10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

I had just a split-second glimpse of this species – my only second ever – yet immediately knew what is it, but I was driving through a snowbound countryside and had another car behind me, therefore I stopped a good 50 metres later to eBird it. It is the end of January and my year list reached 110 birds. Fortunately, B. Am I satisfied?

Owls 106

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 106

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. Here it is a strictly wintering species, and the first individual I have seen this winter.

Serbia 222

Serbia Hoarding Europe Woodpeckers 222

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. 393 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 394 Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus. 421 Lark Sparrow – Chondestes grammacus.

Sparrows 213

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 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 194

Serbia Turtles Birds Eagles 194

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 187

Costa Rica San Jose Serbia Europe 187

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 115

Birds India Africa Serbia 115

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.

Woodpeckers 244

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 244

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.

Sparrows 241

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 241

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). Or a falcon?

Romania 124

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 124

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 5, 2019

62 species have been added to our combined life list, breaking through the next hundred which has been proving very stubborn. 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.

2019 119

2019 China Italy Argentina 119

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). They noted 719 species between them. October’s birds are listed below; 1 Little Tinamou – Crypturellus soui. 547 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus.

2020 292

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 292

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 232

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 232

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). 149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum).

2020 153

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

At time of writing (usually a couple of days early to avoid the deadline panic), UK is fielding 63 species. 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.

2020 161

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 161

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. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 510 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus.

Woodpeckers 189

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 189

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. 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 159

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 159

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 193

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 193

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 121

Serbia Breeding Woodpeckers Feral 121

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 137

Romania Sparrows Battery Turtles 137

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. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 316 Mew Gull – Larus canus.

2020 130

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 130

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 183

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 183

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.

Woodpeckers 155

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

Our bird guide, Georgos Spiridakis, is driving slowly along this dirt track, checking the mud all the time. A few metres further, something is jumping from one branch to another… a pair of Subalpine Warblers , a Mediterranean species that does not go much further north than this.

Greece 163

Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 163

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2020

9 beats visited 9 countries (China, Costa Rica, USA, UK, India, Australia, Jamaica , Serbia and Japan) and submitted 151 checklists when they got back. Ota Ward–Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park (including Tidal Pond)). Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. Rocklands Bird Sanctuary. Just me then?

2020 156

2020 Sanctuary Australia Sparrows 156

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.

2019 175

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 175

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. 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. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus.

2020 161

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 161

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. Alphabetic Taxonomic.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

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?) beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris. Song Sparrow – Melospiza melodia. Laguna Lagarto Lodge.

2019 121

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 121

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2019

In publishing the most current thinking, eBird have become the month’s biggest contributor to the life list, expanding it by 7 brand new species and pushing it to 3774. 7 species were added to the life list in the time-honoured fashion of actually identifying the birds in the field. Field Sparrow – Spizella pusilla.

2019 118

2019 Arizona Ghana Tucson 118

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

14 countries were birded this month by 13 beats; a record participative effort! 172 lists were shared and 1004 species were seen, both records for October, so well done beats! Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca. Lake Panic Bird Hide. Lake Panic Bird Hide. Lake Panic Bird Hide. Lake Panic Bird Hide.

2019 118

2019 China Battery Jamaica 118

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver – Plocepasser mahali. Alphabetic Taxonomic. calle jocote.

2019 141

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 141

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. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. 978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list.

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.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Electric storms closed the new walkway there and he amassed a total list of just 3 birds! Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Should the fancy take you, you could call up a 10,000 Birds life list (from 2016 onwards.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

In reverse order, the medals were awarded for “most species seen in a country”, to Australia with 420, USA got the silver, scoring 556 while the runaway winner was Costa Rica with 646 species. Best wishes to you all for 2019, keep safe and keep birding. Gray Go-away-bird – Corythaixoides concolor.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2017

Submissions for February have been received from Austria, Australia, UK, Japan, Costa Rica, Serbia, Mexico, USA, The Bahamas and Lichtenstein. It is good to see that the westerners have picked up the gauntlet after their humiliation in the first list and are currently out-birding the eastern hemisphere by 771:345. 13 Jan 2017.

2017 100

2017 Australia Sanctuary Woodpeckers 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

The two most prolific contributors, Pat and Tom, have been sharing their birding space in Costa Rica. The beats have now contributed more checklists than birds. During October, 7 countries (Costa Rica, Australia, USA, India, Hong Kong, UK, Serbia) were birded by 11 beats who shared 135 checklists and noted 697 species.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113