10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

Around thirty miles from Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley lies the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. My specific goal was to see Trumpeter Swans , which, let’s just say it’s lucky that they’re not my new nemesis species – we spotted a group of three from the parking lot as soon as we got out of our cars.

Wildlife 167

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 167

10,000 Birds

JULY 15, 2015

It is a good place for South African birders, as several species are found here and nowhere else in South Africa, and it holds a small number of endemics that it shares with the Mozambique lowlands. The park did have a pack of African Wild Dogs, or Painted Wolves, the species I had gone to Africa to see. Terrestrial Brownbul.

South Africa 146

South Africa Elephants Africa Lions 146

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Just before I left for Italy, I took a trip to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Refuge for a healthy dose of migration. Most exciting, there are already hints that Northern Hawk Owls may be on the move (although of course, one stray does not an irruption make.)

Bald Eagle 108

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Italy 108

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Knowing that there are reserves with long lists of 600 or more species, I set my threshold at more than 600 birds… and found only a few such hotspots. In early November 2020, there were 15 countries with more than 1000 species eBirded so far. Other than that, there are barely a few hotspots with over 500 species.

Asia 271

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 271