10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2015

I still know my audience - this is primarily a blog read by birders in North America, who see the term “squirrel” as little more than a synonym for house sparrow, starling, pest and cholera. Germany, like most of Europe and very much unlike North America, is home to only one species of squirrel. So to speak.

Squirrels 162

Squirrels North America Germany Europe 162

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Checking my annual list, I am where I usually am at this time of year: several species short of 200. Still, this way or another, the year is ending with some glorious species, e.g. a rare Greater Spotted Eagle. And so, driving through the snowfall I spotted what I believed to be Tree Sparrows foraging on the road in front of me.

Moldova 118

Moldova Birds Serbia Greece 118

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2016

Here go those moments of curiosity, in no particular order: Europe: And so, I was driving from Greece to Serbia… in central FYRO Macedonia, two birds were circling not far from the motorway… black and white… perhaps White Storks on migration? Europe: The sun is scorching the area, and the birds are nowhere to be seen.

Wildlife 172

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 172

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

all the time pointing with my right hand while holding the steering wheel with my left, and the hardest thing, keeping my eyes on the road. More productive areas of the Balkans have January eBird lists from 105 to 115 species (but I combined several areas in two countries, Greece and Serbia), so I have every reason to be satisfied.

Owls 104

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 104

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 ). Should I add, this is my best sighting of this uncommon species – ever!

Greece 239

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 239

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 17, 2016

The country of Mexico as a whole, is host to 27 different species of doves, with the California Baja Sure home to six. With a large number of sub-species in many of these doves, I have listed the actual sub-species for this area. A common migratory species, is the Mourning Dove , Zenaida macroura marginella.

San Jose 100

San Jose North America Mexico America 100

10,000 Birds

MAY 12, 2016

Late April / early May is the best birding season in the south of Europe and wherever you go, you will have 50% to 100% more species than in any other season. Recently, I did a bit of embankment birding, nailing 65 species (several of them firsts for the season, European Bee-eaters among them – always exciting).

Birds 109

Birds India Africa Serbia 109

10,000 Birds

MAY 15, 2014

A few metres further, something is jumping from one branch to another… a pair of Subalpine Warblers , a Mediterranean species that does not go much further north than this. At the same time, one Black Stork wades through the shallows, right next to the road.

Greece 161

Greece Pelicans Breeding Buffalo 161

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

We follow the tire tracks in an off-white, salty soil and then, without a word of warning, our guide/driver turns into the bushes, driving left and right… until one and then another Short-eared Owl flushes in front of us. The next two species are the Southern Grey Shrike and the Tawny Pipit , also characteristic for this habitat type.

India 216

India Birds Eagles Boars 216

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2014

The national park ranges some 100 km in length along the right bank of the Danube (the left bank is in Romania), where the river varies in width from 5 km / 3 mi to only 150 m / 500 ft and the mountains rise up to 800 m / 2600 ft a.s.l. The turn off from the main road is east of Dobra. GPS coordinates of the Forgotten Road.

Serbia 182

Serbia Turtles Birds Eagles 182

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2017

Here in central Europe, dippers – more precisely the White-throated or European Dipper – are rather common breeding birds in many areas. Therefore, it is not too far-fetched to call our dippers a commensal species not entirely unlike House Sparrows or Starlings. Crazy, I know. And you know what? There are in winter.

Germany 100

Germany 2016 Hamburgers Austria 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Europe… with such low herp diversity the locals split any sub-population of a species that occurs on either the Iberian Peninsula or Italy as a new species just to make them feel better out themselves, naturally is the continent that rose to the top of my trip list. Either that or having family friends in Germany.

Salamander 137

Salamander Germany Birds Blackbirds 137

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

In the right season, with a little luck, we often find it, and sometimes it perches high and long enough that we can admire its scimitar of a bill, its stern face pattern, and even the patch of rusty red on the undertail that gives the species its English and its scientific names. Wicked, right? Hat-tip to Stella.

2011 140

2011 Tucson Arizona Deer 140

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2015

I have 10,000 Birds contributor Adam Riley to thank for telling me I had to add it to my list, and a quick bit of research showed that he was right on. I did see a Greater-striped Swallow and a host of Capes – a Cape Sparrow , Cape Canary and best of all a Cape Longclaw. It was also weirdly good for quail, of sorts.

South Africa 145

South Africa Africa Falcons Family 145

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2019

It’s a rush any new birder experiences: that of every species being a lifer. But the opportunities to see new species become more difficult with each one seen. But the opportunities to see new species become more difficult with each one seen. Even so, I was able to see 54 species, of which fully half were lifers.

Spain 188

Spain Europe Sparrows Mexico 188

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

So right now I’m feeling pretty good about Eurasian Collared-doves. Originally from India and the vicinity, it is believed that they had already undergone two major expansions – through Asia Minor in the 1600s, and then across Europe in the 1900s – when they first appeared in North America.

Montana 132

Montana 2011 New York Bahamas 132

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2011

This species is not only usually the earliest, but the most common. What’s remarkable about this species is what we don’t see here: the extremely long migration that this species makes, with some individuals traveling from Sub-Saharan Africa to Greenland and back every year.

Cyprus 145

Cyprus 2011 Deer New York 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

Among these white-headed/dark-winged gulls formerly lumped into the genus Larus , there were 18+ recognized species the last time I checked, sharing similarities that make telling them apart for the amateur birdwatcher very difficult. 1998), then the proper name for this species is L. fuscus – should be separated as species.

2011 157

2011 Cyprus Deer Species 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

A widely published writer, popular speaker, and enthusiastic tour leader in North American and Europe, Rick lives in Tucson and in Vancouver, British Columbia, with his wife, Alison, and their chocolate Lab, Gellert. Wicked, right? The genus Bucephala includes three familiar ducks with big heads. Hat-tip to Stella.

Cows 141

Cows Cattle 2011 Birds 141

10,000 Birds

MARCH 20, 2011

Here is a little test-there are 6 species of shorebird in the photo-can you identify them? She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. Wicked, right? I am often amazed how tolerant the shorebirds are on big tides. Hat-tip to Stella.

2011 150

2011 Australia Deer China 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

The most common species we see are the Stoke’s Sea Snake Astrotia stokesii , Dubois’ Sea Snake Aipysurus duboisii and the Olive Sea Snake Aipysurus laevis. She has lived in the Middle East and the United States and traveled extensively in Europe. Wicked, right? Hat-tip to Stella.

Australia 149

Australia 2011 Sharks Deer 149

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Even more than warbler, shorebird, and sparrow identification, this is a field that tests our endurance (gull watching is too often done in bitter cold, windy conditions), patience (even getting one good photo can take hours as you try to separate the ‘interesting gull’ from the flock), observational skills (so many plumages!)

North America 193

North America America El Salvador Nicaragua 193

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2018

The Aliens Among Us: How Invasive Species Are Transforming the Planet – and Ourselves (Leslie Anthony, Yale). • Shakespeare was, supposedly , the reason starlings, house sparrows, and other non-native birds were introduced to North America. Ten thousand years ago, Thomas notes, house sparrows were unknown in Britain.

Humane 102

Humane Species North America Sparrows 102

10,000 Birds

JUNE 8, 2017

Shallows provide an ideal spawning ground for almost 50 fish species and submerged islands breeding ground for more than 100 bird species. Until about a decade ago, this warmth-loving species lived only in the south, but then it quickly spread much further, even north of the Danube. House Sparrow – Passer domesticus.

Romania 116

Romania Serbia Turtles Blackbirds 116

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 11, 2012

Another example of its staggering wealth is the fact that the 22,000 hectare Table Mountain National Park situated within the city of Cape Town has more plant species than the whole of the British Isles or New Zealand! Image by Adam Riley A handsome male Cape Sparrow poses in West Coast National Park.

South Africa 224

South Africa Africa New Zealand Asia 224

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2018

I chalked up 132 species in a pretty relaxed eight days, during which birds shared the agenda with culture. With 154 eBirded species almost single-handedly spotted by the UK expat Geoff Laight, the Paljuvi is the latest addition to the top-5 list. With 154 eBirded species, the Beljarica shares the 4th place on the list.

Serbia 150

Serbia Birds Bulgaria Farming 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

home about advertise archives birds conservation contact galleries links reviews subscribe Browse: Home / Birds / Beautiful Blue Backyard Bird Beautiful Blue Backyard Bird By Jochen • March 10, 2011 • 9 comments Tweet Share There is a lot of whining associated with colours and Europe’s birds. You are trapped!

2011 158

2011 Birds Deer Europe 158

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2018

Europe, and Honduras itself. It gives species accounts for 761 birds (I counted, but I could have missed a couple) out of the 763-770 species documented in the country (eBird lists 763 and Gallardo says there were 770 at the time of publication). Species Accounts. Special Sections.

Honduras 103

Honduras Birds 2015 Family 103

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2011

Hunting sandhill cranes in Kentucky is a bad idea from a public relations standpoint, considering the growing cadre of birders and nature enthusiasts for whom cranes are a touchstone species. Initiating a hunting season on a large, charismatic species like a crane is no way to resuscitate hunting. Isn’t that neat?

2011 239

2011 Kentucky Tennessee Hunting 239

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2016

Unlike other bird races where participants keep tight-lipped about bird species as mundane as a House Sparrow , this event gives a prize to the team that helps the most. But isn’t all of that data sharing counterproductive for a bird race where the team with the most species wins? This is a Masked Shrike.

Costa Rica 166

Costa Rica Eagles Birds 166

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2023

Both guides contain Howell’s expert species descriptions and Dyer’s beautiful scientific illustrations—an unbeatable combination. Donna) The Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe covers Europe, North Atlantic islands, much of North Africa and the Middle East. Howell and Dale Dyer.

North America 239

North America Birds Europe America 239

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

There is much to enjoy and appreciate here and I only wish I could have tested out some of these species accounts in pelagic waters before writing about them (sadly, the 10,000 Birds pelagic to Antarctica was canceled this year). SCOPE & SPECIES ORGANIZATION. It covers 434 species across 9 orders and 18 families of birds.

Albatross 278

Albatross Penguins Groups Family 278