10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2019

During the decade, I submitted 1,219 checklists and observed 555 bird species, all in the U.S. After an initial period when all species are new, the lifers begin to follow a pattern. Thus, I can pinpoint my first pelagic trip, as it added 13 new species. and Canada. Our honeymoon in the U.S Virgin Islands ( St. John and St.

Puerto Rico 164

Puerto Rico Virgin Islands Michigan Washington 164

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 2, 2019

Although it was nothing like going from New York to California or even Buffalo, New York to North Carolina, a change of location, however slight, can bring new birds especially in Costa Rica. Right at home. They shared the bushes with three of Costa Rica’s common flycatcher species, each nearly as vocal as the blackbirds.

Costa Rica 194

Costa Rica Barn Owls Stray Dog Blackbirds 194

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 12, 2013

I’ve written before about by ongoing quest to find a new patch in new home of Greensboro, North Carolina, and my more or less failed attempt thus far in turning up anything of note. Sure, they were all one species, but the place was immediately birdy. This place immediately felt right. I’ve got my patch.

North Carolina 167

North Carolina Sparrows Fox Dogs 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2012

The bird was a sparrow, that much was clear, but it didn’t seem to fit any of the easily boxes the other North American sparrows can be fairly easily sorted into. There’s a little hint of white in the malar and throat too, which would seem to be a problem for the species Black- chinned Sparrow. New Jersey mystery sparrow.

New Jersey 246

New Jersey North Carolina Sparrows Connecticut 246

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 30, 2012

The Delmarva Peninsula juts southward towards North Carolina like the appendix of the eastern seaboard. A closer look at the individual suggests that, with that white edging right under the bill, this bird probably has a bit of Myrtle in it. Something to work on, I guess. The raptors were great fun, though.

Virginia 155

Virginia North Carolina DC Louisiana 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 4, 2011

There was a time, a few years back, when I had some really good luck getting on a run of first state records for North Carolina. Fortunately for me, most of the recent new additions to the North Carolina list have been birds that have stuck around long enough for masses of state birders to get on.

North Carolina 154

North Carolina Sparrows 2008 Hunters 154

10,000 Birds

APRIL 17, 2012

In any case, the slow build of spring is a little slower around here, and while a handful of the early season migrants arrived w week or so before I was ready to expect them, most everything is coming along right on time anymore. They travel by themselves, in massive flocks that roam the canopy in constant song.

North Carolina 162

North Carolina Breeders Rights Experience 162

10,000 Birds

JULY 28, 2015

I hoped to see warblers, warblers, warblers, plus classic northeastern species I had had no opportunity to look for while living in North Carolina. It is a known birding hotspot, hosting sub-boreal species as well as rare birds, like the Black-backed Woodpecker. Still, it was my first Ruffed Grouse of the year.

Birds 160

Birds North Carolina North America Woodpeckers 160

10,000 Birds

MAY 19, 2015

Someone had told me a group of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers called this patch of forest home, and we were determined to find out if he was right. They formed their little clumps along the water, all the species mixed together until a walker approached too closely. Shorebird cluster along the beach.

North Carolina 185

North Carolina Alligators Wildlife Woodpeckers 185

10,000 Birds

MAY 3, 2011

Sure, you can find it across much of the eastern United States, even as far north as southern Canada but I ask you, are you really seeing a Prothonotary Warbler if you’re not watching it pick through a flooded forest in the south? Now back to all the transient species that I can’t bear missing. Appropriate!

North Carolina 224

North Carolina Investigation Jordan United States 224

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 9, 2013

Two days ago I went on Facebook and queried some of my exhausted compatriots: if you could have one wish right now – anything in the world – what would it be? “I Got to finish browsing for the fawns and collecting chiggers,” wrote Becky, from an island off North Carolina. I’d wish for respect for what we do.”.

Wildlife 254

Wildlife Wildlife Rehabilitation Oklahoma New York 254

10,000 Birds

MARCH 10, 2011

Many winter in Florida, admittedly something of a freak state when it comes to overwintering passerines, but a few Orioles can be found up the coast as far north as North Carolina, and the odd bird finds its way into the Piedmont, the part of the state, well inland mind you, where I live. Wicked, right?

North Carolina 140

North Carolina 2011 St. Louis Baltimore 140

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

I’m living and birding in North Carolina. The usual counters on this plot of land are my friends Ali Iyoob and Matt Daw, who being college students are out being college students (by that I mean doing an NC Big Year which is what all college students do, right? We all knew that area well, and were rewarded for it.

North Carolina 163

North Carolina Missouri Blackbirds Sparrows 163

10,000 Birds

MAY 1, 2018

Moth plates from Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America (left plate) and Southeastern North America (two right plates). There are over 11,000 species of moths in North America. I have a hard enough time with the 1,103 bird species on the ABA Checklist. Let that sink in.

North America 101

North America America Oklahoma Missouri 101

10,000 Birds

JUNE 28, 2011

Off the coast of North Carolina, and indeed anywhere in the southeastern United States, the surface is broken up with vast expanses of sargassum and gulfweed, species of brown algae that floats on the water in great aggregations looking like nothing so much as a perfectly manicured lawn.

United States 157

United States North Carolina Fish North America 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 31, 2014

In her free time she travels near and far to find birds to continue building her life list, though many of her favorites can still be found right in her own backyard. As we looked closer, we saw the Sooty Terns nesting right on the ground itself, calling back and forth to each other as they sat on their speckled eggs.

Birds 196

Birds Florida Groups Breeding 196

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 25, 2015

My friend Paul Taillie and I had to meet an intrepid bunch of birders for the inaugural Outer Banks Big Day field trip at the Wings Over Water festival in eastern North Carolina. We were setting the bar for what someone hitting all the good spots on North Carolina’s famous barrier islands could reasonably accomplish.

North Carolina 150

North Carolina Rattlesnake Sparrows Owls 150

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 26, 2018

The return home included a total of 5 ½ hours of flight delays, one missed flight, and we subsequently missed the entire town of Charlotte, North Carolina. By the time we had ended our visit on the island, I had racked up a total of 58 birds species, with 27 of them new birds on the Little Big Year list. eBird Submissions – 429.

Bahamas 138

Bahamas Costa Rica Abandon Abandoning 138

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

Written in the tradition of the classic Hawks in Flight , but very much a product of the experiences of its birder authors, this is a groundbreaking book that offers a new way of identifying migratory birds at sea to all of us who observe the waters of eastern North America with expectation and excitement. No rails or gallinules.

Ducks 245

Ducks Groups Species North America 245

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

Here in North Carolina, I’ve managed to avoid seeing the dreaded Juncos for the last few days, though their presence has been noted on the local listserv. The flocks that just a fortnight ago held multiple species in varied, if subdued, hues, now overwhelmingly consist of a single species. You’re done.

North America 220

North America North Carolina South America America 220

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2013

In any case, I sort of redeemed myself with I picked up a distant Crested Caracara that slowly got closer and closer until it passed right over the top of an adoring group of birders. I turned, as I do from time to time, to the butterflies, particularly those species that I can’t see in North Carolina.

North Carolina 116

North Carolina Florida United States Zebras 116

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 16, 2012

You can argue that large waders of Florida are flashier or that the secretive Bachman’s Sparrow elicit more respect, and sure, Pine Warblers nest as far north as southern Canada so how can they really be southeastern, but if you raise these points I think you fail to realize how truly prolific Pine Warblers are in the south.

North Carolina 161

North Carolina Jordan Raised North America 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2016

From a recent article in Nature , “This bird acts like it has four sexes,” says Christopher Balakrishnan, an evolutionary biologist at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, who worked with Tuttle and Gonser. One individual can only mate with one-quarter of the population.

Rats 113

Rats Sparrows Birds North Carolina 113

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 26, 2013

Christmas Bird Count season is right around the corner, and if you’re anything like me you’re pretty excited about it. North Carolina’s 2nd inland Pacific Loon was on Lake Townsend in 2008. The goal of a CBC is not get as many species as possible, but it’s impossible to avoid the competitive aspect.

North Carolina 187

North Carolina Massachusetts 2008 Suffering 187