10,000 Birds

The Broad-winged Hawk

Leslie Kinrys — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:41 +0000

In September, one of the most-hoped for raptors is the Broad-winged Hawk. Among the earliest raptor migrants, Broadies fly in large flocks. Every fall, the entire North American mainland population heads south to their wintering grounds. Some go as far as South America. What makes this migration unusual is that the bulk of the migratory population passes any given point along their route in a two-week period.These birds are forest buteos, who live in the boreal areas of Ontario and Quebec. They are a compact, crow-sized hawk and the smallest buteo passing over our raptor watches. They are a prey generalist, eating insects, small mammals, reptiles, and birds.These raptors need to fly on thermals, which is the most energy-efficient way to migrate. They fly down from the north and then follow the shoreline of Lake Ontario before they head south into the US. They don’t fly over water because there is no lift or thermal generation. They typically fly after a cold front has passed through, with northwest winds pushing them along. Kettle of Broad-winged Hawks I remember my first experience with Broadies from 22 years ago. The sky seemed empty at first. Then, I noticed birds swirling in the distance. (My husband always said they were pepper spots, not birds.) Suddenly, there were hundreds of birds overhead. They would seem lower until they started moving up on the thermals. Once they reached the top of a thermal, they would see other Broadies and stream toward those birds that were in another thermal. That is why they are said to be “kettling”, because they are like the steam vapour bursting from a kettle’s spout. Broad-winged Hawks (exhibiting broad tail bands and pale wings with dark tips and trailing edges) In those first years, the raptor watches I attended had eight to ten thousand birds fly over. In more recent years, if there are two or three thousand birds, that is a good number. We were puzzled by the drop because other raptor watches still had amazing numbers of Broadies. All we could figure is that for some reason, they were flying north of Toronto and creating new migration routes.Even with lower numbers, it is still possible to see kettles of Broadies. It’s what has me watching in September for northwest winds and some clouds to act as backdrops for these fascinating migrants.Note: All photos are from Wikipedia Commons, an online source of copyright-free photos: Initial picture by Eric Dewsnap; kettle of Broad-winged Hawks by Rhododendrites; pair of Broad-winged Hawks by Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith.

Ask a Birder: What is the most beautiful bird song you have ever heard?

Editor — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

We asked several of our writers the same questions. Here are the answers to the one above. — Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) for its beauty. I also like the Great-tailed (Quiscalus mexicanus) or Greater Antillean Grackles (Q. niger) because that means I am in Mexico or the Caribbean (Peter Hinow). — My favorite is the Siberian Rubythroat for the variety of its song and its sometimes jazzy appeal. Though I generally think jazz is overrated – music for people who want to demonstrate their IQ via their music taste (Kai Pflug). — Difficult one. The conventional answer would be Nightingale, the bird that is generally regarded as the best songster in Europe, and one which I delight in listening to. However, to hear the wonderfully melodic notes of the first Blackbird of the year singing on a February evening is a moving experience. European warblers are generally unexciting to look at, unlike their North American counterparts, but several have very beautiful songs. Orphean Warbler is particularly pleasing to the ear, but I love the song of the Blackcap, which I can hear in my own garden. I also rate Skylark and Woodlark very highly. It’s never just the song – it’s also the location, the weather, the season (David Tomlinson). — Blackbird by The Beatles (Peter Penning). — One of the most beautiful bird songs here is that of the Common Nightingale. I am also captivated by the song of the Marsh Warbler or the quiet song of the Red-backed Shrike; both imitate the songs of other bird species and even bring back songs and calls from their African wintering grounds to their breeding areas. Fascinating for me (Rolf Nessing). — The melancholy flute of a Mistle Thrush in a quiet forest at sunset is hard to beat (Jochen Roeder) — I am duty bound to say, Common Nightingale. The track Nightingales and Bombers would be on my Desert Island Discs list. I’m not talking the song by Manfred Mann either, but a BBC recording from WWII that features a singing Nightingale when squadrons of Allied bomber aircraft fly over. It’s a haunting piece on so many levels. War is just crazy and the loss of life on all sides horrific; the fact that so many aircrew would have never returned from that mission and the devastation the bombers would have caused in Mannheim is brought to life by that beautiful, melancholic song. Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2AhKTOF1S0 (John Hague). — For me, it is difficult to beat a tropical dawn chorus. I cannot always tell who is singing what, but the combined performance is better than any alarm clock, although it starts much earlier. So, in other words, I do not have a clue (Fitzroy Rampersand). — I like the sound of Bobwhites and American Crows that imitate dogs/coyotes barking (Mary Alice Hayward). — It’s hard to choose just one. The cheerful song of a Western Bluebird always makes me smile, while the rich, varied song of the Crissal Thrasher and the soft, high-pitched chatter of a Bushtit are favorites for very different reasons (Kelly Isley). — Isn’t every bird’s song the most beautiful? (Rhea Alaudra) Cover Photo: Western Bluebird (Kelly Isley)

Shearwaters and Terrible Tilly in Oregon

Hannah Buschert — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

There is a lighthouse on an offshore rock just 1.2 miles from my home in Cannon Beach, Oregon, that is enchanting. It’s rugged, mysterious, and full of life. The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, also known as Terrible Tilly, was built in the 1880’s on a tiny chunk of basalt rock and operated until 1957. At the time, it was one of the most costly lighthouses built because it was dangerous for keepers, supplies, and builders to access. Each year, storms threaten the structure and have shattered the lens, damaged the building, and eroded the rock. Each fall, shearwaters, phalaropes, and other seabirds move past the Oregon coast. We don’t always get a good view of them from land. However, the other morning on my usual look at Terrible Tilly, I noticed some whale spouts! August is typically the time we get good whale sightings, so I grabbed my spotting scope and set up on my perch overlooking the ocean. To my surprise, a huge mass of Sooty Shearwaters moved among the whales in a feeding frenzy! Moments later, while checking Facebook, I saw a notification that an upcoming boat trip around Terrible Tilly had an opening, so I booked it immediately. Two weeks away, we anxiously checked the ocean every day, hoping the shearwater frenzy would still be happening. Humpback whale Flock of shearwaters The morning came, and we boarded the Alaska Sunrise with an excited group of people, and off we went. Garibaldi Charters offers a variety of tours, including pelagic birding trips in partnership with Oregon Pelagic Tours, which we’ve been on before. This trip was more general and included the option for fishing and crabbing. So when we crossed the bar, instead of going straight out to sea, we headed north towards Cannon Beach. It was a nice morning to be out on the water with little swell and a beautiful sunrise. Along the way, we were seeing Heermann’s Gulls, Rhinoceros Auklets, Common Murres, and lots of cormorants. After about 1 ½ hours of powering, we finally reached Silver Point, the southern edge of Cannon Beach. Surf Scoters, White-winged Scoters, and a few Red-necked Phalaropes scurried to get out of our way. We also had a flock of Elegant Terns. That’s also when we started seeing shearwaters. The closer we got to the lighthouse, the more we saw on the water. We glided through flocks of Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters as we made our way to the lighthouse. Pink-footed Shearwaters The captain positioned the boat just off the face of Terrible Tilly so we could watch the sea lions wiggle all over the rock, some sliding down the staircase towards the ocean. We circled the lighthouse a couple of times. A whale spouted not far to the north of us. The whole experience was amazing! Sea lions around base of lighthouse and on stairs The captain had planned to fish right around the lighthouse, but a mass of jellyfish, called West Coast Sea Nettles, made that unrealistic. So we moved off of Haystack Rock, the more famous of our offshore islands, and the fishers dropped their lines and almost immediately pulled up big rockfish. Clumping sea nettles Once everyone’s fish limit was caught, we headed off to look at some geological features which happened to host a group of Black Oystercatchers. The ride back was more of the same with scoters, auklets, murres, and a variety of gulls. It was an incredible trip, and I hope to do it again sometime!

Bird Guides of the World: Claudien Nsabagasani, Rwanda

Editor — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

What is your favorite bird species? Doherty’s Bushshrike What is your name, and where do you live? Claudien Nsabagasani, I live in Rwanda What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide? Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, and Senegal Grey-crowned Crane How long have you been a bird guide? Since 2023 How did you get into bird guiding? I started as a university student, joining the morning birding as a BirdLife International partner, then conducted research on endemic birds to the Albertine Rift in Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi. I worked with BirdLife International as an IBA Monitoring officer in West Africa (based in Senegal) for 2 years Double-toothed Barbet What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most? I like designing birding itineraries and conducting birding tours. I don’t like to see birds’ habitats being destroyed What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that are the most interesting for visiting birders? Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Grey-crowned Crane, Papyrus Gonolek, White-colored Oliveback, Papyrus Canary, Arnott’s Chat, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Doherty’s Bushshrike Rwenzori Turaco Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds and the approximate duration of such a trip Day 1: Arrival in Kigali: Up on arrival, you meet our driver and transfer to the hotel for dinner and accommodation at Chez Lando Hotel Day 2: Birding around Kigali and drive to Akagera NP: We are birding at Nyandungu Wetland Eco-tourism Park until 11 am, when we drive to Akagera National Park, with a lunch break stop. After checking in at the lodge, we drive to Ihema Lake for a sunset boat from 4:30 until 6:00; accommodation at Ruzizi-tented Lodge or Akagera Game Lodge. Day 3: Birding and safaris: After breakfast, we go for another day of birding and safaris towards the north of the park. Afternoon transfer to the lodge for night birding and game drive as well as overstay; accommodation at Karenge Bush Camp. Day 4: Safaris and transfer to the volcanoes region: We have an early morning birding and safari, and after breakfast at 9 am, we are doing a birding and game drive as we exit towards Musanze. Afternoon, we drive to Musanze Town where we reach at dinner time; accommodation at Mount View Gorilla Lodge. Day 5:: Trekking Mountain Gorillas: Depart from the hotel after breakfast to reach the park headquarters at 7:00, when we have a briefing on gorilla trekking and are allocated to the group of Gorillas (alternatively, those who are not trekking go for birding in Buhanga Eco-Park). Afternoon wevisit the Ellen DeGeneres Campus to learn the legacy and hard work of Dian Fossey to protect the endangered Mountain Gorilla; accommodation at Mount View Gorilla Lodge. Day 6: Trekking Golden Monkeys and drive to Lake Kivu: We go to the park HQ for briefing on visiting the endangered primate, Golden Monkey; trekking goes until lunchtime. After lunch, we drive along Lake Kivu towards Kibuye; accommodation at Moriah Hotel Day 7: Birding on Lake Kivu and Zipline in Nyungwe NP: We have a boat cruise to see birds at the islands. After lunch, we drive to Nyungwe NP, and we have ziplining and a canopy walk until 5 pm when we drive to the lodge for dinner; accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge. Day 8: Full day birding: We are birding to see Endemic birds to the Albertine Rift and mountain birds, i.e Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Doherty’s Bushshrike, etc. Accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge. Day 9: A second full day birding: We try more endemics and mountain birds i.e Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, etc.; accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge. Day 10: A 3rd full day birding: We are birding on a different trail to try rare birds like Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Great Blue Turaco, etc.; accommodation at Chimpanzee Lodge. Day 11: Trekking Chimpanzee and driving to Kigali: With packed breakfast, we leave the lodge at 5:30 am for chimpanzee trekking. The trekking goes until lunch. After lunch, we drive to Kigali for dinner and overnight at Chez Lando Hotel Day 12: City Tour/Birding in Bugesera airport transfer: Morning city tour where you can visit Kigali Genocide Memorial until lunchtime; we can also visit wetlands in Bugesera to see Papyrus Gonolek and more waterbirds. Have lunch, then souvenir shopping before we drive to the airport for the evening flight Great Blue Turaco What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area? Bring binoculars, sunscreen, insect repellent, long-sleeved shirt, nice hiking shoes, quick-drying pants, hat, camera (optional), telescope (optional). If any readers of 10,000 Birds are interested in birding with you, how can they best contact you? Email: rwandabirding@gmail.com or info@birdingrwanda.com WhatsApp +250 788754615 Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds? The best birding places in Rwanda are Nyungwe National Park: A paradise of Endemic birds to the Albertine Rift Region and a good place to trek Chimpanzees Akagera National Park: A savannah park with about 500 bird species, many species of antelopes, and the African Big Five Volcanoes National Park: Mountain forest birds combined with trekking Mountain Gorillas and Golden Monkeys Birding sites around Kigali (Nyandungu Urban Wetland eco-tourism Park, Umusambi Village, Gashora swamp): Birding in restored wetlands to see waterbirds and papyrus birds, i.e Papyrus Gonolek, Carruther’s Cisticola, etc.

Xinjiang’s Buntings: Seven Species, a Lot of Driving

Kai Pflug — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Here’s a puzzle. Looking at the names of the seven bunting species I saw in Xinjiang in August, it seems like they should prefer rather different habitats: Pine Bunting – pine forest Corn Bunting – agricultural fields Rock Bunting – rocky areas Meadow Bunting – meadows Red-headed Bunting – discotheque? Grey-necked Bunting – office? Ortolan Bunting – somewhere where Greek is taught in high school? Pine, Corn / Rock, Meadow / Red-headed, Grey-necked / Ortolan Bunting (Xinjiang, Aug 2026) But then, looking up their habitat requirements in the HBW, the picture begins to blur: Pine Bunting – forest edges, thinned or fragmented woodland, and clearings Corn Bunting – open rolling grasslands, both in natural steppe and agricultural land Rock Bunting – sunny rocky slopes, ravines and clearings in conifer forests Meadow Bunting – lightly wooded hills, foothills and rocky steppe Red-headed Bunting – open steppe, semidesert margins, farmland and field edges Grey-necked Bunting – dry, rocky mountainsides, ravines and upland plateaux Ortolan Bunting – lightly wooded, dry, open country All these – with the slight exception of the Pine Bunting – seem to be variations of “we like edges, clearings, scattered bushes, rocky patches, sparse vegetation and the places where one habitat turns into another.” So why is it, then, that at most locations visited on the trip, there appeared to be only one or two bunting species in any numbers, rather than all seven? Or, to ask it in a slightly grumpier way: was it really necessary to drive around so much just to see different bunting species? I guess the answer lies in the HBW descriptions being rather vague and unspecific, at least from the perspective of a bunting looking for its ideal habitat. The real differences are probably in the precise combination of altitude, latitude, vegetation structure, and moisture – details that can vary by species and season, as well as with breeding range and migration strategy. It’s a bit like saying that humans like houses with four walls and some windows.

Birding Lodges of the World: Casa Ana Birding, Cuba

Editor — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Which bird species do you think is the biggest attraction to visitors of your lodge? The Bee Hummingbird — the smallest bird in the world. What is the name of your lodge, and since when has your lodge been operating? Casa Ana Birding, operating since 2001. How best to travel to your lodge? Clients should compare options between José Martí International Airport in Havana and Juan Gualberto Gómez Airport in Varadero — prices sometimes differ between the two, so I recommend checking both. I personally wait with transportation at whichever airport the client chooses to transfer them directly to Casa Ana Birding. The Varadero airport is about 150 km from Casa Ana Birding, and the Havana airport is about 180 km, so the difference isn’t major. What kind of services — except for accommodation and food — does your lodge offer to visiting birders? (e.g., guided tours, photography blinds, bird feeders, etc.) In the garden, the birds have their own feeders and well-placed photographic perches to get great results. In the different protected areas we visit, we always try to find the best perches too, as long as the birds cooperate. We also provide transportation and organize private tours tailored to each client’s request, in search of their favorite birds, whether within Ciénaga de Zapata National Park or in other parts of the island. What makes your lodge special? Having the smallest bird in the world right in the garden all day long — an exclusive spot for observation and getting great photos, something that is impossible to achieve in the forest. That, along with having turned an old dumping ground into an oasis to protect and conserve the species. What are the 10-20 most interesting birds that your lodge offers good chances to see? Bee Hummingbird, Cuban Trogon, and Cuban Tody — the three jewels of Cuban ornithology Zapata Wren — found exclusively in Ciénaga de Zapata, nowhere else in the world; it lives in the marsh grasslands about 20 km from Casa Ana Birding and can only be observed and photographed at dawn, before the wind picks up with the sunrise Zapata Sparrow — also endemic to Ciénaga de Zapata (with a subspecies on Cuba’s north coast). Cuban Pygmy Owl and Bare-legged Owl — the two endemic owls Cuban Green Woodpecker and Fernandina’s Flicker — the two endemic woodpeckers; the Flicker is endangered due to habitat loss Yellow-headed Warbler, Cuban Bullfinch, Cuban Vireo, and Cuban Oriole Blue-headed Quail-Dove and Gray-fronted Quail-Dove — the two endemic doves. Cuban Tody What is the best time to visit your lodge, and why? Endemic birds can be observed and photographed year-round. That said, the best season is November to May, when there is no rain and no mosquitoes. Many clients like to combine endemics with migratory species — migration season runs from October to April. A few extra details for photographers: the male Bee Hummingbird loses its colorful gorget around June (courtship/breeding season) and begins regaining it in December. January to March is the best window for courtship photos. March to May is the breeding season for most endemics, especially good timing for the Zapata Wren, Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon, and Fernandina’s Flicker. Is your lodge involved in conservation efforts? If yes, please describe them. Yes. We turned what used to be a dumping ground full of rubble and plastic bottles into a small oasis for birds, especially the Bee Hummingbird, providing food, nesting sites, and protection. We also organize volunteer work cleaning up trash in the forested areas around the community, finishing at the garden watching birds and learning to identify the different species — helping bring the next generation of children and teenagers into caring for and conserving birds. What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in visiting your lodge? (for example, what to bring, how to prepare for the visit, etc.) Visitors should dress appropriately in comfortable clothing — camouflage or non-bright colors, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and closed shoes — plus mosquito repellent. Birdwatchers should bring binoculars, and photographers should bring their camera with the best telephoto lens available. The birds in the garden are close, even within reach of a phone camera, but other birds — especially waterbirds — can be more distant. Very important for photographers: bring a battery charger. It’s very frustrating to travel to another country and forget your charger. Do you have activities for non-birders? If so, please describe. Casa Ana Birding is located at the head of the Bay of Pigs in Ciénaga de Zapata, one of the best spots for snorkeling and learning to dive, with calm waters, good visibility, and a wide variety of fish and coral reef. Diving instructors are available for first lessons, whether you’re a beginner or already experienced. There are also cenotes (natural pools) for an unforgettable experience, a Cuban crocodile breeding farm, speedboat rides across Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lagoon) with a visit to the Taíno Village to get a glimpse of how Cuba’s indigenous people once lived, horseback rides across the flooded savannas, and beachfront all-inclusive restaurants to make the most of your vacation. In short, there are activities of all kinds. If any reader of 10,000 Birds is interested in staying at your lodge, how can they best contact you? Whatever is most convenient for them: WhatsApp: +53 53536855 Instagram: instagram.com/casaanabirdingendemic Facebook: facebook.com/casa.ana.playa.larga.cuba WeChat Is there anything else you would like to share with the readers of 10,000 Birds? I built Casa Ana Birding in 2001 in the heart of Ciénaga de Zapata National Park. Back then, the garden was an old dumping ground full of rubble and plastic bottles. I chose this spot because of a small natural freshwater stream flowing from the Zapata wetland toward the sea — it runs through the back of the garden with a phenomenal view, continuing underground beneath the house, out to the sea. I’m very proud of having turned that dumping ground into a small oasis for birds, especially the Bee Hummingbird,...

Three Photos: Marvelous Spatuletail

Editor — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Photos taken in Peru by Julio C.

Source

Halfway to England

Peter — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000

Attentive readers of my posts know that I have been to the Maasvlakte before. That trip ended with a very sore bum, a futile request for information about the Dutch royal family and a good list of birds. Life’s inevitable progress doesn’t make me younger, so sparing my buttocks further agony I successfully researched transport options to get to the Maasvlakte. Just in time for this post I caught one of the season’s last ferries out of Hoek van Holland directly to the Maasvlakte. This ferry runs in the summer months and the first boat sets sail at 10:00 hrs. Generally speaking, quite useless for birding. The ferry is being run by volunteers, people with their heart in the right place, but they are not freaks like birders. Pre-dawn rising just isn’t on the books. However, when life gives you lemons make limoncello, so I loaded my dog, binoculars, raincoat and a packed lunch on to my bicycle and got on the metro to Hoek van Holland. Only thirty minutes later I reached the Berghaven, the port from which the ferry leaves. I paid the ferryman and we left for the Maasvlakte. A roaring tide, almost six nautical miles distance and the busiest shipping this side of China make for an hour crossing. Throw in hundreds of Great Cormorant, Eurasian Oystercatchers, six gull species (Little Gull!) and several floats of Common Eider and you know you will have a nice day. Of course, that’s also the exact moment the rain starts coming down in buckets. Why am I so keen to get to this desolate industrial landscape? The answer will not come as a surprise: birds. Sticking far into the North Sea the man-made peninsula is home to several birding hotspots. Migration is the star attraction at this time of year. Having checked out the sightings I had decided to find myself some Northern Wheatear, do some sea-watching and just see whatever else would appear. The ferry docks more or less at the point that I got to last time, so I turned right and cycled to the northwest. While I didn’t stop for long, the hotspot Trektelpost Maasvlakte 2 is a popular place for sea-watching. Official migration counts take place here so there is always a good chance very knowledgeable people with excellent vision and determination skills are present. My experience with sea-watching is that most birds appear in the early hours and by the time I got there it was very quiet at sea. Definitely a place to go to by car, I’m afraid. Luzerneveld lies a few kilometres further east. It is a barren piece of land, with some scattered bushes and lots of flowering plants. I tried in vain to find information on the background of this area as it seemed more a botanical reserve than a bird reserve. It is an excellent area for rare birds and vagrants during the autumn migration period. I wanted to see Northern Wheatear and with luck, Whinchat. Success rate: 50%, with three Wheatears showing their eponymous “white arses”. If you thought their name was due to some grain sticking out of their hearing organs, well, consider yourself rudely re-educated. I also spotted the yarrellii subspecies of the White Wagtail walking among the low vegetation. Apart from what seems to be an exaggerated numbers of identical letters in its name, nothing too exciting, especially when considering that this location has hosted every other Eurasian member of the pipit family. Already regretting the tight schedule I had forced upon myself by picking the ferry trip, I cycled quickly to the next stop. Nieuwe Stuifdijk is an artificial dune overlooking the beginning of the shipping canal into Rotterdam. The dune is covered with shrubs and other vegetation. The high vantage point offers sea viewing (Long-tailed Jaeger, Leach’s Storm Petrel, Northern Fulmar, all possible gull species and European Shag for example) while the dune itself can provide a temporary home for Common Rosefinch, Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler. You can get chips, sandwiches and coffee at a shack nearby, so this place caters for anyone spending a whole day in the area. I, on the other hand, had to cycle back like a maniac to catch the ferry back home. Contemplating the day on the ferry deck, I decided that the Maasvlakte is a destination for car-based birding, but for birdwatching or just having a few hours on the beach, the ferry is not a bad option. Nothing wrong with seeing both the Common Seal and the Grey Seal on one beach.