10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2014

I’m not sure if I already was claustrophobic , or if the circumstances merely traumatized me to the point I became one, right there and then. Much more exciting was the Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot that shot past, followed, on the rather slippery path to the caves, by several Rufous-winged Philentomas. A Bat Hawk hunting bats.

Bats 154

Bats Birds Vanuatu Namibia 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa). They are traditionally pastoral people, but have from necessity accepted agriculture, fishing and crocodile hunting as means of survival. Yellow-billed Stork.

Ethiopia 241

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 241

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

Must be a joke, right? Instead of going on about zip lines and other modern, adventure tourism attractions, the birding crowd talks about taking photos of Resplendent Quetzals , seeing dozens of hummingbird species, and the seemingly odd absence of raptors in Costa Rica but nope, we don’t really talk about extinction.

Costa Rica 217

Costa Rica Species Panama Birds 217

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

This makes it a particularly exciting time in New Zealand as the Rugby World Cup begins in two days, and the competition is being held right here in New Zealand (I would imagine they might be more excited if they hadn’t just lost two matches to Australia and South Africa, their big rivals in the Tri-Nations).

New Zealand 157

New Zealand Penguins Sanctuary Birds 157

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 30, 2021

From there, we entered a side tributary full of Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers , with Chestnut-fronted and Scarlet Macaws in flight… and then the noise: groans, croaks and grunts… and the smell… of this 65 million years old species, so old that the last dinosaurs must have fed on them! Later, we would be seeing dolphins every day.

Dolphins 260

Dolphins Colombia Otters Birds 260

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2022

There’s an unofficial series of posts on species of birds that occur in threes in T&T (see: bitterns , trogons , antshrikes , spinetails , manakins , hermits , honeycreepers , and resident warblers ). Dusky-capped Flycatcher (lower right) and a Rufous-tailed Jacamar. Broad-winged Hawk. Slowly, we continued.

Trinidad 245

Trinidad Birds Tigers Groups 245

10,000 Birds

MAY 22, 2022

This will change over time of course and once it rains again you would need to consider if you had the right vehicle to access the area. Dragonflies photobombing on the right as we approach. It is quite possible that you will observe all three species of Ibis- Straw-necked Ibis , White Ibis and Glossy Ibis. Purple Swamphens.

Geese 196

Geese Ducks Breeding 2015 196

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 13, 2014

We nature lovers, celebrants of life in all its exquisite multiformity, feel more keenly than most the loss of even the most undifferentiated species. And if we keep exploring the undelved nooks and crannies of our globe, we’re sure to make up the difference, right? Australia’s extinct and threatened bird species.

Marsupials 168

Marsupials Costa Rica Elephants Cuba 168

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 6, 2014

Broad-billed Parrot. They all went extinct since 1500 and they are only eight of the nearly two hundred species that have blinked out since then. What right do we have to even exist when our very existence as humanity is what has caused a rate of extinction not seen except during cataclysmic events? Passenger Pigeon.

Mauritius 171

Mauritius Djibouti Guam Birds 171

10,000 Birds

MAY 14, 2018

5 new species in the first hour, with a Olive-backed Sunbird, Helmeted Friarbird , a Varied Triller, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike and the Australasian Figbird, and we hadn’t even got out of the park yet! At the end of the day, 38 species were found, of which 19 species were new to the year list as well as lifers!

2000 100

2000 Rights Turkey Parrots 100

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 7, 2017

Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago covers 1,417 species, 601 endemics, 98 vagrants, 8 introduced and 18 undescribed species. Only one bird species has become extinct (Javan Lapwing), but many others are endangered, with some considered close to extinction (not surprising in an area with species restricted to one or two small islands).

Indonesia 126

Indonesia Brunei Birds Malaysia 126

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2020

On a quick browse, here are some facts I learned: Melanin helps to resist bacteria that attack feathers; most parrots are left-footed and this is associated with problem-solving; some birds nest in two different places in the same year. (Also, I wish I could use the tiny birds for my own presentations. Is a free digital download possible?)

2020 264

2020 Birds Groups North America 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 2, 2016

The reason the location is remaining undisclosed is that reliable Mangrove Cuckoos are difficult to find in the American Birding Association area and are a very sought after species. From the bulbuls we went in search of another introduced species that has taken to south Florida like home. We needed countable species!

Florida 118

Florida Miami Birds Owls 118

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 8, 2012

The bush on the left has been burned recently, the unburnt right is much taller and dominated by Casuarina. The most common species are two types of honeyeater, the New Holland Honeyeater , a small black white and yellow species, and the larger Little Wattlebird. This noisy species is often heard throughout the park.

Protection 158

Protection Species Australia Shelters 158

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2014

Not every huge white bird was a parrot though, and the lake also had a Great Egret among the Australian Grebes , Eurasian Coots and Dusky Moorhens. Alas this was not to be, and this species remains one of my nemesis birds. One of Australia’s prettiest parrots, the Crimson Rosella. Less pleasing were the ducks.

Australia 174

Australia Ducks Parrots New Zealand 174

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2012

More importantly, it is a fantastic area to watch birds in its own right. The third species I saw was an Atherton endemic (of which there are a few knocking about) Macleay’s Honeyeater , a striking spotted honeyeater that was easy to watch on the bird baths near the dining area.

Possums 171

Possums Guinea Marsupials Rats 171

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

They are one of the most attractive of Australia’s parrots, and one of the most common, benefiting from the planting of attractive flowering shrubs. The grassy areas were also patrolled by Laughing Kookaburras , which engaged in the typical watch and wait hunting methods of the kingfisher family, and the engaging Willie Wagtail.

New Zealand 171

New Zealand Ducks Australia Japan 171