10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

More than 150 bird species are known to have become extinct over the past 500 years, and many more are estimated to have been driven to extinction before they became known to science. The Gray Crowned-Crane is a new addition to the list of the world’s Endangered species, creeping up a category from Vulnerable.

Endangered Species 182

Endangered Species Species Morocco South Africa 182

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2024

They were my target species, and I remember being delighted in not only seeing them well, but finding feeding flocks that were remarkably unconcerned about being watched. Such an intimate encounter with one of the world’s rarest birds was a memorable experience.

Morocco 213

Morocco Austria Algeria Germany 213

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2024

They are of the race islandica , a sub species of the nominate race, limosa. Rings are not the only way of marking birds, and with a number of species wing tags are more often used. Audouin’s Gull is an attractive species restricted as a breeding bird to the Mediterranean, but many winter in North Africa.

Lithuania 130

Lithuania Morocco Iceland Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

APRIL 18, 2024

I would be fascinating to know how many species of birds it was pointed at during its time with me, but it must have been well over 1,000. It proved strong enough to take the many knocks and falls that a hard-used scope experiences during its lifetime.

Estonia 186

Estonia Poland India Pelicans 186

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2024

On my 21-day Kenyan safaris we reckoned to find around 600 species of birds and around 60 mammals, both impressive totals. In 2023 I attempted to keep a year list of mammal encounters: the list barely exceeded 20 species, while it became complicated by seeing bats and voles that I was unable to name specifically.

Fur 175

Fur Bulgaria Otters Estonia 175

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2020

To the relief of Mexican birders everywhere, this species was split several years later into two species; the black-and-white eastern race is now Morelet’s Seedeater , and the more colorful western race is now the Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater. What I didn’t know was that this is a very special species. or Canada.

Birds 162

Birds Mexico California Spain 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 8, 2014

It was actually logistically easier for me to stay away from Gibraltar itself which, as a British Crown Colony with constrained geography, a slowish, passport-controlled border with Spain and relatively limited flight connections, has its limitations. Trips hawkwatch raptors Spain' They provided my ideal accommodation.

Spain 167

Spain Ostriches Africa Canada 167

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2015

After that experience, I stopped complaining about their hides, realising that they are as good as they ever will be. 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. They got the message right.

Serbia 235

Serbia Birds Spain Hungary 235

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2013

The 1,500 km route included a great diversity of habitat types, elevations along the west and east facing slopes of the Andes, jaw dropping landscapes, contrasting microclimates, cultural diversity and a potential list of well over 1,000 species. Other teams had member with lots of experience in the western lowlands.

Peru 256

Peru South Africa Birds United Kingdom 256

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The very first thing we notice about this large member of the Galliformes is that there is a wild version and a domestic version, and although the two are rather different, they are both given the same species name, Meleagris gallopavo. This is not entirely unknown among domestic animals, but many domesticates have no living wild version.

Turkey 197

Turkey Columbus Spain Fowl 197

10,000 Birds

JUNE 10, 2012

I am heading towards the end of a two week family break in Andalusia, Spain as I write this and last week we jumped in the hire car and headed to a Spanish Town called Ronda for a day trip. It felt like coming home. There is beauty in these places but sometimes I have to look hard to find it.

Birds 166

Birds Spain Industry Humane 166

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

I haven’t yet been birding in Europe but whenever I occasionally skim a field guide about the birds on the other side of the Atlantic, I’m always encouraged to find that I’m already familiar with many species found over there, even though most of my birding experience has been limited to eastern North America.

2017 116

2017 Portugal Rabbits Europe 116

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 15, 2014

In the High Arctic we find several migrating species that break that mould. Their journey between the Arctic and Africa takes them from here, across Greenland and the North Atlantic, onto Great Britain and then south through France, Spain, across the Mediterranean and down into Sub-saharan Africa.

Africa 191

Africa Somalia North America Nigeria 191

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2013

International teams compete for 6 days and 5 nights with the express purpose of recording the most bird species, by sight or by call, while the clock ticks down. The Tramuntanas – Spain. A huge surprise was the addition of an entirely new species for Peru, a Black Swift , found by the Forest Falcons team.

Peru 217

Peru 2012 Birds Falcons 217

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2020

are up next, with a wonderful Australian species: It is very hard to choose a Best Bird of the Year any year. Unfortunately, this morph is the dominant one at Fuzhou NFP”) that somehow survived the review process, possibly because the reviewer has had similar experiences. Clare (and Grant!) How cool is that? Preposterous!

2020 220

2020 Birds Germany Costa Rica 220

10,000 Birds

JUNE 25, 2012

The walk to this evocative riparian grotto is actually rather short, but the experience feels akin to a ritual to anyone who has long anticipated dropping in on the diablotin. I actually turned down an opportunity years ago to see this species in Ecuador because I wanted the Dunston Cave birds to be my first.

Trinidad 241

Trinidad South America America Ecuador 241

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2016

Alba wagtails range widely and commonly from Greenland and Spain towards the east, far and wide, to the mighty river Yenisei in Siberia. Now, if you quickly call to mind the pattern of Asian species reaching Europe as vagrants, you will remember that most are from Siberia. This – roughly – is where ocularis takes over.

Germany 100

Germany Sharks Morocco Europe 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 12, 2011

We started out as a team with enthusiasm and knowledge, but little experience in book-making. reduce traffic casualties amongst Badgers , get the White-tailed Eagle back as a breeding bird, increase the number of protected plant species etc.). Take these large savannah-like areas in Extremadura, Spain, for example (the Dehesas).

Badgers 145

Badgers Ethics Africa Spain 145

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

4 The Love Of Animals

MARCH 17, 2011

Grief, friendship, gratitude, wonder, and other things we animals experience. Waterfall Dances: Do animals have spiritual experiences? In June 2006, Jane and I visited a chimpanzee sanctuary near Girona, Spain. Stories about animals rescuing members of their own and other species, including humans, abound. by Marc Bekoff.

Emotional 100

Emotional Animal Whales Whaling 100