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 222

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 222

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

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. 262 Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. 266 Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. 424 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

Woodpeckers 225

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 225

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2019

eBird doesn’t offer such an option, so I used the second best: the species was observed in one month only. Red-footed Falcon by BartBotje/Wikimedia Commons. What qualifies a bird to be included in the top-5? My first criterion was that I observed it only once during the year 2018. No, they weren’t in raspberry fields.)”.

2018 116

2018 Serbia Falcons Greece 116

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Laughing Falcon (Herpetotheres cachinnans). Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula). Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives). 7 beats contributed this month. Graylag Goose (Anser anser).

2020 152

2020 Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds 152

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.

Sparrows 194

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 194

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2018

The photo blind at Delevan National Wildlife Refuge gave me this close up of a Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus ). This refuge offers such a wide variety of species, that I wrote a post awhile back showing several species of wading birds in the same location on the auto tour route. Click on photos for full sized images.

Wildlife 101

Wildlife Sacramento Bald Eagle Falcons 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 190

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 190

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional 1803 species from 1608 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Most species-prolific was Patrick in Costa Rica, followed by Paul from Mexico. December’s beats found 609 birds after submitting 116 checklists from 8 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, China, Mexico, Serbia and Australia).

2020 212

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 212

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

Lately, I have been waking up to the vocal antics of Laughing Falcon , the newly split Gray-cowled Wood-Rail , Grayish Saltator , Melodious Blackbird , and this beautiful male Blue Grosbeak that sings about a block away. Numbers were impressive, especially because that euphonia species isn’t the commonest of birds in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 119

Costa Rica Falcons Birds North Carolina 119

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

We have nearly 930 species on the official list and with some effort, 700 in a year is a feasible goal. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus; Tirimbina, 9-Jan.

Costa Rica 158

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 158

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.

Sparrows 234

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Blackbirds 234

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. 289 Barred Forest-Falcon – Micrastur ruficollis.

Woodpeckers 176

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 176

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2020 153

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 153

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. Please be careful, Corvid is still out there. Marsh Grassbird and Rufous-faced Warbler come to you all the way from China and bring the life list to 4061.

Sparrows 155

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 279 Collared Forest-Falcon – Micrastur semitorquatus. 374 Brewer’s Blackbird – Euphagus cyanocephalus. 381 Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. 483 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis.

Woodpeckers 194

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 194

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. Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

Owls 104

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 104

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

Among the many species seen on the lake were Common Loon ( Gavia immer ), Lesser Scaup ( Aythya affinis ), Clark’s Grebe ( Aechmorphorus clarkii ) … and Bonaparte’s Gull ( Chroicocephalus philadelphia ) – this one photographed at Don Edwards NWR.

California 102

California Sparrows Birds Philadelphia 102

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2015

Peregrine Falcon nests. So, the 49 subject species include birds with interesting family behaviors that we might not see every day (Cedar Waxwing, Great Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon), migrant songbirds (Tree and Barn Swallows, House Wren), and common, everyday birds (Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, and, yes, Rock Pigeon).

Eggs 263

Eggs Family 2006 New York 263

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Some birds are essentially just cooler than others and raptors are cool: an Osprey with a fish, a Northern Goshawk , Peregrine Falcons , Golden Eagles , feisty little Merlins , all these impressive birds make hawkwatching fun and exciting.

Bald Eagle 232

Bald Eagle Los Angeles Connecticut Eagles 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula). Chinese Blackbird (Turdus mandarinus). Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Melodious Blackbird (Dives dives). Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus).

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 151

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

That’s pretty amazing–Bolivia has more bird species than India! The source of this ranking, BirdLife International, lists Bolivia as currently having 1,439 bird species, including 18 breeding endemics. The guide covers 1,433 species, the number of birds documented at the end of 2014, the cutoff point for the book.

Bolivia 168

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 168

10,000 Birds

MAY 30, 2015

However, there are a few stand out sites here and there that are significantly better for species like Jabiru, Lance-tailed Manakin, and Nicaraguan Grackle to name a few. BUT, we did see lots of other nice birds, most of them bonus species tough to see elsewhere in Costa Rica. Ruddy-breasted Seedeaters are also common at Medio Queso.

Costa Rica 173

Costa Rica Chile Nicaragua San Jose 173

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2012

ALWAYS assume there is some other bird species in there that you have not found yet. Here is a flock of endangered species. These Black-legged and Red-legged Kittiwakes only need to fear gulls and Peregrine Falcons , although bad weather and erosion do take their toll on nests. Buldir Island, AK. Buldir Island, AK.

North Dakota 161

North Dakota LACS Oakland Falcons 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2018

Here we will actually stop for a full day, as there is a 10,000 acre wetland refuge, which should hold several species of gulls, White-fronted Geese and Black Brant, just to name a few. As far as my year’s list, this last weekend netted me 6 more species, putting me at 127 species.

Ducks 115

Ducks Blackbirds Sparrows California 115

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2023

A boat ride into this swamp turns up usual suspects like Pied Water Tyrant and Yellow-hooded Blackbird , but also (and most excitingly) three species of kingfisher: Green, American Pygmy and Ringed Kingfisher. There are many small watercourses and pools around, and these are prime attractors for various species of birds.

Trinidad 29

Trinidad Falcons Primates Monkeys 29

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2017

Back then, in 2012, the motivation was to have something nice to blog about and to show Corey how the cow eats the cabbage since he was seeing too many good species too easily. I am not entirely sure if I am going to include a graph of my species total since I will not define a numerical goal. Species List. February. […].

2017 100

2017 Germany 2012 2013 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

The pressure is on if you can only get certain species during the first month of the year but if you just want to add any old birds to the year list, everything is fresh! Since I’m in no big hurry to reach any number of species in 2018, my year birding is going to be a fresh one hopefully touched with a good dose of Zen.

Costa Rica 148

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 148

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Collared Forest-Falcon – Micrastur semitorquatus. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. Prairie Falcon – Falco mexicanus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 01 Jul 2019.

2019 118

2019 Sparrows Woodpeckers Idaho 118

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2017

Nevertheless, I still have over 232 species including the latest addition- a Striped Owl heard from my bedroom window as it called into a moonlit night. With luck, this bird list will also see species from other countries, I hope “wherever else” ends up referring to Colombia and Brazil!

Costa Rica 102

Costa Rica 2017 Woodpeckers Parrots 102

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2016

Back in Costa Rica, walks through coffee and fields near the house, and a few other day trips have upped the list to 250 species. The year has just started, there are hundreds of other bird species to look for, I wonder if I can reach 700 species for Costa Rica by December 31st? White-eyed Vireo! .

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica 2016 San Antonio Sparrows 101

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. 137 Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. 141 Bat Falcon – Falco rufigularis. 142 Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. 251 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

2020 156

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 156

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2020

They contributed 150 lists accounting for 1032 species and more than 36,000 individual birds. Thus 100 species were missed by the time he woke up and noticed that eBird had reset the counters at midnight(do you guys have nothing better to do?). Barred Forest-Falcon – Micrastur ruficollis. They came home exhausted.

2019 161

2019 Chile Texas Sanctuary 161

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

They noted 719 species between them. 298 Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans. 302 Aplomado Falcon – Falco femoralis. 303 Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. 525 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 603 Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus.

2020 280

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 280

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 152

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 152

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2019

beats have still managed to share 82 checklists and accounted for 737 species. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Amur Falcon – Falco amurensis. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Laughing Falcon – Herpetotheres cachinnans.

2019 118

2019 Jamaica Eggs Woodpeckers 118

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2024

There was a large raft of hundreds of American Coot , an American White Pelican and lots of duck species. A Merlin had just attempted to grab breakfast before our very eyes… She missed and while we were happy for the sandpipers – they are very pretty – the excitement we felt was for the falcon. The birds warmed us too.

Ducks 149

Ducks Emotional Cattle Owls 149