10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

Birdwise, it turned out to be a good one and my year list was almost 400 species long, which made me happy… almost. 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.

Greece 184

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 184

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

At the snowy Danube riverbank, we are waiting for geese to come to their roost inside the mostly submerged island. A shot or two coming from the opposite bank, but they do not sound like geese shooting – more like boar hunting. Scanning the water for rarer species… S. warns me of two locally rare Bean Geese.

Geese 179

Geese Hunting Boars Birds 179

10,000 Birds

MAY 16, 2018

Well, it took about ten minutes to find out, as I was sitting in the RV, right at water’s edge, photographing a lovely pair of Rufus-banded Honeyeaters , when a small, 2-meter-long Crocodile came rushing up out of the water, right at my door! Here are some of the Green Pygmy Geese. This held true of most species.

Geese 132

Geese Birds Australia Ducks 132

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 18, 2018

Were we to ascribe to weekends the taxonomy of birds, our days would likely resemble our lists: for every resplendent songbird or wild raptor would be ten ordinary gulls or pigeons, interesting in their own rights but hardly worth raving about. They found twenty-four species of ducks, geese, and swans, not bad for a half-day.

2018 113

2018 Iceland Geese Birds 113

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

In a typical birding year, no other month will bring you that many new species as January. A month ago I was in the Iron Gates National Park in eastern Serbia, where one Black Woodpecker flew across the road, right in front of us (proving it is an extant taxon). Scarlet, that is, only when fully stretched.

Serbia 184

Serbia Geese 2001 Ducks 184

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Greylag Geese. Soon I hit the brakes for a 60 strong flock of Greylag Geese of the Siberian race rubrirostris grazing near the road. In all that swirling of swallows, I am not certain was there a third species, so I keep watching. Finally, yes, at least two Crag Martins are among the more numerous swallows. Practicalities.

Greece 252

Greece Pelicans Geese Breeding 252

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. Right, smack dad in the middle of Summer Lake Wildlife Refuge. Not another person for miles, and a pair of friendly, well, almost, Great Horned Owls living in the tree right above us. US species – 175.

Blackbirds 122

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 122

10,000 Birds

APRIL 2, 2017

The grass is green, the wildflowers are spectacular and now we have numerous species of dragonfly to enjoy as the season starts to change. The open plains are now busy with young Magpie Geese and numerous other waterbirds and the Sharp-tailed Sandpipers are busy feeding up before migration. Masked Lapwing protecting a nest.

Breeding 100

Breeding Eggs Protection Cows 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2020

Luis is an avid eBirder and he likes to keep a good record of his lists, photograph as many species as he can, and he encourages others to do the same. punch line to a bad birding joke, right? If you see him on the field or contact him, he will be sure to join you since birding is always better with an extra pair of binoculars.

Canada 169

Canada Cuba Miami Florida 169

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 10, 2017

Covenham Reservoir is the largest stretch of inland water in Lincolnshire and although it is used for various water sport activities during the year it is also used by many species of birds. You can see right across the water and down into the fields below and across to the hills. Canada Geese. Common Buzzard.

Geese 101

Geese Ducks Canada Shelters 101

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2018

In the winter this place is alive with thousand of ducks and geese. It ran right out to greet me, and then ran all around me, checking out the cool smells on my tripod legs. For those of you following along on my “ Little Big Year” the numbers are as follows: Little Big Year species – 814.

New Zealand 115

New Zealand Seattle Qatar South Africa 115

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2016

What is it that makes this area different from any other urban setting, which might play host to a nice selection of migrant and non-migrant species? This allows bird enthusiasts from around the world to enjoy exceptional access to a large number of species.

Mexico 137

Mexico Birds Pelicans Geese 137

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2018

I had posted a picture of the Western Wood Pewee last week, but I like this new shot so much, you all get to see a repeat of the species. Finally, one flew right into a piece of dead brush right above where I had been watching for a return of the Village Rail, and I finally did get a quick glimpse, and a decent shot.

Washington 100

Washington Canada Geese Fish 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2014

There is a huge variety of bird-life and by visiting at different times of day I have found over 65 species, with the highlight so far being the Black Bittern that I wrote of last week. It is the one species that has eluded Grant during his limited birding time while he works here. Straw-necked Ibis and Green Pygmy-geese.

Geese 167

Geese Australia Parrots Dogs 167

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 18, 2016

Greylag Geese in front of Wild Bird Cafe. The islands in view from the Wild Bird Cafe offered fantastic views of the Greylag Geese , Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon , hundreds of Rock Doves , Common Moorhens and some spectacular views of Common Snipe. It was a three Swan species day! View from Wild Bird Cafe. Whooper Swan.

Geese 101

Geese Wildlife 2001 Woodpeckers 101

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2017

This wonderful piece of birding real estate can be found 8 miles east of Olympia, and an hour’s drive south of Seattle Washington, right along the I-5 corridor. 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.

Wildlife 106

Wildlife Seattle Bald Eagle Geese 106

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 20, 2014

The first stop of the morning: young White–tailed Eagle , right next to the road and several dozen Rooks around. I observed this species in the Little Rann of Kutch in India and since then, have been burning with desire to see them back home.

Serbia 242

Serbia Owls Rodents Eagles 242

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2018

The days for me to add to my Little Big Years species count are getting fewer and fewer, and with it, my budget. Right after getting the anchor set, what to my eyes should I see, but several P urple Martins flying above the boat! Right after a couple of quick photos, it was gone, off to more secluded locations.

Oregon 100

Oregon Bald Eagle Owls Groups 100

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 will try to get everything tallied as far as bird species goes tonight.

Lions 121

Lions Buffalo United States Zebras 121

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2016

Walking down from the top car-park on October 5th we soon joined the wide trail and had the option to go to the right to the hide that was raised very high overlooking the ponds or go to the left towards the ponds. These reeds were an excellent place to observe Bearded Reedlings , though and a bird species that people come to the area to see.

Geese 140

Geese Australia 2006 Investigation 140

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 8, 2017

Ducks and geese certainly make up the bulk of the observations. In addition, there is an actual ” right leg, left leg, above and below the knee” set of marking patterns. This last weekend I got a whole new lesson in bird banding. as well in my photographs. I have over 200 waterfowl that I have recorded those shiny bands on.

Bolivia 100

Bolivia Ecuador Peru Washington 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2017

Magpie Geese were breeding close to the main highway south of Broome and so were the Whiskered Terns , White-winged Black Terns , Purple Swamphens , Comb-crested Jacanas , Wandering Whistling Ducks and Plumed Whistling Ducks. Two birds on the right and one on the left-note the bills! Three swimming Australian Painted Snipe.

Breeding 100

Breeding Eggs Raised 2017 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Then, to finish the week, we visited the famous, and not necessarily for all the right reasons, Malhuer Wildlife Refuge. The first part of the week, we parked the RV at a campground right on the water, of Dog Lake, 20 miles southwest of Lakeview, Oregon. I only ran across this one Clark’s Grebe mixed in with in the groups of Westerns.

Oregon 115

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 115

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2018

Flock after flock of blackbirds, ducks, geese, raptors flapping their way north. They come in the form of waves of Scarlet Tanagers , pewees, Blackburnian Warblers, and other species. If you see some of those birds on a Texas coast, know that many of them flew right through Costa Rica. We also have our share of migrants.

Costa Rica 100

Costa Rica Blackbirds Texas Geese 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 27, 2017

Located about 20 miles from Lakeview, Oregon, and sitting at an elevation of 5100 feet, this 208 acre lake is home to many species of fish, including Largemouth Bass, Crappie and Bluegill. Finally we came to a cross road, where I went straight, and he turned right. Lets see what fun species I can find over there?

Dogs 104

Dogs Mules Deer Oregon 104

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2013

Always bringing her camera along, Erika is building her life-list by trying to check off at least one new species each week in her field guide. There were people at the basin, and the most popular species of the day, the semi-professional photographer, was already plentiful that morning. Her blog can be found at: [link].

DC 196

DC Washington Birds Geese 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2016

But when taken as a whole, the impact of the Refuge System is truly profound, supporting population-level numbers of numerous bird species. These refuges support huge numbers of swans, geese, ducks, cranes, and shorebirds as they hopscotch their way to breeding grounds in the north. It’s not just for the birds.

Wildlife 189

Wildlife Grizzly Bear Puerto Rico United States 189

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2023

I would advise allowing as much time as possible if you hope to walk all of the trails and to be able to explore the different environments and the many species of birds. Although Tawny Frogmouths are well camouflaged I did notice the shape of the tree was not quite right and there they were. The sanctuary is open from 8am-4pm daily.

Sanctuary 130

Sanctuary Kangaroos Geese Transported 130

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 24, 2018

This 57,331 acre refuge was set aside as a critical wintering location for tens of thousands of Geese, Ducks and Sandhill Cranes. My first ever Gamble’s Quail were feeding right next to the picnic area, and alongside the visitors center building, I spotted a thrasher. Right in our camp, we found Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.

New Mexico 113

New Mexico Mexico Tucson Costa Rica 113

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 ). Should I add, this is my best sighting of this uncommon species – ever!

Greece 248

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 248

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 1, 2018

all the time pointing with my right hand while holding the steering wheel with my left, and the hardest thing, keeping my eyes on the road. More productive areas of the Balkans have January eBird lists from 105 to 115 species (but I combined several areas in two countries, Greece and Serbia), so I have every reason to be satisfied.

Owls 106

Owls Greece Serbia Woodpeckers 106

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2013

Nearly every species of heron and egret in North America forage only feet away, some of them in their dazzling breeding displays. Right in the open. [link] From the tangled scrub at the entrance to Green Cay my guests emerge on the boardwalk, cooing and ahing at the tameness of all the birds. A young Bobcat!

North America 227

North America Factory Alligators Trafficking 227

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. He was right! Occasionally finders mistake not just species, but entire classes. “We Such a curious-looking little bird,” said the man.

Wildlife 253

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Falcons Pit Bulls 253

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2012

Despite a couple of missed exits as we transferred from highway to highway on our way east we still made it to our destination shortly after dawn and started scanning the south pasture where we saw a whole big bunch of Canada Geese and not much else. No big deal. Still no lapwings.

North America 136

North America Hungary New York America 136

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2024

Barnacle Geese even made it to “agricultural pest” status. I was going on a quest for a single species – something I normally just don’t do. It’s not officially inside the National Park, but access is easier and the species tally isn’t too shabby, not at all. There will be large eucalypts and a canal on your right.

Spain 227

Spain Ducks Morocco Europe 227

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2016

Tawny Frogmouths are often an accidental sighting when you are looking for other birds in trees and something just does not look quite right about the shape of the tree. The dam was very full and there were numerous species of birds present.

Shelters 100

Shelters Geese Australia 2010 100

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 14, 2014

It may appear an odd time to go birding, right in the middle of the day, but when it is hot birds do need to drink and it has proven rather successful. I have found the ideal time to get across the busy road to Marlow Lagoon is around the middle of the day, when traffic is at its minimum. It was two hours before sunset.

Asia 170

Asia Australia Geese Birds 170