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Birding Ruoergai, Sichuan, China

10,000 Birds

The HBW even mentions the importance of Ruoergai for this species: “Key sites for migrants include the Ruoergai Plateau (China), which is also an important breeding area” Common Mergansers also seem to use these wetlands as breeding area. The raptors of Ruoergai deserve a separate post.

China 209
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What is a Merganser?

10,000 Birds

One of the sweetest subsections of the duck family has to be the sawbills, formally known as mergansers. Mergansers are a family of diving waterfowl in Merginae , the seaduck subfamily of Anatidae. It is also a species in rapid decline, considered vulnerable by some authorities and endangered by others. Notice the sawbill?

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Of Snowflake Birds and the Cold War

10,000 Birds

I was given my first real field guide to the birds of Europe by my parents, a guide beyond the species found at backyard feeders and city ponds. My childhood in the 1970s and 1980s was of course shaped by family, friends, playmobil ( very popular in Germany back then), and school but also to a certain extend by the Cold War.

Europe 100
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As the tide falls: an hour at Brancaster Staithe

10,000 Birds

A few do breed in Europe, on the extreme north-east of European Russia. The latter is half the size of the Grey, but with its stout beak and prominent eyes shows a distinct family likeness. These were dark-bellied birds from Russia. Both species of geese have increased hugely in recent years. A Ringed Plover.

Geese 230
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Birding St Lucia, South Africa

10,000 Birds

As this African Green Pigeon shows, the color should offer good camouflage for species living on trees. In case you do not know that brimstone is sulfur, the Brimstone Canary brings the point home by having the Latin species name sulphurata. Different bird families, I know. Lucia for the birds. Celebration everywhere.

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Birding the Kruger Park (1): Skukuza area

10,000 Birds

There are quite a few raptor species around Skukuza. Most likely, the devil, not god created this species. While some bustards are the largest bird species capable of flight, the Black-bellied Bustard is only mid-sized. Skukuza is the largest camp and the administrative center of Kruger Park. Consistency is overrated.

Birds 147
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“The Birder’s Guide to Africa” by Michael Mills

10,000 Birds

Starting in the mid-1990s, there was a “where to watch birds in…” series of five site guides written by Nigel Wheatley and covering South America (1994), Africa (1995), Asia (1996), Europe & Russia (2000) and Central America & the Caribbean (2001). Family accounts for all 142 bird families recorded from the region.

Africa 197