10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

They are not necessarily the biggest African animals, but represented those that were considered a real hunter’s worthy prey or “game” – the African Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Black Rhinoceros, Leopard and king of the jungle, the Lion (which of course doesn’t inhabit jungle but savanna!). In Asia they are even commonly kept as pets!

Buffalo 213

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 213

10,000 Birds

MAY 18, 2023

Lions aside, carnivores are represented by Leopard , Striped Hyena , Jackal , etc., We have almost forgotten that Manoj has promised us some creatures of the night, when he raised his hand to point at three Mottled Wood Owls right above us (cover photo), beautiful large Strix owls slightly amused by us. Yes, we did – so what?

India 147

India Lions Boars Mammals 147

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2021

Add the chance of the African animals you’d expect, Elephant , Lion , Leopard and a host of antelope, who’s mouth would not water at the prospect? It takes six months from where the seasonal floods enter the north of the Delta to where they reach these rivers, which then flow into the Kalahari and evaporate. Those waters never see the sea!

Botswana 185

Botswana Africa Elephants Angola 185

10,000 Birds

MAY 24, 2018

Now, asking for vultures in India is a bit like asking your safari guide to show you a leopard. Leopards are hard to spot because they are elusive. He was right – a few seconds later 20 or so Egyptian Vultures took to the air, some even landing nearby. Not for the same reason, although. Vultures are anything but elusive.

India 140

India Stray Dog Cows Rats 140

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 21, 2016

Right: Robert McCormick, by Stephen Pearce. Unlike Darwin, who was a self-funded gentleman naturalist on board, McCormick was bound to the Beagle by his duties and was furious that a civilian passenger on board had usurped his rightful position as ship’s naturalist. (“Antarctica” by Kim Stanley Robinson, 1998).

Russia 181

Russia Penguins Whales Whaling 181

4 The Love Of Animals

DECEMBER 6, 2010

Tonight’s premiere episode, Big Cat Odyssey , follows lions and leopards through Africa’s harshest climatic extremes. Yes, you read that right, this has been 30 years in the making, and you don’t want to miss it! Leopards creep from the bushes to hunt and retreat into the trees before falling prey to larger killers.

Cats 100

Cats Lions Leopards Botswana 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2015

In the morning, still sleepy, we enter the jungle, where a sounder of Indian Boars (a long-maned subspecies Sus scrofa cristatus ) is watching us, standing among the first trees, right next to the road. These days, the species shares habitats with Tigers, Snow Leopard, Bears, etc. One White-eyed Buzzard has turned its back to us.

Tigers 245

Tigers Dogs India Snow Leopard 245

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

And the Southern Black Tit was as at home foraging upside down as right side up, just like its relatives, the t**s and chickadees, do back in Europe and America. Even a Leopard Tortoise dropped by! Blue Waxbill.

South Africa 145

South Africa Tortoises Woodpeckers Birds 145

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

These vast and rugged lands of savanna, hills, gorges and rivers still protect some of Ethiopia’s largest extant herds of typical African savanna game, including African Elephant, African Buffalo, Giraffe, Lion, Leopard, African Wild Dog and numerous species of grazers. We spotted a young Leopard and his mother in Mago National Park.

Ethiopia 249

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 249

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 12, 2015

Although lip service was paid to the fact that lions are endangered and a lion was poached, the language of anger was the language of animals rights. I’ve written before at length about how conservation and animal rights , while often drawing on mutual a reverence of nature, are different beasts. Not at the moment, anyway.

Lions 218

Lions Hunting Sierra Leone Buffalo 218

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 21, 2014

One thing every guide should avoid – and it may be hard to resist, especially when it is some mega, is giving useless information like: “Right there, two weeks ago, I’ve seen an Elvis Bird.” And never, but absolutely never, drop your bins to your chest and with a puzzling expression say: “I think I’ve just seen a leopard!”.

Birds 220

Birds Botswana Free Range Leopards 220

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

And from July through to December one can sit and watch Cape Rockjumpers, whilst a dozen or so Southern Right Whales propel their massive bodies clean out of the water, then belly-flopping with thunderous amounts of spray. Even leopards still live here and occasionally terrorize the African Penguin colony at nearby Betty’s Bay.

South Africa 250

South Africa Penguins Birds Africa 250

10,000 Birds

MAY 9, 2016

And the highlight of our herpetological highlights was a Northern Watersnake that Mike stepped right over without noticing it sitting in a freshet. (In Also, Carlos is laughing at me right now …). Leopard Frogs are nice but they are not Gray Kingbirds. Northern Water Snake wishing I was a frog.

New York 101

New York Bald Eagle McDonalds Fast Food 101

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 8, 2013

Lions aside, carnivores are represented by Leopard, Hyena, Jackal, etc., We have almost forgotten that Manoj has promised us some creatures of the night, when he raised his hand to point at three Mottled Wood Owls right above us, beautiful large Strix owls slightly amused by us. Yes, we did – so what? We’re here for the birds!”.

Lions 236

Lions India Mammals Boars 236

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 27, 2013

The bulk of my lifers were on a trip to India in October/November but all the birds were surpassed by watching and photographing a Snow Leopard hunting and killing a Blue Sheep , so none of them are real contenders for BBOTY. Tragic, right? Hence my birding travel (and blogging) has been curtail (but life much enriched!)

2013 168

2013 Birds Costa Rica India 168