10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. They raise their trunks, sniffing the air.

South Africa 232

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 232

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 18, 2015

I found out on my second day in Mkuze, a great game reserve in South Africa, earlier this year when on my first dark night, poor visibility, uneven ground and unsteady footing resulted in a twisted ankle and a day in camp keeping weight off it. Cardinal Woodpecker.

South Africa 145

South Africa Tortoises Woodpeckers Birds 145

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2011

I don’t think I’ve ever done a post on my home patch of Cape Town, South Africa. The little seaside village of Rooiels is famed for being a wonderful location to pick up some choice South African endemics but it is also one of the most beautiful spots in the Cape. And then there are the Ground Woodpeckers !

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South Africa Penguins Birds Africa 250

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Late last month, while searching for bears , woodpeckers and spirits of Greece, I deliberately avoided checking any news, especially from my home country. In Africa, one elephant is being killed every 15 minutes. Of those range states, opposed were South Africa, Namibia and, not surprisingly, Zimbabwe.

Elephants 194

Elephants Botswana Zimbabwe Africa 194

10,000 Birds

JULY 18, 2018

When we were planning this trip, New Zealand, Australia, and most certainly South Africa got all my attention. We were visited by a couple of Great Spotted Woodpeckers. South Africa species 219. The last few visits were almost after thoughts, and boy was that a mistake! Here is that very Eurasian Nuthatch.

South Africa 100

South Africa New Zealand Costa Rica Qatar 100

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 6, 2011

The difference in the name is subtle and the nominate, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus cirrocephalus is from South America, so the locally favoured title, Gray-hooded Gull, would be more acceptable to North American birding aficionados, but I maintain that a hood would continue down the nape to the top of the back, which it clearly does not.

South Africa 178

South Africa Pedigree Africa New York 178

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2015

But if they obeyed the rules, which may be too strict – in the Kruger Park in South Africa, the limit is 50 km/h (31 mi/h) – they would not manage to show tourists much of the reserve in about three hours in the morning and the afternoon, which would reflect on their tip.

Tigers 253

Tigers Boars India Chickens 253

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2011

Growing up within an hour of one of the world’s premier shorebird destinations -- West Coast National Park in South Africa -- helped for sure. For me, there’s a few things that drive this fascination. Firstly, shorebirds present a significant ID challenge.

Florida 200

Florida South Africa 2011 Africa 200

10,000 Birds

JULY 4, 2018

After leaving Africa, I was fearing a real let down in my birding. New Zealand had been good, Australia was incredible, and South Africa was almost life altering. Where do you go from there? Well, for us, we went to Doha, Qatar. Speaking of Bank Swallows , here is one of those family groups.

Qatar 120

Qatar Sparrows South Africa Africa 120

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2014

These included Sunbird (United Kingdom), Birding Ecotours (South Africa), Aviatur (Colombia), and two teams from the USA; FieldGuides and Surbound Expeditions. This Birding Rally’s competitors were companies that specialize in birding and nature tours. Our team was composed of Adam Kent, Tim Towles, a local guide, and myself.

Peru 192

Peru Birds United Kingdom South Africa 192

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 14, 2012

There are also dry areas but this great diversity has resulted in an incredible bird list of over 900 species including Africa’s 2nd highest count of endemics (after South Africa). Yet this is far from the truth, Ethiopia actually consists largely of fertile mountains where woodlands, forests and lakes abound.

Ethiopia 273

Ethiopia Eritrea Africa Mammals 273

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

Buff-streaked Chats and Cape Rock-Thrushes sing from boulder tops, and family huddles of Ground Woodpeckers emit their rather gull-like shrieks. Another typical Sani Pass bird, the strange Ground Woodpecker, a remnant of an ancient woodpecker lineage, by Adam Riley. A lovely male Cape Rock Thrush by Adam Riley .

Lesotho 178

Lesotho Africa Birds Rats 178

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 16, 2017

A month ago I was in the Iron Gates National Park in eastern Serbia, where one Black Woodpecker flew across the road, right in front of us (proving it is an extant taxon). There were three of us and in order to make the most out of a short winter day, we were all assigned different roles.

Serbia 187

Serbia Geese 2001 Ducks 187

10,000 Birds

MARCH 22, 2011

These Blasts From The Past Lakes, lightning, locusts and lizards Great Birding Sites From Great Birding Bloggers Anderson River Park Never Disappoints Birding Kuwait The Other Antigua About the Author James A life-long birder and native of South Africa, James Currie has many years experience in the birding and wildlife tourism arenas.

Dominican Republic 194

Dominican Republic 2011 Birds Deer 194

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 13, 2011

My home country of South Africa can only be described as a birding paradise! The Cape Rockjumper (here a female) is best sought at Rooiels, on the east coast of South Africa, north of Cape Town. An image of a male can be found in my African Birding Beat intro post [link].

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South Africa Lesotho Africa Swaziland 234

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 25, 2021

African cheaters include the African Paradise Flycatcher (Kruger Park, South Africa) … … and the African Penguin (Boulder’s Beach, South Africa) – here shown at a rock festival some distance away from the main stage, maybe a bit too close to the toilets. The actual line for the toilets.

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South Africa China Nevada Africa 334

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 2, 2019

Visited this month were; Germany , France , Austria, South Africa, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Serbia, Costa Rica, Australia, China, Indonesia , Switzerland and Singapore). The year list has reached 2403 , a boost of 174 and the life list now stands at 3875 after beats’ efforts in Indonesia, South Africa and China added 39 ticks.

2019 120

2019 China Battery Jamaica 120

10,000 Birds

MARCH 15, 2011

Anderson River Park Never Disappoints Barbados The Other Antigua About the Author James A life-long birder and native of South Africa, James Currie has many years experience in the birding and wildlife tourism arenas. These Blasts From The Past Sometimes you just have to smile! Oh, Yeah, I’m Going to Ecuador!

Portugal 178

Portugal 2011 Deer Birds 178

10,000 Birds

APRIL 13, 2015

Ethiopia, a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa, has firmly established itself as one of Africa’s top birding destinations. Its great diversity of habitats hosts an incredible bird count of over 900 species, including Africa’s 2nd highest list of endemics and near-endemics (after South Africa).

Ethiopia 249

Ethiopia Sudan Leopards Birds 249

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2011

I then decided to reduce it further to South African endemics only. This was tough because this excluded species that occur in two countries within South Africa’s geographical area, Lesotho and Swaziland. Knysna Woodpecker This endemic woodpecker is very often missed by visiting birders.

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South Africa Africa Parrots Swaziland 243

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Trips Mammals South Africa' Sniffing us.

Africa 200

Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 200

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 12, 2024

Maybe Floridians will then use the scientific name cafer – though with its origin in the terms Kaffir, Caffre, or Caffer applied to some indigenous peoples in South Africa (HBW), this may not be a good choice either. The Fulvous breasted Woodpecker to me looks like a very conventional woodpecker.

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Birds China Woodpeckers Breeding 188

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 5, 2020

That equates to almost six and a half days in South Africa. Red-crowned Woodpecker – Melanerpes rubricapillus. Red-rumped Woodpecker – Dryobates kirkii. Golden-olive Woodpecker – Colaptes rubiginosus. Red-bellied Woodpecker – Melanerpes carolinus. Any volunteers?

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2020 Sparrows Woodpeckers Blackbirds 151

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 10, 2022

While it is laudable to point out the plight of homeless woodpeckers, this is hardly the right subject for an upbeat bird photo contest. Greater Flamingo (Cape Town, South Africa). Indeed, it would have been a great entry for a contest titled “Lamps in the City”, but a failure for a bird photo contest. Eurasian (?)

China 230

China India South Africa Homelessness 230

10,000 Birds

MARCH 25, 2015

When I got to South Africa though I was struck with some indecision. You can ever touch the scale on the right hand side roughly where you think it will be (albatross and penguins at the top, woodpeckers and larks in the middle, weavers and estrilid finches at the bottom) then scroll quickly to where you want to be.

Africa 154

Africa South Africa Zimbabwe Penguins 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 1, 2011

Hiking For The Heck of It Reason To Become a Bird Watcher #1: No Batteries Required Welcome Wednesday: Musings on a Big Year About the Author James A life-long birder and native of South Africa, James Currie has many years experience in the birding and wildlife tourism arenas. RECENT POSTS More Habitat for Snowy Plover?

Panama 216

Panama Costa Rica 2011 Cleveland 216

10,000 Birds

JULY 7, 2018

Honduras , Malaysia and the southern-most bits of South Africa feature large this month with Mike, Duncan and Tom all vying to be MVB for June. Lewis’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes lewis. Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. 13 Feb 2018.

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2018 Australia Woodpeckers Los Angeles 100

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 17, 2022

The Golden-tailed Woodpecker shares something with the German flag – it is called golden-tailed even though to me the color of its tail is yellow, not golden. No doubt the woodpecker has similar considerations. In terms of breeding behavior, starlings are a diversified group – some use helpers, others do not.

South Africa 197

South Africa Africa Birds Cape Verde 197

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

Photo taken by Adam Riley in South Africa. Some of the malimbes forage in nuthatch or woodpecker fashion along trunks and branches of rainforest trees and they are frequent members of bird parties. All occur in the Guinea-Congolese rainforests of Africa, with Red-headed being the most widespread.

Tanzania 232

Tanzania Buffalo Kenya Namibia 232

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 15, 2012

2012 has certainly been a bumper year for me with an estimated year list of around 3,000 species after extensive travels to South Africa, Ethiopia, South Korea, Indonesia, the Russian Far East, United Kingdom, Peru, Guatemala and Panama. I chose the Black-backed Woodpecker as my Best Bird of the Year for a couple of reasons.

2012 155

2012 Birds Guatemala Florida 155

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 1, 2016

Contributions this month have come from; Costa Rica, USA, Australia, Mexico, Serbia, South Africa, UK, Botswana, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Iran. South Africa. Lewis’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes lewis. Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 11 Feb 2016. Banas River area.

2016 154

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 154

10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 3, 2016

But our pin-up for August and worthy of a double-page-spread, is Duncan who is currently sharing from South Africa. South Africa. Lewis’s Woodpecker – Melanerpes lewis. Red-headed Woodpecker – Melanerpes erythrocephalus. Acorn Woodpecker – Melanerpes formicivorus. 11 Feb 2016.

2016 101

2016 Sanctuary Australia Ghana 101

10,000 Birds

MARCH 19, 2011

… Tags: south-africa , Spotted Dikkop , stone curlews , thick-knees • Camping tents - Check out our pop up tents , family tents , and more! A multi-part trip report from Cape Town can be found at Redgannet, March 2011. … This post has been submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #134. Go check it out!

2011 170

2011 Deer Africa Peru 170

10,000 Birds

APRIL 7, 2015

Last month woodpeckers, this month penguins. The reality is that it’s if pretty difficult to see most penguin species, excepting the wonderfully accessible African Penguins at Boulders Beach outside Cape Town, South Africa and the Galapagos Penguins, ironically one of the rarest and most commonly seen species.

Penguins 209

Penguins New Zealand South Africa Albatross 209