10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 2, 2014

Not a great place for a family vacation, though I think Duncan will disagree. Nothing wets the appetite for a birding trip like a map with a Blue-banded Pitta posed in the middle and a Rhinoceros Hornbill flying across the edge! Species Accounts are grouped by family, following what appears to be Sibley and Monroe’s 1996 taxonomy. (I

Brunei 174

Brunei Birds Asia China 174

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

A little further, there’s a family group of Savannah Elephants with two two-year olds. Their presence indicates large mammals nearby – and only a few meters away, one Southern White Rhinoceros mother with a calf disappears among the bushes. The dirt road winds in between rocky outcrops – kopjes, by Burchell’s Zebras and Greater Kudus.

South Africa 214

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 214

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

That larger clade is in turn sister to a clade containing the four remaining totipalmate bird families, which do still seem to be related, and which needed a new order name once pelicans were removed. But meanwhile, let’s look at the four avian families that comprise the brand new order Suliformes.

2011 152

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 152

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Indian Rhinoceros in Kaziranga, photo Anuwar Hazarika/Wikimedia Commons. Kaziranga National Park is famous for having 80% of the surviving population of the Indian Rhinoceros , as well as being the favourite park of the British royal family, whenever they visit India.

Asia 270

Asia Malaysia Papua New Guinea Thailand 270

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2022

The one bird I did not see here, however, was the Bateleur Eagle … One highlight in the area is the Saddle-billed Stork , likely to be the tallest species in the stork family. Another member of the stork family, the African Openbill , looks like it is could benefit from a good orthodontist. And sadly, it is listed as Endangered.

Ostriches 147

Ostriches Parrots Birds Eggs 147

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 16, 2022

So, you would have a “Hippopotamus Egret”, a “Rhinoceros Egret” or an “Elephant Bird” ( source ). Retz’s Helmetshrike is one of the 8 helmetshrikes within the larger family of Vangidae – apparently, a family that evolved from a single Madagascar-based species.

Elephants 147

Elephants Birds Congo Africa 147

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 29, 2011

Having flown to Washington State on a family vacation the first obstacle was easily out of the way, which you knew already if you ever read this blog. when the puffin flew past, a bird that the whole family can appreciate. The second obstacle was to find a specific location where Fratercula cirrhata is regularly seen.

Washington 169

Washington Protection Puffins Bald Eagle 169

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2022

For some reason, the largest member of the heron family is not called the Great Heron nor the Giant Heron but rather the Goliath Heron. The shrike family (Laniidae) has two genera, one (Lanius) with 32 species and one (Eurocephalus) with 2 species. Consistency is overrated. The bird … … and the dung provider.

Birds 147

Birds Africa Eagles Barn Owls 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

(The Big Five–Lion, Leopard, African Buffalo, African Elephant and Rhinoceros–were historically the main mammal attraction of Kruger. There is also a narrative write-up for each species that recounts interesting behavior, family issues, unique biological facts, the animal’s status in Kruger, and notable conservation issues.

Rhinos 237

Rhinos Mammals Animal White Rhinos 237

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

A little further, there’s a family group of Savannah Elephants with two two-year olds. Their presence indicates large mammals nearby – and only a few meters away, one Southern White Rhinoceros mother with a calf disappears among the bushes. The dirt road winds in between rocky outcrops – kopjes, by Burchell’s Zebras and Greater Kudus.

Africa 189

Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 189

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 of course the big game is an added bonus.

Tanzania 214

Tanzania Africa Stud Leopards 214

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2014

This is not to say, however, that birders on holiday are, should they choose to travel with family, friends or other assorted loved ones, resigned to seeing nothing, or even nothing except the common stuff. I was thus able to pick an off-the-shelf ecotourism route and, having selected a company, customise it to my family’s needs.

Birds 182

Birds Bats Elephants Family 182

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

For the moment I’ll stick with the split babbler families although I may relump the laughingthrushes, ground and tree babblers per Molye et al (2012). Species are listed by family according to the order eBird spits them out to me in. Rhinoceros Hornbill ( Buceros rhinoceros ); Danum Valley, Borneo, 1 January.

2014 150

2014 New Zealand Singapore Rhinoceros 150

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 1, 2018

Can the whole family live together in harmony during the school holidays? Rhinoceros Hornbill – Buceros rhinoceros. Is it wrong of me to go birding to get away from the kids now that they are at home all day? August is the make or break month for relationships. Bravo if you have. Taman Negara NP–Forest Loop.

2018 100

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100