10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 12, 2013

A Common Buzzard in the ground, another on the top of a bush… Buzzards were the most obvious birds, most of them coming from the more northerly countries to overwinter here and serve for target practice to a hoard of trigger-happy poachers. Large birds flying through silver fog… buzzards? Birding Europe Serbia'

Serbia 213

Serbia Hoarding Europe Woodpeckers 213

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2014

Beside birds, in this park you stand a chance of spotting the Eurasian Lynx , Brown Bear and Gray Wolf ! Even among the protected areas of Serbia, the Iron Gates National Park (in Serbian: Djerdap) stands out as better preserved. Well, do you really? So, yes – it is possible, but by no means easy. Am I complaining about it?

Serbia 187

Serbia Turtles Birds Eagles 187

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. 434 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 6 Brant – Branta bernicla.

Woodpeckers 233

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 233

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 230

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 230

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2016

How much time do you devote to birding? How high is birding on your list of activities – is it the very first or merely one of? These are the types I recognise: Coffee Break Birding – 10-15 minutes, usually not planned ahead but squeezed out of your schedule. It is a good option if you know that there is that one special bird.

Birds 111

Birds India Africa Serbia 111

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 173

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 173

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2019

10 Beats have been out in 9 countries (Argentina, Brazil, Serbia, China, Costa Rica, USA, UK, Italy and Mexico) and have shared 125 lists to account for 916 birds. Italian Sparrow – Passer italiae. Striped Sparrow – Oriturus superciliosus. Sierra Madre Sparrow – Xenospiza baileyi. This is them;

2019 118

2019 China Italy Argentina 118

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 221

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 221

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

7 beats contributed their sightings from 7 countries (Hong Kong, UK, China, USA, Serbia, Australia and, of course, Costa Rica). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina).

2020 152

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 152

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2017

I have just returned from Costa Rica, the country about which I knew very little, despite it coming under my radar all the way back in 1999 when the “Africa – Birds & Birding” magazine published some of John Graham’s experiences from his visit in 1993. The unspoken words “to watch birds” were left hanging in the air.

Costa Rica 179

Costa Rica San Jose Serbia Europe 179

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2022

In the previous period I wrote mostly book reviews (but of some really great books ), yet I cannot remember when the last time was that I wrote of birding itself? Perhaps in my December posts on birding Colombian Amazonia ? Driving with open windows (to hear the birds) becomes unbearable and I am heading out of this fish farm.

Breeders 207

Breeders Mules Farming Fish 207

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143. Checklists came in from 7 countries (USA, UK, Serbia, China, Mexico, Costa Rica and Australia) and brought the year list for 2021 so far to 1143.

Sparrows 156

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 156

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. 510 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 511 Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus. 552 Grasshopper Sparrow – Ammodramus savannarum.

Woodpeckers 181

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 181

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2017

Bank Swallow) holes, among 60+ other bird species. However easy they might be, I was there so early and the sun was so low that their white undersides were bright-WHITE and I had to observe several birds in a row just to be sure. In the Bird Identification guide, it is deservedly described as an introvert.

Serbia 116

Serbia Breeding Woodpeckers Feral 116

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2018

This October, a previously unknown name shined in the eBird alerts in Serbia: Raphael Nussbaumer. He made a whirlwind tour of some of the best birding areas in the country, from the Karajukica Bunari peat bog in the extreme southwest (by the border with Montenegro) all the way to the Slano Kopovo Crane Sanctuary in the northeast.

Serbia 135

Serbia Switzerland Farming Birds 135

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2016

I remember, several times while motionlessly surveying birds, I found myself being investigated by Striped Field Mice , who would dare to come to sniff me. Europe: The sun is scorching the area, and the birds are nowhere to be seen. No, birds are way too smart for that stupid trick. My first ever Balkan Egyptian Vultures!

Wildlife 178

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 178

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2016

Two more sparrows on the macadam ahead of me… In my early birding days, I would simply assume that they are sparrows, possibly not even taking another look at them, but now I am too old to be so naive. My response to additional stress is – bird more and not less. It actually makes perfect sense.

Romania 130

Romania Sparrows Battery Turtles 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2022

With longer and warmer days, we feel the urge to bird in the country, away from our local city patches. So, if you were coming into my neck of the woods – Belgrade, where would I suggest you go birding? Finally, when you finish birding, it’s time for a beer or some lunch. The rest is grazing pasture and steppe.

Serbia 260

Serbia Woodpeckers Owls Eagles 260

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

“I would certainly recommend Serbia to visiting birders. My own trip was not an intensive birding experience, and August is clearly not the most productive month. I chalked up 132 species in a pretty relaxed eight days, during which birds shared the agenda with culture. What has changed in the meantime? eBird bar chart. #2

Serbia 156

Serbia Birds Bulgaria Farming 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

Our bird guide, Georgos Spiridakis, is driving slowly along this dirt track, checking the mud all the time. The bird is not showing again, so we use the elimination system: the first and the last are way too different, and dealing with the other two, we ID it as a Lesser Spotted Eagle.

Greece 161

Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

December’s numbers looked like this; 10 beats visited 11 countries (Bahrain, New Zealand, USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Australia Nigeria, Uganda and Serbia) during December. They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. 05 Dec 2019.

2019 166

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 166

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

The trend at this time of year is a downturn in shared lists and birds reported, nevertheless, 12 (is this a record?) Our two newest contributors have shared from Mexico and China, bringing the countries birded this month (also including; Costa Rica, Greece, Serbia, USA, UK, India, UAE and New Zealand) to 10. 01 Jun 2019.

2019 119

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 119

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

14 countries were birded this month by 13 beats; a record participative effort! Visited this month were; Germany , France , Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Indonesia , Switzerland and Singapore). Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca. Lake Panic Bird Hide. has reached 54.

2019 114

2019 China Battery Jamaica 114

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. 547 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 548 Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus.

2020 286

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 286

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

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

Woodpeckers 153

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 153

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

7 countries (Costa Rica, China, USA, UK, Mexico, New Zealand and Serbia) were birded by 11 beats during October. They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. 11 Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca. 17 Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris. 118 Lark Sparrow – Chondestes grammacus.

2020 128

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 128

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2017

Shallows provide an ideal spawning ground for almost 50 fish species and submerged islands breeding ground for more than 100 bird species. Beside several well-showing Red-backed Shrikes , the highlight was one uncommon Lesser Grey Shrike (highly localized ** , with only 700 to 1000 breeding pairs in Serbia). I like driving.

Romania 119

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 119

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

8 beats contributed 70 checklists from 7 countries (UK, USA, Costa Rica, China, Serbia, Australia and Singapore). Between them, they account for 315 birds. 260 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 261 Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus. 274 Chipping Sparrow – Spizella passerina.

2020 158

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 158

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 184

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 184

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

They ranged across 10 countries (Costa Rica, USA, UK, India, Australia, China, Brazil, Mexico, Serbia and Uganda). White-browed Sparrow-Weaver – Plocepasser mahali. Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow – Passer shelleyi. Golden-crowned Sparrow – Zonotrichia atricapilla. Alphabetic Taxonomic. calle jocote.

2019 139

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 139

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

7 species were added to the life list in the time-honoured fashion of actually identifying the birds in the field. 12 beats visited 12 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Ghana, Nigeria, New Zealand, Serbia, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, China and Argentina), sharing 148 lists along the way and noting 844 species (old and new). 12 Aug 2019.

2019 117

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 117

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

10,000 Birds’s collaborative list has not been entered to feature here, but if we did we choose to press our advantage of having beats strategically placed around the world, we would currently be in second place. The year has started well with 10 new birds from India, China, Hawaii, Mexico and Costa Rica. Kohka Village.

2020 158

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 158

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

The engaged and generous beats ( 10 of them) have shared 188 checklists during January and have accounted for 859 species from 8 countries (USA, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, UK, New Zealand and Serbia. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2019

Without including the new pin in the map, countries this month featured; USA, Australia, Serbia, Bahrain, India, Kuwait, New Zealand, UK, Ghana and of course, Costa Rica. The month of February has produced 838 birds noted by 10 beats who, between them, shared 114 checklists. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia. 23 Feb 2019.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Jamaica 113

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

9 countries were visited during March by your tireless beats ( 11 of them); India, UK, USA, Serbia, Costa Rica, Japan, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. We can use the figures above to compare the birds that cross between the hemispheres. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia. ki rukavac), Veliko Gradište, Serbia.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

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. April was a busy time for the beats with 10 of them contributing 164 lists to accumulate 744 species from 7 countries; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Serbia, UK, Brazil and Barbados. Vulnerable.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana 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. Spanish Sparrow – Passer hispaniolensis. Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow – Melozone kieneri. So that was May.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113