10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 1, 2022

Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks , Muscovy Ducks and Blue-winged Teals were around us, together with Green , Great and Little Blue Herons , Cattle and Great White Egrets , Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons , plus one locally rare Pinnated Bittern in the floating vegetation, as well as several dozen Neotropical Cormorants.

Costa Rica 235

Costa Rica Nicaragua 2019 Farming 235

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 263

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 263

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 20, 2019

It is always hot in Kununurra and you can easily observe many of the bird species around town from your air-conditioned vehicle. Right beside the road and the irrigation channel were a mixed flock of Cattle Egret , Intermediate Egrets and Little Black Cormorants all “caged” in.

Cattle 104

Cattle Research Family Rights 104

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2014

The species that calls western Montana home is the black cottonwood, while plains and narrowleaf cottonwood call the rest of the state home. They have only a brief window to find the right spot to send down roots – a spot with the combination of moisture, sunlight, and fine silty soil they need.

Montana 164

Montana Cattle Deer Humane 164

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

OCTOBER 10, 2020

In Costa Rica, a lot of those birds fly right overhead. At the moment, night excursions to Poas are limited by pandemic driving restrictions but I can still surmise about the species flying overhead. This fall, I have had the fortune of listening to both species calling at the same time from the back balcony. Scarlet Tanagers.

Costa Rica 268

Costa Rica South America Colombia Paraguay 268

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2019

Then someone decided that the Canary Island birds were a separate species. Later, the North African ones were moved to the Canarian species. All good and un-notable in the world of ornithology, were species are lumped and split so often that publishers no longer pretend their latest guide book is up to date. Well, no more!

Iran 129

Iran Barn Owls New Zealand Europe 129

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2014

With about 110 recorded species, the Kozara becomes truly magical place when the Danube swells and reclaims what is rightfully his. Hence, I had the be equally grumpy to explain to them that I had an equal right to be there (equal right? armed with binoculars only?), Kozara backwaters. All dabbling ducks can dive, but rarely do.

Serbia 241

Serbia Stray Dog Protection Botswana 241

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2017

Birds with white on them are much more likely to take the form of goodies like the Snowy Cotinga , or two species of tityras. The Caribbean slope of Costa Rica also differs from the islands in having a lot more bird species. White-crowned Pigeon might be on the list, but that rare prize for Costa Rica is far from regular.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica San Jose Bats Birds 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 29, 2016

Costa Rica is situated right between two oceans. The pair of seas are close enough for the occasional adventurous frigatebird to just soar way up and right over to the other salty basin. To the north of this mountainous isthmus, we have the Atlantic. In the other direction, the Pacific.

Costa Rica 165

Costa Rica San Jose Panama Birds 165

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa). Ethiopia, a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa, has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s top birding destinations. Yellow-billed Stork.

Ethiopia 242

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Game 242

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 15, 2022

This actually benefits our local wildlife, because the rainwater then gets trapped in the borrow pit and in some instances it will sustain the wildlife right through our dry months when there is no rainfall at all. This particular borrow pit is right beside the highway around seventy kilometres from Broome and is always worth stopping at.

Cattle 210

Cattle Birds Zebras Wildlife 210

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 24, 2012

Now, seeing Sociable Lapwing , a species that is critically endangered and thought to number roughly 11,000 individuals, would be a treat any day but to see several pairs on their breeding grounds? Above is the area where the three pairs we observed were nesting which we were told was rather typical for the species.

Kazakhstan 128

Kazakhstan Cows 2009 Endangered Species 128

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2013

This park protects the largest remaining tract of dry deciduous forest in the west of India, offering visitors 37 species of reptiles, 38 species of mammals and, not to be forgotten – almost 300 bird species. A low branch is decorated by a Green Bee-eater (above) and a tree top above it holds several Cattle Egrets.

Lions 226

Lions India Mammals Boars 226

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2020

A few paddle strokes down the river and on the right bank there were four Impala antelopes ( Aepyceros melampus ). Among 60 or so heron species in the world this is the only one using this peculiar fishing technique. The gentleman living on a farm by the Ngotwane Dam said ‘A croc took my dog, right there!’. Cattle Egret 16.

Botswana 188

Botswana Africa 2001 Fish 188

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2018

The mighty rhino along with the Cattle Egret. In the same first day plus a couple of hours, my Africa bird count is at 66 species. It is incredibly hard to pick a highlight, but the Lilac-breasted Rollers, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills, Green Wood Hoopoe and the Kori Bustard are all right up there.

South Africa 113

South Africa Africa Rhinos Mongoose 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2022

Unfortunately, in the science of language, this does not sound particularly raunchy but rather like a rational decision: “A rare species such as the Chinese Pond Heron might choose heterospecific mates rather than abandoning all chances of reproduction.” This Cattle Egret has just read a paper stating that it would be 3.6

Birds 162

Birds South Korea Japan Abandon 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 15, 2015

Driving north along the Ionian seacoast through the city of Igoumenitsa, there is a place where the main artery takes you right, further away from the sea – follow it for 150 metres (500 ft) and then turn left just before a small stadium. The rest of the road follows the sea for some 3.5 Could they possibly be…?

Greece 232

Greece Dogs Pelicans Fish 232

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. Wicked, right? The genus Bucephala includes three familiar ducks with big heads. Hat-tip to Stella.

Cows 142

Cows Cattle 2011 Birds 142

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

Surely they couldn’t be the same species, across a continent. Human-created habitats like road edges, pastures, and railroad right-of-ways suit them to a tee, so it hardly seems fair to call them the locusts when we are the ones who have expanded explosively and stripped the land bare. But they are.

Montana 166

Montana Cooking Texas Cattle 166

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2016

This property is located in northern Butte County which is nearing the (dwindling) northern most historic range for this species in California. This property is also a site with vernal pools and uses cattle grazing for vegetation control. The other two tunnels dead end inside the nesting chamber. Things already seem to be looking up!

Owls 101

Owls California 2010 Colorado 101

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2012

Other species I was looking forward to as possibilities included Anhingas , Magnificent Frigatebirds , and seeing as the sun was supposed to shine, some raptors soaring. Yes, you read that right, two FREAKING MANGROVE CUCKOOS perched OUT IN THE OPEN! Howler monkeys! Golden-mantled Howlers ! My first-ever wild monkeys! Monkeys!!!!!

Honduras 158

Honduras Wildlife Monkeys Transported 158

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2018

We saw sparrows–a total of 14 species–and we saw many other great prairie birds, and we often saw them perched on posts. I don’t know much about prairies, but I have discovered that there is more to them than just grass, and that they are home to hundreds of butterfly and bee species and thousands of moth species.

North Dakota 139

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 139

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 23, 2017

None of these birds are rarities, and would never be considered a species to get all twitter-pated about. Again, there were lots of new birds here, and I was not even surprised to have a large group of white herons fly right over my head. I mean not like Corey’s Jabiru , for gosh sakes! I told the boss, I had to go out for a bit.

Cattle 100

Cattle Mexico Cows Game 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

We follow the tire tracks in an off-white, salty soil and then, without a word of warning, our guide/driver turns into the bushes, driving left and right… until one and then another Short-eared Owl flushes in front of us. The next two species are the Southern Grey Shrike and the Tawny Pipit , also characteristic for this habitat type.

India 224

India Birds Eagles Boars 224

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2017

1,712 species, 12% of which are endemics. News flash–I just received the trip report from Carlos, and the tally is 419 species recorded, of which 16 were heard only; plus Ian and I saw an additional species before the tour started, courtesy of Paulo Boute. Oh my gosh! I shouldn’t have been surprised. Any suggestions?

Brazil 150

Brazil Birds Los Angeles Tigers 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2019

We were met by several Cattle Egret in beautiful breeding plumage feeding on the grass right next to the train station. We had found thirty four bird species so far in Singapore and had to admit defeat due to lack of sleep and returned to the hotel. There was something “not right” about it.

Singapore 114

Singapore Transported Boars Malaysia 114

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2019

For many grassland species, our vast expanses of tilled and plowed fields, orchards and vineyards, pastures and rangeland offer an abundance of convenient food and shelter – and some bolder birds even wander indoors to find these things in our barns and stables. For most of history, beer has thrived in agrarian settings, too.

Vermont 119

Vermont Belgium Farming Europe 119

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 27, 2022

They were busy feeding around the cattle water trough that the cattle can’t get to unless they want wet hooves! A Red-backed Fairywren was calling from the top of a bush and to the right a dragonfly clung to a branch. Whiskered Terns in flight. Goanna on its hind legs. Red-backed Fairywren and dragonfly.

Barn Owls 186

Barn Owls Cattle Ducks Reptiles 186

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2011

Costa Rica enjoys an international reputation as an iconic birding location, bursting with epic Neotropical species and breathtaking natural attractions. Over 144 different bird species have been spotted on the grounds, including crackers like Lesser Ground-Cuckoo and Spectacled Owl.

Costa Rica 170

Costa Rica San Jose Sanctuary Protection 170

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

More than 150 bird species are known to have become extinct over the past 500 years, and many more are estimated to have been driven to extinction before they became known to science. The Gray Crowned-Crane is a new addition to the list of the world’s Endangered species, creeping up a category from Vulnerable.

Endangered Species 190

Endangered Species Species Morocco South Africa 190

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2016

Then, we became birders again, noting Common Mynas and Eastern Cattle Egrets on the terraced lawns, Yellow-footed Pigeons, European-collared and Red-collared Doves in the trees bordering the garden squares. The species is crepuscular and nocturnal, but can sometimes be seen during the day. Target: Tigers.

India 188

India Tigers Birds Owls 188

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. This is the time of year that we rightfully contemplate the noble Turkey. Which would be weird.

Turkey 202

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 202

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

So right now I’m feeling pretty good about Eurasian Collared-doves. We remember starlings not skylarks, House Sparrows not Eurasian Tree Sparrows , Cattle Egrets not… well, whatever we’ve forgotten because it didn’t do as well as the Cattle Egrets. Wicked, right? Hat-tip to Stella.

Montana 134

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 134

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2013

The smellier the better, particularly as, unusually for birds, many species can boast a robust sense of smell. In any case, our hang-ups with vultures clearly stem from our own issues rather than any inherently bizarre trait of the species themselves. Vultures famously feed on carrion. Dead things. New World Vultures.

California Condor 181

California Condor Turkey North America Jordan 181

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2012

In responding to Suzie’s post defending wildlife rehabilitation I began to think again about the areas in which animal rights and animal welfare overlap with the field of conservation, and the ways in which they don’t. Animal rights is concerned with preventing the suffering or even use of animals by humans.

Animal Rights 263

Animal Rights Rights New Zealand Animal 263