10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Fortunately, though Caspian Terns are not common in Queens, they are common around the world (in fact, up until I saw these two birds I had seen as many Caspian Terns in Kazakhstan as I had seen in Queens), and are considered a Species of Least Concern by BirdLife International because of their enormous range and large and growing population.

Kazakhstan 158

Kazakhstan 2007 Jamaica Birds 158

10,000 Birds

MAY 10, 2015

It therefore comes as no surprise that it has been regarded as a subspecies of the Spanish Sparrow or the House Sparrow, or as a species in its own right. We currently are experiencing a rare time where all major taxonomic bodies tend to regard it as a species in its own right, the Italian Sparrow Passer italiae.

Sparrows 211

Sparrows Italy Asia Austria 211

10,000 Birds

JULY 13, 2011

My anger at the TSA is that I think the grope is a violation of my civil rights, low wage employees get to legally do to me something that any other stranger could be arrested for and I see it as bad theater meant to make me feel safe. Turns out that his theft on the job could total upwards of $50,000 over the past six months alone!

Laws 229

Laws Colorado America Kazakhstan 229

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 31, 2014

Sedge Warbler (left) and Grasshopper Warbler (right – duh!). I am pretty sure this is a migrant Blyth’s, seen in Kazakhstan in May. Of course, there are several other brown warblers with stripes, such as the Aquatic Warbler , or the Lanceolated Warbler. Option two: abandon bird. Good enough.

Europe 208

Europe Kazakhstan Sparrows Abandon 208

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2011

Talk about Big Sky Country – One of Corey’s 10 Views from a Van in Kazakhstan Tags: march , weekend • Have you seen the cool 10,000 Birds t-shirts? Wicked, right? I hope you, dear reader, have better plans… Whatever your plans this weekend, make time to enjoy SkyWatch Friday. Get yours today! Hat-tip to Stella.

2011 145

2011 Deer Birds New York 145

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

Wicked, right? • Explore These Related Posts Greenough – Green Enough.Or Go win a copy and you might get it before I get off my keister and write my review… Great Horned Owl Taking a Deer Leg Seriously, that really happens in this excellent video of a Great Horned Owl scavenging a deer carcass by Kirk Mona. Hat-tip to Stella.

2011 140

2011 Wildlife Birds Deer 140

10,000 Birds

MARCH 4, 2011

These Blasts From The Past No Owls at Croton Point I Hate Connecticut… Birding Kazakhstan: Morning of Day 1 in Astana Ottawa By Way of Ohio The Snow Bunting That Almost Killed Me, or, Hyperbole in Bird Blog Post Titles is Fun! Wicked, right? at Gloucester Harbor Birding The San Jacinto Valley.Or I am clearly not.

2011 157

2011 Cyprus Deer Species 157

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2016

You can’t even see my visit to Trinidad and Tobago on this map but you definitely notice Kazakhstan !). Yeah, this thing could become a total time suck but it is a time suck that might actually be helpful to someone someday so it is totally justified. Looking at a map of my bird sightings also makes me want to fill in gaps.

New York 159

New York Kazakhstan Trinidad Branding 159

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 14, 2012

In Africa, our bee-eaters occur from the southern tip of the continent right through to the far north, occupying an incredible range of habitats and niches, from the interior of the deepest rainforests of the Congo to the arid steppes of the Sahel. European Bee-eaters can be found through-out Africa at the right time of year.

Africa 263

Africa Gabon South Africa Uganda 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

These Blasts From The Past Striped Basilisk Lizard Lore Herps in Rockland County and Orange County Diamondback Terrapin at Jamaica Bay The Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) Lizards of Kazakhstan About the Author Dale Forbes Dale got his first pair of binoculars for a very early birthday after his dad realized that it was the only way to be left in peace.

2011 206

2011 Breeders Breeding Deer 206

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

The year 2016 was not a particularly birdy year for me, mostly because I didn’t get to go on business trips to Indonesia or Kazakhstan, as was frequently the case during the last few years. Thanks, Marsh Sandpiper (seen on the right with a redshank on the pic below), your presence was highly appreciated! Fare thee well, 2016.

2016 101

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 4, 2011

During the course of a business trip to western Kazakhstan in early April I flew from Germany to Aqtau, right at the coast of the Caspian Sea. Well, it wasn’t: While 02:00 am Kazakhstan time was 11:00 pm German time and thus easily manageable, 06:00 am in Aqtau was 03:00 am in Germany. A reasonably good plan, I thought.

Kazakhstan 170

Kazakhstan Germany Reptiles Eagles 170

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

And, the best thing was that it did not require tapes, just the right habitat and good ears and patience. I saw my all-time favourite bird species again after not seeing it for more than 10 years, a splendid Bearded Vulture (well, even two) in the Tien Shan mountains above Almaty, Kazakhstan in June.

2012 145

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 145