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What's the rarest/most unusual bird you've seen in the wild? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter david2004
- Start date
david kelly
Drive-by Birder
Two of the rarest birds I have seen are Chinese Egret and Nordmann's Greenshank in Krabi Bay, southern Thailand.
The most unusual birds I have seen are Pennant-winged Nightjar in Zimbabwe, Southern Ground Hornbill in Zimbabwe and Boat-billed Heron in Costa Rica.
David
The most unusual birds I have seen are Pennant-winged Nightjar in Zimbabwe, Southern Ground Hornbill in Zimbabwe and Boat-billed Heron in Costa Rica.
David
Grousemore
Senior Member
The rarest I've seen is probably Whooping Crane.
Tero
Retired
Here is an old list
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10329&highlight=exotic
I put down Lazuli Bunting there.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=10329&highlight=exotic
I put down Lazuli Bunting there.
Hmmmm , rarest would be either Pectoral Sandpiper or Savi's Warbler ? Dunno which is rarer ?
Most unusual .... White Pea Hen ... in my GARDEN !!!
But I've had bird's this year which I personaly have been pleased to see - Osprey , Goshawk , Little Stint , Black-necked Grebe and Long-eared Owl - all on my local patch !!! ( oh , and a Pec Sand on my patch , too ).
And my first time sea watching where I got Purple Sandpiper , Manx Shearwater , Arctic Skua & Great Skua all in 2 hours and all 4 were life ticks for me !
Most unusual .... White Pea Hen ... in my GARDEN !!!
But I've had bird's this year which I personaly have been pleased to see - Osprey , Goshawk , Little Stint , Black-necked Grebe and Long-eared Owl - all on my local patch !!! ( oh , and a Pec Sand on my patch , too ).
And my first time sea watching where I got Purple Sandpiper , Manx Shearwater , Arctic Skua & Great Skua all in 2 hours and all 4 were life ticks for me !
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Nerine
Well-known member
I’ve been reading this thread with interest and wondering if I have ever seen a rare bird. Could only think of Short-toed Tree creeper, seen quite often locally.
On my travels I loved Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Mautitius where it is not rare)
Mauritian Fody (not as lucky as Fifebirder who has seen the rare birds out there!)
And while in South Africa, my favourite sight was a family of Swee Waxbills. Now this is so strange………. as I said, I kept looking at this thread and tried to think of unusual birds ….. Swee Waxbills came to mind because I was just captivated by them in South Africa – 3 or 4 babies on a branch side by side and “mum” fussing around them … lovely! Then, would you believe it – I looked in the Gallery this afternoon and there was a Swee!!!! I’ve left a message there.
Sometimes life is spooky.
Nerine
On my travels I loved Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Mautitius where it is not rare)
Mauritian Fody (not as lucky as Fifebirder who has seen the rare birds out there!)
And while in South Africa, my favourite sight was a family of Swee Waxbills. Now this is so strange………. as I said, I kept looking at this thread and tried to think of unusual birds ….. Swee Waxbills came to mind because I was just captivated by them in South Africa – 3 or 4 babies on a branch side by side and “mum” fussing around them … lovely! Then, would you believe it – I looked in the Gallery this afternoon and there was a Swee!!!! I’ve left a message there.
Sometimes life is spooky.
Nerine
ashrich
Registered , should be certified .......
Rarest/Unusual Bird
Well , the rarest and most unusual bird I have seen , for Bucks anyway ,was on the 19 Nov 92 when I had the pleasure of a Leach's Petrel flying just above the lapping waves of a very windy Little Marlow GP . This was the day before a really big blow from the South West . The local Black Headed gulls decidedly didn't like this interloper and chased and harried it all afternoon but it seemed unpeturbed and just kept gliding and flapping over the top of the water which was making fairly big waves for a smallish pit . It came really close to the bank a number of times and the solid white 8 at the base of the tail was readily visible . Also at the same site I have seen Sub Adult Male Red Footed Falcon and Ferruginous Duck
Ashley
Well , the rarest and most unusual bird I have seen , for Bucks anyway ,was on the 19 Nov 92 when I had the pleasure of a Leach's Petrel flying just above the lapping waves of a very windy Little Marlow GP . This was the day before a really big blow from the South West . The local Black Headed gulls decidedly didn't like this interloper and chased and harried it all afternoon but it seemed unpeturbed and just kept gliding and flapping over the top of the water which was making fairly big waves for a smallish pit . It came really close to the bank a number of times and the solid white 8 at the base of the tail was readily visible . Also at the same site I have seen Sub Adult Male Red Footed Falcon and Ferruginous Duck
Ashley
jurek said:
Dead right. I've passed some lovely little forested islands out there some of which might never have been visited by a birdwatcher. If I ever manage to get early retirement before becoming too decrepit I'm going to have a go at some of them.
For now, the rarest I've seen are probably:
Bali Starling (not sure how many left in the wild now, but very few)
Junin Grebe (world population about 300 or so)
David Bryant
Registered User
KCFoggin said:
Actually, Lark Sparrow would rate highly with we Norfolk, UK birders too! The one at Waxham is turning out to be a nice little blocker for those poor souls who took up the hobby in the past few years!
Larry Lade
Moderator
Marcus, here in Missouri I usually see a few (some times many) Eastern Bluebirds whenever I go out birding, so they are pretty common (at least here in north west Missouri). It is after all, our state bird! They are here year round. Bluebird trails have been established here in Missouri, and all over the United States. Bluebird trails are a series of nest boxes which have been set up in appropiate habitat. I believe these have significantly contributed to the well being of the Eastern Bluebird here in our state (and to the Western and Mountain Bluebirds in the western United States).
I believe these have significantly contributed to the well being of the Eastern Bluebird here in our state (and to the Western and Mountain Bluebirds in the western United States).[/QUOTE]
It's because some folks have set up those nest boxes around here is the reason that I have seen a few in Maryland. When I lived in New York State, I never saw one, even though I was birding there for more than 20 years. And the Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of New York too. I used to wonder what made somebody pick that bird.
marcus
It's because some folks have set up those nest boxes around here is the reason that I have seen a few in Maryland. When I lived in New York State, I never saw one, even though I was birding there for more than 20 years. And the Eastern Bluebird is the state bird of New York too. I used to wonder what made somebody pick that bird.
marcus
Larry Lade
Moderator
larry said:
marcus said:
Hi Marcus,
I have also thought it odd, that some states have a state bird which is only in their state for part of the year! For example, the state bird of Colorado is the Lark Bunting. That bird, while very numerous in the summer months, does not stay for the winter.
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Hello again Larry
I was just checking on what you have seen under the 'rare and unusual' list.
Red-necked Stint and Common Redshank. Those are definately more rare and unusual than what I have ever seen. I saw some Wild Turkeys once at a Maryland NWR. Should I have put that? I have seen several Eastern Bluebirds, but those Turkeys, just once.
marcus
marcus
I was just checking on what you have seen under the 'rare and unusual' list.
Red-necked Stint and Common Redshank. Those are definately more rare and unusual than what I have ever seen. I saw some Wild Turkeys once at a Maryland NWR. Should I have put that? I have seen several Eastern Bluebirds, but those Turkeys, just once.
marcus
marcus
sungrebe
Well-known member
Rarest Bird
Great idea. Makes one revisit one's life list.
I guess my rarest world birds were Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret from the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
My rarest home state (New York) birds have been Northern Hawk-Owl, Dickcissel, and probably Baird's Sandpiper; none are really rare, but not easy to get in New York state. I just got the Baird's this week; a mini-run of them at a local turf nursery, along with tons of Killdeer, Least, Pectorals, and American Golden Plovers.
The coolest? I've seen a lot of gorgeous birds around the world, but the PAINTED BUNTING :eek!: absolutely blows me away. Until I get to Asia or Australia, that one will be tops.
Thanks for bringing the topic up!!
Bill
Great idea. Makes one revisit one's life list.
I guess my rarest world birds were Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret from the Okavango Delta in Botswana.
My rarest home state (New York) birds have been Northern Hawk-Owl, Dickcissel, and probably Baird's Sandpiper; none are really rare, but not easy to get in New York state. I just got the Baird's this week; a mini-run of them at a local turf nursery, along with tons of Killdeer, Least, Pectorals, and American Golden Plovers.
The coolest? I've seen a lot of gorgeous birds around the world, but the PAINTED BUNTING :eek!: absolutely blows me away. Until I get to Asia or Australia, that one will be tops.
Thanks for bringing the topic up!!
Bill
Larry Lade
Moderator
Marcus, I believe you should post whatever you consider to be rare/unusual for you! Wild Turkeys are really pretty wide spread, year round all through the eastern states, I believe. But they are wary birds and seeing them for the first time is truly an exhilarating experience. Good Birding!
