10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

We had a wonderful family vacation in Germany and the Czech Republic during which I managed to do a bit of birding. I also spent a bunch of time on the East Pond at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge and, as usual, managed to see some birds on workdays. Adding a new shorebird to my Queens list was a big plus as well! Pied-billed Grebe.

2012 142

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 142

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

Corey encountered a bunch of winners, but 24 Common Redpolls at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge, in almost the exact same spot he saw them a couple of years ago, feeding on birch inflorescence by the East Pond, were easily his best birds of the weekend. However, I’ll bestow that honor upon my first local Common Grackles of spring.

2011 153

2011 New York Deer Birds 153

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Other birds with webbed feet, including ducks and geese, have only three webbed toes; the hallux (which in birds is usually the “hind toe&# and in humans, the “big toe&# ) is free. But meanwhile, let’s look at the four avian families that comprise the brand new order Suliformes. Feeding Frenzy at Jamaica Bay.Or

2011 151

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 151

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2016

Ducks, swans, and geese may initially appear easy to identify. I started out my birding life sitting on Benches 2 and 7 at the Jamaica Bay NWR West Pond, my Peterson’s in my lap, studying Green-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and the occasional Pintail. But, as with many avian families, the more you look, the more complicated it gets.

North America 142

North America Asia Europe America 142

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2011

The Snow Geese at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge will soon be winging their way north, so he spent some quality time with them, his best birds of the weekend. I always choose a target bird for my trips to Florida, which are mainly to visit with family, but I never ever dreamed that one of my FL Life Birds would be a MacGillivray’s.

2011 133

2011 Deer Birds Owls 133