10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2023

It was Montagu who first realised that the “Ring-tail hawk” and the gray male Hen Harrier were the same species, and that the bird he called the Ash-coloured Falcon was a different species to the Hen Harrier, an impressive achievement at that time. Eleonora’s Falcons still breed on Sardinia today.

Falcons 234

Falcons Collecting 2003 Wounded 234

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2023

Lake Kerkini National Park in the north of Greece is the very best birding area in the Balkan Peninsula and definitely among the top ten hotspots of Europe. Some 320 species have been recorded here, and in springtime it is possible to observe more than 150 bird species in a week. The lake lies at a mere 35 m / 115 ft a.s.l.

Greece 239

Greece Pelicans Birds Stray Dog 239

10,000 Birds

MAY 20, 2021

It was an unexpected bird tour, without too much planning and aimed at a few target species, of which we saw most, but the main one eluded us… Early morning, leaving the last houses behind… and a Little Owl awaits us on a traffic sign. Red-footed Falcon by Martin Mecnarowski/Wikimedia Commons. Did I mention Great Bustards ?

Serbia 250

Serbia Birds Romania Eagles 250

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2015

I am inside the city of Belgrade, checking the theoretically possible Peregrine Falcon site. Yet, not a trace of a falcon. ” Falcons do hunt pigeons, we all know that, but what is a Kamikaze pigeon? That is why Belgrade is not proud of its falcons and why I am not telling you more about them. One Feral Pigeon.

Switzerland 201

Switzerland Serbia Feral Falcons 201

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2022

They are places where we invest most of our birding time and rightly so; mature tropical forests are where we find the highest number of species. Additional bird species prefer the sun-drenched vegetation of open fields and other edge habitats. Find a brushy field during the winter months and you might also find these colorful species.

Costa Rica 273

Costa Rica Farming Sparrows Birds 273

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 17, 2022

Within 140 ac / 60 ha of Rancho Naturalista’s Reserve, there are 500 bird species – or 55% of the nation’s total! Once a Peregrine Falcon flew above the veranda, while several distant King Vultures were soaring above the valley. Located within its private premontane forest reserve at 3000 ft / 900 m a.s.l. km (Manakin Trail).

Costa Rica 257

Costa Rica Rats Parrots Raccoons 257

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2019

This month we were able to go to Europe again, for our first real vacation in a few years. Smaller raptors were either European Sparrowhawks (true hawks) or Eurasian Kestrels (falcons). We stayed with friends in the tiny French town of Cessy, and there I saw my second European woodpecker species, the handsome Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Switzerland 115

Switzerland Austria Europe Spain 115

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2020

It didn’t occur to me till I started reading The Falcon Thief: A True Tale of Adventure, Treachery, and the Hunt for the Perfect Bird that there was also a possible threat to the eagle herself: poachers, who steal raptor eggs and chicks. McWilliam realizes he’s dealing someone special, a career falcon egg-thief.

Falcons 224

Falcons United Kingdom Zimbabwe Eggs 224

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2017

The guide presents 69 species and 1 subspecies, from “NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartiformes” to “OSPREY: Pandioninae” to “FAMILY: Accipitridae” (Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Hawk-Eagles), to “FALONIDS: Falconidae” (Falcons, Forest-Falcons, Caracaras, Kestrels, Merlin). That’s a lot of visual information!

Mexico 174

Mexico America North America Falcons 174

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2013

The six living species are all found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They were once a widespread and diverse group, however, with many fossils known from what are now North America and Europe. ’s “land bird clade,” with passerines, parrots, falcons, woodpeckers, the Coraciiformes (kingfishers, hornbills, bee-eaters, etc.),

Kenya 176

Kenya Parrots Africa North America 176

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2022

This is “the deep cradle of Western ornithology: the birthplace of bird study,” he tells us as he writes about gazing at the 8,000-year old depictions of “flamingos, herons, raptors, avocets and many other species” (p. Birkhead knows that these are sensitive topics.

Dissection 234

Dissection Birds Research Europe 234

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2014

Defining Belgrade bird specialties is the hard part – there is no defined criterion, beside attractiveness which often comes from how uncommon some species is. E.g., a few weeks ago I guided a British couple around Belgrade, visited about four major sites and found more than 60 species. Birds ecotourism Europe Serbia'

Serbia 185

Serbia Eagles Birds Sparrows 185

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. Peregrine Falcon – Falco peregrinus. Fortunately, B. Am I satisfied?

Owls 107

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 107

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

My guess is, those nervous ones were some migrants, while the majority were locally breeding birds – the southernmost population of Europe! The best bird was one lovely Common Chiffchaff that was very hard to locate in the thick crown of an old juniper tree, followed by one mysterious small falcon. and dual digits. Practicalities.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

For example, the White-headed Duck is nowadays a rarity in Europe (okay, excluding Spain, I know… that Spain …), but until some 50 years ago, it used to breed in Serbia. The hide overlooking the breeding colony of Red-footed Falcons. gmail.com or check the maps at birdwatching.rs , so far, only in Serbian).

Serbia 254

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 254

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

This small bustard is perhaps the same species as the more widespread White-bellied Bustard, but if it is separate its a rare bird to see and pretty special. And watching this from above was a Lanner Falcon. Amur Falcons are ubiquitous. A Pied Starling. We set out and quickly managed to find one of my targets. But we did.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

Over 3,200 photographs have been used, most showing species in their habitats. There is also text, distribution maps, a dark red bar “warning” about similar looking rare species, and conservation symbols. So, how do you find the species account for Kestrel if falcons are not placed between woodpeckers and parakeet?

Ireland 150

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 150

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2014

Near Tarifa, where the Africa and Europe almost touch, there are a couple of strategic lookouts where raptor enthusiasts gather to search the skies and record numbers of birds. One evening a juvenile Egyptian Vulture passed overhead; an exceptional bird I was told. They were all exceptional to me. The sky was always busy. Griffon Vulture.

Spain 172

Spain Ostriches Africa Canada 172

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2014

Nick finds a bird-shaped protrusion at the top of the rock – Black-eared Wheatear , not exactly a species I expect to observe from a boat deck. A few weeks from now (it was early April), Eleonora’s Falcons will become a possibility, too, once they return from Madagascar. The Sun already sets and I haven’t seen a new species in a while.

Greece 242

Greece Malta Croatia Birds 242

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 ). Scan of the ridge reveals a distant but definitive Peregrine Falcon.

Greece 252

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 252

10,000 Birds

APRIL 21, 2015

And, of course, the reputation of certain species of birds as troublemakers for humans is a problem in bird conservation, so this is worth watching. H5N2 is a subtype of Influenza A, and infects many species of birds including those mentioned as well as ducks (domestic and wild). So, we have not seen widespread death among wild birds.

Mississippi 177

Mississippi Fowl Turkey Minnesota 177

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2012

The Rose-ringed Parakeet’s European (=feral) range is surprisingly coherent for an introduced bird that is dependent on large metropolitan areas, and the species occurs in very decent numbers from UK’s London throughout the Netherland’s large cities all the way up along the Rhine to Germany’s Heidelberg.

Germany 251

Germany Netherlands Zoos Geese 251

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

This morning, they have seen some 10,000 Broad-winged Hawks , mixed up with two dozen Swainson’s Hawks , several Mississippi Kites and one or two King Vultures , Swallow-tailed and Double-toothed Kites , Merlins and Peregrine Falcons. But why would someone look for that, an easy and common one among the 920+ bird species of Costa Rica?

Costa Rica 149

Costa Rica Reptiles Farming Mississippi 149

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2014

In winter, try to bird the “Golubac Sea” (scope necessary), where good species include Smew , Velvet Scoter and Common Eider ; while the cliffs and quarries near the mediaeval Golubac Fortress offer the elusive Wallcreeper (which still eludes me, although I’ve tried this area last winter). Trips birdfinder Europe Serbia'

Serbia 197

Serbia Turtles Birds Eagles 197

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2014

Finally, the Similan Islands are perhaps one of the most beautiful islands in the world and form a stunning backdrop to this species, one of the loveliest pigeons in the world. Apart from being an incredibly exciting bird, this is a species I had longed to see since my first trip to southern Africa way back in 1991.

2014 197

2014 Costa Rica South Africa Birds 197

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2022

Should you be impressed by this list and the underlying ambitions, take a look at the migration route of the Amur Falcon ( Wikipedia ). The falcon breeds in south-eastern Siberia and Northern China but winters in Southern and East Africa. ” If in doubt, just classify species as LC? Still as impressed as before?

Falcons 253

Falcons Japan China South Africa 253

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 29, 2023

My British total was a mere 172 species – not bad, but not very good. Every one of my 171 species was a bird that I found myself. It keeps a monthly record of sightings, so I can tell you that it was in February that I recorded my highest monthly species total (106), while my lowest total was in August (39).

Estonia 236

Estonia Portugal Greece Barn Owls 236

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022

Drive a bit to the southwest, and you reach Tarifa, Europe’s most southerly point. More and more people arrived — from all over western Europe, although I seemed to be the only one present from the Americas. A Peregrine Falcon was seen in the distance, one of the day’s few species I could also have seen in Mexico.

Spain 147

Spain Birds Mexico Eagles 147

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. cherrug x F. rusticollis.”

Mongolia 277

Mongolia Falcons Birds 2019 277

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

Now I break (and think that I should put a „I break for birds“ bumper sticker), bins… a falcon! An Eleonora’s Falcon , light morph, makes several circles above the Olive grove and it is gone. I am exhilarated – I have had only a handful of chances to observe this species! Such a fascinating species.

Greece 235

Greece Falcons Madagascar Africa 235

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2021

This is the hook that draws us into reading about and caring about migrant birds, that and the charisma of birds like Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Kirtland’s Warbler, Snowy Owl, and Amur Falcon. Many of these stories will be known to avid readers of environmental news items and social media.

Cyprus 259

Cyprus Slaughter Slaughtered Research 259

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2019

In a warm Catalonian March (I was about to say Spanish, but among quite a few flags, I haven’t seen a single Spanish one), Barcelona was filled with sunlight and full of Rose-ringed and Monk Parakeets , two charming but alien and invasive species. Steve answers: Bonelli’s Eagle !

Terrapins 193

Terrapins Eagles Europe Rats 193

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2019

Having come back to Mexico from Europe, I chose to make my first home outing to my local lake, Lake Cuitzeo. During the winter migratory season, I can always count on seeing at least 70 species of birds. Last week’s visit, on November 4th, resulted in 76 species, with a very conservative estimate of over 2,000 individuals.

Ducks 135

Ducks 2018 Pelicans Europe 135

10,000 Birds

APRIL 22, 2013

In a warm Catalonian March (I was about to say Spanish, but among quite a few flags, I haven’t seen a single Spanish one), Barcelona is filled with sunlight and full of Rose-ringed and Monk Parakeets , two charming but alien and invasive species. Steve answers: Bonelli’s Eagle ! Garraf Natural Park.

Spain 229

Spain Terrapins Eagles Europe 229

10,000 Birds

JUNE 20, 2019

When I came here for the first time, the Kerkini Lake was the only place in Europe where Dalmatian Pelicans were increasing their numbers. I do have experience with this species from Bodrum, Turkey; it is daring, bold and cocky, and is impossible to forget. What is the status of this species in the Kerkini NP?

Greece 200

Greece Pelicans Buffalo Fish 200

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 6, 2018

Although it wasn’t the optimal period (most migrants already gone and wintering birds not there yet), we were looking forward to discovering a new and less birded region of Europe. Personally, I love exploring new hotspots and discovering new or unusual species when visiting a country. Search for my target species (i.e.

Serbia 143

Serbia Switzerland Farming Birds 143

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 4, 2016

So many beaches of Central Europe ended up here, mostly in the Deliblato Sands (Delibatska pescara) reserve in the southeast of the Vojvodina province – the largest sandy terrain of Europe. We saw 50+ species together, several lifers for him, the Tawny Pipit among them. And slowed waters deposit silt.

Sheep 131

Sheep Turtles Squirrels Europe 131