10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Another Superb Owl Sunday has come and gone. Did you see any superb owls? I got my owl fix last weekend but spent the bulk of the week chasing a rare pair of Greater White-fronted Geese around Monroe County. Fortunately, I finally tracked them down yesterday, hiding out amidst teeming masses of Canada Geese.

2016 100

2016 Geese Owls Birds 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2022

It’s all good and yet at the same time, there are still birding moments made special by seeing life birds, seeing and hearing birds do things we had never imagined, or losing oneself in the fantastic noise made by a flock of parakeets, geese, or migrating thrushes. Costa Rican Pygmy-Owl. Another bird from Irazu some years ago.

Costa Rica 245

Costa Rica Birds Owls Geese 245

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 16, 2018

European Collared and Pied Flycatchers , Eurasian Hoopoes , Common Cuckoos and Tree Pipits are back in late March, while Eurasian Scops Owls are back by late March – early April. Usually about 40K geese overwinter in Serbia, but the last cold spell, when the Danube was mostly frozen solid, pushed twice as many to Serbia.

Serbia 145

Serbia Geese Owls Macedonia 145

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

Birding that starts with the largest eagle of the continent certainly bears promises… The next stop is the town park in Opovo, north of Belgrade, where local bird expert Ceda Vuckovic reported one, locally rare, Short-eared Owl. Long-eared Owls are irresistibly cute. Not far from it, several Long-eared Owls douse in winter sun.

Serbia 234

Serbia Owls Rodents Eagles 234

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 28, 2018

This cold weather and snow does not seem to have much effect on the huge number of ducks and geese, but the smaller song birds, all seem to wake up much later in the days, and only after it has warmed up a bit. I ran into a birder on the board walk who asked if I had gotten to see the Northern Saw-whet Owl , back on the road into the refuge.

Fox 121

Fox Washington Geese Sparrows 121

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 17, 2015

I was to go inland to Pocosin Lakes NWR, home of massive flocks of Tundra Swans and Snow Geese. We saw both, though the goose flock was too distant to pick out the Ross’s and Cackling Geese that are usually tucked within. The owl had put me at 195 and I felt pretty confident I would get there. The second was better.

North Carolina 169

North Carolina Owls Geese Alligators 169

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

Many refuges are strategically located along major flyways, allowing ducks and geese to hopscotch their way up the continent to northern breeding grounds and back down again. Spotted Owls depend on old growth forests, largely in national forests and parks in the Pacific Northwest.

Virgin Islands 200

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 200

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2015

So many sexy snow birds pop up this time of year: Snow Buntings , Snow Geese , Snowy Owls … But if you’re like me, you couldn’t get out to see them this weekend. Too much snow! Between work and shoveling, I had no chance to get out birding.

2015 187

2015 Geese Birds Owls 187

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

I had been hoping that the Barn Owl I’d seen here a couple of days before would appear, but it was clearly back at its roost. A pair of Mute Swans flew over on creaking wings (they are noisy fliers), while a bonus was hearing a Woodlark singing away on the heath itself.

Birds 202

Birds Albatross Barn Owls Sparrows 202

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

Nikos said: “I may have about an hour before breakfast and can take you to see the geese.”. Kostas Papadopoulos observing Lesser White-fronted Geese at Kerkini. Lesser White-fronted Geese, of course. Lesser White-fronted Geese at Kerkini, photo by Kostas Papadopoulos. Stopping here and there to scope the mudbar….

Greece 176

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 176

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 24, 2021

Commoner species include Bar-headed Geese , parakeets, shrikes, mynas and minivets. On night drives here looking for Eurasian Eagle Owl and nightjars you have a very good chance of seeing Striped Hyena. You are certain to see Greater One-horned Rhinoceros , Water Buffalo and Hog Deer , and with a bit of luck Smooth-coated Otters.

India 181

India Wildlife Tigers Eagles 181

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2014

It was the height of baby season, I was insanely overworked and underslept, and I did not – I repeat, did not – do waterbirds, except for mallards and Canada geese and wood ducks and swans etc. I had a cockatoo, a vulture, a Snowy Owl , and various hawks that all turned out to be pigeons,” wrote Joanne Cina-Dreeben. I have no idea!

Wildlife 244

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Falcons Pit Bulls 244

10,000 Birds

APRIL 8, 2016

Many are what we’d expect to see today: Mallards and Canada Geese. And a few victims are birds that just came down to drink at the wrong place and the wrong time, birds like Passenger Pigeons and California Turkeys , and also birds like Great Horned Owls and American Goldfinch.

California Condor 171

California Condor Coyotes Eagles Turkey 171

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

Nearly 800 acres of wetlands and tidal flats provide diverse habitat for the local birds, as well as large numbers of migratory species, including thousands of ducks and geese. I had a nice visit with the local biologist, who gave me a heads up on where to find some owls, but try as I might, I never was able to locate them.

Wildlife 104

Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 104

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 16, 2012

Redgannet was in town and had all day to get out looking for birds so I had booked us for the pelagic trip out of Freeport and our plan was to find his life Snowy Owl and then get on the boat and enjoy a host of alcids, gulls, and gannets. The owl, much to Redgannet’s dismay, was a no-show. Saturday was set aside for birding.

Agenda 167

Agenda Owls New York Fast Food 167

10,000 Birds

JUNE 1, 2011

Owls are a little different. They don’t build nests and some like Great Horned Owls take over old hawk or squirrel nests. Before baby owls (like the above Great Horned Owl chicks) are able to fly, they go through what is called a “brancher phase.&# Their feet are already fully grown and very strong.

Birds 264

Birds Fox Raised Ducks 264

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2015

A quick check of the Collins 2 (I think American birders know this book as the “Birds of Europe”, but here, some branding mastermind has interconnected the company’s name and the book title) revealed that we are facing two Siberian Greylag Geese (race rubrirostris ). Picture 5: European Scops-Owl – Otus scops.

Greece 239

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 239

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2012

John from A DC Birding Blog , and Patrick from The Hawk Owl’s Nest at Jamaica Bay at 8 AM Saturday morning for some birding. There were plenty of waterfowl around as well, including the trio of geese that spend every winter at Jamaica Bay, Snow Geese , Canada Geese , and Brant. Why does this matter?

New York 162

New York Honduras Jamaica Geese 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

No Snow Geese or swans yet, and no Sandhill Cranes , but it did renew my taste for some of the simpler, homier pleasures of birding. There’s always the possibility of Great Gray Owls , Northern Pygmy Owls , and Boreal Owls moving south and/or downhill in the colder months. Stay tuned to find out.

Bald Eagle 106

Bald Eagle Montana Owls Italy 106

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

The north end of Abert Lake had close to 10,000 ducks and geese on it, so you can imagine how excited I was to get to Malhuer! With a lack of waterfowl, I found four different owls, with Great Horned, Barn, Short-eared, and Burrowing all in the first 24 hours. The bunny got away.

Oregon 114

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 114

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2018

Saddle-billed Storks, Yellow-billed Storks, Woolly Storks, Sacred Ibis, Gray Herons, Reed Cormorants, Three-banded Plovers, White-crowned Lapwings, Blacksmith Lapwings, Egyptian Geese, White Faced Ducks and African Palm Swifts have been there every day. I have managed to find two owls, the first was this pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-owls.

Lions 118

Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 118

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2018

A pair Bald Eagles were doing fly-bys over our heads , and there were Belted Kingfishers, Canada Geese , A pair of Mallards, and three Great Blue Herons. My first surprise of the day came in the form of a great look at a Barred Owl, just sitting on an open branch. Here is the look got of that Barred Owl , first thing in the morning.

Oregon 100

Oregon Bald Eagle Owls Groups 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2015

Clapper Rail , American White Pelican , Snowy Owl , Cackling Goose , Blue-winged Teal , Bald Eagle , Lark Sparrow , Clay-colored Sparrow , Pine Warbler , and Turkey Vulture are all good birds for the count. Oddly, on count day we only found one of the two Cackling Geese that have been around Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

Bald Eagle 102

Bald Eagle Birds Sparrows Pelicans 102

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2012

The park even features a Welcome Back Waterfowl day when the community is encouraged to come out and learn about the ducks, geese, and swans that visit the valley – an event that usually occurs in early April but this year took place on March 24. A second pond held not only more of the same, but some American Coots and Canada Geese.

Wildlife 165

Wildlife Montana Geese Bald Eagle 165

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

Five candidates made the final cut: Common Loon , Snowy Owl , Gray Jay , Black-capped Chickadee , and of course, Canada Goose , like the specimen above photographed by Daniel D’Auria and posted on Wikimedia Commons. The contest: Canada’s national bird.

Canada 154

Canada United States Owls Birds 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2011

Snowy Owl – This winter turned out to be horrible for birders hoping to see Bubo scandiacus but pretty good for the birds themselves. Short-eared Owl – Finally, a bird that I saw! Black-headed Gull – A surprise pick-up, seen on the same day as my Short-eared Owl. Snow Bunting – Yes!

Jamaica 156

Jamaica Owls 2010 New York City 156

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 27, 2024

The lakes usually have quite a few waterbirds, with Mute Swans and Egyptian Geese , Greylag Geese , and Canada Geese being abundant. Very rarely, Barnacle Geese are also seen feeding on the lawn, probably on passage. I have also heard Tawny Owl and Eurasian Eagle Owl at night.

Geese 130

Geese Birds Germany Woodpeckers 130

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Imagine waking up to the call of thousands of ducks, geese, and every kind of marsh bird you can imagine. Not another person for miles, and a pair of friendly, well, almost, Great Horned Owls living in the tree right above us. That is exactly where Week 30 in our Little Big Year adventure found us.

Blackbirds 119

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 119

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2019

In the early going our best birds were a flyover Dickcissel identified by its characteristic call note and a Great Horned Owl hooting off in the distance, both birds making only their second appearance in the count’s history. Cardinals chipped, robins tut-tut-tutted, and flickers laughed from their perches. and Lincoln’s Sparrow.

Pelicans 127

Pelicans New York Whales Whaling 127

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2014

Add to that my early morning Eastern Screech-Owl at Cunningham Park (My first in Queens!) and I had a pretty good day.

2005 154

2005 Birds Blackbirds Branding 154

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2011

I thought the scene where the character played by Jack Black and his father find a Great Gray Owl in the woods was touching. I loved the scene where the character played by Steve Martin looks at a hummingbird with wonder in his eyes. Some of the interactions between Jack Black and Steve Martin were great.

Colorado 239

Colorado Geese Family Owls 239

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

These Blasts From The Past Requiem For The Rock Dove Domestic or Ganky Geese Birds at the Feeders in Saugerties Cardinal King Usurped The Sharpie: A Love-Hate Relationship About the Author Corey Corey is a New Yorker who has lived most of his life upstate but has spent the last three years in Queens. at Gloucester Harbor.Or Wicked, right?

Breeding 145

Breeding 2011 Deer New York 145

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2016

The first impression you may get when you observe a Tawny Frogmouth is that it is some sort of Owl , because it can look similar. Most were similar to what we had seen in September, with the addition of Magpie Geese in the flooded long grass. Tawny Frogmouths are actually more closely related to the Nightjar family.

Shelters 100

Shelters Geese Australia 2010 100

10,000 Birds

APRIL 4, 2014

Once the birds settled down for the morning, I explored the forest interior, consistently practicing my Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl imitation to draw in flocks containing Rufous Casiornis , Masked Gnatcatcher , and more. Screamers are most closely related to waterfowl such as ducks and geese.

Brazil 165

Brazil Birds Blackbirds Paraguay 165

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2011

When I first saw it I thought it might be a snowy or a barn owl because it was almost white. Share Your Thoughts « Domestic or Ganky Geese The Bluebird by John Burroughs » To learn more about 10,000 Birds, Mike, Corey, or the many marvelous Beat Writers, please click here. It was very a pale gray. Thanks for visiting!

2011 153

2011 New York Deer Birds 153

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

I did finally get Snowy Owls in Queens , even if they did cause a bit of controversy. Whether it was hawks , terns , seabirds , wood-warblers , shorebirds , geese , falcons , finches , or songbirds and woodpeckers I was there with my camera. I even chased after a Barred Owl ! September and October – Fall Migration.

2012 142

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 142

10,000 Birds

APRIL 5, 2024

Pinkfooted Geese in North Norfolk – winter visitors from Iceland My British list is, in fact, merely an East Anglian list, as I haven’t (so far) ventured out of the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. Always a good bird to see: a Short-eared Owl. They bred here in both 2021 and 2022, though none were found last year.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130