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All About Birding

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Published

January 8, 2025

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

Introduction

I love birding! Welcome to my personal birding records. I’m a casual birder who enjoys watching the most common birds in daily life (but also appreciate a trip to the wilds!).

You can see birds I’ve sighted 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: Eastern Screech-Owl, Ruby I heard that you reside in the Celery Bog, let me find you!

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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	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 + escaped species
	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	sometimes mixed with domestic ducks
	Gadwall 赤膀鸭	mareca strepera	Waterfowl	June ’25, Malibu CA	NA
	Mandarin Duck 鸳鸯	aix galericulata	Waterfowl	July ’25, 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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	flying across inner harbor
	Little Grebe 小䴙䴘	tachybaptus ruficollis	Grebes	July ’25, Beijing	called ‘little PT’ in Chinese birding community - too hard to write
	Great Crested Grebe 凤头䴙䴘	podiceps cristatus	Grebes	Aug ’25, Suzhou	NA
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
	Black-tailed Gull 黑尾鸥	larus crassirostris	Gulls, Terns, Skimmers	July ’25, Yantai Shandong	the only gull that stays in Jiaodong Penninsula in summer
	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	July ’25, Linyi Shandong	does not have forked tail
	Killdeer 双领鸻	charadrius vociferus	Shorebirds	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	didn’t know they can also live in land
	Semipalmated Plover 半蹼鸻	charadrius semipalmatus	Shorebirds	Apr ’25, Cambridge MD	NA
	Pheasant-tailed Jacana 水雉	hydrophasianus chirurgus	Shorebirds	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	dubbed ‘fairy on the waves’
	Wilson’s Snipe 美洲沙锥	gallinago delicata	Shorebirds	Jan ’25, Cambridge MD	NA
	Greater Yellowlegs 大黄脚鹬	tringa melanoleuca	Shorebirds	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	almost the size of a mallard
	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
	Sandhill Crane 沙丘鹤	antigone canadensis	Cranes	Nov ’25, Pulaski IN	loud!!!!
	Black-Crowned Night Heron 夜鹭	nycticorax nycticorax	Herons, Ibis, and allies	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	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 ’25, Linyi Shandong	NA
	Great Blue Heron 大蓝鹭	ardea herodias	Herons, Ibis, and allies	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	July ’25, Yantai Shandong	NA
	Great Egret 大白鹭	ardea alba	Herons, Ibis, and allies	Apr ’25, Cambridge MD	NA
NA	Eastern Cattle Egret 牛背鹭	ardea coromanda	Herons, Ibis, and allies	June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	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
	Cooper’s Hawk 库柏鹰	accipiter cooperii	Vultures, Hawks, and Allies	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	small cutie
	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	Aug ’25, Indianapolis IN	NA
	Eurasian Hobby 燕隼	falco subbuteo	Flacons	July ’25, Beijing	NA
	Common Swift 普通雨燕	apus apus	Swifts	July ’25, Beijing	THE famous birds at Beijing Central Axis
	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	July ’25, Beijing	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
	Red-rumped Swallow 金腰燕	cecropis daurica	Martins and Swallows	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	NA
NA	Common Cuckoo 大杜鹃	cuculus canorus	Cuckoos	July ’25, Beijing	singing Cuckoo endlessly. Chinese people refer it as 布谷 which literally translate as ‘sowing seeds’
	Common Kingfisher 普通翠鸟	alcedo atthis	Kingfishers	July ’25, Beijing	very shy
NA	Belted Kingfisher 白腹鱼狗	megaceryle alcyon	Kingfishers	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	suprisingly large
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
	Red-bellied Woodpecker 红腹啄木鸟	melanerpes carolinus	Woodpeckers	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	NA
	Grey-headed Woodpecker 灰头绿啄木鸟	picus canus	Woodpeckers	July ’25, Beijing	NA
	Downy Woodpecker 绒啄木鸟	dryobates pubescens	Woodpeckers	Jan ’25, Cambridge MD	very small
	Hairy Woodpecker 毛啄木鸟	leuconotopicus villosus	Woodpeckers	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	NA
	Northern Flicker 北扑翅䴕	colaptes auratus	Woodpeckers	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	dark grey patch on chest
	Pileated Woodpecker 北美黑啄木鸟	dryocopus pileatus	Woodpeckers	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	strikingly big
	Blue Jay 冠蓝鸦	cyanocitta cristata	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	May ’25, Annapolis MD	only heard them singing. never seen with eyes
	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	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	Very common in northern China, esp. Shandong, Beijing
	Oriental Magpie 喜鹊	pica serica	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	July ’25, Beijing	same as above
	American Crow 短嘴鸦	corvus brachyrhynchos	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	Jan ’25, Baltimore MD	NA
	Fish Crow 鱼鸦	corvus ossifragus	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	Apr ’25, Baltimore MD	song is a reluctant ‘uh-uh’. sits on trees of Baltimore in flocks in evenings, esp. from Nov to Feb
	Large-billed Crow 大嘴乌鸦	corvus macrohynchos	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan	NA
	Carrion Crow 小嘴乌鸦	corvus corone	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	July ’25, Beijing	most common crow in Beijing city
	Common Raven 渡鸦	corvus corax	Jays, Magpies, Crows, Ravens	June ’25, Malibu CA	‘quoth the raven, nevermore’ - quoth someone who died in Baltimore.
	Black Phoebe 黑长尾霸鹟	sayornis nigricans	Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies	June ’25, Malibu CA	NA
	Eastern Phoebe 东菲比霸鹟	sayornis phoebe	Tyrant Flycatchers: Pewees, Kingbirds, and Allies	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	slightly yellow on sides
	Oriental Magpie-Robin 鹊鸲	copsychus saularis	Old World Flycathers	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	very common in Eastern China, sings beautifully
	Long-tailed Shrike 棕背伯劳	lanius schach	Shrikes	July ’25, 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, Annapolis MD	little gray bird, usually seen in the evening
	Brown Thrasher 褐矢嘲鸫	toxostoma rufum	Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers	May ’25, Athens GA	NA
	Northern Mockingbird 北嘲鸫	mimus polyglottos	Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers	Apr ’25, Cambridge MD	NA
	Eastern Bluebird 东蓝鸲	sialia sialis	Thrushes	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	appear in large flocks, arrive in early spring, have a beautiful song
	Chinese Blackbird 乌鸫	turdus mandarinus	Thurshes	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	black version robin, so cute!! Eats earthworm after rain
	Dusky Thrush 斑鸫	turdus eunomus	Thurshes	Mar ’23, Lijiang Yunnan	NA
	Light-vented Bulbul 白头鹎	pycnonotus sinensis	Bulbuls	June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	very distinguishable singing pattern
	White-browed Laughingthrush 白颊噪鹛	pterohinus sannio	Laughingthrushes and allies	July ’20, Chengdu Sichuan	NA
	Vinous-Throated Parrotbill 棕头鸦雀	suthora webbiana	Parrotbills	July ’25, Beijing	small & cute
	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	small round fluffy ball
	White-breasted Nuthatch 白胸䴓	sitta carolinensis	Nuthatches	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	NA
	Carolina Wren 卡罗苇鹪鹩	thryothorus ludovicianus	Wrens	Jan ’25, Cambridge MD	NA
	Oriental Reed Warbler 东方大苇莺	acrocephalus orientalis	Warblers	July ’25, Beijing	have a noisy song
	Ruby-crowned Kinglet 红冠戴菊	corthylio calendula	Kinglets	Mar ’22, Durham NC	NA
	Ovenbird 灯顶灶莺	seiurus aurocapilla	Wood-Warblers	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	dead due to bird strike
	Tennessee Warbler 灰冠虫森莺	leiothlypis peregrina	Wood-Warblers	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	actually really hard to ID so not sure
	Yellow-rumped Warbler 黄腰白喉林莺	setophaga auduboni	Wood-Warblers	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	white neckline
	Eurasian Tree Sparrow 麻雀	passer montanus	Old World Sparrows	July ’25, Beijing	black cheek
	House Finch 家朱雀	haemorhous mexicanus	Finches, Euphonias, and allies	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	very small bird
	Grey-capped Greenfinch 金翅雀	chloris sinica	Finches, Euphonias, and allies	July ’25, Yantai Shandong	NA
	American Goldfinch 北美金翅雀	spinus tristis	Finches, Euphonias, and allies	Oct ’25, West Lafayette IN	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	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	cutest and most iconic bird in the USA, state bird of Indiana
	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 ’25, Annapolis MD	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	Nov ’25, West Lafayette IN	NA
	Red-billed Starling 丝光椋鸟	spodiopsar cineraceus	Starlings and Mynas	July ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	juvenile
	Crested Myna 八哥	acridotheres cristatellus	Starlings and Mynas	June ’25, Suzhou Jiangsu	when flying white patch on wings

Milestones

Now I have spotted 131 birds.

100 birds spotted: June 2025

125 birds spotted: Oct 2025

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

For ‘Birds’, I only record the bird species I’ve seen. For a full list of potential birds, please see ebird and other reference.

Midwest, USA

West Lafayette, IN: Celery Bog

View of Celery Bog from Nature Area Trail, Sep 2025

Type: Rural | Freshwater; Marsh, Pond, Grassland
First Visited: Apr 2025
Last Visited: Nov 2025
Birds: American White Pelican, Mallard, American Goldfinch, Red-tailed Hawk, Killdeer, Northern Cardinal, Double-crested Cormorant, Greater Yellowlegs, Song Sparrow, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tennessee Warbler, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, White-breasted Nuthatch, Eastern Phoebe, Cooper’s Hawk
Comments: Beautiful and peaceful pond, regional migration trap. Cattail trail & the north pond is a great place.
Link: ebird

West Lafayette, IN: Horticulture Park

Type: Rural | Forest
First Visited: Sep 2025
Last Visited: Dec 2025
Birds: American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, European Starling, Northern Cardinal, Northern Flicker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Killdeer, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow, Blue Jay
Comments: Nice trail. A large flock of robins and starlings rest on the trees near the open grass edge, and you can find jays and woodpeckers in the trails through the woods.
Link: ebird

Pulaski, IN: Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

Type: Rural | Grassland
First Visited: Nov 2025
Last Visited: Nov 2025
Birds: Sandhill Crane, Red-bellied Woodpecker
Comments: Dreamy and Beautiful at sunset.
Link: IN.gov | ebird

East Coast, USA

Baltimore, MD: Inner Harbor

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 Swallow, 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

Type: Urban | Freshwater; 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

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

Harpers Ferry, WV: Maryland Heights

View of Harpers Ferry from Maryland Heights, Mar 2024

Type: Rural | Freshwater; 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

New York City, NY: Liberty Island

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 resides mainly 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

The South, USA

Durham, NC: Duke University

Type: Rural | Freshwater; 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

New Orleans, LA: Maurepas Swamp

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

Type: Rural | Saltwater; Swamp
First Visited: Mar 2022
Last Visited: Mar 2022
Birds: Great Egret
Comments: Went there as a part of swamp tour, feeding alligators and raccoons with marshmallows etc.
Link: Louisiana Dpt. of Wildlife & Fisheries: Maurepas Swamp | ebird

West Coast, USA

Los Angeles, CA: Malibu Lagoon

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

Seattle, WA: Discovery Park

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

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

China

Suzhou, CN: Huqiu Wetland Park 虎丘湿地生态公园

Huqiu Wetland Park during the ‘Plum Rain’ Season, June 2025

Type: Rural | Freshwater; Pond, Forest, Wetland
First Visited: June 2025
Last Visited: Jul 2025
Birds: Black-crowned Night Heron, Little Grebe, Azure-winged Magpie, Light-vented Bulbul, Little Egret, Red-rumped Swallow, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Red-billed Starling, Eurasian Moorhen, Chinese Blackbird, Oriental Magpie-Robin
Comments: My hometown. Very beautiful place, regionally well-known birding hotspot and tourist attraction with reeds, waterlilies and lotus planted all over the ponds and wetlands.
Link: ebird

Beijing, CN: Olympic Forest Park 奥林匹克森林公园

The ‘Big Pit’ of Olympic Forest Park, July 2025

Type: Rural | Freshwater; Pond, Forest, Marsh
First Visited: Jul 2025
Last Visited: Jul 2025
Birds: Mandarin Duck, Eurasian Moorhen, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eurasian Magpie, Azure-winged Magpie, Eurasian Coot, Oriental Reed Warbler, Little Grebe, Grey Headed Woodpecker, Common Kingfisher, Vinous Throated Parrotbill, Grey Capped Greenfinch, Spotted Dove, Rock Pigeon
Comments: Regional birding hotspot, the ‘big pit’ of the north park might be one of the most well-known birding hotspot in China with its lush reed marshes. The only problem is that you need to walk 1.5 hours to get to the pit, and there aren’t any public transit inside the huge park. DON’T TRY IT IN BEIJING’S SUMMER.
Link: ebird

Linyi, CN: Yi River Water Park 沂河/水上公园

Yi River Water Park, Live Streamers Gathering, July 2025

Type: Urban | Freshwater; River
First Visited: Jul 2025
Last Visited: Jul 2025
Birds: Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Eurasian Coot, Little Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Grey Heron, Whiskered Tern
Comments: Nice place to grab some BBQ and hang out in the evening.
Link: NA

Links & Resources

General Recourses

eBird Cornell Lab of Ornithology/Merlin Bird ID BirdWeb Audubon Society Sibagu The Ornithological Linguist International Crane Foundation

Local: Greater Lafayette Area/Indiana

Indiana Audubon Society Indiana Birding Trail Purdue Bird Club Purdue University Forestry

Local: Baltimore/Maryland

Maryland Ornithological Society Birder’s Guide to Maryland & DC Howard County Bird Club Audubon Maryland-DC

End Notes

My High School - 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.