10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

I love sparrows, so seeing a feather-worn Vesper Sparrow this past July filled my heart with joy. We saw sparrows–a total of 14 species–and we saw many other great prairie birds, and we often saw them perched on posts. Baird’s Sparrow was one of those elusive creatures.

North Dakota 147

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

Although they breed on the west coast of Florida, Snowy Plover is a rare stray to this part of the state. Song Sparrow is a genuine rarity in Miami-Dade. This Lincoln’s Sparrow is far more common. Cattle Egret: 133. Clay-colored Sparrow: 1. Savannah Sparrow: 56. Grasshopper Sparrow: 25.

Miami 169

Miami 2015 United States Birds 169

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2014

Ferruginous Hawks breed in the grasslands of eastern Montana, but they are rare in the mountains and in winter, so this bird was certainly a surprise. A vast congregation of Bald Eagles kept watch over a herd of cattle about to calve, up to seven in a single tree — no doubt awaiting delicious placentas.

Bald Eagle 178

Bald Eagle Falcons Geese Montana 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

In my homeland, some 800 km / 500 mi further north, these ducks are common on migration but very rare in the breeding season and I realized that these are my first young birds – ever. A few Lesser Kestrels by the dyke wall, then a Black-eared Wheatear at some cattle fencing. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula 3.

Greece 198

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 198