10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2012

If we get close enough we might see a pink maw and slivers of white teeth, ready to take a prairie dog by the throat and choke the life out but also rather perversely adorable. Ferret 492 — a black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes — raises her head from a black-tailed prairie dog’s burrow, sniffs the April night.

Ferrets 167

Ferrets Prairie Dogs Coyotes Kittens 167

10,000 Birds

APRIL 20, 2012

Russell National Wildlife Refuge , more than a million acres of prairie, badlands, coulees, and the massive Fort Peck Reservoir on the Missouri River. The soil is heavy with clay, great for holding prairie dog burrows but not so wonderful for making unsurfaced roads that stand up to the weather.

Wildlife 178

Wildlife Ferrets Montana Prairie Dogs 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2024

I might have to add the Dallas airport staff to the list of things Buffon was right about. We also saw Prairie Dogs , Bison , Mule Deer , Abert’s Squirrel and Coyote. I flew into Denver from Mexico. If birders were as inept finding flying things our life lists would be very short indeed. I ticked off 9 lifers.

Denver 157

Denver Colorado Ducks Mules 157

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 5, 2019

This year the big prize must go to Tom who has pushed himself, right to the wire to acheive a magnificent score for a self-funded, wife-organised, wife-sponsored Little Big Year , accounting for 57% of the total. Marathon Prairie Dog Town. Last year, Pat was the only beat invited to the awards ceremony and he swept the board.

2018 113

2018 Australia Woodpeckers Sparrows 113