10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2024

When Jonathan Slaght did his research on Blakiston’s Fish Owl in Russia’s Far East – which he describes in his excellent book “Owls of the Eastern Ice” – he had to cope not only with extreme cold but also with rather bad music: “Katkov filled our commutes with loud music. Sitting in a heated(!)

Fish 207

Fish Owls San Diego Russia 207

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2023

How much do you know about owls? I’ve been fortunate to encounter many owls in my birding life, sometimes because I’m looking for them, sometimes happily by happenstance. What the Owl Knows: The New Science of the World’s Most Enigmatic Birds is a joyous, fascinating read. I don’t think so.

Owls 219

Owls Science Barn Owls Penguins 219

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2014

I’ve even paid a few calls to Massachusetts in the dead of winter for finches and owls. About 40 minutes outside of Anchorage, and only a bare 20 minutes from my friends’ place in Eagle River, we visited the Eagle River Nature Center to try to pick up a few of the other northern specialties I was interested in.

Alaska 167

Alaska Bears Grizzly Bear North Carolina 167

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 4, 2017

I saw Painted Wolves again, my favourite species ever. The only reason that the Golden Eagle didn’t get the same award for the same reason is that I hadn’t tried as hard to see one in Britain in the past. Southern White-faced Owl or African Scops Owl ? I went to Ethiopia. I bought a house. Okay, context.

United Arab Emirates 100

United Arab Emirates 2016 Ethiopia New Zealand 100