10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2013

Its mostly found on the ground in thickets or the edges of dense vegetation and usually in small family parties. Another southern African endemic, this species ranges widely across the dry grasslands of central South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Once their soft trilling call is learnt, they are easily detected.

Africa 211

Africa Somalia Pelicans Mozambique 211

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

But I do have rules about whether I can have said to have visited a country, ie does the country “count” which I have inherited from my family, particularly my Dad. My favourite was a family of Hartlaub’s Babblers on the Namibian side, and a bright jewel of a Malachite Kingfisher on the Botswanan side.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

In spite of this New Zealand does have an iconic family of birds that has served as an emblem for the country for over a century, the kiwi. I ducked down excitedly and switched on the read torch, shining the weak light under a large bush, and sure enough there was a North Island Brown Kiwi.

New Zealand 146

New Zealand 2011 Deer New York 146

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

My trips abroad were limited to short family vacations to the Cote d’Azur during the first days of January and a week-long vacation to northern Tuscany / Italy in May. It is therefore only on my list because it used to be a bit of a nemesis for me during the 1980s and 1990s, and I only ever saw it once in Namibia in 1999.

2016 101

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 101