10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

When I read somewhere that Pygmy Geese were not actually geese at all I started doing some research. I discovered that there are actually a fair number of ducks and other waterfowl that are wrongly called geese. Well, the Pygmy Geese complex are actually all ducks belonging to the genus Nettapus.

Geese 180

Geese Ducks Botswana South Africa 180

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 26, 2024

A first-winter Red-breasted Goose at Cley, North Norfolk As a general rule, geese are birds of subtle, even dull, plumage. All the so-called grey geese – Greylag, Bean, White-front, Lesser White-front, Swan – look very much alike, and it takes experience to identify them by their calls and their shape and size.

Bulgaria 130

Bulgaria Geese Romania Estonia 130

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. At one time I counted over 60 individuals from each goose species from a single spot. Very rarely, Barnacle Geese are also seen feeding on the lawn, probably on passage.

Geese 130

Geese Birds Germany Woodpeckers 130

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 30, 2023

As soon as I looked at it more closely it was quite clear that it wasn’t a scaup of any species, despite its resemblance to a North American Lesser Scaup. I hadn’t considered the possible parentage more than the two probable species involved, but intriguingly a Pochard drake x Tufted duck looks quite different.

Geese 187

Geese Ducks Falcons Latvia 187

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

As the tide fell, it exposed sand banks that attracted small parties of garrulous Brent Geese. A party of Dark-bellied Brent Geese , winter visitors from Siberia Brent are abundant along the Norfolk coast, invariably proclaiming their presence with their guttural chattering, so unlike the higher-pitched calls of the Pinkfeet.

Geese 183

Geese Russia Breeding Unwanted 183

10,000 Birds

APRIL 6, 2024

and I would like to take good photos of this species. The waterbirds were fun to watch, as they often are at this park, and all the standard species were there particularly Mallard , Common Pochard and Tufted Duck (you might have noticed I mention Tufted Ducks a lot in my posts – I’m not sure why but I really like this species!)

Birds 167

Birds Germany Ducks Woodpeckers 167

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

WinGS volunteers visit gull roost sites, counting six key species: Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. In the nearby river valley I did find a reasonable flock of Lapwings, along with a small flock of Greylag and Egyptian Geese, but not a lot else.

Ireland 218

Ireland Turtles Geese Farming 218

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2023

The whole area has been a breeding ground for many species and depending on the time of day you can expect a wide variety of species. The last of the daylight appears to trigger some bird species to make a move to a new location. Sunset is currently around 5.20pm, but does not vary much throughout the year here in Broome.

Geese 130

Geese Birds Ducks Rights 130

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2023

There are still many Egrets and the Magpie Geese are all on the move with their young. Black-winged Stilt and young I had a quick look on my camera after taking the header photo and realised it was not a chick in the reeds, but another bird species entirely.

Geese 219

Geese Family Species Birds 219

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 24, 2023

Last year, in November, I notched up a dozen species of butterflies, an impressive total anywhere in Europe so late in the year. Red-breasted Geese do turn up at Kerkini regularly, and one year I watched a Red-breast mixed in with the Lessers. Perhaps they do occasionally, but not when I’ve seen them.

Greece 209

Greece Pelicans Geese Buffalo 209

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. Almost 200 bird species have been recorded at Serendip Sanctuary and I was not disappointed with my day out. The Cape Barren Geese had goslings when I visited.

Sanctuary 130

Sanctuary Kangaroos Geese Transported 130

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 7, 2023

It was during this period that I took part in a bird race in Kenya, where I saw 290 species in one day, 442 in two. Thus in 48 hours I’d seen more species of birds than most people see in a lifetime in Britain. In the early 80s I led a trip to South Africa when we saw more than 400 species. I haven’t a clue. All very confusing.

Sri Lanka 233

Sri Lanka Kenya San Francisco Greece 233

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. A lone Whooper Swan on a grey January day in Norfolk As for the ducks – I’m now up to 15 species.

Spain 130

Spain Eagles North America Ducks 130

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2018

More than 50 years ago, the Hawaiian Goose (Nene) was one of the first birds listed under the Endangered Species Act, part of the inaugural “ Class of 1967 ”. Under the Endangered Species Act, any listing, uplisting, downlisting, or removal from a list requires a formal “rulemaking” process.

Endangered Species 101

Endangered Species Species Hawaii 2018 101

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2021

This bird species is known to travel large distances around Australia. The Magpie Geese have dispersed from the previous area they were in, because it got too wet. The birds appeared to know they needed to move to and the Magpie Geese and Wandering Whistling-Ducks were flying away from the storm. Magpie Geese on the move.

Geese 255

Geese Eagles Australia Breeding 255

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

Actually, I visited the Two Towers twice, had about 50 bird species each time and about 60 in total, so this is sort of a composite tour description. However awkward this seems, I am using both British and (American) names – I wouldn’t be surprised if they do become different species in years to come.

Serbia 264

Serbia Geese Eagles Louisiana 264

10,000 Birds

JUNE 13, 2021

Here’s a quote about bird lungs from Britannica: “Himalayan geese have been observed not only to fly over human climbers struggling to reach the top of Mount Everest, but to honk as they do so.” The bird is a captive-bred Peregrine/Gyrfalcon hybrid owned by people with an Exotic Species Permit.

Wildlife Rehabilitation 262

Wildlife Rehabilitation Tethering Giraffes Alabama 262

10,000 Birds

JUNE 18, 2023

This year, with the exceptional rain and flooding across much of the land there has been a great opportunity for many bird species to move to the area and breed. It is not just the Magpie Geese and Pied Herons that arrived and chose to breed, but also the Australasian Swamphens.

Breeding 130

Breeding Geese Species Birds 130

10,000 Birds

JULY 24, 2014

New Zealand had, once upon a time, some fairly spectacular game birds, including massive flightless geese, massive flightles rails, and really enormous moa. The obvious choice was the Mallard , that plucky familiar northern hemisphere species that is the father of the even more familiar domesticated duck. Not sure if it is yet.

Species 166

Species New Zealand Ducks Game 166

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

Munkajarra Wetlands is always a good location for the various duck species and you can expect to observe Plumed Whistling-Ducks , Wandering Whistling-Ducks , Pacific Black Ducks , Hardheads , Grey Teal and sometimes Radjah Shelducks and Pink-eared Ducks. Magpie Geese , Whistling Kite and Cormorants at roost. Purple Swamphens.

Geese 196

Geese Ducks Breeding 2015 196

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2024

BLM land is particularly important for conservation of the Greater Sage-Grouse and other sageland species. NPS also manages a diverse set of lands ( i.e., from the Arctic to the Everglades to the Mojave Desert to the Rocky Mountains ) that are used by many species of birds. Only FWS has the primary goal of conservation.

Virgin Islands 209

Virgin Islands Alaska United States Endangered Species 209

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2023

I tried to get a better idea of what exactly the definition of cuckoo-dove is but am still not very clear about it – Wikipedia only offers the rather formal definition “any of several species of bird in the genera Macropygia , Reinwardtoena, and Turacoena of the pigeon family.” But I may well be wrong.

Birds 147

Birds Geese Fish Industry 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2024

Starting the New Year by trying to see as many species as possible is something of a birding tradition. My diary notes that the New Year dawned grey and windy, but I rose early, walked six miles before breakfast and noted a modest 26 species of birds. One of my more memorable New Year’s days was in the Falkland Islands, back in 1989.

Birds 212

Birds Albatross Barn Owls Sparrows 212

10,000 Birds

APRIL 14, 2021

By the time I left the state at the end of January to head back south, I had added 26 species to my 2021 list. Sure, I can see Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals and Canada Geese in my own backyard, year-round, but closing my eyes and picturing those species against a snowy backdrop makes me smile. Here’s hoping!

Florida 199

Florida ALA Birds Woodpeckers 199

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

Per usual, the Canada Geese proved to be the most prevalent species – and the loudest. And a lone American White Pelican , its impressive wing span reminding me for the umpteenth time of the hugeness of this species. . Just over the required 15 minute mark, I spotted 17 species, including a few firsts for my 2021 list.

Florida 251

Florida Birds Pelicans Geese 251

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 3, 2021

After spending Christmas Day birding around Broome and observing 92 species we spent the week making a mental note of what bird species were where. We managed to not observe Straw-necked Ibis or Glossy Ibis all day, but had seen both species a week ago! Magpie Geese. Sacred Kingfisher on the power line.

Geese 205

Geese Ducks Breeding Zebras 205

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2019

It was inevitable that Birds and Booze would one day get around to reviewing Grey Goose, the popular and high-profile brand of premium French vodka that comes in an attractive bottle adorned with frosty white silhouettes of geese in flight. In other words, some claim that the makers of Grey Goose are trying to turn their geese into swans.

Geese 134

Geese Branding France Poland 134

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 17, 2019

A Great Egret , a few Pygmy Cormorants and, by the middle of the Danube, about a hundred Greylag Geese. Two hundred yards further, the first Common Goldeneye and Smew started to appear and, while counting Smew and geese, a Great Bittern took flight from one stand of reeds to another, right in front of us.

Geese 145

Geese Serbia Birds Estonia 145

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2015

The distribution of color morphs is unequal in the Snow Goose population, with the maximum number of blue-morph geese occurring in mid-continent breeding and wintering areas 1. I photographed these blue morph Snow Geese at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge where I saw quite a few, including this juvenile (below). v=DYNb-0vYTE8.

Sacramento 197

Sacramento Geese North America Wildlife 197

10,000 Birds

MAY 21, 2023

With the extent of the tall vegetation many species have been able to breed and hide for many months and now they are becoming more visible from the highway. There is ample food for many species and you can clearly see the small fish around the culverts. There are also a lot more Red-kneed Dotterels and Black-fronted Dotterels visible.

Australia 147

Australia Fish Pelicans Geese 147

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 181

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 181

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 29, 2018

The focus of the trip was ducks and we hit a couple of hotspots in central Queens, Baisley Pond Park and Willow Lake Preserve, and then we took a quick stop at World’s Fair Marina to track down a few more species. Waterfowl is defined here as swans, geese, and ducks. Most winters Snow Geese are a gimme when birding Queens.

Geese 112

Geese New York City Ducks Jamaica 112

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2023

This meant I saw some truly domesticated species there, like these Graylag and African (domesticated Swan ) Geese : Fortunately, all the other birds I saw there were truly wild. There were Yellow Warblers , a species I always seem to see among willows in lakeside parks. Looks a bit more red to me.

Jordan 194

Jordan Mexico Birds Ohio 194

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 175

Geese Hunting Boars Birds 175

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 27, 2015

Because of its distance to the mainland, Hawaii is home to over 60 species of endemic birds. Nenes are attractive geese, though they were named for their soft calls rather than their looks. Unlike other geese, Nenes prefer walking to swimming. Like other geese than evolved in Hawaii but went extinct, the Nene is an herbivore.

Hawaii 156

Hawaii Feral Cats Mongoose Geese 156

10,000 Birds

JULY 25, 2014

On 22 January 1879, a pair of Egyptian Geese sat quietly on top of Isandlwana Hill and watched closely. When I started birding in earnest during the 1980s in south-west Germany, no one talked about Egyptian Geese. And for the first time ever in Europe, I encountered a few Egyptian Geese somewhere around Amsterdam.

Germany 150

Germany Geese Netherlands Kenya 150

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2014

It was the only real highlight at Shinnecock for we two jaded birders, though we did appreciate seeing all three scoters, a whole bunch of Common Eiders , both species of scaup, some Great Cormorants , and a bunch of Red-breasted Mergansers. all three of the Greater White-fronted Geese we spotted with a bunch of Canada Geese.

New York 174

New York Geese Canada New York City 174