10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Two species of icterids populated the area, the presence of either was a direct indicator of the degree of water present. Red-breasted Meadowlarks controlled the drier sections while Yellow-hooded Blackbirds occupied the more flooded areas. Retreating hastily, I reverted to my clumsy ways and flushed the heron. Great Blue Heron.

Livestock 246

Livestock Ducks ALA illegal 246

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

An associated issue is that the Belize and Costa Rica guides share many of the same descriptions of species, written by Howell. Similarly, descriptions of species repeated across volumes do not lose their accuracy with each publication. Other species are splits and lumped and have had their names changed. Why are these issues?

Costa Rica 240

Costa Rica Belize El Salvador Birds 240

10,000 Birds

JULY 20, 2019

Folks want to know what they can see, if it’s worth traveling to Trinidad and Tobago, if they should to to Ecuador for three days or three weeks, or if one should drive to Wisconsin to look for a vireo with white eyes or a blue head. The gray hawks weren’t the only north-south sister species that meet in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica 203

Costa Rica Birds Owls South America 203

10,000 Birds

APRIL 19, 2023

Some days ago I had the opportunity to explore the grossly underbirded southeastern corner of Trinidad. The Nariva Swamp is the largest wetland on Trinidad, giving to and taking from the relentless Atlantic Ocean on its eastern boundary. We managed to see both species of monkey, though – so we were ultimately well satiated.

Trinidad 29

Trinidad Falcons Primates Monkeys 29

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

8 countries were birded by 11 beats and I am delighted to include Faraaz and Trinidad and Tobago in those stats. The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus.

2020 162

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 162

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 253

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 253

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2021

Add that to the fact that here in Trinidad & Tobago we’re still under a strict curfew – the earliest I’m allowed to leave home is 5am. On an island, species are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic pressures and only two of the nine species of native seedeaters in T&T persist today in isolated pockets.

Trinidad 360

Trinidad Groups Species Blackbirds 360

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

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

Woodpeckers 160

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 160

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. 525 Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. 558 Trinidad Euphonia – Euphonia trinitatis. 620 Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2020 298

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 298

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 19, 2020

These intrepid travelers have captivated the very essence of my being, years ago when I used to work on an industrial port on the west coast of Trinidad I noticed each year these alien looking birds would appear, stick around for a while and then depart. Last weekend I wasn’t on the hunt for any species in particular though.

Trinidad 206

Trinidad South America Blackbirds Industry 206

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2018

In talking to the local guides, and Rangers, they all agreed that they had not been seeing too many species around in the last couple of weeks. We are on our way to Colorado, and the famous Trinidad Lake area. Little Big Year species – 888. The surprise addition to that list was a pair of Pectoral Sandpipers.

Wyoming 111

Wyoming Wolves Grizzly Bear Mountain Goats 111

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 215

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 215

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 2, 2021

The year list ends on a provisional (some beats will be birding ’til the final whistle to try and salvage a ravaged year) 1803 species from 1602 checklists submitted by 12 beats from 16 countries. Imagine that, 13 lists per year where once there were only 12.

2020 247

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 247

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2019

978 species were tallied this month from 163 checklists. Only 123 species appear on both sides of the life list. Calle La Trinidad, Heredia, CR (10,022, -84,152). Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Tricolored Blackbird – Agelaius tricolor.

2019 113

2019 Ghana Australia Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2019

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. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2019 113

2019 Australia Ghana Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2023

It was the first record of this species in Trinidad & Tobago and looks almost identical to our regularly seen Tropical Pewee. My colleague played the dawn song of this species and after a couple minutes it responded with vocalisations of its own. Previously I had only seen this species twice, and both were males.

Trinidad 253

Trinidad Bats 2020 Sanctuary 253

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. Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Beacon Hill Park.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2018

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. Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Unicolored Blackbird – Agelasticus cyanopus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. 28 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2018

They noted 598 species as a team, bringing the year total to 2118 and pushing the life list to 3555. Trinidad Lake Watchable Wildlike Trail and Hides, Colorado. Unicolored Blackbird – Agelasticus cyanopus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives. Rusty Blackbird – Euphagus carolinus. 28 Sep 2018.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 113

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2018

8 beats shared 126 checklists accounting for 704 species. Trinidad Lake SP–Watchable Wildlife Trail. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Yellow-headed Blackbird – Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus. Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Trinidad Head. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

All birds are equal on this list; parking lot birds or pelagic species, breeders or fly-overs, all will be accorded the same status and each shall be worth 1 credit on the list. Trinidad Head. Eurasian Blackbird – Turdus merula. Chinese Blackbird – Turdus mandarinus. Melodious Blackbird – Dives dives.

2016 102

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 102