10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2023

Last year, in November, I notched up a dozen species of butterflies, an impressive total anywhere in Europe so late in the year. A feature of the autumn is the abundance of Great White Egrets – up to 200 on the lake – but as far as I know they have yet to breed here. It was photographed on the east embankment.

Greece 198

Greece Pelicans Geese Buffalo 198

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2022

It is not particularly big but has a reported 430 bird species including migrants, though during my short stay it seems I missed most of the key attractions among them. Great White Pelican is not just the name of a non-existent glam-rock band but also of a bird species. Pel’s Fishing Owl, where were you?

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa Birds Research 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2021

The area is known for being a breeding area of the enigmatic Rufous Crab-Hawk and it was the first place I saw the species, many years ago. On our journey back, we tried again by a couple forested bridges for any glimpse of a Rufescent Tiger-Heron , but no luck on that front. Rufous Crab-Hawk. Maybe another time.

Sea Turtles 245

Sea Turtles Bats Turtles Trinidad 245

10,000 Birds

MAY 13, 2022

For once, eBird gives a good description of the Asian Glossy Starling, calling it a “Fierce-looking, large songbird” As are humans, this species is fairly urbanized – it “sometimes enters urban areas to roost, e.g. in Singapore” (HBW). In Singapore, Common Redshanks mostly drink Tiger Beer. “Odd, me?”

Singapore 209

Singapore Birds Zebras Feral 209

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

In a rock-garden in the middle of the river, one Fasciated Tiger-Heron was fishing, with both Amazon and Green Kingfishers nearby. Young birds, at least in captivity, become mature after 5 years and start breeding after 6 or 7 years. It was a sigh of relief when I discovered that my species #1000 became a Short-tailed Hawk.

Costa Rica 223

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 223

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2014

I have long thought that the Cape May Warbler should have its common name changed to match its scientific name, Setophaga tigrina , because “ Tiger Warbler ” is a much cooler name. It breeds across Canada’s boreal forest and most winter in the Caribbean, though some spend the cold months in Central America.

New York City 167

New York City Tigers New York Canada 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2023

Note to other species: better do not rely on mature primary forests, as this may lead to extinction. This says more about my inability to differentiate between warbler species than about the rarity of the bird – but the bird was kindly singing. Also, do not smoke as it is not good for your health. What’s next?

Birds 130

Birds Raised Cattle Mammals 130

Critter News

AUGUST 17, 2010

A private zoo operator in Taiwan cross-bred lions and tigers, resulting in three "liger" cubs. Both species are endangered and it is illegal to cross breed them. Cross-breeding two protected species is completely against nature. Tags: zoos taiwan tigers lion endangered species. From Focus Taiwan.

Taiwan 100

Taiwan China Lions Tigers 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2011

That is unfortunate because the Tiger Warbler * is one wood-warbler worth watching. The sighting was easily the best I have ever had of the species, and it was in and out of view for about twenty minutes, foraging in small circuits but always coming back to the stand of thick brush where I had first spotted it.

Tigers 158

Tigers United States Jamaica Pennsylvania 158

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2022

Some of the more conservative Light-vented Bulbuls in my compound were trying to make the wearing of a tie mandatory for the species. But the stars of the month were some breeding Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Anyway, back to the somewhat less interesting birdlife within my prison-compound. So, I took these photos for them.

Birds 147

Birds Sparrows China Abandon 147

10,000 Birds

JUNE 9, 2022

After writing this last sentence, I looked up the species in the HBW and found the sentence “Song poorly documented” in the appropriate section, while with regard to calls, the description is that “call is a two-note raspy nasal ‘ryeeh-reh’”. In New Zealand, the Spotted Dove is an introduced species.

Singapore 147

Singapore Mountain Goats Birds Giraffes 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 6, 2021

The Indigo was even on its way to becoming my default species for any indescript female LBJ. But, until 2020, I almost never saw it, which is frustrating with such a loud species. It is one of those interesting few species that winter in South America, but only migrate as far north as Mexico to breed. Photo from 2019.

Mexico 161

Mexico 2020 2019 Turkey 161

Critter News

JULY 13, 2009

The trade in TCM {Traditional Chinese Medicine} products has also been growing at an annual rate of 10 percent, which has seriously impacted medicinal plant and animal populations, though more than half of plants and animals being used by TCM are from artificial propagation or captive breeding.

China 100

China Wildlife Tigers Endangered Species 100

Animal Person

MARCH 27, 2009

The only way most of us will ever see an elephant (or a tiger or a hippo) is on the National Geographic Channel, at a circus or in a zoo. And without their well-run breeding programs, many exotic species really could soon disappear from Earth for good. The elitist “animal-rights” zealots hate to admit this.

Circus Animals 100

Circus Animals New York City Elephants Zoos 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2012

I even managed to shoot a video with hands trembling of excitement, probably a first of the species. To finally connect with the species and to do so in such subtle light and with two very confiding individuals makes them my Best Bird of the Year! It was a mythical bird I didn’t ever expect to see. Thainamu chose a snipe !

2012 133

2012 Ghana Ireland Birds 133

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2024

Being a westerner — raised in California, and now living in western Mexico — I was perhaps most excited about the migratory birds that breed in eastern North America. This was only my fourth encounter with the species (all on the east side). Although, truth be told, this species does seem to be a rarity in Tabasco.)

Mexico 184

Mexico Birds Raccoons Baltimore 184

Animal Person

NOVEMBER 21, 2010

And managing means killing them, breeding them, and otherwise fiddling with their populations. It has entertaining stories, includes animals people care about because they like them (and also addresses that concept), and it describes how the numbers of various species decreased to the point of being classified as "endangered" or worse.

Polar Bears 100

Polar Bears California Condor Bald Eagle Lions 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2022

For this reason, the species is evaluated as Vulnerable.” The Rufous-tailed Robin used to be called Swinhoe’s Robin but apparently, somebody decided that there were already too many bird species (6, according to the HBW) named after him. The Latin species name, however, is still elegans. And it is still justified.

Birds 190

Birds China Eggs Owls 190

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2014

Then a little later there was a spot of bother with DDT, but we pulled out of that one ok, with a toolbox that would surely stand us in good stead if we only had the will to use it – legislation and literature, captive breeding programs, nest platforms. A species, wiped off the earth, never to exist again. We could do it!

California Condor 193

California Condor United States Guam Whales 193

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

The fish owl is an endangered species, and before Slaght’s work, very little was known about it, especially in Russia. (It He wanted to do research that would have a conservation impact. And he hated being in larch bogs, the habitat of the Hooded Crane. So, Blakiston’s Fish Owl it was.

Owls 130

Owls Russia Fish Research 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

The White-shouldered Starling is not very common in Shanghai or even in China in general, despite its species name sinensis. It is another species on which limited information is available – there is still work left for ornithologists outside of the determination of mitochondrial DNA. Who would have thought.

Birds 130

Birds Tigers Humane Ecuador 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2022

Lango Camp deck overlooking Lango Baï, by Congo Conservation Company The forests of the Congo Basin contain more than a 1,000 species of birds, together with 400 species of mammals, including Okapi, Hippos, Leopards, Chimpanzees and Bonobos. Other primates include Chimpanzee and Putty-nosed Monkey, several duiker antelope species, etc.

Central African Republic 278

Central African Republic Congo Gabon Gorillas 278

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2023

Like the Eastern Crowned Warbler (which eBird mysteriously calls a “boldly marked songbird” despite its similarity to about 50 other warbler species) … … and the Arctic Warbler (or maybe some other warbler looking very similar). The third shrike seen in Shanghai this month was the Tiger Shrike.

Birds 130

Birds China Taiwan Raised 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2022

The ongoing destruction of Nanhui, where the species can frequently be seen on migration, certainly will not help. Judging from the facial expression of this White-shouldered Starling , I would rather not have an annoyed bird of this species as a roommate. The species has reversed sex roles, with the males doing the incubating.

China 168

China Birds Ukraine Killing 168

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2023

It is kind of rare to see a Fairy Pitta during Shanghai’s spring migration as those passing through are all adults rather than inexperienced chicks, and they are in a rush getting to their breeding grounds – but I was lucky. This should not be a problem in Shanghai as the pitta has not been reported to breed here.

Birds 130

Birds China Research Tenant 130

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 25, 2022

Tiger Snake and birds under observation. More than three hundred bird species have been recorded in Broome and there is plenty of variety. Over time we have noticed changes in the bird species that visit and different times of year offer different species. Here are some links to some of those bird species.

Australia 147

Australia Singapore Birds Battery 147