10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2024

At one time I counted over 60 individuals from each goose species from a single spot. I am still waiting to be surprised by a rarer species, such as Greater Scaup (which have been seen by others). I have also heard Tawny Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl at night. In terms of passerines, I the park can also be quite interesting.

Geese 130

Geese Birds Germany Woodpeckers 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 10, 2022

I observed White-tailed Eagles likely a few thousand times, and this didn’t strike me as the dark young bird. I observed White-tailed Eagles likely a few thousand times, and this didn’t strike me as the dark young bird. The next option would be a very dark adult Greater Spotted Eagle … but I wasn’t ready!

Otters 256

Otters Croatia Eagles Protection 256

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 23, 2023

This is how it looks like: Or at sunset: A species I did not come for from Shanghai is the Black-crowned Night Heron. Its species name graydoni is in honor of Philip Newenham Graydon (1864-1940), a British planter in Sabah. Why that makes Mr. Graydon worthy of having a bird species named after him is a mystery to me.

Birds 212

Birds Eagles Elephants Rhinoceros 212

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Sometimes I just want to hug eBird, or more specifically, whoever writes the short species descriptions (even though I am not the typical hugging kind of person, trust me on this). There are about 50 different species of flowerpeckers globally. If these are taken off, the species looks just like Clark Kent. “Dull, me?

Los Angeles 182

Los Angeles Birds Woodpeckers Owls 182

10,000 Birds

JUNE 2, 2022

Gazetted as the “nature monument” in 2013, one of the few remaining – Bojcinska Forest by the village of Progar covers 670 ha / 1650 ac, with around 108 bird species and some 60 species of mammals. Middle and Great Spotted Woodpeckers as well as the Eurasian Green Woodpecker were heard. And that is where Q.

Croatia 222

Croatia Serbia Shelters France 222

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2021

That’s because this fascinating part-Caribbean, part-south American country holds well over 800 species of avifauna making it without doubt one of my top three countries in all of the continent to visit. Ok, maybe not the vampire bat…but some of the more “cuddly” species are actually quite easy to see.

Guyana 278

Guyana Otters South America Colombia 278

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2016

While crossing Gramos Mountain in northern Greece, a Dendrocopos woodpecker flew over the road and landed in a pine tree. I had two possibilities, an uncommon Middle Spotted or scarce White-backed Woodpecker – which would have been a lifer for me. One Grey-headed Woodpecker flies across the road – a promising start.

Greece 251

Greece Woodpeckers Boars Eagles 251

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

The scientific species name of the Golden-throated Barbet is franklinii , commemorating Capt. The HBW section on this species’ behavior mostly repeats the phrase “more information needed” Though of course scientists, hungry for grants and topics, say that all the time. Ok, I made that up. Then, on to nuthatches.

Birds 172

Birds China Woodpeckers Breeding 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 21, 2021

With more than 312 so far recorded bird species, Lake Kerkini National Park offers great birding year-round. In spring, a huge heronry of 10 species (including Spoonbill , Glossy Ibis , Squacco , Purple , and Night Heron , Pygmy Cormorant , etc.) Overwintering raptors include Greater Spotted , Golden , and Imperial Eagles.

Greece 263

Greece Wildlife Boars Otters 263

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 24, 2022

Yes, we do have warm, tropical weather and a fancy assortment of resident and wintering species. Nor is there any trudging through snow in search of extra hardy species or visits to feeders with the hope of finding a grackle or Red-winged Blackbird that failed to fly south. These were some of the highlights. The Count Meeting.

Costa Rica 239

Costa Rica Eagles Species Blackbirds 239

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

On a recent visit I threw my bags in the hotel room and went straight there, and got over 60 species of birds in a few hours and fantastic views of Nilgai , the largest antelope in India. Commoner species include Bar-headed Geese , parakeets, shrikes, mynas and minivets. You should also see Gharial and Mugger Crocodiles there.

India 185

India Wildlife Tigers Eagles 185

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 260

Otters Protest Protesting Protesters 260

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I was high and happy, not from “420” drugs but from the altitude and the anticipation of seeing woodpeckers and owls I had never seen before. We admired the Bison in the frozen fields and saw a juvenile Golden Eagle which was both beautiful and a lifer for my hosts. We were lucky and early so we had the tracks to ourselves.

Denver 145

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2020

eBird list of the recorded species. Birds of prey include European Honey-buzzard , Long-legged Buzzard , Short-toed Eagle , Booted Eagle , Montagu’s Harrier , etc. eBird list of the recorded species. The Danube being 3 km wide here has another, sad consequence: all floating rubbish is being wind-blown to this bank.

Mali 264

Mali Serbia Eagles Birds 264

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 11, 2022

Other species include Grey Wagtail and Marsh Tit. Easy species here are Corn Bunting , Hawfinch , Spotted Flycatcher , Red-backed Shrike , Woodlark , Eurasian Golden Oriole , European Turtle Dove. is known as the northernmost range of holly ( Ilex aquifolium ), a relict evergreen species, in Serbia and the only site in Djerdap.

Serbia 239

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Romania 239

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

The lake IBA has about 230 so far eBirded species. What is now recreated of the lake where the god Apollo was married and where the Argonauts built their kingdom is officially called the Reservoirs of the former Lake Karla. It was an odd feeling to be back at the “former lake” which I birded in 2019, before the pandemic.

Greece 223

Greece Eagles Turtles 2019 223

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 13, 2018

In the area live 15 species from Tennessee’s threatened and endangered list, as well as 11 aquatic species from the federally endangered list. I can see the western ridges of the southern Cherokee NF from my hometown; and have a long list of local favorite bird species. Bald Eagle. Downy Woodpecker. Indigo Bunting.

Georgia 203

Georgia Bald Eagle Tennessee 2018 203

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

Starting the New Year by trying to see as many species as possible is something of a birding tradition. My diary notes that the New Year dawned grey and windy, but I rose early, walked six miles before breakfast and noted a modest 26 species of birds. One of my more memorable New Year’s days was in the Falkland Islands, back in 1989.

Birds 208

Birds Albatross Barn Owls Sparrows 208

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2019

a British expat birder who was living in Belgrade, for a suggestion: “The top species is undoubtedly White-tailed Eagle. commented further: “With a little work some species can be seen quite easily such as the divers, scaup, scoter, Goosander , Garganey and Long-eared Owl. Hence, I asked my friend B.C.,

Serbia 248

Serbia Birds Woodpeckers Breeding 248

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 5, 2019

The lush understory supports a multitude of different ecological niches yet still affords good sightlines to spy the species within. And what a wealth of species the Royal Mile holds. While the species sounds delicious, the nearly tailless bird presents a very bland appearance.

Uganda 204

Uganda Africa Monkeys Birds 204

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

The higher elevation also attracts more rainfall, broad-leafed trees shed their dying leaves onto the floor to make a playground for species like White-necked Thrush, Grey-throated Leaftosser and Black-faced Antthrush. That corner was particularly fruitful as always, we even had appearances by a Cocoa Woodcreeper and a Chestnut Woodpecker.

Trinidad 259

Trinidad Hunting Venezuela Woodpeckers 259

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

When you see a photo of a Snowcap, it’s easy to see why this species is a perennial top target for birding trips to Costa Rica. However, as with so many other bird species that must be seen to confirm their improbable existence, the Snowcap can be elusive. I’m sure several other species also occur.

Costa Rica 264

Costa Rica San Jose Birds Farming 264

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

It was also great to finally travel overseas again, meet a lot of people I did not know (and some I did), to be in a new country… and not just the new country, but its best birding area, where almost all local hotspots are yellow (150+ species) and several are ochre (200+ sp.), impressive for Central Europe.

Austria 296

Austria Factory Asia Battery 296

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 24, 2017

There are several species of birds whose eye color changes from birth to adulthood. One species, in which you may be familiar with this phenomenon, is the Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). But I’m actually here to consider the differing shades of iris in the Acorn Woodpeckers ( Melanerpes formicivorus ) seen in my yard.

Bald Eagle 100

Bald Eagle Woodpeckers Eagles Species 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 16, 2020

A Field Guide to the Birds of Mongolia by Dorj Ganbold and Chris Smith (2019) offers more than 500 species in one neat edition. I say “more than” because I am not certain what number of species is covered: on page 8, 512 bird species are mentioned, while on the back cover that number rises to 521.

Mongolia 271

Mongolia Falcons Birds 2019 271

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

Where a birder goes in the Caribbean determines which birds are seen including toy-like todies, Carib hummingbirds, cool pigeons, quail-doves, unique avian families and outrageous woodpeckers. One such special place is the Centro Manu, a small family run reserve that features several star bird species of Costa Rica’s Caribbean lowlands.

Costa Rica 263

Costa Rica Puerto Rico Birds Owls 263

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2021

Between them, they found 389 species in 5 countries. Insects were held back by weird spring weather, but now the warmth returns and the birds are feasting on the late stirring bugs. June saw 8 beats get their birding boots on and share 90 checklists for your pleasure.

Woodpeckers 242

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Niger 242

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2022

We might have limited space but we make up for it with a massive amount of biodiversity including well over 900 bird species on the official Costa Rica bird list. With birds like Ornate Hawk-Eagle and Snowcap possible, how can you not take up birding while living in Costa Rica? However, the latest addition wasn’t any of these.

Costa Rica 210

Costa Rica Latvia Albatross Netherlands 210

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

It’s also the high season for birding and with good reason; there are hundreds of birds waiting to be seen, some of them migrants from the north but the majority resident tropical species that are easy on the eyes. Ornate Hawk-Eagle. One of six toucan species in Costa Rica, fairly common at sites with rainforest.

Costa Rica 231

Costa Rica Birds Panama Woodpeckers 231

10,000 Birds

JUNE 17, 2021

White-tailed Eagles in Beljarica. It is a spacious floodplain between the River Danube and the levee, 2.1 mi at its widest point and some 9 km2 / 3.5 It all started well three decades ago, when I intensively birded the Danube Backwaters by kayak. As a teenager in Yugoslavia, I used to buy National Geographic in second-hand bookshops.

Serbia 274

Serbia Deer Protection Boars 274

10,000 Birds

JULY 2, 2020

I can hear a Great Spotted Woodpecker calling. In those few days in the park, I observed about 35 birds, including European Honey Buzzard , Grey-headed Woodpecker and the numerous Mistle Thrushes and Eurasian Bullfinches , and half a dozen mammals, European Pine Marten among them. An hour later, I add another layer of clothing.

Serbia 264

Serbia Bears Birds Mammals 264

10,000 Birds

MARCH 12, 2020

eBird list of the recorded species. It was gazetted as a nature reserve in 1977. A large roadside puddle holds water through most of the year and at migration time attracts waders – Black-winged Stilt , Northern Lapwing , Green and Wood Sandpipers , Spotted and Common Redshanks , Common Greenshank , Ruff , etc. To be continued.

Europe 223

Europe Serbia Woodpeckers Birds 223

10,000 Birds

MAY 7, 2020

First, 800 km of driving from Belgrade through Bulgaria to very NE corner of Greece and the Dadia Forest National Park with its 36 species of diurnal raptors, out of Europe’s 38. From there to the nearby Evros River Delta, at the very border with Turkey, with more easterly species such as the Spur-winged Plover.

Greece 229

Greece Bulgaria Birds Serbia 229

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2023

For example, a researcher and presumed ornithologist set out with two hypotheses related to the Ashy Drongo (and another drongo species) and wrote a paper about it. For them, God probably was the one instructing the drongos to mob one species but not the other. Why show photos of species as boring as this Ashy-throated Warbler ?

China 179

China 2017 Birds Indonesia 179

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2018

I submitted five checklists from four different locations yielding 44 species. As the Red-Shouldered Hawk seen above screamed overhead, Acorn Woodpeckers not only treated themselves to the woodpecker feeder, they had to attack the sunflower feeders as well. All in all, I tallied 44 species. Fun birding!

2018 100

2018 Bald Eagle Woodpeckers Turkey 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 23, 2022

I saw two Pitta species at Hongbenghe, both among the slightly less glamourous among the pitta family: The Blue-naped Pitta … … and the closely related Rusty-naped Pitta. It seems that this is another species for which the standard phrase of scientists anywhere, “more research needed”, applies.

Birds 147

Birds Myanmar China Chicago 147

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2015

Picture 2: Lesser Spotted Eagle – Clanga pomarina. Andrea was driving along the western shore of the lake when a large raptor appeared in front of us – Booted or Lesser Spotted Eagle? Yes, those were four eagles in 20 minutes. And some more movements: very high, two or three Short-toed Eagles are soaring in the blue sky.

Greece 243

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 243