10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

A couple of weeks ago, I shared some of my favorite photos from my several years of birding. They are certainly not good enough to get me close to the world of professional wildlife photographers, but each is special to me in its own way. Between my recent trip to see waterbirds on a lake that, as it turned out, had mostly dried up, a strangely unproductive trip to one of my new sites, and a dreary, drizzly Monday out, I don’t have much to show for my last three outings.

Pelicans 262

Pelicans Wildlife Humane Birds 262

ARZ Test title

AUGUST 4, 2020

Animal Rights 144

Animal Rights Rights Animal 144

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2020

Since last week another Pied Oystercatcher nest on Cable Beach has produced two chicks. The header photo above shows where the family rested shortly after the two chicks left the nest on Tuesday. We had been patiently awaiting the arrival of the two chicks since the eggs were laid a month ago. I showed you this nest here at the bottom of the post. The Pied Oystercatcher pairs are approximately five kilometres apart on this section of Cable Beach.

Eggs 259

Eggs Family Falcons Rights 259

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

These are times of unfamiliar circumstances and in more ways than one. As the tide of climate disaster keeps rising, protests continue, and economies fall into recession, we move through time and space in a limbo of anxiety and uncertainty. These are the pandemic doldrums, a situation where horizons are muddled by the fogs of worry. As with any barrier, a sharp tool is required to cut through, to perceive the possibilities on the other side.

Costa Rica 212

Costa Rica 2020 Protest Protesting 212

Speaker: Steve Romanco

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10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2020

Just under a fortnight ago, I saw a report on the local bird alert of a sighting of a group of approximately 20 Nacunda Nighthawks at a wetland not more than 20 minutes from where I live. Even though I had seen these cryptic austral migrants before, there was no way I was going to pass up an opportunity that was this close to home. Especially as we were at the time about to experience a rapidly advancing tropical storm.

Livestock 209

Livestock ALA Ducks illegal 209

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2020

In a way, kingfishers may be the poor man`s pittas – almost as colorful and exciting, but much easier to observe. Here are some that I have seen in the past few years. African Pygmy Kingfisher (Mkuze, South Africa, Nov 2018). Belted Kingfisher (Reno, USA, Jan 2015). Black-capped Kingfisher (Nanhui, China, May 2018). Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Bateleur and Mkuze, Nov 2018).

South Africa 201

South Africa Singapore Malaysia 2015 201

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

Have you noticed that “pishing” is far less efective when one is wearing a mask? Do you think that the pish is muted, dispersed or in some other way deprived of its urgency? Anyone got a mask tanline yet? 8 countries were birded by 11 beats and I am delighted to include Faraaz and Trinidad and Tobago in those stats. Faraaz’s shared checklists pushed the lifelist to 4036 and increased the Countries/Kingdoms/Emirates/Principalities/Protectorates/Territories and Special Administ

2020 154

2020 Blackbirds Sparrows Woodpeckers 154

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2020

“A stick! A stick!” With the pure energy of an almost two-year-old freed from weeks of isolation, my granddaughter was running across an empty field, proudly holding a newly discovered stick. It is one of my most ‘liked’ videos on social media (though, sadly, not taken by me) because–a stick! Who has not delighted in a stick?

Los Angeles 263

Los Angeles 2019 Birds 2014 263