10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2019

Mandarin Duck, Central Park, NYS. It is very possible that Mike and Corey will penalize me for including the Mandarin Duck–also known as the “Hot Duck,” “Mandy” only to tourists and the Gothamist–in this list, but its celebrity cannot be ignored. Everybody wants to know about the Hot Duck.

2018 163

2018 New Jersey Michigan North Dakota 163

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 232

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 232

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa). Eastern Spot-billed Duck (Anas zonorhyncha). American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) (Anas platyrhynchos x rubripes). Mallard x American Black Duck (hybrid) (Anas platyrhynchos x rubripes).

2020 153

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 153

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 10 Wood Duck – Aix sponsa.

Woodpeckers 189

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 3, 2020

They noted 719 species between them. 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. 3 Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor. 9 Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata. 10 Wood Duck – Aix sponsa. 20 Mexican Duck – Anas diazi. 21 American Black Duck – Anas rubripes.

2020 292

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 292

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 208

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 208

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2019

That honor goes to the Gray-crowned Crane , a very sexy species in its own right. Our satisfied group then moved on the other treasures to be found at Mabamba, a slew of kingfishers, waders, raptors, and assorted songbirds that quickly grew to a list of over 70 species in just a few blissful hours.

Uganda 272

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 272

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 193

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Parrots 193

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca). Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus).

2020 155

2020 Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 2 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. 3 Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata. 15 Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. 16 Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus.

Woodpeckers 213

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 213

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 9, 2019

In an unhurried half-day of birding, we racked up over 90 species, including killers like Denham’s Bustard , Northern Carmine-throated Bee-eater , and Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow. How is birding in Murchison Falls, you ask? Mind boggling, I answer!

Uganda 196

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 196

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2020

At time of writing (usually a couple of days early to avoid the deadline panic), UK is fielding 63 species. 1 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. 8 Wood Duck – Aix sponsa. 14 American Black Duck – Anas rubripes. 17 Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula.

2020 161

2020 Costa Rica Blackbirds Sparrows 161

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Please be careful, Corvid is still out there. Marsh Grassbird and Rufous-faced Warbler come to you all the way from China and bring the life list to 4061.

Sparrows 159

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 159

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor. Wood Duck – Aix sponsa. Eastern Spot-billed Duck – Anas zonorhyncha. American Black Duck – Anas rubripes. American Black Duck – Anas rubripes.

2020 156

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 156

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2021

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

Woodpeckers 155

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 155

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 225

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks 225

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 144

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 144

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 25, 2018

This refuge offers such a wide variety of species, that I wrote a post awhile back showing several species of wading birds in the same location on the auto tour route. Check out this image of a Great Egret ( Ardea alba ), Snowy Egret ( Egretta thula ) and Cattle Egret ( Bubulcus ibis ) together.

Wildlife 101

Wildlife Sacramento Bald Eagle Falcons 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2020

They submitted 124 checklists for 671 species of bird. In particular 272 species were noted from 14 checklists submitted on October 17th, eBird’s October Big Day. 11 Fox Sparrow – Passerella iliaca. 17 Orange-billed Sparrow – Arremon aurantiirostris. 117 Black-chested Sparrow – Peucaea humeralis.

2020 130

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

“Birding Over Time” compares the number of species recorded over a month with that month from previous years. White-eared Ground-Sparrow – Melozone leucotis. Lincoln’s Sparrow – Melospiza lincolnii. Black-striped Sparrow – Arremonops conirostris. Mexican Duck – Anas diazi.

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 151

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2015

The Feral Pigeon and the House Sparrow came the day after, when in the lush green oasis of the Sanitas nursery tea garden I noticed the announcement of the next meeting of the Botswana Bird Club. Under that impossibly blue sky of Africa. Waders were represented by Kittlitz’s Plover , Ruff , Wood Sandpiper , Avocet and Black-winged Stilt.

Africa 218

Africa Botswana Birds Europe 218

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2015

The warm, sunny climate beckons a wide variety of passerines, raptors, and shorebirds to spend the winter, inflating the species diversity to the extent that Miami-Dade can go toe-to-toe with counties in Texas and Arizona during this season. Song Sparrow is a genuine rarity in Miami-Dade. Muscovy Duck (Domestic type): 322.

Miami 168

Miami 2015 United States Birds 168

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

The prospect of identifying a certain number of species in a given amount of time pushes us to pay more attention to birds no matter what the circumstances (although I suggest keeping the exclamations about species identifications to yourself during such solemn situations as funerals, graduations, and watching episodes of The Sopranos).

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 26, 2016

It is a good place to come down to from the city and look for Ostrich, Cape Gannets , Cape Cormorants , Cape Sparrows , Cape Buntings, Cape Sugarbirds, Cape Grassbirds and presumably lots of other birds with cape in the name. It’s the place to learn your African waterbirds, particularly ducks. Cattle Egret in spring flowers.

Penguins 172

Penguins Birds Mongoose Ostriches 172

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2018

A Eurasian Wigeon and a male Wood Duck will make for the first day target list. Here we will actually stop for a full day, as there is a 10,000 acre wetland refuge, which should hold several species of gulls, White-fronted Geese and Black Brant, just to name a few. The Ladder-backed Woodpecker is one of those that has eluded me so far.

Ducks 116

Ducks Blackbirds Sparrows California 116

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2021

We have nearly 930 species on the official list and with some effort, 700 in a year is a feasible goal. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis; Tirimbina, 9-Jan. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan.

Costa Rica 164

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 164

10,000 Birds

MAY 29, 2012

Wild birds other than the usual sparrows, starlings, and pigeons find better places to be far from the tourist traps of this well-traveled city. The Magic Kingdom featured Donald, Daisy, and a few Mallards … we all know how much Disney likes ducks! In this, I was absolutely wrong. Orlando, Florida is an ecological blight.

Florida 175

Florida Birds Alligators Turtles 175

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2017

In early August this year, I saw 77 species here (69 on the lake, plus 8 more in the surrounding areas) but barely more than a thousand individuals. In my homeland, some 800 km / 500 mi further north, these ducks are common on migration but very rare in the breeding season and I realized that these are my first young birds – ever.

Greece 194

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 194

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

It didn’t take much imagination to name Cowbirds or Cattle Egrets or Cattle Tyrants , but there’s more fantasy, even more wit, involved in the naming of other bovine birds. The genus Bucephala includes three familiar ducks with big heads. The tertium comparationis between birds and cows isn’t always visual.

Cows 142

Cows Cattle 2011 Birds 142

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2020

This shows the top birders, by species or checklists submitted. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata. Wood Duck – Aix sponsa. Maned Duck – Chenonetta jubata. Pacific Black Duck – Anas superciliosa. La Selva (OTS Reserve).

2020 161

2020 Wildlife Reserve Tigers Wildlife 161

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2020

Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. West Indian Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna arborea. Wandering Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna arcuata. Knob-billed Duck – Sarkidiornis melanotos. Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata.

2020 156

2020 Sanctuary Australia Sparrows 156

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2016

A cold, productive day spent birding with a friend from Buffalo was marked by two owls, lots of ducks, Tundra Swans , several gulls, and other targets not possible in tropical Costa Rica. Back in Costa Rica, walks through coffee and fields near the house, and a few other day trips have upped the list to 250 species.

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica 2016 San Antonio Sparrows 101

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

A gathering of the beats at the “Hot Duck” barbeque. The engaged and generous beats ( 10 of them) have shared 188 checklists during January and have accounted for 859 species from 8 countries (USA, Australia, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, UK, New Zealand and Serbia. Plumed Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna eytoni.

2019 113

2019 Australia Jamaica Sparrows 113

10,000 Birds

MAY 25, 2013

The birding is not exceptional, but you can easily see some of Singapore’s and South-east Asia’s more common species and it does throw up the occasional jewel. My personal list for Paser Ris runs to 75 birds over 15 visits that average out at around 25 species per outing. My favourite site in Singapore is Paser Ris. Spotted Wood-owl.

Singapore 161

Singapore Woodpeckers Parrots Zebras 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2019

Whatever it was, Corey was found at his keyboard 2 hours later, covered in blood and snot and sporting a cut lip, having announced that he and Mike would rescue the failing list by taking personal responsibility for adding 300 species. Blue-billed Duck – Oxyura australis. Musk Duck – Biziura lobata. calle jocote.

2019 141

2019 Farming Sparrows Charlotte 141

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 3, 2019

They accounted for 562 species at this sluggish time of year. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis. Fulvous Whistling-Duck – Dendrocygna bicolor. Muscovy Duck – Cairina moschata. Wood Duck – Aix sponsa.

2019 120

2019 Sparrows Woodpeckers Idaho 120