10,000 Birds

Barn Owl dawn

David T — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Late September and early October is the time of the Red Deer rut here in the Brecks. The largest of Britain’s land mammals, our local population of Reds includes many big stags with impressive multi-pointed antlers. However, despite their size, both the stags and hinds are elusive and difficult to see for much of the year, remaining deep in the woods. Now, however, with the rut in full swing…

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Three Photos: Fairy Pitta

Editor — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Photos taken by Kai Pflug at Nanhui, Shanghai, on Sep 21…

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Socotra Island – Jewel in the Indian Ocean

Rolf Nessing — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

I’m often asked, “Where have you been birdwatching lately?” When I answer, “I was on the island of Socotra again,” the question usually follows: “Where is that?” It’s located in the Indian Ocean, east of the Horn of Africa, and, at least legally, belongs to Yemen. I’ve always been interested in parts of the world where there are few birdwatchers and nature lovers. In 2020, it was finally Socotra’s turn. Even the outbound flight was a challenge: You can’t buy tickets online. I know a ticket agent and bought the tickets there myself. Concerned contemporaries might now be asking: Isn’t a visit to Socotra dangerous? I visit the island of Socotra annually and have never had a bad experience. Flights to the island of Socotra don’t depart from the Yemeni mainland, but from other Arab states. Currently, there is only one round-trip flight per week on a Boeing passenger plane. This passenger plane is usually fully booked, partly with locals, but mostly with globetrotters aiming to visit all 193 UN-recognized states, as well as the Vatican and Palestine. Since a visit to the Yemeni mainland is too dangerous for many, the peaceful island of Socotra is the destination. Dragon blood tree If you ask AI: Socotra is home to an extraordinary number of endemic species, including the distinctive dragon blood tree, the endemic bat species Hypsugo ianzai, the Socotra falcon, the Socotra scops owl, and various reptiles and land snails that have evolved in isolation from the mainland over millions of years. This biodiversity makes Socotra the “Galapagos of the Indian Ocean” and is an outstanding example of evolutionary processes and adaptations to unique environmental conditions. Dragon Blood Tree Forest Socotra’s separation from the African continent and its subsequent ecological isolation, with the development of its own species and subspecies, began about 20 million years ago. An area of approximately 3,625 km² – roughly the size of the island of Mallorca (Spain) – is home to around 850 higher plant species and ferns. At least 230 of these are endemic, meaning they occur exclusively on Socotra. The number of endemic plant species per square kilometer is the fourth largest in the world (after the Seychelles, New Caledonia, and Hawaii). Socotra sparrow Endemic bird species include the Socotra sparrow (approx. 330,000), the Socotra sunbird (approx. 66,000), the Socotra golden-winged grosbeak (approx. 17,000), the Socotra warbler (approx. 27,000), the Socotra cisticola (approx. 9,000), the Socotra starling (approx. 25,000), the Socotra bunting (approx. 3,800), the Socotra buzzard (approx. 800), the Socotra scops owl (>2,000), and the Jouanin petrel (approx. 4,000). The Socotra Cormorant (6,000–12,000) flies as far as the Arabian Gulf, and the Forbes-Watson Swift is virtually endemic. Twenty-nine endemic reptiles live on Socotra. Socotra starling Socotra Scops Owl Habitat of Socotra Scops Owl Birdwatchers who want to get to know the 10,000 bird species better must visit this island to see these endemic bird species! Since 2021, I have been leading birdwatching and nature tours on the island of Socotra. Socotra is not a vacation island—it is a hidden gem for flora and fauna! Upon first arrival at Socotra Airport, I was able to see dozens of Egyptian vultures. Socotra is home to around 1,900 Egyptian vultures – the highest population density of this endangered bird species in the world. Egyptian vultures are omnipresent, whether in the island’s capital, Hadiboh, on the beach or at a picnic under palm trees. Egyptian vultures Depending on the water level, the larger water areas in the lower reaches of the Wadis Serhin and Suq are inhabited by many Black-winged Stilts, other waders, duck species, Sooty Gull, and the rarer Indian Pond Heron. Surprises in birds are always possible here. For the Crested Coot, the first brood record for the Island of Socotra was provided in February 2020 by me. Crested Coot or Red-knobbed Coot The Qaria Lagoon boasts a rich birdlife. The rare and very beautiful Bruce’s Green Pigeon and the endemic Socotra Warbler breed in the bushes surrounding the lagoon. The mountains near Homhil are home to unique vegetation. The Abyssinian Eye-White and the endemic Socotra Sparrow live here. Somali Starlings are not uncommon and hard to miss in the villages. Here you can expect to see Desert Wheatears, Isabelline Wheatears, Long-billed Pipits, Southern Grey Shrikes (Lanius meridionalis uncinatus), Black-crowned Finches, and Lichtenstein’s Sandgrouse. Southern Grey Shrike The Ayhaft Canyon National Park south of Qadhub is one of the most beautiful wadis on Socotra. The sandstone and granite rocks stretch between 50 and 800 m above sea level. A unique vegetation awaits us here. Ayhaft Canyon Wadi Ayhaft has been placed under protection as an IBA (Important Bird Area). In addition to Egyptian vultures, up to five pairs of the endemic Socotra buzzard breed here. Abyssinian White-eye, Socotra Golden-winged Grosbeak, Socotra Sunbird, Bruce´s Green Pigeon and Socotra Sparrow live in this gorge. The most common bird species here is the Laughing Dove. There is a small pond further up in the wadi. The Socotra Freshwater Crab lives here. Near the Indian Ocean lives the endemic Socotra Cisticola. The dwarf stocks of Zygophyllum, Suaeda and Pulicaria around Ghubbah are said to contain more than 2,500 Socotra Cisticola, i.e. more than 25% of the world population. The Diksam National Park consists of granite and limestone slopes. Here there are light forests of Dracaena cinnabari, the Dragon’s Blood Tree – a landscape like one from a distant time. Uniquely beautiful! In the national park we will surely see the ubiquitous Egyptian Vulture, which has its nests on the steep walls in the numerous caves and niches. The rarer Socotra Buzzard and the Brown-necked Raven breed on the steep walls. The endemic Socotra Starling breeds in buildings in small villages and is not so shy there. Diksam National Park The Detwah Lagoon is a wetland of international importance protected by the RAMSAR Convention. A fishing boat cruise on the Indian Ocean offers the opportunity to observe typical seabirds such as Masked Boobies, Brown Boobies, and Red-billed Tropicbirds,...

Let’s Have a Chat!

Peter — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:00:55 +0000

The sun was shining and although rather late in the morning I decided for some carpe diem, jumped on my bike and rode to Polder Schieveen. This was going to be birdwatching, not birding. No specific targets, just going out and see whatever would be out there. Greylag Geese, Egyptian Geese and Canada Geese were to be expected, as were the ubiquitous Grey Heron, Great White Egrets and Northern Lapwing. Migration has started in earnest now. Large flocks of Western House Martins were fattening up on the flies around the sheep farm. My guess is that all it takes is a good northerly wind for them to leave. The Eurasian Curlews have arrived to take the place of the small birds flying south. Time for a chat. Or maybe even two or three. Chats are a confusing and rather large bird family, not just a chinwag. Chats are now classified as members of the Old World flycatcher family, but I am becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the expansion of that taxonomic group. It reminds me of the tendency to blame all environmental mishaps on climate change and if everything is climate change, then nothing really is. If everything is a flycatcher, well… My first chat of the day woke me from these useless philosophies. The bird was sitting in a very remote sapling and I managed to take some awful pictures which I was going to need to identify this bird. Short wings, brown rump, chest orange, reaching upper belly and flanks and a white mark on the wing. After much deliberation I labelled it European Stonechat. The next chat was easy peazy lemon squeezy: Northern Wheatears. One of my absolute favourite birds. They’re not doing too well in the Netherlands, but conservation measures are being put in place to restore their habitat. Slight overgrazing by rabbits is key, but rabbits aren’t living up to their reputation these days. Fewer rabbits mean fewer Northern Wheatears. Less than 300 breeding pairs remain but fortunately tens of thousands still come through on passage. And then, on a fence I saw another chat. It behaved very differently, sallying, returning to its post – like a flycatcher… What if? Could this have been a day with three different species? However, the thought of a Whinchat was dismissed almost immediately, as was Pied Flycatcher: this was of course a Northern Wheatear too. Albeit a weird one, or a taxonomist.

Talking of woodpeckers…

Dragan — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

This post is republished in our “From the Archives” series, featuring highlights of our vast back catalogue of more than 10,000 birding-related posts published over the last 15 years or so. As tree crowns grow thinner, Autumn becomes the true woodpecker season. September in the Balkans started with the usual unruly bunch of Lesser Spotted, Great Spotted and Eurasian Green Woodpeckers, joined by quite a few frequent Middle Spotted Woodpeckers. But that’s nothing. On the last day of the month all of them become overshadowed by Elvis. October didn’t bring any new peckers in Serbia, but did quite a few in Costa Rica. The cutest among them was the Acorn Woodpecker, looking like a fluffy toy-bird, and the most handsome was the elegant Lineated Woodpecker. Back in Europe, November added Syrian (common), Grey-headed (uncommon) and Black Woodpecker (relatively frequent). Grey-headed awaited me on the ridge above the Danube in the Iron Gates National Park. At first, there was a Rock Bunting on the asphalt in front of me, followed by a Sombre Tit in the grass and a mixed flock of thrushes – Blackbirds, Fieldfares, Mistle and one late migratory Song Thrush; plus a Green Woodpecker (common) by the roadside. Another greenish pecker flies to the left and lands in some bare branches, only to prove to be my first Grey-headed Woodpecker of the year. Rock Bunting in the Iron Gates National Park, Serbia, by Vitrag Shah And the Black Woodpeckers? They seemed to be everywhere. In two consecutive days, at Labudovo okno Ramsar site and the Obedska bara Nature Reserve (gazetted in the 1870s), I had six of them – possibly my personal record. Most were in flight, but one was showing well foraging in the oaks right next to the road. Yes, I know – you distinctly remember that I mentioned Elvis. No, not the Ivorybill, I am in Europe, but possibly the hardest to find and the most elusive of local peckers, the White-backed Woodpecker (the same one I dipped in Greece last year, and later searched for unsuccessfully). That one is a bird of undisturbed, primary forests with enough dead trees, both standing and fallen (the rarest kind of forest). Or so the field guide says. I was in the Iron Gates, along the same road, a bit further from the Grey-headed site, inside the national park but in the section where the beech forest is regularly and, however illegitimate, legally logged by the state forestry company. Metre long logs cut for firewood were stashed by the roadside, together with hollow, rotten trunks cut into sections about a foot long and piled alongside them. It is a sad and, unfortunately, not unusual sight in the national parks of Serbia. Grey-headed Woodpecker in the Iron Gates NP, Serbia, by Vitrag Shah And there it was. On a youngish beech by the roadside, there was the female White-backed Woodpecker (cover photo by Øystein Størkersen). Did I mention, this one was a lifer for me. Immediately I suspected a White-backed, but having no previous experience with it, waited for 3-4 seconds more for the bird to show its white back to be absolutely sure (it belonged to the white-backed race, but the other race is also possible here). A month later, I was at the same forest road, this time maybe 5 kilometres further along. There was a pile made of a rotten tree cut into foot-long sections and another female was exploring this unexpected roadside diner. Only this time, the very moment I saw her, I knew it. I was sure – only my second ever White-backed. Serbian populations of other woodpeckers – but for one (Three-toed), number thousands, in two cases even tens of thousands of breeding pairs (Great Spotted and Syrian). Yet, the habitat-wise highly specialized White-backed is estimated as only 500 to 800 breeding pairs. White-backed Woodpecker (female) in the Iron Gates NP by Vitrag Shah In the national parks of Serbia, only the first degree of protection saves the forest from logging, but on average, such areas are pocket-sized. Hence, those few undisturbed habitats may have reached their full capacity and the birds are forced to explore other options? Are they adapting to what we leave for them? Or, since this was Autumn, perhaps the birds are tied to their proper habitat only in the breeding season and start exploring the alternatives afterwards? Every observation only raises a new set of questions to be answered. There is one more local woodpecker that I have never observed – the Three-toed Woodpecker. That one is estimated to have only 30-50 breeding pairs country-wide, and even that is seen as a slight increase in numbers. The search is on. Cover photo: White-backed Woodpecker (female) in the Iron Gates National Park, Serbia, by Øystein Størkersen

Species Spotlight: Blue Jay

Kai Pflug — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Like some US citizens, the Blue Jay comes off as a bit of a poser, as this early description by Alexander Wilson demonstrates: the Blue Jay “is distinguished as a kind of beau among the feathered tenants of our woods, by the brilliancy of his dress; and like most other coxcombs, makes himself still more conspicuous by his loquacity, and the oddness of his tones and gestures.” The next sentence in the species profile could equally describe the bird or the country: “Although often disliked because it is sometimes aggressive toward other …, this … offers excitement and fascination to those who observe it closely.” That is probably enough of the analogies. The next sentence in the profile (“Blue Jays quickly learn to take food provided by humans, and annually many are trapped and banded.”) is a bit too difficult even for me to turn into political satire. So, let’s stop. Particularly as an important ecological function of Blue Jays—dispersing acorns—is also somewhat difficult to translate into human terms. One study found that Blue Jays transported and cached about 133,000 acorns from a stand of oaks in Virginia, representing roughly 54% of the entire crop, with one to five acorns carried on each caching trip. Even more interesting than the description of the bird is the language used to describe it in very old ornithological literature. In 1889, the species was said to be “exceedingly sly and very suspicious, and can only be approached with the greatest difficulty,” while also being introduced in language that would seem rather overblown today: “This beautiful bird, the subject of our illustration, is a denizen chiefly of forest and heavy timbers.” Modern ornithological writing is generally much less emotional. The Blue Jay is a small corvid, one of the most intelligent bird families. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it uses tools, and tool use has recently even been observed and photographed in the wild. It is also a bird that—like Mr. Audubon with his shotgun—can present a danger to other birds. So, despite this similarity between the two, Audubon had some rather harsh words for the species in Birds of America: “It robs every nest it can find, sucks the eggs like the crow, or tears to pieces and devours the young birds.” Reading about Blue Jays picking at the eyes of a shot grouse also does little to improve their public image. Still, shouldn’t such a beautiful bird be given some leeway?

All at sea

David T — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:57:30 +0000

Where’s the best seat on a RIB if you are out at sea on a pelagic birding trip? It’s a question that my companion David Tipling and I debated a lot last week in Portugal. We had travelled to Sagres, the south-westernmost town in mainland Europe, to see and photograph seabirds, and had booked three pelagic excursions. On the first two we sat in the front row, on the last we sat at the back.

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9 Things Birds Do Better Than Humans

Kai Pflug — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Navigating Finding the same breeding spot after an absence of half a year, rather than getting lost in IKEA. Flying Without all the add-ons (luggage check-in, security check, boarding, safety instructions, taxiing, etc.) that turn a 45-minute flight into a three-hour journey. Building efficiently Building a lightweight, eco-friendly home without blueprints, power tools or YouTube videos. Seeing Colors When birds—with their four color receptors—want to explain how limited human color vision is, they probably use black-and-white photos. Remembering Locations If you manage to lose your mobile phone in your own apartment, you would not survive a harsh winter remembering where you hid several thousand nuts six months earlier. Sleeping I wish I could sleep with only half my brain. Especially during some meetings. Forecasting the Weather Birds often notice approaching storms long before humans check the weather app. Singing I know—you think your karaoke performances are pretty impressive. Be glad songbirds never serve as karaoke judges. Looking good Without cosmetics or a personal stylist. Photo: Asian Green Bee-eater, Udawala, Sri Lanka, March 2025 (as seen by a human)