10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2016

As with mammals, the avifauna of the tar pits is heavy on individuals from predatory and scavenging species who were perhaps drawn to the struggles of dying mammoths and ground sloths. Eagles with appealing names like Fragile Eagle and Errant Eagle , as well as the extant Golden Eagle. Condors, of course.

California Condor 186

California Condor Coyotes Eagles Turkey 186

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

At the snowy Danube riverbank, we are waiting for geese to come to their roost inside the mostly submerged island. A shot or two coming from the opposite bank, but they do not sound like geese shooting – more like boar hunting. Scanning the water for rarer species… S. warns me of two locally rare Bean Geese.

Geese 181

Geese Hunting Boars Birds 181

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 16, 2018

Serbia has 317 eBirded species so far, or 89% of the 356 in the national checklist. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. The country has one eBird hotspot with 200+ and 48 with more than 100 bird species. Spring migration March to April , 270 eBirded species.

Serbia 161

Serbia Owls Geese Macedonia 161

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2019

My husband and I pulled through the gates of the refuge an hour or so from sunset, already invigorated by the Snow Geese, ibises, and Greater White-fronted Geese we had seen feeding in the fields near Lacassine’s entrance. The water was generally open, edges rimmed with cattails and other bronze-hued emergent vegetation.

Louisiana 114

Louisiana Wildlife Bald Eagle Geese 114

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2018

The dam provided me with several new birds, including Green Pygmy-geese, Bar-breasted Honeyeaters, Wandering Whistling Ducks, Intermediate Herons, Pied Herons, Comb-crested Jacanas, Forest Kingfishers, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike , and the afore mentioned Rufus-banded Honeyeater. Here are some of the Green Pygmy Geese.

Geese 134

Geese Birds Australia Ducks 134

10,000 Birds

JULY 22, 2020

Ubiquitous Egyptian Geese dabbled in the shallows while a diminutive Squacco Heron stood motionless in some tangled vegetation over the water. The now familiar sound of a pair of African Fish-Eagles dominated the soundscape. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (above), African Fish-Eagle (below). Goliath Heron. Squacco Heron.

Kenya 158

Kenya Fish Trinidad Eagles 158

10,000 Birds

MARCH 27, 2015

Since we’ve covered some generalities already, once a month I’ll be exploring how a species, genus, or family of birds got its name, and how those names fit in with our larger understanding of, and relationship with, birds. No one calls you a doofus when you have a Golden Eagle at the ready to eat their face.

Falcons 260

Falcons Eagles Meat Geese 260

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Greylag Geese. Soon I hit the brakes for a 60 strong flock of Greylag Geese of the Siberian race rubrirostris grazing near the road. In all that swirling of swallows, I am not certain was there a third species, so I keep watching. The smaller part of the flock was nervous and soon took flight, while the majority remained.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2015

For those who don’t know, Christmas Bird Count compilation dinners usually involve the compiler for the count, in this case me, going through each species on the checklist. Each group yells out the number of each species seen. Here are the Bald Eagles where they’ve been spending their time, at Willow Lake.

Bald Eagle 103

Bald Eagle Birds Sparrows Pelicans 103

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

The first stop of the morning: young White–tailed Eagle , right next to the road and several dozen Rooks around. 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.

Serbia 243

Serbia Owls Rodents Eagles 243

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

Over 200 species of birds can be found on the refuge, depending on the time of year. This cold weather and snow does not seem to have much effect on the huge number of ducks and geese, but the smaller song birds, all seem to wake up much later in the days, and only after it has warmed up a bit.

Fox 132

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 132

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2018

I submitted five checklists from four different locations yielding 44 species. As an adult Bald Eagle and a first of the season flock of Tree Swallows flew overhead, several birds were cleaning up underneath the feeders. All in all, I tallied 44 species. Here is a male Lesser Goldfinch taking his turn.

2018 100

2018 Bald Eagle Woodpeckers Turkey 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

Even without being on the water it was possible watch birds across the river, as evidenced by my lifer pair of African Pygmy Geese , which flew down the river and landed on the Namibian side. It’s even possible to count exactly the same bird for both country’s lists. In particular, there are lots of waterbirds.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

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. There was a Short-toed Eagle ahead, taking flight to be replaced by another ST Eagle. At first I dismissed them for some hybrid geese, until I recognized their JIZZ.

Greece 195

Greece Killing Pelicans Eagles 195

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Like several of my favorite NWRs, this one was established as a haven for migratory birds, most notably waterfowl, during the bad old days when uncontrolled hunting and habitat loss had put the future of even species we now think of as common in doubt. A second pond held not only more of the same, but some American Coots and Canada Geese.

Wildlife 170

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 170

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2015

A quick check of the Collins 2 (I think American birders know this book as the “Birds of Europe”, but here, some branding mastermind has interconnected the company’s name and the book title) revealed that we are facing two Siberian Greylag Geese (race rubrirostris ). Picture 2: Lesser Spotted Eagle – Clanga pomarina.

Greece 250

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 250

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 24, 2014

Black Kites and Whistling Kites are always quite quick at taking off as you approach, but the largest raptor the Wedge-tailed Eagle , is not as agile and they need time to lift off and you really need to allow them time and space. We saw an incredible 14 Wedge-tailed Eagles feasting on roadkill between Fitzroy Crossing and Halls Creek.

Ducks 150

Ducks Geese Eagles Australia 150

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

I was to go inland to Pocosin Lakes NWR, home of massive flocks of Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. We saw both, though the goose flock was too distant to pick out the Ross’s and Cackling Geese that are usually tucked within. The Golden Eagles at Alligator River NWR were soaring elsewhere. The second was better.

North Carolina 173

North Carolina Owls Geese Alligators 173

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

Before we reached the plains there was roadkill and we observed three Wedge-tailed Eagles in a tree. It is not unusual to see Wedge-tailed Eagles around Broome, but rarely three all together. This bird species is known to travel large distances around Australia. Three Wedge-tailed Eagles. Magpie Geese on the move.

Geese 260

Geese Eagles Australia Breeding 260

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. Greater Spotted Eagle – Clanga clanga. White-tailed Eagle – Haliaeetus albicilla.

Owls 106

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 106

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Nearly 800 acres of wetlands and tidal flats provide diverse habitat for the local birds, as well as large numbers of migratory species, including thousands of ducks and geese. Birds of prey took center stage out on the edge of the tidal flats.

Wildlife 106

Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 106

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 14, 2011

She started feeding the ducks and geese that used the open water in the 1980s. Another example would be the Eagle Lady in Alaska. It was a great way to get photos but many residents felt the eagles were a nuisance –having cleaned out my fair share of Bald Eagle traveling cranes, I can’t say that I blame them.

Bald Eagle 251

Bald Eagle Birds Deer Minnesota 251

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2017

An eclectic mix of endemics, specialties and oddly displaced species, it is one of the most memorable places I have ever birded… and I never visited it as a trip. As you climb you can stop to see facinating species like the Blue-winged Goose , a strange species whose closest relatives are in South America. So very bold!

Ethiopia 100

Ethiopia Mammals South America Rats 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2018

Saddle-billed Storks, Yellow-billed Storks, Woolly Storks, Sacred Ibis, Gray Herons, Reed Cormorants, Three-banded Plovers, White-crowned Lapwings, Blacksmith Lapwings, Egyptian Geese, White Faced Ducks and African Palm Swifts have been there every day. I have managed to find two owls, the first was this pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-owls.

Lions 121

Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 121

10,000 Birds

JUNE 29, 2013

Hundreds of birds all huddled closely together, dangling from the jagged ledges, seemingly separated by species in separate levels along the cliff. Thankfully the Puffins and Razorbills (arguably the most photogenic species) perch on the uppermost ledges, making them readily available for close-ups.

Iceland 194

Iceland Puffins Europe Birds 194

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

No Snow Geese or swans yet, and no Sandhill Cranes , but it did renew my taste for some of the simpler, homier pleasures of birding. With all my traipsing about this year I’ve actually been shamefully lax on birding Montana. And the Rough-legged Hawks should be here any time now, maybe bringing — dare I hope?

Bald Eagle 110

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Italy 110

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2018

The days for me to add to my Little Big Years species count are getting fewer and fewer, and with it, my budget. A pair Bald Eagles were doing fly-bys over our heads , and there were Belted Kingfishers, Canada Geese , A pair of Mallards, and three Great Blue Herons. Little Big Year species count: 834.

Oregon 100

Oregon Bald Eagle Owls Groups 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

The adults of most species will still care for the chicks no matter how much you touch them. Young raptors like the above Bald Eagle chick are a different matter. If you find a young hawk or eagle out of the nest and it is covered in down and is unable to stand on its huge feet, it needs to get back in the nest.

Birds 266

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 266

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2024

The lakes usually have quite a few waterbirds, with Mute Swans and Egyptian Geese , Greylag Geese , and Canada Geese being abundant. At one time I counted over 60 individuals from each goose species from a single spot. Very rarely, Barnacle Geese are also seen feeding on the lawn, probably on passage.

Geese 130

Geese Birds Germany Woodpeckers 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2014

It was the height of baby season, I was insanely overworked and underslept, and I did not – I repeat, did not – do waterbirds, except for mallards and Canada geese and wood ducks and swans etc. A high-end restaurant called me to rescue a ‘baby eagle’ they’d found,” wrote Marianne Dominguez. Could you tell me what he is?”.

Wildlife 254

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Falcons Pit Bulls 254

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2012

This species occurs from Australia up to South East Asia, but is common nowhere and the Daintree is one of the best places to see this massive heron. As the rain picked up we managed to find a pair of raptors, a White-bellied Sea-eagle and a Whistling Kite. We then saw another speciality of the area, a juvenile Great-billed Heron.

Australia 158

Australia Asia Geese Eagles 158

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2024

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. I was going on a quest for a single species – something I normally just don’t do.

Spain 230

Spain Ducks Morocco Europe 230

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2024

Pinkfooted Geese in North Norfolk – winter visitors from Iceland My British list is, in fact, merely an East Anglian list, as I haven’t (so far) ventured out of the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. A lone Whooper Swan on a grey January day in Norfolk As for the ducks – I’m now up to 15 species.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

By the cliffs we find several Eurasian Crag-Martins and a consolation species – a family of Golden Eagles in the air! The next morning is for the Kerkini Lake, one of the youngest national parks of Greece, protected only ten years ago, in 2006 and inhabited by 11 amphibian, 27 reptilian, 44 mammal and 312 bird species.

Greece 256

Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 256

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

Late summer 2023 the lakes and ponds had been empty, presumably because the ducks and geese were moulting. We admired the Bison in the frozen fields and saw a juvenile Golden Eagle which was both beautiful and a lifer for my hosts. My hosts could confidently tick off the species on their life list. I ticked off 9 lifers.

Denver 173

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 173

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 9, 2014

For mankind to snatch away a species’ very existence is wrong on so many levels that I can’t begin to explain them. However, despite our best efforts to wipe them off the face of the earth, some of the more vulnerable species have managed to hang on. this species breeds. Here are some U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Albatross 212

Albatross Endangered Species Geese Alaska 212

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

Munkajarra Wetlands is always a good location for the various duck species and you can expect to observe Plumed Whistling-Ducks , Wandering Whistling-Ducks , Pacific Black Ducks , Hardheads , Grey Teal and sometimes Radjah Shelducks and Pink-eared Ducks. Magpie Geese , Whistling Kite and Cormorants at roost. Purple Swamphens.

Geese 206

Geese Ducks Breeding 2015 206