10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Now that we have returned to our adopted home of La Paz, Mexico, our bones are starting to thaw out from the trip to chilly Seattle. In addition to the cactus, there is a very diverse amount of foliage that has attracted a surprising amount of birds, despite the fact that there is no standing or available water in the area.

Mexico 100

Mexico Sanctuary Seattle Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2024

This is not a birding trip; we are trying to deal with many logistical life issues that have accumulated over the past several years. But will I bird? A pair of ladies seemed to know more about plants and butterflies than about birds, which I enjoyed. Finally, a birder up front cried out, “A Pileated Woodpecker !”,

San Francisco 246

San Francisco California Woodpeckers Experience 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

When it comes to one’s most exciting bird sightings, of course, it all comes down to context. I wouldn’t change my central Mexican endemics for any other region’s birds. So my favorites for 2019 includes a good number of birds that are rather common elsewhere, but were firsts for me. I live in Mexico!

Austria 223

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 223

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

We might have limited space but we make up for it with a massive amount of biodiversity including well over 900 bird species on the official Costa Rica bird list. With good reason, lots of birders visit Costa Rica and we also have a good sized local birding community. However, the latest addition wasn’t any of these.

Costa Rica 246

Costa Rica Latvia Albatross Netherlands 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2020

Most of this travel was in Mexico, but I also visited different regions of the U.S., But here is the truly tragic part: I was not birding during those years! These goods, purchased with Mexican silver, would then be transported overland through Mexico City, and shipped from Veracruz to Spain.

Birds 235

Birds 2006 Mexico Morocco 235

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2024

Work brings me regularly to Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, northern Mexico. And if you like birding, it’s a good place to spend time before or after meetings and explore. And if you like birding, it’s a good place to spend time before or after meetings and explore. It was David’s first time birding.

Parrots 235

Parrots Woodpeckers Industry Fast Food 235

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2018

Not so with our visit to Bosque de Apache NWR in southern New Mexico. Nearly 30,000 of these acres is set aside as dry wilderness habitat for other birds, animals and other various living creatures. We returned to the visitors center to look around inside, have some lunch, and do a little birding while we there.

New Mexico 113

New Mexico Mexico Tucson Costa Rica 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2020

North America is home to many amazing bird species, including several which require a special effort to see and appreciate. These birds also invite one to sites that are unique within the United States – the climate, vegetation, and landscapes all add context and heighten the experience of seeing one’s first Elegant Trogon or Painted Bunting.

America 264

America Arizona North America United States 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2020

As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, birding in Michoacán has required that I find most of my own hotspots. But last week, I decided to go exploring once again, in search of new places where I can bird alone. The previous week I had birded along a mountain path called the camino al Ejido Triquillo. On its way to the above road.

Mexico 264

Mexico Woodpeckers Zebras Sparrows 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2011

On a recent trip down memory lane in the form of searching through old photos from my trip to Honduras I serendipitously stumbled upon a series of shots of a woodpecker feeding from flower blossoms in a tree. Could I have completely misremembered the bird that I saw two years ago? What the heck?

Woodpeckers 200

Woodpeckers Honduras Groups Mexico 200

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2019

But for the past 25 years, I have lived in Mexico’s state of Michoacán. The first is a true endemic, found only in southwestern Mexico, while the second can also be seen in Central America. And the call I would identify as a Golden-fronted Woodpecker in the highlands, comes here from the endemic Golden-cheeked Woodpecker.

Mexico 127

Mexico Birds Nevada Sparrows 127

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2022

And if you must return to the same old, same old, it’s not bad if that same old can be central Mexico. So the following Monday, my birding day, I decided to go no farther than the nature reserve that begins on the far side of our neighborhood. Rufous-capped Warblers are mostly rather friendly, social birds.

Mexico 147

Mexico California Squirrels Woodpeckers 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2021

I often find myself discussing this subject with my birder friends in other regions of Mexico, when they excitedly comment on seeing a bird that I could see any day, anywhere — or vice versa. Golden-fronted Woodpeckers are exceedingly common here, both in the city and in the countryside. The same could happen with U.S.

Woodpeckers 363

Woodpeckers Mexico Species Cattle 363

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2024

Last week, David Tomlinson wrote about the excitement of that first birding outing for the year, when every bird is new again. But how many species can one see over a few hours in the highlands of central Mexico? Back when birding was still a solitary activity for me, my records show that my first outings yielded 75-85 species.

Mexico 246

Mexico Birds Woodpeckers Sparrows 246

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2020

And I love making my little garden (some 1400 square feet) more attractive to birds. But I would never have imagined how important it would be to my emotional well-being to have a bird-friendly garden during lockdown. In recent years, I have moved much more in the direction of plants that attract birds.

Birds 222

Birds Woodpeckers Madagascar Nashville 222

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2019

But there is an old quote I always carry with me when I bird: “In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king” (Desiderius Erasmus). and I never bird on an empty stomach. I rarely bird more than an hour from my home, because my wife expects me back by 2 p.m. it is in Michoacán , in the southwest of Mexico.

Mexico 188

Mexico Birds 2013 Lamb 188

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2022

Paso Ancho is a wonderful site for seeing all sorts of Mexican endemics, and it’s tropical climate seems to favor birds with colorful plumage. As far as I can tell, Swainson never visited Mexico. Look in any guidebook or birding app, and you will see male Lucifers sporting a beautiful purple gorget. And I do mean showy.

Woodpeckers 232

Woodpeckers Mexico Species Family 232

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2021

Those who read my posts each week (and I know you’re out there, a few of you have said so) know that 2021 is shaping up to be a decidedly bipolar birding year for me here in Michoacán. But the stream that runs through the area still has water, and that may have been important for the good birding. to help with the rush.

Woodpeckers 260

Woodpeckers Nashville Mexico ALA 260

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2022

I was wishing I had a birding buddy with me as a mixed flock overwhelmed my abilities. Suddenly, a large bird, which seemed to have a bright yellow breast and black head, flew overhead to a point behind multiple branches. And then the bird was gone. There are many reasons to take bird photos. They may even fear you.

Mexico 257

Mexico Guatemala South America United States 257

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

Birders know that some of the finest birding locations in the country are on federal land , which include national parks , wildlife refuges , forests , monuments , and seashores , among others. These lands support countless birds, either year-round, as migratory stopovers, or as breeding grounds. But what else should birders know?

Virgin Islands 264

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

Baird’sSandpipers can only be seen here in August and September, as they stop on their way from the Arctic Circle to southern South America; they do not normally visit central Mexico on its way back north. Some lucky Golden-fronted Woodpecker or Curve-billed Thrasher must have been feeling very satisfied. Of course they did!

South America 264

South America Ducks 2020 Mexico 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2013

After nearly a week of traveling through Arizona’s very dry southeastern corner, I decided to make a detour to Flagstaff for a change of pace, a change of scenery, and a chance at seeing an assortment of birds more typical of the Great Basin than the Sierra Madre of Mexico. Lewis’s Woodpecker, flycatcher or woodpecker?

Arizona 153

Arizona Woodpeckers Phoenix Birds 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2021

Last week he messaged me to ask if I could go birding with him just south of Morelia’s urban area. My new birding buddy, Ignacio Torres, knew of this area because a company had built a large partially-paved access road as part of a plan to build a housing development on a pristine, wooded hill. It was a great morning out.

Protection 279

Protection Guatemala Mexico Woodpeckers 279

10,000 Birds

MAY 5, 2020

The April arrival of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, Second Edition was a supremely happy moment in a very difficult, sad month. A companion regional guide, Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America was published in 1941; its fifth edition will be coming out in early September.

North America 264

North America America Hawaii Birds 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2021

I snapped as many photos as I could before the bird disappeared into the canopy. A life bird for me, and another species for my Audubon Florida Birdathon checklist. The rules vary, but essentially you count as many birds as you can, and supporters pledge a flat gift or per-bird gift in honor of your efforts.

Florida 213

Florida 2020 Mexico Raised 213

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. The year list reached 1551 after contributions from China, Australia, Mexico Costa Rica and USA. 203 Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus.

Sparrows 263

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 263

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2020

Those photos were from a trip to Paso Ancho, my nearest site fully within Mexico’s Tierra Caliente (“Hot Country”). One more species to add to my list of Birds That Look Like Muppets. But unlike Paso Ancho, there are Acorn Woodpeckers there to harass them. Back to a (satisfied) normal.

Owls 218

Owls Woodpeckers Mexico Falcons 218

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 28, 2014

Hecho en Mexico. What better way to start the year than with a visit to Mexico? Especially if you can fit in some birding? But others actually do some birding, and they paved the way for this Great Ornithologist to do a little bit on a recent vacation to Todos Santos. A male Belding’s Yellowthroat.

California 252

California San Jose Birds Mexico 252

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Audubon guides to birds have been around since 1946. The first guide bearing the National Audubon Society imprint was Audubon Bird Guide; Eastern Land Birds , written by Richard Hooper Pough, and illustrated by Don Eckelberry. Plate 28 from Audubon Bird Guide, Eastern Land Birds, by Richard H. Knopf, 1994/97.

North America 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

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 264

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 264

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. 240 Lewis’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes lewis.

Woodpeckers 264

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2016

Exploring the country side around our new (for now) home, La Paz, Mexico has been an interesting treat. Promotional flyers and signs often show animals and birds that do not exist here on the Baja. This bird is now starting to obtain Unicorn status, I just can’t seem to track them down. You gotta be kidding!

Woodpeckers 100

Woodpeckers 2000 Mexico Research 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2017

The Golden Eagle is not only the National Bird of Mexico, but considered very threatened. There was some big news here last year when it was confirmed that a nesting pair in the Sierra De La Laguna Biosphere had fledged two birds. These were my first Golden Eagles here in Mexico. Here is the Gila Woodpecker.

Eagles 100

Eagles Mexico California Woodpeckers 100

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 264

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 264

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2016

I’m one of those people who thinks all birds are beautiful, from the drab House Sparrow to the pink Roseate Spoonbill. Yet, there is one bird that looks like a piece of fallen sky as it zips around eating summer insects, one bird whose blue color is so perfect that birders and non-birders alike can’t help but stare.

Nevada 100

Nevada Idaho United States Alaska 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2021

I promised last week to reveal (this week) which Very Special Birds had allowed themselves to be seen on that week’s Monday outing. My Mexican birding buddies and I had a good laugh a few weeks ago when we took an online poll from Sweden about how the pandemic has affected our birding. It’s good to live in Mexico.).

Nashville 264

Nashville Sparrows Sweden Mexico 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2016

When you travel north of La Paz, Mexico, staying on the Sea of Cortez side of the Baja, you will encounter the phosphate mines of San Juan De La Costa. There is very little fresh water, at least to be found year round, but the bird populations all seem to do just fine. After you pass the mine, things change quite a bit.

Zebras 100

Zebras Birds Sparrows Mexico 100