- “Run Birding” 2018 Challenge – The Recap
It all started with a simple question: How many species have I seen while running? I’m relatively list adverse compared to other birders; state, county and yard lists are common … - A “Running” List of Birds in 2018
I started birding when I was five years old, about (mumble) years ago. I’ve also been a serious runner for well over a decade, and will continue as long as … - Swallow-tailed Gull: An ABA Rarity for the Ages
Chasing rare birds is rarely convenient. Unless you’re single, unemployed and avoid human interaction, jumping in a car at a moment’s notice to drive likely hours away will definitely impact …Continue reading “Swallow-tailed Gull: An ABA Rarity for the Ages”
- Montezuma’s Revenge: A Quail of a Tale
In the Davis Mountains of remote west Texas, I finally overcame a multi-year bout of “Montezuma’s Revenge.” Eight years, in fact. I first succumbed to the ailment in Southeastern Arizona. … - Cold-blooded Volkswagens: Seeking Leatherback Turtles in Trinidad
It was a warm evening even though the sun had disappeared behind the marine horizon hours prior. Thickly vegetated trees—faintly illuminated by the incandescent porch lights—swayed gently in the sea …Continue reading “Cold-blooded Volkswagens: Seeking Leatherback Turtles in Trinidad”
- Trading Juncos for Jacobins: Birdathon Goes South in 2015
“Oh, you’re trying to find as many species as possible today?” I was a bit stupefied when these words came out of the mouth of our Trinidadian guide. It was …Continue reading “Trading Juncos for Jacobins: Birdathon Goes South in 2015”
- Flight of the (California) Condors
When I was a child, the California Condor made me cry. Not due to physical trauma, mind you. I wouldn’t have stood a chance against a bird that stood nearly … - Birdwatching in Cuba
Cuba lies fewer than 100 miles off the Floridan coast and despite being just the size of Virginia – or half of Utah – the country holds twenty-seven species of … - White-tailed Ptarmigan, Nemesis No More
Nemesis bird. Some may think this refers to the antagonist in a Finnish smart phone game about “ill-tempered” avians. But it’s a term (painfully) familiar to most birders. A nemesis … - “Super Moon” at Robin Lakes
It was our first backpacking trip of the year, and we knew there would be a few cobwebs: an obese backpack, forgotten necessities, atrophied quads, and sore heels. It was … - A Clam’s Throw from North Korea
Spotted Redshank. Terek Sandpiper. Dunlin. Lesser Sand-Plover. North Korean Border Guard. Red-necked St—wait, North Korean what? I was at the northern most point of the Yellow Sea, scanning an extensive, … - Birdathonin’ it up – Terns to Turnstones
It’s been a few years since I’d gone out to tally as many bird species as possible in twenty-four hours—not since I left my position at Seattle Audubon to move … - Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#4) – Saemangeum Seawall
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea It is difficult to convey size with the written word. On the west coast of the Korean peninsula, the Saemangeum (say-MAHN-gum) …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#4) – Saemangeum Seawall”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#3) – More Time On Yubu
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea Are you a birdwatcher who doesn’t like to get up early? This is roughly the equivalent of a baker who’s allergic …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#3) – More Time On Yubu”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#2) – Yubu Island
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea “What’s your favorite bird?” It’s a frequent question posed to birdwatchers and I stumble for an example that people can relate …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#2) – Yubu Island”
- Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#1) – Nakdong Estuary
Read all posts from this expedition to South Korea “It’s just to the left of that red ramen container.” I found the piece of trash on the beach with my …Continue reading “Chasing Spoonies in South Korea (#1) – Nakdong Estuary”
- The Non-Cruisers Guide to Cruising
Point A and Point B can both be exciting, but often times the best part of traveling between two points is the vehicle. And I’ve experienced a few: an elephant … - Birding By Ear: Urban Birds of Europe
There you are: jet-lagged and in a park near your hotel, before dawn, binoculars in hand. It’s the beginning of your European vacation and your family is still passed out … - Wild Goose Chase
Yeah, it’s cliché, and I am certainly not the first birdwatcher to use, or perhaps abuse, this phrase. But when one travels to The Netherlands in winter to look for … - A Birder in Paris (2012 Recap)
When my eyes met binoculars in 2012, they were likely in pursuit of the feathered occupants of Paris, from tits to creepers. My wife and I moved to the capital …
Travel, birding and cultural minutiae
