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Cypriot Delights: Part I

10,000 Birds

Tucked away at the extreme eastern end of the Mediterranean, Cyprus is regarded politically as part of Europe, but when it comes to birds it’s very much Middle Eastern in flavour, with a number of species that are hard or even impossible to find in Europe, plus a trio of endemics. It’s now on the official quarry list on the island.

Cyprus 223
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The Final Days of the Danube backwaters in Belgrade: Chinese Belt and Road Initiative is coming to Serbia

10,000 Birds

And here in Europe, they are the real deal, an indigenous species and not domesticated animals gone wild. They may have been disturbed by the presence of hunters in the Danube backwaters. The only wildcat I found was illegally killed by hunters during closed season. I think all were males, at last two huge ones certainly were.

Serbia 246
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Grallards: New Zealand’s Next Extinction or Newest Species?

10,000 Birds

Unfortunately for the hunters these were already all extinct, and with the introduction of cats, rats, stoats and the like the only upland game bird, the New Zealand Quail , was fast on the way out too. With a boost like that the species was well and truly here to stay. Indeed, 30,000 mallards were released across the entire nation.

Species 167
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Birding in Place on Poas Volcano- What can You See?

10,000 Birds

At least most of the resident species can still be seen right along the road, you just have to keep an eye out for cyclists and vehicles on their way up and down the volcano. Either way, its all good, its still birding and if you try it in the right places on Poas, the avian treats will delight you. Just keep watching!

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Birding Hongbenghe, Yunnan

10,000 Birds

Hongbenghe is a very small village in Yunnan, right next to the border with Myanmar. I saw two Pitta species at Hongbenghe, both among the slightly less glamourous among the pitta family: The Blue-naped Pitta … … and the closely related Rusty-naped Pitta. I have written about the hornbills of this area before.

Birds 147
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Carolina Parakeet: Mystery of the Incas

10,000 Birds

And with it the existence of the northernmost species of parrot in the world, the only native parrot in the United States whose provenance is not questioned, and a piece of American natural history that is so bizarre that its existence seems impossible to people living today. It was called Incas. Can you imagine it? photo from wikipedia.

Parrots 230
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Flock to Marion

10,000 Birds

I learned of the trip right as it had been delayed and made a vow that I would be on that ship. Finally in 1799, the first visitors on this volcanic land were a group of French seal hunters who were after the fur seals that can be found hauled out on the beaches for fur and oil, which almost wiped out the local population of the species.