10,000 Birds

JANUARY 12, 2024

Memorable encounters with Mammals: Part I Most birdwatchers enjoy seeing mammals, but the trouble with mammals is that they tend to be much more challenging to see than birds. On my 21-day Kenyan safaris we reckoned to find around 600 species of birds and around 60 mammals, both impressive totals.

Fur 191

Fur Bulgaria Otters Estonia 191

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2023

The drongo perches above the flock, snatching insects that they disturb, and keeping an eye out for predators that might go unnoticed by its hunting flock-mates. The species is classified as Near Threatened for all the usual depressing reasons – pollution, drainage, hunting, and the collection of eggs and nestlings ( source ).

Birds 219

Birds Sri Lanka Taiwan Cats 219

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

The Aruban Burrowing Owl hunts primarily from the ground, hopping and running after lizards, insects, and small mammals. These owls use the tunnels of other species as their nesting burrows, and so can be found associated with ground squirrels, tortoises, and prairie dogs.

Prairie Dogs 101

Prairie Dogs Tortoises Owls South America 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2017

am, at the crack of dawn I am sitting in a car by the Suslik (European ground squirrel) pasture. Actually, I am not waiting for them, but for the Eastern Imperial Eagle to come here to hunt Susliks – an eagle from one of the last two remaining nests in Serbia. Some are eating, holding a morsel with front paws, so squirrel-like.

Eagles 105

Eagles Squirrels Cattle Serbia 105

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2014

There were Northern Harriers hunting low over what portions are as of yet unmowed, Cooper’s Hawks using some of the berms as cover for sneak attacks, and American Kestrel feasting on cold grasshoppers. It must be immensely frustrating to have food stuck on your beak when you lack hands to get it off. I don’t know.).

Bald Eagle 172

Bald Eagle Opossums Squirrels Meat 172

10,000 Birds

JUNE 22, 2011

I took home a few of the pellets and found that the owls were feasting on grey squirrels and cottontail rabbits. There was also a mammal jawbone in the pellet too. I wasn’t as interested in the mammal jawbone, but it totally piqued his interest. I was intrigued…what could that beak be from?

Bats 209

Bats Dissection Owls Minnesota 209

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 22, 2015

There’s a Three-striped Palm Squirrel by the side of the track, while Jungle Bush Quails are running across it in front of our Maruti Gypsy, almost the official safari vehicle of India. The Osprey tries another hunt, finally a successful one, while Telia goes deeper into the water and lies down.

Tigers 248

Tigers India Killing 2012 248