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. I clearly needed a mammal book.

Asia 189

Asia Mammals Sri Lanka Bhutan 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

South Africa 248

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 248

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2017

It was a good birding year. Many sad and unfortunate things occurred in 2016, but the birding was good. I started the year in Florida, traveled to India with the ABA in February, combined family and birding in an August trip to California, and in-between saw very good birds in New York and New Jersey.

2016 119

2016 India Ducks Birds 119

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2023

As you probably are aware, male Lady Amherst’s Pheasants regularly get into fights with other birds. The typical scene is something like this: the pheasant enters a bird bar and orders a beer. Some other bird in the bar asks for its name, and it gives an honest answer: Lady Amherst’s Pheasant. Judge for yourself.

China 256

China Research India Zoos 256

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

As visitors’ and the public’s interests expanded from the Big Five, and an appreciation for lesser mammals, birds and smaller wildlife has became more widespread, the term Little Five was coined. They are large, noisy birds of drier areas of East and southern Africa. They live for up to 100 years.

Buffalo 226

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 226

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

As 2013 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 , 2011 , and 2012 , 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?

2013 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2013

This week it brought a bird to my attention that I had never heard of, though it seemed that other eBirders had been seeing it at a prime site near New Delhi, India. I was planning a trip to the city and this made my choice of birding venue a very simple one. Birding Babblers India Large Grey Babbler'

India 162

India Sanctuary Species Family 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 7, 2022

The Eurasian Wryneck is the woodpecker that doesn’t look like a woodpecker, the bird with the portmanteau name that is also a medical condition (and which may remind some people of a Nora Ephron essay). They are slim and small-headed birds and their bills are fine, not strong and dynamic.

Woodpeckers 258

Woodpeckers Hungary Thailand 2014 258