10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2015

Like my two previous visits I spent one day that I didn’t have to lead any field trips doing a run through central Florida looking for some of the specialty species of the region. The list includes Bachmann’s Sparrow , Red-cockaded Woodpecker , Crested Caracara , Snail Kite , and, oddly, Whooping Crane. He likes it there.

Cattle 192

Cattle Florida Bald Eagle Endangered Species 192

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.

Sparrows 197

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 197

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 255

Uganda Africa Birds Penguins 255

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2021

Between them, they found 389 species in 5 countries. Insects were held back by weird spring weather, but now the warmth returns and the birds are feasting on the late stirring bugs. June saw 8 beats get their birding boots on and share 90 checklists for your pleasure.

Woodpeckers 239

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Niger 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2020

Between them they shared 63 checklists, spanning 5 countries and noted 231 species of birds. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). Rufous-collared Sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis).

2020 152

2020 Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds 152

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 179

Uganda Senegal Africa Game 179

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

9 beats submitted 140 checklists from 7 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) during October to account for 585 species. 184 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. 434 House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. 452 Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda.

Woodpeckers 227

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 227

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 135

North Dakota Birds Sparrows Blackbirds 135

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2022

8 of them sent 153 lists, noting 645 species of bird across 7 countries (Mexico, UK, USA, Serbia, Australia, Costa Rica, Colombia). It has not resulted in extraordinary numbers of sightings personally, but the beats have been busy on their respective patches and have sent me their lists to collate. The year list finishes at 1628.

Sparrows 224

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Owls 224

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 193

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 193

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 215

2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots 215

10,000 Birds

JUNE 6, 2020

149 checklists were submitted, accounting for 465 species. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). House Sparrow (Passer domesticus). Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus). Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla).

2020 151

2020 Sparrows Niger Woodpeckers 151

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 15 Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. 16 Olive Sparrow – Arremonops rufivirgatus. 33 Brewer’s Sparrow – Spizella breweri. 65 Rusty-crowned Ground-Sparrow – Melozone kieneri.

Woodpeckers 197

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 197

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

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 257

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 257

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. 201 Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis.

Woodpeckers 177

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 177

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus. Eurasian Tree Sparrow – Passer montanus. Stripe-headed Sparrow – Peucaea ruficauda. Black-chested Sparrow – Peucaea humeralis.

2020 153

2020 Blackbirds Sparrows Woodpeckers 153

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. Cattle Egret – Bubulcus ibis; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan. White-eared Ground-Sparrow – Melozone leucotis; San Joaquin de Heredia, 1-Jan.

Costa Rica 159

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 159

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 155

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 155

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

White-crowned Sparrow. The road was lined with scrub and short trees, and I spotted not one but two new sparrow species. White-crowned Sparrows are possible winter sightings where I live in North Carolina, but not at all common, while Savannah Sparrows has been one of my nemesis birds for quite some time.

Seals 181

Seals Elephants Whales Whaling 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2016

I’m one of those people who thinks all birds are beautiful, from the drab House Sparrow to the pink Roseate Spoonbill. Mountain Bluebird populations initially benefited from clearing land for timber and cattle crazing in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as this led to the open habitat that they prefer.

Nevada 100

Nevada Idaho United States Alaska 100

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.

Africa 205

Africa Botswana Birds Europe 205

10,000 Birds

JULY 27, 2011

I’m only supposed to document one specific species, but I also note the other birds because in a 4 hour period, I’m lucky if I see the target species for 15 minutes. Savannah Sparrows are the most common and I do enjoy their territory song. Each week a new species tried to test the patch for nesting territory.

Birds 161

Birds Cattle Blackbirds North America 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2016

All species are from the ABA area, and all groups must meet at least one of these criteria: (1) the group “represented a good opportunity to build core birding skills,” (2) the authors thought it was a group that needed “a refreshed treatment,” (3) the authors were intrigued by the group and wanted to present it using their unique format.

Birds 189

Birds Groups 2015 North America 189

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2011

While we continue to decimate our short and tall grass prairies many species reach their inevitable peril. Furthermore, with the rapid expansion of oil and gas development in the norther tier states like North Dakota, birds like Sprague’s Pipit and Baird’s Sparrow become more at risk.

Prairie Dogs 162

Prairie Dogs Colorado North Dakota Soreing 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 16, 2019

We started our Singapore bird list at Pasir Ris and leaving the train station we were delighted to see several Cattle Egrets on the grass and several photographers. We encountered several bird species there including a Yellow-rumped Flycatcher and a nesting Red-breasted Parakeet. Oriental Pied Hornbill. Yellow-rumped Flycatcher.

Singapore 114

Singapore Otters Owls Zebras 114

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. Cattle Egret in spring flowers. Greater Flamingos. Strandfontein. Rondevlei Nature Reserve.

Penguins 171

Penguins Birds Mongoose Ostriches 171

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2018

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. As far as my year’s list, this last weekend netted me 6 more species, putting me at 127 species.

Ducks 115

Ducks Blackbirds Sparrows California 115

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 141

Cows Cattle 2011 Birds 141

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. BIRDING SEA WORLD One would expect a marine-themed attraction to deliver some sweet bird species. In this, I was absolutely wrong. Orlando, Florida is an ecological blight. Not Sea World.

Florida 170

Florida Birds Alligators Turtles 170

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. A few Lesser Kestrels by the dyke wall, then a Black-eared Wheatear at some cattle fencing. Spring (migrants and breeding species) and winter (wintering waterbirds). Practicalities.

Greece 181

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 181

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

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. Especially of all the species that had been introduced to the US. So, tentatively, welcome spring and new life.

Montana 133

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 133

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

They belong to the same species like those found back in Europe, Sus scrofa – which inhabits a belt stretching from northern Africa and Europe all the way to Indonesia, but a different subspecies, S.s. The next two species are the Southern Grey Shrike and the Tawny Pipit , also characteristic for this habitat type. ceylonensis.

India 218

India Birds Eagles Boars 218

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

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 159

Singapore Woodpeckers Parrots Zebras 159

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2018

The pressure is on if you can only get certain species during the first month of the year but if you just want to add any old birds to the year list, everything is fresh! Since I’m in no big hurry to reach any number of species in 2018, my year birding is going to be a fresh one hopefully touched with a good dose of Zen.

Costa Rica 150

Costa Rica Birds Parrots Woodpeckers 150

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 23, 2016

It was a gift to be reacquainted with trusty birds of winter like American Tree Sparrow , Dark-eyed Junco , Black-capped Chickadee , along with less reliable ones like Wild Turkey , a Red-necked Grebe bobbing up and down on the harsh waters of Lake Ontario, and a trio of Harlequin Ducks riding the rapids above the falls. White-eyed Vireo!

Costa Rica 101

Costa Rica 2016 San Antonio Sparrows 101