10,000 Birds

JANUARY 9, 2019

Our first Day In South Africa, I spotted the Burchell’s Courcal, as it flew across the road in front of us we entered Kruger National Park. The birds are now breeding in the area, but are quite happy to keep coming to the daily feeding station in groups of over 100 birds. I present to you, my favorite birds of 2018.

2018 160

2018 Costa Rica South Africa New Zealand 160

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

.” Another study cited in “Wired” states that “For The Green Wood Hoopoe , Middle-Aged Motherhood Is Best”, providing the rationale that “females that attempt to start breeding early in life have a very high mortality rate.” Thanks for pointing it out though. 300 birds (HBW). This is one of them.

South Africa 147

South Africa Niger Birds Mice 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2016

A couple of years ago Adam posted a story on this site that so entranced me that when I went to South Africa a bit over a year ago the location he described was top of my bucket list. They are closely related to the oddball Rockfowl of Western Africa, and live in family groups, led by a breeding pair, in Southern Africa.

South Africa 102

South Africa Africa Family Groups 102

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Marabous occur throughout tropical and subtropical Africa from Zululand in northern South Africa right up to the arid Sahel region fringing the Sahara Desert, avoiding the closed canopy rainforest zones of central and west Africa. The Saddle-billed Stork has a similar Africa-wide distribution as the Marabou.

Africa 239

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 239

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

I don’t think I’ve ever done a post on my home patch of Cape Town, South Africa. The little seaside village of Rooiels is famed for being a wonderful location to pick up some choice South African endemics but it is also one of the most beautiful spots in the Cape.

South Africa 243

South Africa Penguins Birds Africa 243

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

So, it sometimes comes to South Africa to relax and enjoy relative anonymity. Interestingly, the HBW gives different contact calls depending on the country in which the flycatcher lives: “Contact call a simple ‘zeet, zwayt’ (South Africa), ‘ti-twit tee-twit’ (Gabon), ‘zi’zk’zk’ (Tanzania).”

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Birds South Africa Benin 147

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

This species is a southern African endemic, restricted to, but fortunately not uncommon, in dry woodland and sand forest habitats of northern Zululand, Swaziland, scattered pockets of north-eastern South Africa and southern Mozambique. Great White Pelicans showing the pink flush of breeding plumage. Photo by Adam Riley.

Africa 209

Africa Somalia Pelicans Mozambique 209

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2012

They have a circumpolar distribution, breeding in vast numbers in the islands around Antarctica, as well as on Antarctica itself. Smaller numbers breed on sub-Antarctic islands as far north as the Chathams in New Zealand.

New Zealand 158

New Zealand Albatross South Africa Brazil 158

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2011

.’ These were found in Cape Town, South Africa and appeared oblivious to the excitement that their cousin was causing in New York. This one has not yet taken the grey head of the breeding bird.

South Africa 173

South Africa Pedigree Africa New York 173

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

Finally, South Africa has three 400+ hotspots, namely 1 Mkhuze Game Reserve 458 sp. I will not bother you with the entire list, but rather choose some of the essential birding areas for each of the three bird-richest countries of East Africa (having a choice, we’ll stay within the 500+ reserves). 3 Lake Manyara NP 573 sp.

Africa 199

Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 199

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2019

I have to agree with her, as every time I chance upon an owl, be it something as common as a Great Horned Owl, or something extremely special like Australia’s Powerful Owl , or the Verreaux’s Eagle-owl from South Africa, I get a huge feeling of accomplishment. I guess they don’t like staring into the sun, and more than we do!

Owls 151

Owls Arizona Tucson South Africa 151

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

I got to see a beautiful female and owlet on a trip to a secret nest location near Howard Prairie Lake (human-made nest structures have enhanced local breeding for these huge owls whose nest success is boosted to 83% on artificial platforms vs. 66% at natural sites). I also blogged about that dreamy day. Travel is good for the birding soul.

2014 188

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 188

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 20, 2015

This map shows the distribution of the World’s bird species, based on overlying the breeding and wintering ranges of all known species. South Africa (755 / 842). It makes me think what is the meaning of life, the universe and everything? Why am I here? And where all those birds are? Map by BirdLife International. The Neotropics.

Sri Lanka 257

Sri Lanka Botswana Africa Serbia 257

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2014

Four teams with renowned birders from United States, South Africa and United Kingdom will travel through the diverse and endemic bird rich region of Northern Peru, from May 12 thought May 20, 2014.

Peru 160

Peru United Kingdom 2013 South Africa 160

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Growing up within an hour of one of the world’s premier shorebird destinations -- West Coast National Park in South Africa -- helped for sure. This is an endemic breeding bird in North America and much is now being done by various federal and non-profit groups to ensure and foster its conservation.

Florida 189

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 189

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

mi (almost exactly the same size as Indiana), it is one of the smaller provinces of South Africa, but is the second most densely populated with over 10 million inhabitants. They discovered Gurney’s Sugarbird during their time in South Africa. I live in a city called Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province.

Mozambique 187

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 187

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2017

The Species Accounts tell us the birds’ stories, and a lot of information is packed into these paragraphs: appearance; age and gender differences in appearance; how the species differs from similar birds; interesting behavior or nesting notes; whether it is common or uncommon or rare; migratory or resident, breeding or nonbreeding in Kruger N.P.;

Ecuador 172

Ecuador Wildlife Reptiles Birds 172

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2020

Before it joins waters with the Matabele’s iliMphopho, the river of rapid rising and falling, known to the rest of the world as the ‘great, grey, green, greasy Limpopo’ of Rudyard Kipling’s writings, the Ngotwane River marks the boundary line between Botswana and South Africa. Andrew’s laconic answer was ‘No, I don’t think so.

Botswana 188

Botswana Africa 2001 Fish 188

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 25, 2013

Also from BirdLife International: In general it prefers areas where vegetation, boulders or other landscape features at ground level provide tunnels in which to shelter and to breed. Wim Van der Schot was kind enough to grant 10,000 Birds permission to use the photographs below.

Science 204

Science Transported Shelters South Africa 204

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2024

On their breeding grounds in Spain, Lesser Kestrels are very much city birds, for 95% of the population nests in towns. The kestrel colony is valued by the city of Seville: in recent years renovation work on the roof of the cathedral was suspended during the falcons’ breeding season.

Falcons 196

Falcons Spain Europe 2012 196

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

My home country of South Africa can only be described as a birding paradise! The Cape Rockjumper (here a female) is best sought at Rooiels, on the east coast of South Africa, north of Cape Town. Males of this species are more brightly colored in their non-breeding winter plumage.

South Africa 222

South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 222

10,000 Birds

APRIL 29, 2015

The crest on the back becomes erect during breeding displays. It isn’t just tourists and game hunters that like them though; Painted Wolves are also big fans, as they are easier to bring down than the larger species but have more meat to eat than a small duiker.

Africa 166

Africa Hunters Goats Sheep 166

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2012

In this epic post, Patrick depicts just how dynamic the pelagic birding is off Cape Point in South Africa. Here one is close to the scenically impressive Cape of Good Hope National Park as well as the Boulder’s Coastal Park, home to hundreds of breeding African Penguins.

Albatross 181

Albatross Penguins Dolphins Whales 181

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

With a trip to South Africa on the horizon at the time, I thought I could handle it. This is evident in the introductory material, which includes sections on The Origin and Evolution of Borneo’s Birds, Conservation in Action, Vegetation and Bird Life in Borneo, Climate, Rainfall and Bird Breeding Seasons, and Bird Migration.

Brunei 175

Brunei Birds Asia China 175

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

There are also dry areas but this great diversity has resulted in an incredible bird list of over 900 species including Africa’s 2nd highest count of endemics (after South Africa). Flocks of cheerful birds frequent caves and cliffs where they breed. They are particularly common around Lalibela where I took this image.

Ethiopia 268

Ethiopia Eritrea Africa Mammals 268

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

Carmine bee-eaters occur throughout most of Subsaharan Africa, and many populations migrate widely post breeding. After breeding they also disperse over the rainforests and savannas of West and Central Africa, where they hunt for aerial insects. Two populations exist, the westernmost breeds in the western Sahara (e.g.

Africa 264

Africa Gabon South Africa Uganda 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

In the 70s, with the survival of the species in jeopardy, the entire wild population was captured and brought into a captive breeding program in southern California. Cape Vultures in South Africa – Alex Lamoreaux, The Nemesis Bird. The California Condor has a story well-known by anyone with an interest in birds.

California Condor 181

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 181

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2021

I did that with Peacocks & Picathartes – Reflections on Africa’s birdlife (published by Penguin Random House South Africa ). In case you didn’t know, yes, there is an indigenous peacock living in Africa, the Congo Peafowl.

Congo 264

Congo Africa South Africa Madagascar 264

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

Image by Adam Riley Of the 115 African species now listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered, nearly half occur on the islands surrounding Africa or are non-breeding migrants to Africa. An African Penguins strolls along Boulders Beach, Simonstown, South Africa.

Endangered Species 189

Endangered Species Species Morocco South Africa 189

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

This makes it a particularly exciting time in New Zealand as the Rugby World Cup begins in two days, and the competition is being held right here in New Zealand (I would imagine they might be more excited if they hadn’t just lost two matches to Australia and South Africa, their big rivals in the Tri-Nations).

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Seals 157

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

Once the breeding season is over these impressively adorned males lose not only their tails but also all their black plumage, and most of their other colors, in order to blend into the brown winter grasslands they inhabit. A male Long-tailed Widowbird in heavy flapping display flight low over the grassland in South Africa by Adam Riley.

Papua New Guinea 239

Papua New Guinea South Africa Africa Zimbabwe 239

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

A paper on the Chestnut-vented Nuthatch titled “Nest-Site Features and Breeding Ecology of Chestnut-Vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis in Southwestern China” has 8 authors. The Orange-bellied Leafbird tends not to be very amused when hearing a Bronzed Drongo imitating it. But maybe this will concern some Floridians less.

Birds 175

Birds China Woodpeckers Breeding 175

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 3, 2020

The goal of Around the World For Penguins is simple: Describe the 18 species of penguin and their breeding grounds “from the perspective of a traveller.” When we come to Gentoo Penguin again in the South Georgia chapter, for example, we’re referred back to its first appearance in Antarctica, utilizing the outline numbers.).

Penguins 278

Penguins Georgia New Zealand Albatross 278

4 The Love Of Animals

MAY 8, 2011

Soon people from South Africa to Japan heard about what was happening, and wrote to share their stories, their challenges, and their curiosity about what Henry was learning. Born with only two legs as a result of irresponsible breeding, Tink’s spirit is irrepressible as she races about on a custom set of wheels.

San Diego 100

San Diego Kittens Emotional Cats 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

While the species is listed as Least Concern, there are some papers suggesting it may not be as common as assumed, at least in South Africa. The helper birds play an important role in the survival of the chicks as well as assisting in excavating a suitable cavity for the breeding pair. This was an unpleasant surprise for a Ph.D.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2013

I grew up in one of the most beautiful cities in the world – Cape Town, South Africa. In fact, there is no other region in Africa that offers such a fantastic level of endemism in such an accessible location. It is when they are breeding that African Penguins are at their most endearing.

Penguins 215

Penguins South Africa Africa Sharks 215

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

The falcon breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China but winters in Southern and East Africa. And those we see constantly stop passers-by to ask for the way to either Siberia or South Africa, depending on the season. Still as impressed as before? That can get annoying.

Falcons 242

Falcons Japan China South Africa 242