10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2012

It is usually an extremely secretive bird and only readily found at very first light when family parties emerge onto the tops of boulders and utter their strange, shrieking choruses. This family group is performing their loud croaking territorial calls. A family group of Rüppell’s Bustards uttering their croaking territorial calls.

Namibia 245

Namibia Angola Lovebirds South Africa 245

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2017

One thing that had changed since my 2003 trip was that Rosy-faced Lovebird was on the ABA Checklist (and that I knew what that was). So, I flew into Phoenix, Lovebird Central, and three hours after I got off the plane had a lovebird in my binoculars, at Encanto Park. Here are some of the best experiences of my excellent trip.

Arizona 102

Arizona Lovebirds Phoenix New Jersey 102

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 11, 2011

Typical species include busy Secretarybirds that patrol the grasslands, families of Common Ostrich , White-bellied Bustards , Yellow-throated Sandgrouse , vultures, snake-eagles and numerous seedeaters, including lovely Purple Grenadiers and Green-winged Pytlias , to mention just a few. and Northern Pied Babbler.

Tanzania 211

Tanzania Africa Stud Leopards 211

10,000 Birds

APRIL 15, 2015

Nineteen days later we had racked up an amazing list of 436 species, including some of Africa’s least known birds such as Congo Serpent Eagle , Yellow-footed Honeyguide , Tessmann’s Flycatcher , Yellow-bearded Greenbul , Black-collared Lovebird and much besides. We also knew we had discovered Africa’s next hot birding destination.

Ghana 189

Ghana Hunters Guinea Gambia 189

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

This group of 4 species (as well as all the remaining “weavers” that are covered below) are not even placed in the weaver family ( Ploceidae ) but in Passeridae – the Old World Sparrow family. Image taken in Samburu, Kenya by Adam Riley. They occur in dry savanna as well as broadleafed woodlands. These nests can weight up to 1 ton!

Tanzania 215

Tanzania Buffalo Kenya Namibia 215

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

Families that are endemic to the continent include such strange birds as Shoebill , Secretarybird , Hamerkop , mousebirds and rockfowl ( picathartes ) and delightful groups including bushshrikes, sugarbirds, rockjumpers, woodhoopoes, turacos and hyliotas. What are the must do destinations and what must one see?

Papua New Guinea 214

Papua New Guinea Madagascar Africa Equatorial Guinea 214