10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Counting the Birds I was in my teens when I undertook my first bird-survey: it was field work for the British Trust for Ornithology’s The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland. The breeding and wintering birds of Britain and Ireland. Published in 1976, The Atlas was, I believe, the very first work of its kind.

Ireland 207

Ireland Turtles Geese Farming 207

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2016

It also makes it a little intimidating to be doing a review of Britain’s Birds: An Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. Over 3,200 photographs have been used, most showing species in their habitats. So, how do you find the species account for Kestrel if falcons are not placed between woodpeckers and parakeet?

Ireland 140

Ireland Birds Groups Falcons 140

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2023

Not a cover species The Black Kite is not actually black, but of course, misleading bird names are not exactly rare. Maybe those should be protected too? No surprise then that the species is listed as Vulnerable. But then, sanity (or maybe respect for you, the reader) prevailed. Fortunately, they are quite common in Shanghai.

Birds 130

Birds Iraq China Ireland 130

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 25, 2022

All month long we’ll be visiting – in spirits, at least – the rugged Celtic landscapes of Scotland and Ireland where whiskey was born and – with luck – have a look at the birds that inhabit them. I must admit that this isn’t the bottle I had planned for the final installment of this year’s edition of Whiskey Month at Birds and Booze.

Eagles 196

Eagles Ireland Oregon Protection 196

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2020

But seeing as the month is also bookended by Hogmanay and Burns Night, we’ll gladly take the opportunity to visit– in spirits, at least – the rugged Celtic landscapes of Scotland and Ireland where whiskey was born and – with luck – have a look at the birds that inhabit them. Be sure to bundle up. Let’s go with European Herring Gull.

Ireland 180

Ireland Branding Species Industry 180

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2013

I couldn’t wait to give names to all my new species. I tried using the Internet, but found it frustrating for all the usual reasons; websites either didn’t include all species or were difficult to use for identification. Britain’s Dragonflies: A field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Britain and Ireland.

Ireland 168

Ireland France Breeding Eggs 168

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 24, 2020

But seeing as the month is also bookended by Hogmanay and Burns Night, we’ll gladly take the opportunity to visit– in spirits, at least – the rugged Celtic landscapes of Scotland and Ireland where whisky was born and – with luck – have a look at the birds that inhabit them. Gilbert: The Famous Grouse.

Sheep 188

Sheep Branding Ireland Fowl 188