10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

I spotted a Eurasian Wigeon amongst the American Wigeon right out of the gate, but that wasn’t the best sighting of the day. Being winter, this bird is in non-breeding plumage with more brown upper parts and lacking the white face it acquires in its aternate (breeding) plumage. It was foraging in breast deep water.

Wildlife 155

Wildlife 2011 Sacramento Jordan 155

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. Brown Boobies ( Sula leucogaster ), Islas Coronado, Baja California © David J. Ringer Gannets and Boobies (Sulidae) Black-and-white gannets breed on the cold, rocky coasts of the northern and southern oceans. Good day sir.

2011 154

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

In particular the South Island destination of Kaikoura is world-renowned for the flocks of albatrosses and giant petrels floating right off the pelagic boat, and the ease of the trip makes it a must-visit for any visiting birder. One birder from Australia even got his lifer Red-crowned Parakeet ! Thanks for visiting!

New Zealand 175

New Zealand Albatross 2011 Cooking 175

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

The variety of plumages that they show and the way different individuals molt at different times is interesting to me and I have stopped being surprised at seeing a small flock of ruddies with some nearly in full breeding, or alternate plumage, while others are still in their basic, or non-breeding plumage. Wicked, right?

Ducks 143

Ducks 2011 New York New York City 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

from left to right Fred, Mike, Isaac, Andrew, Gene (in back), Tom Though it was an absurdly long trip and the ratio of birding to driving was not ideal the twitch was well worth it. Here’s hoping this bird makes it back to its home turf to breed and comes back to spend another winter in New York State! Wicked, right?

New York 198

New York Woodpeckers Jordan 2011 198