10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2019

Even though you know that you saw a Yellow-eared Toucanet and heard a Spectacled Owl the day before, you can’t really expect them on a rainy count day. Spectacled Owl from another day. Despite rain during part of the day, the other teams also did very well and we ended up with a final overall tally of more than 270 species.

Costa Rica 245

Costa Rica Birds Owls Bats 245

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2018

Birdwise, it turned out to be a good one and my year list was almost 400 species long, which made me happy… almost. The Lesser White-fronted Goose is one of the most threatened waterfowl species of the Western Palearctic, with illegal killing being the most important threat globally. The solution? The Kerkini Lake.

Greece 184

Greece 2017 Pelicans Geese 184

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 31, 2019

I saw 863 species of birds, bringing my life list to 1,820. Such travel brings a lot of birds and the 863 species I saw this year is the most species I have ever seen. How can I narrow down the eight-hundred-sixty-three species to ten? How can I, by listing only ten, call eight-hundred-fifty-three species not worthy?

2019 140

2019 Barbados Uganda Costa Rica 140

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 14, 2019

As always, I was the first to the platform and in the light northwest wind and under a full moon I sipped my coffee and willed birds to make some noise so I could start checking off species. Eventually, an Eastern Towhee che-winked and I had my first species for the day. The moon was impressive as it sank down to the horizon.

Pelicans 133

Pelicans New York Whales Whaling 133

10,000 Birds

MARCH 23, 2020

Brown Pelican – This is a bird that will just take some luck while I am staring at the ocean. Either way, the odds of actually getting a Brown Pelican in Queens are pretty low. Sedge Wren – There are records of this species in Queens, generally along the coast in fall. And for it to come one day after the owl was nuts!

2018 161

2018 2015 Birds 2019 161

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2020

The prospect of identifying a certain number of species in a given amount of time pushes us to pay more attention to birds no matter what the circumstances (although I suggest keeping the exclamations about species identifications to yourself during such solemn situations as funerals, graduations, and watching episodes of The Sopranos).

Costa Rica 262

Costa Rica 2020 Morals Farming 262

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2015

For those who don’t know, Christmas Bird Count compilation dinners usually involve the compiler for the count, in this case me, going through each species on the checklist. Each group yells out the number of each species seen. 130 is certainly not out of the question!

Bald Eagle 103

Bald Eagle Birds Sparrows Pelicans 103

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 22, 2022

It is not particularly big but has a reported 430 bird species including migrants, though during my short stay it seems I missed most of the key attractions among them. Pel’s Fishing Owl, where were you? Great White Pelican is not just the name of a non-existent glam-rock band but also of a bird species.

South Africa 147

South Africa Africa Birds Research 147

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 23, 2017

Not many birds, two Ruddy Turnstones , one Willet , a fishing boat in front of the beach with a small flock of Brown Pelicans surrounding it, several Magnificent Frigatebirds above it… and several smaller flocks of noisy Scarlet Macaws above us. Beside macaws, Carara eBird hotspot has a bird list of 424 species. Royal Terns.

Costa Rica 161

Costa Rica Pelicans Owls Woodpeckers 161

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 20, 2015

The count totaled 119 species, which is historically a very good number. How about you? What was your best bird of the weekend?

Bald Eagle 101

Bald Eagle 2015 Nashville Pelicans 101

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2021

9 beats submitted 140 checklists from 7 countries (USA, UK, Costa Rica, Serbia, Australia, Mexico and Trinidad and Tobago) during October to account for 585 species. 1539 is the year list total so far and the life list has reached 4081 as Northern Pygmy Owl , Emperor Goose and Lined Seedeater swelled its numbers.

Woodpeckers 241

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds Ducks 241

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 12, 2018

Not another person for miles, and a pair of friendly, well, almost, Great Horned Owls living in the tree right above us. By the time we left, I had recorded one new Lifer, 12 New Year Birds, and a total of 76 species. This group of American White Pelicans were good enough to stop right where I wanted them to, to get this shot.

Blackbirds 122

Blackbirds Mules Beavers Wildlife 122

10,000 Birds

APRIL 30, 2015

The van was parked at the Eastern Dyke of the lake and we were scanning the mud flats and numerous Pygmy Cormorants , Dalmatian and Great White Pelicans with a few Greater Flamingos and Eurasian Spoonbills here and there, as well as one or two Purple and Black-crowned Night-Herons. Picture 5: European Scops-Owl – Otus scops.

Greece 248

Greece Woodpeckers Eagles Birds 248

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 4, 2021

My birding list for November totals 15 species. Thank goodness that the rest of the beats have been busily birding,that’s what they like to do… 9 of them submitted 114 checklists via eBird and amassed 525 species from 7 (China, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, UK, Serbia and USA) countries during November.

Sparrows 210

Sparrows Woodpeckers Parrots Costa Rica 210

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

I didn’t really have time to stop, but as I was passing by, I saw hundreds of American White Pelicans fly up and thought I’d better take a drive through and see what else was there. Forgotten Owls When Is A Tanager A Spindalis? Share Your Thoughts « Soccer Player Kicks Owl on Field? Beautiful bird.

Wildlife 155

Wildlife 2011 Sacramento Jordan 155

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

There were not as nearly many birds around the area as in past visits, but the number of species that were using the water as either a summer home, or just passing thru in the early parts of their migration made the visit well worth it. This week ends with the Little Big Years numbers as follows: Little Big Year species – 870.

Oregon 115

Oregon Owls Wildlife Barn Owls 115

10,000 Birds

APRIL 11, 2011

Queens, the finest borough in New York City, as I may have mentioned before, is where I have now seen a whopping 279 species! What species will be the ten to get me to 289? Snowy Owl – This winter turned out to be horrible for birders hoping to see Bubo scandiacus but pretty good for the birds themselves.

Jamaica 157

Jamaica Owls 2010 New York City 157

10,000 Birds

MARCH 11, 2011

Brown Pelicans , and the northernmost Brown Booby breeding colony on this side of the Pacific. Ringer Anhingas and darters , cormorants and shags , frigatebirds , gannets and boobies , pelicans , and the tropicbirds all share a characteristic found in no other living bird: Their feet are totipalmate.

2011 154

2011 Pelicans Papua New Guinea Birds 154

10,000 Birds

JULY 3, 2021

Between them, they found 389 species in 5 countries. Insects were held back by weird spring weather, but now the warmth returns and the birds are feasting on the late stirring bugs. June saw 8 beats get their birding boots on and share 90 checklists for your pleasure.

Woodpeckers 250

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Niger 250

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 5, 2012

Just keep an eye out for the Barred Owl perched on a Mini Cooper and that is where you will find him. Although they do not breed in the park, Brown Pelicans , Double-crested Cormorants , terns, gulls, and waders add interest to the beach and marina. Originally created as an 80-acre gift of land by William J.

Miami 161

Miami Florida Birds Pelicans 161

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 28, 2013

We follow the tire tracks in an off-white, salty soil and then, without a word of warning, our guide/driver turns into the bushes, driving left and right… until one and then another Short-eared Owl flushes in front of us. The next two species are the Southern Grey Shrike and the Tawny Pipit , also characteristic for this habitat type.

India 229

India Birds Eagles Boars 229

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 7, 2021

Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries. Yet, 79 checklists were submitted by 8 beats, accounting for 366 species in 5 countries.

Sparrows 249

Sparrows Woodpeckers Ducks Blackbirds 249

10,000 Birds

JUNE 12, 2014

Defining Belgrade bird specialties is the hard part – there is no defined criterion, beside attractiveness which often comes from how uncommon some species is. E.g., a few weeks ago I guided a British couple around Belgrade, visited about four major sites and found more than 60 species. Long-eared Owl – year round.

Serbia 180

Serbia Eagles Birds Sparrows 180

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 2, 2021

11 beats have been out this month and have submitted 136 checklists from 7 countries ticking 634 species. 7 Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium brasilianum. 92 Crested Owl – Lophostrix cristata. 111 Mottled Owl – Ciccaba virgata. 271 Spectacled Owl – Pulsatrix perspicillata.

Woodpeckers 210

Woodpeckers Sparrows Parrots Blackbirds 210

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 1, 2020

The 83 checklists submitted during July contained 459 species. Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalis. Barn Owl – Tyto alba. Great Horned Owl – Bubo virginianus. Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl – Glaucidium brasilianum. Little Owl – Athene noctua. Tawny Owl – Strix aluco.

2020 156

2020 Sparrows Blackbirds Woodpeckers 156

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 9, 2017

Watching my first Brown Pelicans , I am inhaling deeply and commenting to Sergio Arias how strong the scent is. But why would someone look for that, an easy and common one among the 920+ bird species of Costa Rica? He answers: “Maybe the ganja those guys are smoking makes it that strong.”. And I saw my first Blackburnian Warbler!

Costa Rica 143

Costa Rica Reptiles Farming Mississippi 143

10,000 Birds

MARCH 6, 2021

9 beats from 8 countries (Australia, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, China, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico), shared 138 checklists for 703 species. The year list to date is 1015 species and 7 have been added to the life list ( 4059 ) from Costa Rica, China and Trinidad and Tobago. 191 Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalis.

Woodpeckers 186

Woodpeckers Sparrows Ducks Parrots 186

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 4, 2021

They birded 7 countries during August and recorded 542 species. The year list remains sluggish at 1489 , but the life list received a boost from the eBird taxonomy reshuffle and now includes 4076 species. Stay vigilant and safe. 10 of the beats have submitted 124 checklists which are collated below for your perusal.

Woodpeckers 205

Woodpeckers Sparrows Blackbirds California 205

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 7, 2013

Seeing 525 species was nice, as was the fact that I birded in four countries, nine of the fifty states in the United States, and fifty-one counties. I want to reach 500 birds in the ABA, get my Queens list to 295, see a total of at least 500 species, and get my World Life List to 1,100. But how did I see so many species this year?

2012 144

2012 Czech Republic Hedgehogs Hungary 144

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

Wood Stork and White Pelican. But some species remain elusive when they shouldn’t be. Even a big trip to Canada, though it turned up many other delightful species ( Boreal Owl , anyone?) One by one, birds that I’d thought of as pictures on a page became real. Little Auk and Red-throated Loon.

Pythons 187

Pythons Litter Montana 2006 187

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 31, 2018

Here we will actually stop for a full day, as there is a 10,000 acre wetland refuge, which should hold several species of gulls, White-fronted Geese and Black Brant, just to name a few. As far as my year’s list, this last weekend netted me 6 more species, putting me at 127 species.

Ducks 116

Ducks Blackbirds Sparrows California 116

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

“Do they have owls?” I immediately phoned the manager and enquired if the property had any Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls. I immediately phoned the manager and enquired if the property had any Ferruginous Pygmy-Owls. He told me that he had never seen the little owls that I was referring to.

Owls 152

Owls Texas Arizona Pigs 152

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 14, 2018

He quickly starts pointing our different species that are all around us, with exceptional and obvious knowledge. Getting to see Brown Pelican and Magnificent Frigates circling over head was a very familiar sight back on the Baja. This Ferruginous Pygmy-owl image was taken at 5:30 AM, and with no flash!! eBird submissions – 347.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica Falcons Mexico Groups 113

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 21, 2012

Neoaves contains the great bulk of the diversity and the species of living birds, from songbirds to storks and owls to hummingbirds. But how these two fantastical species were related to other neoavian birds had remained a mystery. That much we know. Sunbittern ( Eurypyga helias ) cc-by Tambako the Jaguar Until now?

Parrots 141

Parrots Falcons South America 2008 141

10,000 Birds

APRIL 3, 2021

Our brave beats have been putting themselves at risk for your vicarious listing pleasure and 10 of them submitted 151 checklists for 692 species, 2 of which made it onto the life list. Please be careful, Corvid is still out there. Marsh Grassbird and Rufous-faced Warbler come to you all the way from China and bring the life list to 4061.

Sparrows 158

Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds Ducks 158

10,000 Birds

MARCH 3, 2016

As a proof, two Dalmatian Pelicans are flying low above us, while a Bluethroat disappears into the nearby bush. 10000birds.com/the-search-for-the-rarest-owl-of-india.htm. I already have a history of searches for this species. Asia: We wait on the top of the hillock crossed by a barbed wire fence and topped by a scarecrow.

Wildlife 182

Wildlife Tigers Asia Europe 182

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 19, 2019

To surpass a challenging number of species, the planning, the conniving for major birding should have begun back in the past, in 2018. Every day counts and to seriously maximize the species total, a birder needs to maximize time in the field at the most productive places during the most productive times and then some.

Costa Rica 113

Costa Rica 2019 Parrots Woodpeckers 113