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 134

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 134

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2020

I am a birder living in the epicenter of the epicenter of COVID-19 right now. Over the years I’ve seen a variety of open-country birds there, including Bobolinks , Vesper Sparrow , and American Kestrel. Since the pandemic I’ve added one new species to my personal list for Willow Lake Preserve, a Field Sparrow.

Bald Eagle 178

Bald Eagle New York City Birds New York 178

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. Not another person for miles, and a pair of friendly, well, almost, Great Horned Owls living in the tree right above us. Hundreds of Black-necked Stilts were around the refuge, this group passed right by me on a short morning walk. Now that is a first.

Blackbirds 119

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 119

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2017

At Big Lake we saw thousands of American Coots ( Fulica americana ) and huge flocks of Red-winged ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) and Brewer’s ( Euphagus cyanocephalus ) Blackbirds as well as American Goldfinches ( Spinus tristis ) and Bufflehead ( Bucephala albeola ). LUCKY ME !

California 102

California Sparrows Birds Philadelphia 102

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 16, 2020

But if I can get a Henslow’s Sparrow in Queens why not a Sedge Wren ? I just have to be at the right place at the right time. And then I went and saw six new species so I should have managed to predict at least half of them, right? Yellow-headed Blackbird is a gorgeous bird with a horrible voice. Two-for-four.

New York City 150

New York City Birds New York Blackbirds 150

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2018

The snag at Delevan NWR not only attracts Peregrine Falcons but Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) as well. This Belted Kingfisher ( Megaceryle alcyon ) was perched over the pond right next to the SNWR visitor center. I was lucky enough last week to catch the bird perched near the end of a branch.

Wildlife 101

Wildlife Sacramento Bald Eagle Falcons 101

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Then, to finish the week, we visited the famous, and not necessarily for all the right reasons, Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. The first part of the week, we parked the RV at a campground right on the water, of Dog Lake, 20 miles southwest of Lakeview, Oregon. I only ran across this one Clark’s Grebe mixed in with in the groups of Westerns.

Oregon 114

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 114

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

Cabanis’s Ground-Sparrow. The name change of a small brown bird, a sparrow, is exciting. Split from birds in northern Central America (the White-faced Ground-Sparrow ), the Cabanis’s becomes a very special bird. Red-breasted Blackbird is a meadowlark. Not every list has Great Tinamou on it.

Costa Rica 196

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 196

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2013

Checking out Red-breasted Blackbirds at the Aripo Agricultural Research Station. Really, my entire last day in Trinidad and Tobago should qualify here but I haven’t that full day up so the Red-breasted Blackbirds will stand in. Red-breasted Blackbird. Seriously, go to Trinidad and Tobago right now and see the ibis.

2013 170

2013 New York City New York Trinidad 170

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 18, 2013

White-throated Sparrow. Not impeded by branches or the need to bushwhack, we could paddle right up close to the sound, in this case the merry singing of a White-throated Sparrow. We watched the sparrows bounce back and forth before being distracted by a familiar witchety-witchety-witchety call further down the bank.

Birds 168

Birds DC Sparrows Canada 168

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2016

By the last year of the war, the US increased its military aid to the Greek Government and introduced a new weapon: the first napalm attack after World War II took place right here! Blackbird – Turdus merula. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus.

Bears 267

Bears Greece Europe Slovenia 267

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

Sunflower Seed Mafia Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night… About the Author Corey Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. Joseph Mar 20th, 2011 at 10:17 pm “who is right? Wicked, right?

2011 174

2011 Deer New York Philadelphia 174

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

all the time pointing with my right hand while holding the steering wheel with my left, and the hardest thing, keeping my eyes on the road. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus. I screamed “UralOwlUralOwlUralOwl!!!”,

Owls 104

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 104

10,000 Birds

JULY 23, 2014

The Eurasian Blackbird was not found in new Zealand before man, but it is now. The first to do so was the humble House Sparrow, which was brought to help control caterpillars but soon reached such numbers it was the subject of control itself. There were no mammals, little game, and not many birds either.

New Zealand 161

New Zealand Possums Rabbits Ferrets 161

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 26, 2018

Whenever we begin to explore a new area, travelling back roads, interesting new campsites, we are always on the lookout for that perched hawk on a power pole, or the scattering of road side sparrows. Idaho has been very much that sort of exploring.

Wyoming 113

Wyoming Idaho Blackbirds Canada 113

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

We soon figured out the place for Barred Owls, for Harris’s Sparrows and Brewer’s Blackbirds and all sorts of semi-rare birds that we were solely responsible for bringing to the count list at the end of the day. We all knew that area well, and were rewarded for it. It’s been a while since I’ve been in college).

North Carolina 159

North Carolina Missouri Blackbirds Sparrows 159

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2016

The view from the car-park on the left-hand side of Dryham Lane started our bird list for the trip and we soon had Northern Lapwing , European Magpie , Eurasian Coot , Western Marsh Harrier , Mallard , Dunnock , Common Shelduck , Common Starling and Common Blackbird in our notebook. View from Wild Bird Cafe. Wild Bird Cafe.

Geese 101

Geese Wildlife 2001 Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

In the meantime, I’m still going to keep a year list and maintain said list right here at this post. Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris; El Tapir, 1-Jan. White-eared Ground-Sparrow – Melozone leucotis; Santa Barbara de Heredia, 4-Jan. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives; Sarapiqui, 2-Jan.

Costa Rica 148

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 148

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2017

We had soon observed Common Starlings , European Robins and House Sparrows. The bushes along the edge of the track were good for European Goldfinches and Common Blackbirds and soon we could see the saltmarsh was good habitat for Little Egrets. Long-billed Dowitcher feeding in the rain!

Geese 100

Geese 2017 Blackbirds Canada 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 29, 2012

Barf at blackbirds. Spew at sparrows. Once you accept this basic fact, you will be surprised at the ease in which you will find yourself identifying peeps and plovers, left and right. Black Oystercatcher … right? That’s why they exist, right? They are fearful of flycatchers. Galled at gulls.

LACS 181

LACS Alaska Wildlife Connecticut 181

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

I have had similar experiences at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and you are so right on when you say “am I ever glad that I am a birder!&# Wicked, right? Larry Jordan Mar 17th, 2011 at 12:13 am Wow Corey, that must have been some sight to behold, and sound too! What a spectacle indeed. Mar 17th, 2011 at 2:18 pm [.]

Ducks 168

Ducks 2011 Jamaica New York 168

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2017

It’s going to take a while but if I can expend time and energy (aka birding kung-fu) in the right places, I can certainly make that happen for Costa Rica. Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris; Quebrada Gonzalez, 13-Jan. White-eared Ground-Sparrow – Melozone leucotis; Santa Barbara de Heredia, 4-Jan.

Costa Rica 102

Costa Rica 2017 Woodpeckers Parrots 102

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Soon after I was able to tick the ubiquitous House Sparrow in its native haunts where I was allowed to enjoy it. Well, I can say that what this American was able to see, and identify, was not the expected Blackbird, but rather a bird that may make some Americans cry: the Black Woodpecker ! A quick sidetrack.

Salamander 137

Salamander Germany Birds Blackbirds 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

Red-winged Blackbird in Flight Flight Of The Ancient Mariner About the Author Corey Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. Wicked, right? Stalking a Kiwi Icon What is the National Bird of Nicaragua? The Doctor Bird Close Encounter of the Mute Kind.Or Hat-tip to Stella.

Denmark 161

Denmark 2011 Honduras Deer 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2020

In what has become the modern-day traditional method of organization, species are listed and described on the left-hand page and illustrative plates are on the right. Each species is numbered, with the numbers referring to the illustrations on the right. More on Species Accounts.

Bolivia 168

Bolivia Birds Brazil Switzerland 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2011

I chanced to glance at a bird perched atop the Oak tree in my back yard, figuring it was one of the Blackbirds or Grackles that had recently returned to my neighborhood. Wicked, right? I can’t help it, there’s just so much interesting stuff up there. Instead I saw a flash of orange. Hat-tip to Stella.

North Carolina 140

North Carolina 2011 St. Louis Baltimore 140

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

The first surprise came, as we were driving into town, and not one, but two Scissor-tailed Flycatchers flew right across the road in front of us. This Coopers Hawk flew right up to the roof on a flood control booth, and looked at me like “ What are you doing out here” and promptly flew away. This one flew right over my head.

Albuquerque 120

Albuquerque New Mexico Mexico Sparrows 120

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2017

As the finches flew from the tree tops down to a small creek for water, they occasionally flew back to the trees right above us giving the best views I have ever had of these cheerful seedeaters.

Wildlife 100

Wildlife Chipmunks Sparrows Blackbirds 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2019

The next day, she bought a Peterson guide, and studied it, and was able to go outside and put a name to the “little brown blobs” she had seen – House Sparrows! Yellow-headed Blackbird, you’re an easy bird to miss. There’s no shadow of a doubt. When you sing your song out loud. And you were my nemesis. But now you’re mine. (It

Bald Eagle 176

Bald Eagle Blackbirds Birds New Jersey 176

10,000 Birds

JUNE 21, 2018

Kites aren’t the only birds in the air here; we saw all kinds of flycatchers, thrushes, swallows, parrots, and—-making us Americans feel right at home—- Red-winged Blackbirds and Great-tailed Grackles. Would you trade in-room wifi for three species of motmot and two different toucans right outside the hotel restaurant?

Honduras 158

Honduras Birds Parrots Rights 158

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2018

Crows, Ravens, Clark’s Nutcrackers, White-crowned Sparrows and assorted waterfowl were all still present, but that was about it. This can cause up to 20 minute waits, which I put to good use, tracking down this nice shot of a White-crowned Sparrow. We had Elk right in our camp with us every day.

Wyoming 104

Wyoming Wolves Grizzly Bear Mountain Goats 104

10,000 Birds

JUNE 19, 2015

By far the most popular bird we saw was the Red-winged Blackbird. Red-winged Blackbird is easy to understand and easy to remember. Reddish-brownish-yellowish-grayish Sparrow or Reddish-brownish-yellowish-grayish Thrush would also be silly names for a bird, but somehow Clay-colored isn’t?

Blackbirds 161

Blackbirds Owls Sparrows Ducks 161

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2015

Caspian Terns in the back, large flocks of ducks or all the regular dabbling varieties, American White Pelican s staked out in the center, ibis, herons, and egrets set against the crackling soundtrack of Red-winged Blackbird s and Boat-tailed Grackle s. In these marshes lie sparrows of a sort that have never been reliable on the islands.

North Carolina 150

North Carolina Rattlesnake Sparrows Owls 150

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2017

Unexplainably, it feels right to follow the waters towards the delta. mi from the first one (inside the village), we turn right into the hills and onto the Forgotten Road birding route. Another bird, seen from behind, a female Eurasian Blackbird ? Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula.

Romania 116

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 116

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

“Blackbirds&# do not have the same ability. Now, most people are dealing with grackles on their northward migration right now. This will be the feeder that the blackbirds will avoid and the other birds can eat in peace. Safflower is not the favorite food of house sparrows, red-winged blackbirds and squirrels.

2011 185

2011 Birds Woodpeckers Blackbirds 185

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2015

Late March in my home borough of New York City is typically when Eastern Phoebe , Pine Warbler , American Woodcock , Osprey , and other early migrants are back but many of our wintering birds, like Snow Goose and American Tree Sparrow , are still sticking around. A very serendipitous shot.

Bald Eagle 178

Bald Eagle New York City Birds New York 178

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2017

An Eastern Towhee che-winked from the vegetation, a Carolina Wren yelled about its teakettle, American Robins tut-tut-tutted from their roosts, Northern Cardinals started with metallic chips, a White-throated Sparrow sang about Canada, Gray Catbirds mewed from the bushes, and a Black-capped Chickadee whistled in the distance. No grackles!)

Birds 107

Birds Dolphins Canada Sparrows 107