2025 Birding Goals (1 Viewer)

[Mysticete]

Peninsular? Hope you go to Fraser's Hill, it is absolutely phenomenal.

Yep...it's the tropical birding tour which covers Kuala Selangor, Taman Negara, and Fraser's Hill. Probably add at least one more day at the beginning as well (to make sure I get there in time), although I haven't decided on what.

 

[Birdy1]

I'm not expecting much this year, as I've started work and therefore won't be able to get out as much, I think a year list target of 100 would be reachable, and 6 lifers, reasonable lifer potential includes - Common Eider, White-Throated Dipper, Pink-Footed Goose, Grey Plover, Gray Partridge (one of the more common ones which I've never managed to lay eyes on), Barn Owl (really hope to see one wild one day!), Short-Eared Owl (similar), Merlin, Lesser Whitethroat etc. They're probably the most likely ones, not expecting to go anywhere other than UK (hence a UK based list), but there is potential for Canada on the cards (although not specifically for birdwatching), so will have to see what happens!

 

[Welsh Peregrine]

At the moment a visit to Burton Mere could get you 4 of your lifers; Pink-footed Goose, both owls and Merlin.

 

[lammergeier05]

Yep...it's the tropical birding tour which covers Kuala Selangor, Taman Negara, and Fraser's Hill. Probably add at least one more day at the beginning as well (to make sure I get there in time), although I haven't decided on what.

I did a two week tour of peninsular Malaysia a couple of years ago and would recommend Panti reserve for Rail Babbler or if you fly through Singapore Pulau Ubin for Mangrove Pitta as additional sites to tag on. More ideas for inspiration can be found in my trip report here. Great choice of destination! https://ebird.org/tripreport/68857

 

[hookem2010]

In addition to my general goals, 5 of my top local targets would be...
5) Louisiana waterthrush- An uncommon migrant, but one that is reported at least a half-dozen times each spring in the county. Surprised I've not yet seen one having lived here for 2 years. Not the flashiest warbler, but one of the few expected parulids I'm lacking in my county.
4) Red-breasted nuthatch- Cool birds, and any nuthatch in my region is uncommon, however the red-breasted variety seems to overwinter in small numbers around here.
3) Black-capped vireo- Perhaps the only bird I would have to leave my local patch for, but known to breed about 25 minutes away. A Texas Hill Country specialty that, along with the golden-cheeked warblers, breed in the same area.
2) Prothonotary warbler- One of the true gems of North American warblers, and a bird I've only seen elsewhere on known breeding grounds. Hopefully I can connect with one on migration.
1) Peregrine falcon- Apparently not a common wintering bird around here. In fact, the only one I've seen in Texas since moving from Houston 6 years ago is a bird that roosts on the University of Texas Tower. I may have had a flyover at the grocery store parking lot last fall, but that's one of the few places I don't have binoculars handy. I'll make a more concerted effort next year, particularly during raptor migration in the fall.

 

[Patudo]

In the South of England Harty Marshes on the Isle of Sheppey or The Burgh in West Sussex (near Arundel) are both good bets. A day out at either will get you harriers as well.

Is there anything about those locations that brings them (merlins) there - large numbers of small waders or passerines etc?

 

[WACCOE]

Do more local birding.
Got a holiday with the wife to Thailand in February I'd like to see a Hornbill and a Forest Wagtail not sure if I'll achieve it though.

 

[Farnboro John]

Is there anything about those locations that brings them (merlins) there - large numbers of small waders or passerines etc?

Both are wide open spaces - farmland with hedgerows for cover (both for farmland passerines to hide in and raptors to ambush from). Both hold Skylarks and Meadow Pipits in numbers, as well as Yellowhammers, Reed Buntings, Linnets and so on.

Both also provide wide vistas and elevated viewpoints for the birder looking for raptors and therefore give a better than usual chance of spotting a small falcon hurtling about at low level.

They therefore bias the chances in favour of the birder more than more cluttered or varied landscapes.

John

 

[Dortmundbirder]

Actually need 36 species to boost my "ebird" List to 2000 species.

That should be managable with a family trip to Mongolia.

 

[earthdragon64]

If the gaps include significant numbers of Shetland regulars, perhaps its time for an autumn holiday there! (My Shetland list stands at 241 and Scotland at 323, both just from holidays and twitches).

John

Yes, a visit to Shetland would probably add quite a few to my list, it's something I'm considering. I've only ever done one twitch which was the American Coot near Ardersier a few years ago, so not that far away.

I could realistically add six species without having to travel too far though. There are occasional visits from White-billed Diver and Avocet up on the Moray Coast and the King Eider that I've dipped on several times, I have to get lucky sometime surely! Nuthatch seems to be getting closer and Hoopooe is another occasional visitor I've just missed out on previously. There's also a fairly close winter-visiting Rough-legged Buzzard I keep missing too.

 

[lgonz1008]

Yep...it's the tropical birding tour which covers Kuala Selangor, Taman Negara, and Fraser's Hill. Probably add at least one more day at the beginning as well (to make sure I get there in time), although I haven't decided on what.

I did a two week tour of peninsular Malaysia a couple of years ago and would recommend Panti reserve for Rail Babbler or if you fly through Singapore Pulau Ubin for Mangrove Pitta as additional sites to tag on. More ideas for inspiration can be found in my trip report here. Great choice of destination! https://ebird.org/tripreport/68857

If you can add multiple days, then Panti is a must for best chance of Rail-Babbler.

Close to Kuala Lampur, maybe a day trip/overnight at Bukit Tingi is a good alternative and you can also get Rail-Babbler here, but not as common.

 

[Original PaulE]

Think my top targets for 2025 are the same as the ones I failed on last year! Caspian Tern, Black Kite and the poxy Canvasback at Abberton! Have a holiday, with a pelagic trip booked, to Cornwall in September so Shearwaters galore hopefully and two weeks in Scotland in May so hoping for lots of Eagles and all the usual good stuff from there!!!! Looking forward to seeing the Hoodies already!!

 

[Mysticete]

If you can add multiple days, then Panti is a must for best chance of Rail-Babbler.

Close to Kuala Lampur, maybe a day trip/overnight at Bukit Tingi is a good alternative and you can also get Rail-Babbler here, but not as common.

I am hoping to book a day at Bukit Tingi, although more for the pheasant. I considered panti, but I will roll the dice and see if I can get it at another spot. This (hopefully!) won't be my last trip to southeast asia so if I dip I can always add panti forest to a future trip

 

[lgonz1008]

I am hoping to book a day at Bukit Tingi, although more for the pheasant. I considered panti, but I will roll the dice and see if I can get it at another spot. This (hopefully!) won't be my last trip to southeast asia so if I dip I can always add panti forest to a future trip

Makes sense, I held off from doing Malaysia because the trip planned to Sulawesi is that tempting and it came with its own endemic families. But if told to pick a place to start Southeast Asia, Malaysia wins by far.

 

[lammergeier05]

Makes sense, I held off from doing Malaysia because the trip planned to Sulawesi is that tempting and it came with its own endemic families. But if told to pick a place to start Southeast Asia, Malaysia wins by far.

I did both. The mountain peacock pheasants were very cool (and easy) to see. Would argue for thailand as the best in southeast Asia but in terms of sundic endemics than no doubt the optimal entry point

 

[lgonz1008]

I did both. The mountain peacock pheasants were very cool (and easy) to see. Would argue for thailand as the best in southeast Asia but in terms of sundic endemics than no doubt the optimal entry point

You can see my bias for some of the endemic families and varieties of boradbill, pittas and hornbills.

Also, what does it say if my entry point into the region will be Sulawesi and Halmahera?

 

[lammergeier05]

Can’t argue with that! The broadbills and pittas (Garnet wow!!) are among the most spectacular birds I’ve seen anywhere on the planet! Wouldn’t underrate Great Hornbill and Blue Pitta in Thailand though (and I did score Banded Broadbill) while the overall species diversity is much greater. And hey spoon-billed sandpiper is also a legendary target

 

[Paul Chapman]

I have done 37 days birding in Thailand in two trips. My only birding in South East Asia so far & recorded 620 species there. Four Pittas, seven Hornbills, seven Broadbills, fourteen Owls, three Frogmouths, five Nightjars, twenty-three species of Phylloscopus Warbler (if you like that type of thing), Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, etc. Keen to visit other places in South-east Asia but not sure I would place any other destination there ahead of it 'by far'.

A good gateway destination even if it lacks some endemic families.

All the best

Paul

 

[lgonz1008]

Can’t argue with that! The broadbills and pittas (Garnet wow!!) are among the most spectacular birds I’ve seen anywhere on the planet! Wouldn’t underrate Great Hornbill and Blue Pitta in Thailand though (and I did score Banded Broadbill) while the overall species diversity is much greater. And hey spoon-billed sandpiper is also a legendary target

I have done 37 days birding in Thailand in two trips. My only birding in South East Asia so far & recorded 620 species there. Four Pittas, seven Hornbills, seven Broadbills, fourteen Owls, three Frogmouths, five Nightjars, twenty-three species of Phylloscopus Warbler (if you like that type of thing), Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, etc. Keen to visit other places in South-east Asia but not sure I would place any other destination there ahead of it 'by far'.

For better or for worse, I have a lot of years ahead of me for birding, I hope to enjoy some of those megas from Thailand in the near future. The Neotropics feel like home to me, but my top birding targets worldwide all seem to be somewhere in Asia (pheasants, frogmouths, broadbills, pittas, hornbills and shorebirds seem to help that cause).

 

[lammergeier05]

I have done 37 days birding in Thailand in two trips. My only birding in South East Asia so far & recorded 620 species there. Four Pittas, seven Hornbills, seven Broadbills, fourteen Owls, three Frogmouths, five Nightjars, twenty-three species of Phylloscopus Warbler (if you like that type of thing), Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann's Greenshank, etc. Keen to visit other places in South-east Asia but not sure I would place any other destination there ahead of it 'by far'.

A good gateway destination even if it lacks some endemic families.

All the best

Paul

To me, Thailand, Malaysia are the top two gateway destinations in the region but that’s in part because I prioritize ease of independent travel by self driving which is trickier in Indonesia etc

That said I did a Kenya self drive trip this summer and that was phenomenal, highly recommended. Of the three richest birding continents, Asia is the slowest to give up its treasures (which you can appreciate for the challenge or struggle with depending on your taste/patience)