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You’ve no doubt heard the famous expression, “If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed will go to the mountain.” The pithy lesson contained herein reminds us that we control our own destinies, that if someone will not come to us, we must perforce go to them. But what if the mountain had come to [...]

In the words of the A-Team’s indomitable leader, Hannibal, I love it when a plan comes together. I also love it when new birders come together. It all came together for me this past weekend, at least in terms of birding. The plan was first set in motion, though I didn’t know it at the [...]

Happy New Year! The first birding of the year is often among the best, since every bird is new again. I love jumping into a new year list by seeking out specialty winter species, an easy enough task in a place as wintry as Rochester. To usher in 2009, Seth and I hit Sodus Point for seabirds. [...]

The first day of November was absolutely glorious in Rochester, a bright balmy Sunday that stood in marked contrast to the bluster and gloom with which October closed. The conditions appeared ideal for Seth and me to hit a variety of regional birding hotspots, starting with Lake Ontario. The pier at Charlotte offers a nice [...]

Migration this spring has been more of a tease than a treat for me. That magical avian wave that sets the treetops swarming with flashy warblers never washed over me. My best day brought 8 warbler species rather than the 15-20 requires to get my adrenaline surging! It’s not as if I haven’t been trying; [...]

My friend Laura encountered a Lawrence’s Warbler, which is a rare Blue-winged/Golden-winged Warbler hybrid, just a week ago. This weekend, I finally had a chance to chase this unusal avian while hopefully immersing myself in the rushing torrent of traveling birds that is spring migration. To be honest, though, I was more intrigued by the [...]

Pardon this post’s provocative title but now that I’ve got your attention, let’s talk about woodcocks. That strangest of shorebirds, Scolopax minor has long been a nemesis of mine. Every spring, I’ve endeavored to enjoy its daffy dusk ritual or hear its plaintive peent but every spring I’ve failed. 2008 seemed like the year that [...]

I’ve shared the details of my first birding excursion of January 2009 as well as my last. During the days and weeks between, I was fortunate to find quite a few species, despite the exceedingly inclement weather. Got a nut? Here’s a newsflash: Rochester is cold in January. Ice cold. Eskimo cold. Eider cold even! [...]

Pity the poor bird who fails to fly south as its comrades take wing. Lack of foresight has been the undoing of many a migrant that misses the proverbial boat. Sure, global warming may instigate some pretty mild winters but just as surely as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, [...]

As the saying goes, one good year deserves another. So, in the interest of starting 2009 off right, at least from a birding perspective, Seth and I decided to scope out the waterfowl on frosty Lake Ontario. Along with our friend Dean, who was staying with me over the holiday, we struck east for Sodus [...]

That notoriously bad Bergin owl luck seems to be breaking. Perhaps my recent expedition to Texas’ Rio Grande Valley cleared out the curse; after all, within hours of landing, I spotted a screech owl (Eastern or Mexican, you take your pick) in a Sabal Palm and two days later eyed not one but two Ferruginous [...]

In recounting my Rochester Snowy Owl encounter last week, I mentioned my new birding buddy, Laura Kammermeier.  Bill of the Birds made our mutual acquaintance but in spite of our efforts, we hadn’t actually found the opportunity to go birding together. Fortunately, we found time to make a run at the waves of White-winged Crossbills [...]

One of the prime benefits of living just a Great Lake away from the Canadian wilderness (e.g. Toronto) should be a bevy of winter birds. Every year, exotic owls and finches irrupt out of the vast boreal, often only as far as our northernmost counties. Well, if I lived any further north, I’d be eating [...]

Moving can be murder, don’t you think? If it isn’t one thing (transporting all of your possessions in boxes across a long distance) it’s another (unpacking said boxes!) After nearly a week of relentless redistribution of my estate, I needed a break. Furthermore, I was itching to uncover the natural splendor of Rochester. Sure, I’ve [...]

Here’s some big news I’ve been waiting to spring on you all – I’m moving! No, not moving away from 10,000 Birds, as much as some of you might prefer the full force of Charlie and Corey’s genius undiluted by my drivel. The move I am about to embark on, along with Sara, Mason, and [...]

The Core Team has been on holiday, visiting with family throughout the upper reaches of Pennsylvania and New York and celebrating Christmas over and over. Now that the yule festivities are over, we can get down to toasting in the New Year. But first, we had to take a stab at adding some final birds [...]