All About Birding

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Author

Yunyi Ru

Published

January 8, 2025

Shorebirds at Blackwater Natural Wildlife Reservoir, Cambridge MD, Mar ’25

Shorebirds at Blackwater Natural Wildlife Reservoir, Cambridge MD, Mar ’25

Introduction

I love birding! Welcome to my personal birding records.

You can see birds I’ve sighted all around the world at bird list (including an interactive map) and all my favorite birding destinations at places I went for birding. Links and resources are also provided.

Note: Only wild birds were recorded. All photos taken by me (most with Sony WX800). All pixel arts created by me.

The next bird I want to see is: Pheasant-tailed Jacana 水雉, because it’s beautiful!

Bird List

My Bird List

Picture Common Name Scientific Name Family Last Seen Random Comments
Brant 黑雁 branta bernicla Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA can be identified by white neckline
Canada Goose 加拿大雁 branta canadensis Waterfowl May ’25, Baltimore MD countless of them in blackwater NWR in January
Bar-headed Goose 斑头雁 anser indicus Waterfowl Dec ’19, Lhasa Tibet Seen with ruddy shelduck in the pond behind Potala palace
Ruddy Shelduck 赤麻鸭 tadorna ferruginea Waterfowl Dec ’19, Lhasa Tibet NA
Black Swan 黑天鹅 cygnus atratus Waterfowl Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu juvenile
Tundra Swan 小天鹅 cygnus columbianus Waterfowl Jan ’25, Cambridge MD small part of yellow on bills
Mute Swan 疣鼻天鹅 cygnus olor Waterfowl July ’16, Luzern Swiss NA
Mallard 绿头鸭 anas platyrhynchos Waterfowl May ’25, Baltimore MD sometimes mixed with domestic ducks
Gadwall 赤膀鸭 mareca strepera Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Mandarin Duck 鸳鸯 aix galericulata Waterfowl June ’23, Beijing juvenile, identified by dotted webbings
Red-breasted Merganser 红胸秋沙鸭 mergus serrator Waterfowl June ’25, Malibu CA NA
Hooded Merganser 棕胁秋沙鸭 lophydytes cucullatus Waterfowl Jan ’25, Cambridge MD go around in couples
Great Cormorant 普通鸬鹚 phalacrocorax carbo Cormorants and Anhingas July ’19, Kyoto Japan NA
Double-crested Cormorant 角鸬鹚 nannopterum auritum Cormorants and Anhingas June ’25, Malibu CA flying across inner harbor
NA Brandt’s Cormorant 加州鸬鹚 urile penicillatus Cormorants and Anhingas July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
Little Grebe 小䴙䴘 tachybaptus ruficollis Grebes Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu called ‘little PT’ in Chinese birding community - too hard to write
NA Tufted Puffin 花魁鸟 fratercula cirrhata Alcids July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
Common Murre 崖海鸦 uria aalge Alcids July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
American White Pelican 美洲鹈鹕 pelecanus erythrorhynchos Pelicans Apr ’25, West Lafayette IN NA
Brown Pelican 褐鹈鹕 pelecanus occidentalis Pelicans June ’25, Malibu CA NA
American Herring Gull 美洲银鸥 larus smithsonianus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Jan ’24, New York NY winter coat
Laughing Gull 笑鸥 leucophaeus atricilla Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Oct ’23, Baltimore MD winter coat
Ring-billed Gull 环嘴鸥 larus delawarensis Gulls, Terns, Skimmers May ’25, Baltimore MD NA
California Gull 加州鸥 larus californicus Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’24, Cannon Beach OR NA
Western Gull 西美鸥 larus occidentals Gulls, Terns, Skimmers June ’25, Santa Monica CA dark grey back
Glaucous-winged Gull 灰翅鸥 larus glaucescens Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’24, Seattle WA juveniles were seen eating a starfish - sadly they failed.
Yellow-legged Gull 黄腿银鸥 larus michahellis Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’16, Venice Italy NA
Least Tern 普通燕鸥 sternula antillarum Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Apr ’25, Cambridge MD fall straight from the sky to catch fishes
Caspian Tern 红嘴巨燕鸥 hydroprogne caspia Gulls, Terns, Skimmers July ’24, Seattle WA NA
Whiskered Tern 须浮鸥 chlidonias hybrida Gulls, Terns, Skimmers Aug ’22, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Killdeer 双领鸻 charadrius vociferus Shorebirds Jan ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Wilson’s Snipe 美洲沙锥 gallinago delicata Shorebirds Jan ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Lesser Yellowlegs 小黄脚鹬 tringa flavipes Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD long bill and long legs
Dunlin 黑腹滨鹬 calidris alpina Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD medium sized shorebird with a distinguishable black belly when breeding
Least Sandpiper 美洲小滨鹬 calidris minutilla Shorebirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD very small, appear in flocks
NA Black-Crowned Night Heron 夜鹭 nycticorax nycticorax Herons, Ibis, and allies June ’25, Shanghai countless near Suzhou River
Green Heron 美洲绿鹭 butorides virescens Herons, Ibis, and allies May ’25, Baltimore MD hiding in reeds
Gray Heron 苍鹭 ardea cinerea Herons, Ibis, and allies July ’19, Kyoto Japan NA
Great Blue Heron 大蓝鹭 ardea herodias Herons, Ibis, and allies Apr ’25, Cambridge MD kinda everywhere
Snowy Egret 雪鹭 egretta thula Herons, Ibis, and allies June ’25, Malibu CA catching fish in the waves
Little Egret 白鹭 egretta garzetta Herons, Ibis, and allies Nov ’21, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Great Egret 大白鹭 ardea alba Herons, Ibis, and allies Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Eurasian Moorhen 黑水鸡 gallinula chloropus Rails, Gallinules, and allies Nov ’21, Suzhou Jiangsu symbol of DKU community!
Eurasian Coot 骨顶鸡 fulica atra Rails, Gallinules, and allies Jan ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
NA American Coot 美洲骨顶 fulica americana Rails, Gallinules, and allies Apr ’25, West Lafayette IN NA
Turkey 火鸡 meleagris gallopavo Grouse, Quail, and Allies May ’25, New York NY Named ‘Roosey’
Rock Pigeon 岩鸽 columbia livia Pigeons and Doves Oct ’24, Baltimore MD NYC pigeons are horribly fat
Spotted Dove 珠颈斑鸠 spilopelia chinensis Pigeons and Doves Nov ’20, Suzhou Jiangsu dubbed ‘the most delicious friend of hawks’
Oriental Turtle-Dove 山斑鸠 streptopelia orientalis Pigeons and Doves Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu bronze feathers compared to spotted dove
Mourning Dove 哀鸽 zenaida macroura Pigeons and Doves Mar ’25, Baltimore MD NA
Turkey Vulture 红头美洲鹫 cathartes aura Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Jan ’25, Cambridge MD if you go on a road trip they are always there
Osprey 鱼鹰 pandion haliaetus Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Apr ’25, Cambridge MD somehow chasing a seagull
Bald Eagle 白头海雕 haliaeetus leucocephalus Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Jan ’25, Cambridge MD can be differentiated from turkey vulture while flying by their white tails
Red-tailed Hawk 红尾𫛭 buteo jamaicensis Vultures, Hawks, and Allies Jan ’22, Durham NC NA
Tree Swallow 双色树燕 tachycineta bicolor Martins and Swallows Apr ’25, Cambridge MD small, bright blue under sunlight, white belly
Barn Swallow 家燕 hirundo rustica Martins and Swallows May ’25, Washington DC longer tail
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 中北美毛翅燕 stelgidopteryx serripennis Martins and Swallows Apr ’25, Baltimore MD small, fly very fast, chasing insects near water
Eurasian Crag-Martin 岩燕 ptyonoprogne rupestris Martins and Swallows June ’23, Datong Shanxi NA
NA Common Kingfisher 普通翠鸟 alcedo atthis Kingfisher Dec ’21, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
NA Eurasian Hoopoe 戴胜 upupa epops Hoopoes Apr ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 黄腹吸汁啄木鸟 sphyrapicus varius Woodpeckers Mar ’25, Baltimore MD dead due to bird strike
Downy Woodpecker 绒啄木鸟 dryobates pubescens Woodpeckers Jan ’25, Cambridge MD very small
Blue Jay 冠蓝鸦 cyanocitta cristata Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens May ’25, Annapolis MD only heard them singing. never seen with eyes
American Crow 短嘴鸦 corvus brachyrhynchos Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Jan ’25, Baltimore MD sits on trees of Baltimore in flocks in evenings, esp. from Nov to Feb
NA Fish Crow 鱼鸦 corvus ossifragus Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Apr ’25, Baltimore MD song is different from american crow - if you ask it will answer with a reluctant ‘uh-uh’
Large-billed Crow 大嘴乌鸦 corvus macrohynchos Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan the OG crow in China
Common Raven 渡鸦 corvus corax Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens June ’25, Malibu CA ‘quoth the raven, nevermore’ - quoth someone who died in Baltimore.
Red-billed Blue-Magpie 红嘴蓝鹊 urocissa erythroryncha Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan NA
Azure-winged Magpie 灰喜鹊 cyanopica cyanus Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Black Phoebe 黑长尾霸鹟 sayornis nigricans Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies June ’25, Malibu CA NA
NA Oriental Magpie-Robin 鹊鸲 copsychus saularis Old World Flycathers June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯劳 lanius schach Shrikes Feb ’23, Suzhou Jiangsu ‘butcher bird’ - in me the tiger sniffs the plum blossoms
Gray Catbird 灰猫嘲鸫 dumetella carolinensis Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers May ’25, Annaplis MD little gray bird, usually seen in the evening
Northern Mockingbird 北嘲鸫 mimus polyglottos Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Eastern Bluebird 东蓝鸲 sialia sialis Thrushes Mar ’22, Durham NC NA
Western Bluebird 西蓝鸲 sialia mexicana Thrushes June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
Hermit Thrush 隐夜鸫 catharus guttatus Thrushes Jan ’25, Cambridge MD NA
American Robin 旅鸫 turdus migratorius Thrushes Mar ’24, Baltimore MD appear in large flocks, arrive in early spring, have a beautiful song
NA Chinese Blackbird 乌鸫 turdus mandarinus Thurshes June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu black version robin, so cute!!
NA Light-vented Bulbul 白头鹎 pycnonotus sinensis Bulbuls June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA
White-browed Laughingthrush 白颊噪鹛 pterohinus sannio Laughingthrushes and allies July ’20, Chengdu Sichuan NA
Carolina Chickadee 卡罗莱纳山雀 poecile carolinensis Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice Mar ’22, Durham NC NA
Tufted Titmouse 美洲凤头山雀 baeolophus bicolor Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice Apr ’25, Cambridge MD small round fluffy ball
White-breasted Nuthatch 白胸䴓 sitta carolinensis Nuthatches Mar ’22, Durham NC NA
Carolina Wren 卡罗苇鹪鹩 thryothorus ludovicianus Wrens Jan ’25, Cambridge MD NA
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 红冠戴菊 corthylio calendula Kinglets Mar ’22, Durham NC NA
White Wagtail 白鹡鸰 motacilla alba Wagtails and Pipits Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan tail wags endlessly, and flies in ‘sine function’
Chipping Sparrow 褐斑翅雀鹀 spizella passerina New World Sparrows Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
White-throated Sparrow 白喉带鹀 zonotrichia albicollis New World Sparrows Oct ’24, Baltimore MD found dead around MICA, bird strike
Song Sparrow 歌带鹀 melospiza melodia New World Sparrows June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
Dark-eyed Junco 暗眼灯草鹀 junco hyemalis New World Sparrows June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
House Sparrow 家麻雀 passer domesticus Old World Sparrows May ’24, Boston MA white neckline
Eurasian Tree Sparrow 麻雀 passer montanus Old World Sparrows Nov ’19, Suzhou Jiangsu black cheek
House Finch 家朱雀 haemorhous mexicanus Finches, Euphonias, and allies June ’25, Los Angeles CA very small bird
American Goldfinch 北美金翅雀 spinus tristis Finches, Euphonias, and allies Apr ’25, Baltimore MD NA
Lesser Goldfinch 暗背金翅雀 carduelis psaltria Finches, Euphonias, and allies June ’25, Los Angeles CA NA
Northern Cardinal 主红雀 cardinalis cardinalis Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and allies Apr ’25, Cambridge MD cutest and most iconic bird in the u.s.a.
Red-winged Blackbird 红翅黑鹂 agelaius phoeniceus Blackbirds Apr ’25, Cambridge MD have a very loud and distinguishable song
Common Grackle 普通拟八哥 quiscalus quiscula Blackbirds May ’24, Boston MA NA
Great-tailed Grackle 大尾拟八哥 quiscalus mexicanus Blackbirds June ’25, Malibu CA NA
European Starling 紫翅椋鸟 sturnus vulgaris Starlings and Mynas Apr ’25, Cambridge MD NA
NA Crested Myna 八哥 acridotheres cristatellus Starlings and Mynas June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu NA

Now I have spotted 102 birds.

Birding Around the World: Interactive Map

Click on the map to see pictures of birds! Urban sites marked in pink while rural sites marked in green.

Places I Went For Birding

Baltimore, MD: Inner Harbor

View of Inner Harbor from Federal Hill Park, Oct 2023

View of Inner Harbor from Federal Hill Park, Oct 2023
  • Type: Urban | Saltwater; Shore
  • First Visited: Aug 2023
  • Last Visited: Apr 2025
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Laughing Gull, Mallard, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Osprey, Northern Rough-winged Sparrow, Fish Crow
  • Comments: From inner harbor to harbor east and locust point, the waterfront of downtown Baltimore is a great place to watch gulls & various kinds of waterfowls. A large flock of gulls rest in front of the harbors near Whole Foods from late fall to early spring in the evening. Check out the Harbor Connector water taxi - you can see gulls and cormorants flying across the harbor.
  • Link: Harbor Connector Water Taxi (free to ride!) | ebird

Baltimore, MD: Patterson Park

Patterson Park, May 2025

Patterson Park, May 2025
  • Type: Urban | Forest, Pond
  • First Visited: Mar 2025
  • Last Visited: May 2025
  • Birds: American Robin, Canada Goose, Mallard, Rock Pigeon, Fish Crow, House Finch, Red-winged Black Bird, Little Blue Heron, House Sparrow, Blue Jay, Mourning Dove
  • Comments: The historical park is a great place for birdwatching. If you visit the park at late spring, you can watch flocks of robins, sparrows and blackbirds singing, mallards hanging out, and Canada geese raising their goslings around the pond! They’re not afraid of people and happy to interact with visitors.
  • Link: Friends of Patterson Park | ebird

Cambridge, MD: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Jan 2025

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Jan 2025
  • Type: Rural | Brackish; Shore, Wetland, Forest
  • First Visited: Jan 2025
  • Last Visited: Apr 2025
  • Birds: Bald Eagle, Canada Goose, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Great Blue Heron, Hermit Thrush, Hooded Merganser, Killdeer, Mallard, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Ring-billed Gull, Turkey Vulture, Whistling Swan, Wilson’s Snipe, Osprey, Red-winged blackbird, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Tree Swallow, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Least Tern, Least Sandpiper, Great Egret
  • Comments: A perfect place for birding at the east coast of Chesapeake Bay, the most iconic bird being bald eagle. With woods, trails, wetlands and ponds around the wildlife drive, you can see a variety of birds here. Also, the visitor center’s pick of merchandises is superb.
  • Links: Friends of Blackwater check the webcams | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge | ebird

New York City, NY: Liberty Island

Liberty Island, Jan 2024

Liberty Island, Jan 2024
  • Type: Urban | Saltwater; Island
  • First Visited: Jan 2024
  • Last Visited: Jan 2024
  • Birds: American Herring Gull, Brant, European Starling, Ring-billed Gull
  • Comments: While New York City is full of fat pigeons, the liberty island is surprisingly a good place to watch waterfowls, and of course, gulls. Just mind your food, the gulls are really aggressive.
  • Link: ebird

Harpers Ferry, WV: Maryland Heights

View of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, Mar 2024

View of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, Mar 2024
  • Type: Rural | Mountain, River, Stream
  • First Visited: Mar 2024
  • Last Visited: Mar 2024
  • Birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture
  • Comments: The streams in the woods are a good place to catch up with our geese and heron friends.
  • Link: National Park Service: Harpers Ferry | ebird

Durham, NC: Duke University

Duke University, May 2022

Duke University, May 2022
  • Type: Rural | Forest, Pond
  • First Visited: Jan 2022
  • Last Visited: Jan 2024
  • Birds: Red-tailed Hawk, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Bluebird, Carolina Chickadee, American Robin, Carolina Wren, House Finch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-breasted Nuthatch
  • Comments: With birdfeeders everywhere, the Sarah P. Duke Garden is a great place for backyard birds like northern cardinal and eastern bluebird. I saw a red-tailed hawk with its nest near the old chemistry building. There are also some exotic waterfowls in the ponds of Duke Garden, like mandarin ducks & ruddy shelducks, you can check the link below.
  • Links: Exotic Waterfowls in Duke Garden | Duke Gardens | ebird

Seattle, WA: Discovery Park

Discovery Park, July 2024

Discovery Park, July 2024
  • Type: Rural | Saltwater; Forest, Shore
  • First Visited: July 2024
  • Last Visited: July 2024
  • Birds: Caspian Tern, Glaucous-winged Gull, Great Blue Heron, American Crow
  • Comments: With all its natural beauty, the discovery park is a great place to enjoy the views of volcano, forests and sea at once - and of course, gulls.
  • Link: Seattle.gov: Discovery Park | ebird

Cannon Beach, OR: Haystack Rock

Haystack Rock, July 2024

Haystack Rock, July 2024
  • Type: Rural | Saltwater; Shore, Cliff
  • First Visited: July 2024
  • Last Visited: July 2024
  • Birds: Brown Pelican, California Gull, Tufted Puffin, Common Murre, Brandt’s Cormorant, American Crow
  • Comments: It’s just heaven if you love seabirds and shorebirds - in summer, various birds are nesting on the cliff of haystack rock. Remember to bring your binoculars since there’s a sign saying ‘birds only beyond this point’ - you would not be able to get too close to that rock. The volunteer is very friendly and helpful, and tide pools are also great fun to explore. Also, if you reside in Portland, be sure to check out Powell’s books, it has a great collection of field guides as well as other gems.
  • Links: Friends of Haystack Rock check the webcams | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge | ebird

New Orleans, LA: Maurepas Swamp

Maurepas Swamp - Where the Voodoo Swamp Witch Lies, Mar 2022

Maurepas Swamp - Where the Voodoo Swamp Witch Lies, Mar 2022

Los Angeles, CA: Malibu Lagoon

Malibu Lagoon, June 2025

Malibu Lagoon, June 2025
  • Type: Rural | Saltwater; Lagoon, Shore
  • First Visited: June 2025
  • Last Visited: June 2025
  • Birds: Common Raven, Red-breasted Merganser, Great-tailed Grackle, Snowy Egret, Black Phoebe, Gadwall, Western Gull, Canadian Goose, Brant, Mallard, Brown Pelican, Double-Crested Cormorant
  • Comments: Famous for surfing but the lagoon has striking biodiversity. Mixed groups of brown pelicans and double-crested cormorants fishing in the lagoon.
  • Link: California State Parks: Malibu Lagoon State Beach | eBird

End Notes

The Place Where It All Begins

The Place Where It All Begins

Thanks Qinyi who introduced me to the world of birding. I will always remember watching night heron with you sitting next to Bixia Pond back in 2019 in the afternoon before taking a Biology exam.