I have a weak aspiration to reach 1k. I feel like that would be a respectable number for anyone who doesn't manage to do any serious birding.
What is deeply confusing is that even with less than 400, I somehow do have the aforementioned Tufted Puffin. With the greatest respect in the world, I don't know how a person could get to 10,000 species without ever seeing that one.
It rather indicates the lack of diversity in the ABA area really. Time better spent elsewhere. 900 species in the Western Palearctic or ABA area is a lifetime's work but is actually only a decent 6 week return in the more diverse areas of South America?
I suspect a person worrying about Tufted Puffin would be wasting their time if they were pursuing 10,000 species. My Peru list in one month is higher than my Europe List in four decades...
On the subject of birding preferences, it has been covered so many times before. I enjoyed my 4km 90 minute local walk today which produced 45 species. My third highest checklist of the year for that walk. But I am looking forward to my Thailand trip next week and will be preparing that tonight. Variety works for me now time and money allow. As a result, the number of species increases.
On remembering them, 10,000 species is not that many to be honest from a perspective of mastering identification if it is your main or sole focus. I know people who master more invertebrate species in Britain.
On guides, I paraphrase what I wrote on a WhatsApp group when this was discussed.
If you work hard, regardless of the guide, you can normally photo about 85% of species and get to sensecheck your outcomes. Back to Thailand on Wednesday for 22 days. 357 species seen on my first short trip around Bangkok. 84% photo'd but it could have been higher if I had bothered with Moorhen, Coot, etc. Peru was also 84% photo'd of 710 species. Canada/USA easier - no guide - 92% photo'd of 217 & Australia/New Zealand also easier - mainly no guide - 94% photo'd of 457. 2023 was 90%+ photo'd of c2,000 species.
Clearly, if you can spend longer doing things independently, that's the birding I enjoy most. But a couple of mates with or without a guide works very well. A guide saves time if you ever want to get home to see partner & family!
Tours I find horrible some of the time but there are not an endless supply of companions who can fit in trips to those locations...
You find with all guides that they have their strengths & weaknesses. In a small group, you stand a chance of assessing that. Less easy on groups as some guides on tours are trained to be aloof & non-communicative & that can mean an arrogance that upholds stringing! I was pleased to photo Cape Verde Peregrine on my recent trip as my one in 2013 was a brief one I called for the group as much on instinct! I have thought about that a few times since despite the fact that it was in the tour report.... 😀
All the best
Paul