10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2020

Plus a few truly difficult species. Mandarin Ducks, Munich, Germany. Sure, it is an introduced species in Germany. And they aren’t nearly as famous as the vagrant/escaped Mandarin Duck of Central Park. But they were still Mandarin Ducks! These two shorebirds are exceedingly common in western Europe.

Austria 155

Austria Spain 2019 Birds 155

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2021

Once I observed a man walking his two small dogs here, passing by a perched White-tailed Eagle but looking down at grass and not noticing the largest raptor in Europe at all. The eagle seemed well-used to people and paid no attention either. Photo by Branislav Dencic.

Otters 264

Otters Protest Protesting Protesters 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2016

Here go those moments of curiosity, in no particular order: Europe: And so, I was driving from Greece to Serbia… in central FYRO Macedonia, two birds were circling not far from the motorway… black and white… perhaps White Storks on migration? Europe: The sun is scorching the area, and the birds are nowhere to be seen.

Wildlife 186

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 186

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Checking my annual list, I am where I usually am at this time of year: several species short of 200. Still, this way or another, the year is ending with some glorious species, e.g. a rare Greater Spotted Eagle. Simply, they are among the most beautiful ducks around. Now, one species, that I should find. The search is on.

Moldova 121

Moldova Birds Serbia Greece 121

10,000 Birds

JUNE 11, 2015

It resembled a Hooded Crow of east europe, only the grey parts were white – the Pied Crow , as it turned out to be. (Statistics would go in favour of the Cape Glossy Starling , as I later learned.). The next bird was some crow-like UFO observed from the shuttle bus. Crow-like has to be a crow, doesn’t it? Umm, yes, the bird?” “The

Africa 225

Africa Botswana Birds Europe 225

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2023

I had just ended my ten-day birding adventure in Ecuador (which is a story for another time) when I decided, since I had an amazing time, to prolong my trip a bit longer before heading back to Europe. So I figured why not make a stop-over in Bogota since that was my best and logical connection with my flight back home.

Colombia 234

Colombia Birds Raised Ecuador 234

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2014

The Veliko Ratno Island birdlist is about 170 species long, of which more than 90 were observed from the Dorcol Promenade. Highlight species: Ferruginous Duck , Goosander , Red-breasted Merganser , Red-crested Pochard , Greater Scaup , Velvet Scoter , Black-throated Diver. In March and November, Common Cranes are a possibility.

Serbia 245

Serbia Birds Ducks Eagles 245

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

I observed this species in the Little Rann of Kutch in India and since then, have been burning with desire to see them back home. First stop and – bingo – Northern Shoveler , the last of the common duck species that I haven’t seen this winter. Birding city birds Europe owls Serbia' Photos (c) Sasa Preradovic.

Serbia 245

Serbia Owls Rodents Eagles 245

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2021

It was an unexpected bird tour, without too much planning and aimed at a few target species, of which we saw most, but the main one eluded us… Early morning, leaving the last houses behind… and a Little Owl awaits us on a traffic sign. Red-footed Falcon by Martin Mecnarowski/Wikimedia Commons.

Serbia 253

Serbia Birds Romania Eagles 253

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2014

There’s no way around it as the various species are reasonably common, and you will surely want to identify them. No, seriously, a brown warbler with stripes in central Europe really means you are either looking at a Grasshopper Warbler or a Sedge Warbler. Sedge Warbler (left) and Grasshopper Warbler (right – duh!).

Europe 228

Europe Kazakhstan Sparrows Abandon 228

10,000 Birds

APRIL 16, 2015

Scope to the left, there are three Ferruginous Ducks now… but what are those fishes doing? In that first year, about 95 bird species were recorded here, not to mention the Otter, listed as the Near Threatened species in the IUCN Red List. Birding Europe Mammals otters Serbia' The Reva is not protected.

Otters 185

Otters Serbia Fish Mammals 185

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. On the other side of the river, underneath the very buttresses of the Belgrade Fortress, with its 170 recorded bird species lies the Veliko Ratno Island (44°49’53.20″N, 20°26’4.98″E).

Serbia 246

Serbia Stray Dog Protection Botswana 246

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2014

It was recently brought to my attention that identifying birds is easy when the birds look like we tell them to, but not so easy when the birds don’t: I was scanning a few ponds when a fly-by trio of ducks caused me excitement, concern, and to write this post. I mean, the Gadwall is one of the most common ducks in Germany.

Ducks 160

Ducks Germany North America Species 160

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2012

One of the sweetest subsections of the duck family has to be the sawbills, formally known as mergansers. Common Merganser female by John Borg There are six living species of mergansers, three of which are commonly spotted in North America: The Common Merganser ( Mergus merganser ) ranges widely throughout the northern hemisphere.

North America 240

North America Thailand Russia Ducks 240

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2024

My aunt Greet gave me a book in 1975 that featured the 60 most endangered birds in Europe. Europe lost the Buttonquail (but abundant in Africa) but the Griffon, Cinereous Vulture (José Leal’s picture below) and several eagles are making a spectacular comeback. Barnacle Geese even made it to “agricultural pest” status.

Spain 236

Spain Ducks Morocco Europe 236

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

This is “the deep cradle of Western ornithology: the birthplace of bird study,” he tells us as he writes about gazing at the 8,000-year old depictions of “flamingos, herons, raptors, avocets and many other species” (p. With Birkhead, you never know what’s going to come next.

Dissection 238

Dissection Birds Research Europe 238

10,000 Birds

JULY 5, 2011

Anas strepera is a common and widespread duck, breeding across northern Europe and Asia, as well as central North America. Gadwall are, according to BirdLife International, a Species of Least Concern because of its huge range and population, though its worldwide population trend is unknown.

United States 162

United States North America Jamaica Asia 162

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

I had just a split-second glimpse of this species – my only second ever – yet immediately knew what is it, but I was driving through a snowbound countryside and had another car behind me, therefore I stopped a good 50 metres later to eBird it. Ferruginous Duck – Aythya nyroca. Tufted Duck – Aythya fuligula.

Owls 108

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 108

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2016

The shallows are full of ducks in eclipse, a real puzzle that requires a bit of time and a sharp eye – something you usually reserve for warblers and such. Wigeons are only migrants and not a breeding species in Serbia and August is a bit too early for any longer distance duck movements. White-tailed Eagles by Szekeres Levente.

Serbia 179

Serbia Protection Eagles Ducks 179

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2011

Newts can be found in Asia, Europe, and North America. The Smooth Newt Lissotriton vulgaris is the most common newt across most of Europe, and is also, as a matter of fact, called the Common Newt , and is most likely the type of newt that a witch would turn a peasant into in England. Now get out there and find a newt!

Salamander 162

Salamander Pythons North America Europe 162

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2013

Between finishing one graduate program and begining another, he embarked on a whirlwind tour of Europe. Here’s his first stop: Before starting graduate school at the end of June, I planned a whirlwind trip this spring, visiting the major cities in Northern Europe. Of course, birding was on the itinerary!

Iceland 200

Iceland Puffins Europe Birds 200

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

.” The Wels Catfish, Silurus glanis , is the second largest fish in its range, which covers much of Europe and parts of West Asia. In parts of Western Europe, it is considered to be “exotic” because it has been introduced, possibly by anglers, in lakes and rivers in France and the Iberian Peninsula. Carbon, Nitrogen, etc.)

Fish 213

Fish Birds Whales Whaling 213

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Actually, I visited the Two Towers twice, had about 50 bird species each time and about 60 in total, so this is sort of a composite tour description. A few dozen Common Goldeneyes and several Smews are among them but it takes a scope to locate these diminutive ducks. In recent years, two races did become full species.).

Serbia 264

Serbia Geese Eagles Louisiana 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia. And that is why the hides are where they are, not to admire the scenery (or shoot at it – hunting is prohibited in the reserve and the ban is enforced).

Serbia 256

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 256

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2014

Defining Belgrade bird specialties is the hard part – there is no defined criterion, beside attractiveness which often comes from how uncommon some species is. E.g., a few weeks ago I guided a British couple around Belgrade, visited about four major sites and found more than 60 species. Ferruginous Duck – year round.

Serbia 187

Serbia Eagles Birds Sparrows 187

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2022

per cent of individuals of a species at a given time” and a vagrant bird as a bird that shows up outside of this range (p. The accounts cover vagrancy patterns for the family as a whole, reasons for vagrancy, documented examples of vagrancy for specific species and reasons that might account for those incidents. Princeton Univ.

Birds 264

Birds Compassion Eagles Science 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2021

Pough “with illustrations in color of every species” by Don Eckelberry, Doubleday, 1946. The National Audubon Society Birds of North America covers all species seen in mainland United States, Canada and Baja California. The press material says it covers over 800 species, so you know I had to do a count.

North America 279

North America America Birds California Condor 279

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 11, 2014

Between finishing one graduate program and beginning another, he embarked on a whirlwind tour of Europe. Obviously many species of birds can be quite elusive, but this may be your best bet at getting you close to where you’ll need to be. Trips Europe Finland' Of course, birding was on the itinerary! Next came a stop in Russia.

Finland 175

Finland Estonia Birds Europe 175

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2012

Rather, it could be considered the aythyian background noise against which to discern the other, more appreciated species. Which is a long time even for a duck. Goosander , Tufted Ducks , Pochards , Eider , Pintails , Great Crested Grebes , … you name them, they will be there.

Switzerland 126

Switzerland Germany France Ducks 126

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2011

The Common Swift holds a unique position amongst the birds of Europe, a position that makes it particular and peculiar beyond its astounding adaptations to an aerial life: It defines a season. Winter has ducks and gulls and finches. Well, in Europe summer has the Common Swift, and the Common Swift has summer. Here is why.

Elephants 169

Elephants Neglecting Europe Birds 169

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

This thrush is extremely common in urban and suburban Germany and one of the most conspicuous bird species here, comparable to the American Robin in North America. Because this was such a common species, we lacked quantitative data to be certain that this lack was an actual “situation” and not just the ordinary seasonal variation.

Germany 161

Germany Blackbirds 2006 Denmark 161

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 200

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2016

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Northern Central America covers 827 species, including resident, migratory, and common vagrant birds. The end result is that the whole “biographic” area (NCA plus southern Mexico and northern Nicaragua) is home to 41 endemic bird species.

El Salvador 235

El Salvador America Costa Rica Honduras 235

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

This small bustard is perhaps the same species as the more widespread White-bellied Bustard, but if it is separate its a rare bird to see and pretty special. After lunch we headed to Fickland Pan, a small farmstead overlooking a pool of water filled with ducks. Wouldn’t fancy my chances by myself. But we did.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2016

Late April / early May is the best birding season in the south of Europe and wherever you go, you will have 50% to 100% more species than in any other season. Recently, I did a bit of embankment birding, nailing 65 species (several of them firsts for the season, European Bee-eaters among them – always exciting).

Birds 118

Birds India Africa Serbia 118

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

A bit of rain caused a two-hour delay on the flight in and, on my way back to Europe, they couldn’t find the airplane (clue: big metal thing with wings). Late summer 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably because the ducks and geese were moulting. My hosts could confidently tick off the species on their life list.

Denver 178

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 178

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 26, 2012

Mandarin Ducks are countable in Germany. As soon as I spotted Aix galericulata though, I remembered, and was pleased to add the species to my life list. But this is a bird blog so I will stick to the birds here and simply share five things that I learned while birding in Germany or, to be more exact, while birding in Berlin.

Germany 165

Germany Ducks Birds New York 165