ZooChat Big Year 2017

It will be the new year in parts of the world within a few hours, so let's start listing again.


Here are the links for the previous years:
ZooChat 2013 Big Year
2014 ZooChat Big Year
2015 Big Year
2016 Big Year

 

2017 certainly won't be quite as successful as 2016 in terms of the number of species I can get for the big year but I think 300 birds will be a good aim. I know I aimed for 450 birds last year and ended up at 600, but I won't manage that again this year .

I'll probably also have a bit of a slower start to the year than usual in terms of birding because in the previous two years I started the year with a day of birding in the UK, but this year I am starting with two zooing days in the Czech Republic. So it will take me until spring to see some of the birds that are in the UK in winter but not in Eastern Europe until spring. But anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what birds 2017 will bring, especially with some birding in Thailand planned for April.

 

Rules before we start (nothing out of the ordinary)

1. We list birds, mammals, herptiles, fish, inverts.
2. Make sure to number your lists.
3. Keep separate lists for different classes
4. Highlight lifers (first time you see a species) in bold.
5. Subspecies do not count towards your list, only fully accepted species will.
6. Species must be on an established regional checklist or a natural vagrant. No exotics (unless established like feral Pigeons).

Some suggestions. It might be a good idea to state which checklist you will be using. Different checklists have different countable species on them. Americans generally use the Clements checklist for birds (it's what eBird uses). A lot of European users use the IOC checklist. As long as you're consistent.

Mammal checklists are all sorts of screwy. There's no one good checklist to go off of that is current. Use your best judgment.

 

I use eBird, so I guess I'll be following Clements.

Birds
1. Pacific Koel
2. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
3. Red Wattlebird
4. Satin Bowerbird
5. Little Wattlebird
6. Spotted Turtledove
7. Superb Blue Wren
8. Australian King Parrot
9. Australian Magpie
10. Pied Currawong
11. Rainbow Lorikeet
12. Magpie Lark



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Started the year very quitely with just one species seen in my garden - the species however being my avatar !
1 ) European robin

 

I've seen these (sub)species in my garden/outside today.

Birds :
1 - Maghreb magpie , Pica pica mauritanica
2 - House sparrow , Passer domesticus
3 - Rock dove , Columba livia
4 - Common bulbul , Pycnonotus barbatus
5 - Barbary dove , Streptopelia risoria
6 - Common kestrel , Falco tinnunculus

 

My first new year in Florida. Quite a bit of a change from New Year's birding in Idaho! Today I explored the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Mammals:
1 Eastern Gray Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

Birds:
1 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata
2 American Robin - Turdus migratorius
3 Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula
4 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
5 Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus
6 Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura
7 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
8 Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe
9 Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus
10 Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus
11 Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus
12 Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos
13 Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis
14 Boat-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus major
15 Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus
16 Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
17 Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus
18 Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
19 Fish Crow - Corvus ossifragus
20 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
21 Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla
22 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
23 Great Black-backed Gull - Larus marinus
24 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
25 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon
26 Wood Stork - Mycteria americana
27 Great Egret - Ardea alba
28 Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
29 Green Heron - Butorides virescens
30 Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
31 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura
32 American Coot - Fulica americana
33 Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus
34 Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum
35 Gadwall - Anas strepera
36 Mottled Duck - Anas fulvigula
37 Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors
38 Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
39 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
40 Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca
41 Canvasback - Aythya valisineria
42 Redhead - Aythya americana
43 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
44 Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus
45 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
46 Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga
47 American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
48 Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
49 Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
50 Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
51 White Ibis - Eudocimus albus
52 Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja
53 Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata
54 American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
55 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus
56 Wilson's Snipe - Gallinago delicata
57 Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
58 Willet - Tringa semipalmata
59 Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes
60 Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia
61 Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri
62 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus
63 Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis
64 Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas
65 Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata
66 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
67 Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna

Reptiles:
1 American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis

 

Went to Zlin Zoo today (Czech Republic) and saw a few common species on the drive there from Brno as well as wild in the zoo.

Birds:
1) Blackbird
2) Feral Pigeon
3) Great Tit
4) Fieldfare
5) Long-tailed Tit
6) Blue Tit
7) Mistle Thrush
8) Common Buzzard
9) Rook
10) European Robin
11) European Magpie
12) Collared Dove
13) House Sparrow
14) Common Kestrel
15) Green Woodpecker
16) Common Chaffinch
17) Greater Spotted Woodpecker
18) Coal Tit
19) Goosander
20) Ring-necked Pheasant

Mammals:
1) Roe Deer

 

BIRDS
1) Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
2) Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
3) Common blackbird, Turdus merula
4) Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
5) Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
6) Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
7) Carrion crow, Corvus corone
8) House sparrow, Passer domesticus
9) Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
10) Eurasian blue tit, Cyanestes caeruleus
11) European herring gull, Larus argentatus
12) Common buzzard, Buteo buteo

 

Day one and I'm already behind

Birds
1) Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

Mammals
1) Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

~Thylo

 

Had a tour of some local spots today to get me started - Ogston and Carsington Reservoirs and a few other spots (including Shilito Wood for Brambling, and a quick attempt at the apparently-still-present Beeley Dusky Thrush, which was my last 2016 addition, but no joy..!).

Birds (based on IOC list - I occasionally vary the common name but the taxonomy is matched up):

1. Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
2. European Magpie - Pica pica
3. Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
4. Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
5. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
6. European Blackbird - Turdus merula
7. Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
8. Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
9. Common Teal - Anas crecca
10. Common Pheasant - Phasianus colchichus
11. Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
12. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
13. Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
14. Grey Heron - Ardea cinera
15. Gadwall - Anas strepera
16. Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus
17. European Coot - Fulica atra
18. European Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
19. Common Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
20. Great Tit - Parus major
21. European Robin - Erithacus rubecula
22. Dunnock - Prunella modularis
23. European Nuthatch - Sitta europaea
24. Coal Tit - Parus ater
25. Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula
26. Rook - Corvus frugilegus
27. Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius
28. European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris
29. Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
30. Redwing - Turdus iliacus
31. Goldcrest - Regulus regulus
32. European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
33. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
34. European Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
35. Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
36. Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
37. Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
38. Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla
39. Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella
40. Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
41. Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
42. Goosander - Mergus merganser
43. Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
44. Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
45. Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
46. Willow Tit - Poecile montanus
47. Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
48. Eurasian Wigeon - Anas penelope
49. Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
50. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
51. Pied (White) Wagtail - Motacilla alba
52. European Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
53. Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago
54. Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
55. European Pochard - Aythya ferina
56. Great Northern Diver - Gavia immer
57. Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Mammals:

1. Eastern Grey Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

 

Unfortunately, rain put off a birding trip out today. I still managed two walks locally, which got me a fair number of birds and three mammals:

1. Common woodpigeon Columba palumbus
2. Great tit Parus major
3. European blackbird Turdus merula
4. Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus
5. Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus
6. Pied wagtail Motacilla alba yarrellii
7. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
8. Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus
9. Tufted duck Aythya fuligula
10. Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
11. Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
12. European robin Erithacus rubecula
13. Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa
14. Eurasian magpie Pica pica
15. Carrion crow Corvus corone
16. Mute swan Cygnus olor
17. European herring gull Larus argentatus
18. Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus
19. Eurasian wren Troglodytes troglodytes
20. Dunnock Prunella modularis
21. Little egret Egretta garzetta
22. Goldcrest Regulus regulus
23. Eurasian bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
24. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
25. Common coot Fulica atra
26. Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
27. House sparrow Passer domesticus
28. Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
29. Song thrush Turdus philomelos
30. Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
31. Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius
32. Coal tit Periparus ater
33. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
34. European starling Sturnus vulgaris
35. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
36. Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus (Nt)
27. Western jackdaw Corvus monedula

1. Least weasel Mustela nivalis
2. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
3. European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Nt)

 

The weather was pretty grim here too so I decided to kick off the new year with a visit to my local reserve (Venus Pool). However, the birding gods had a treat in store ...

1. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
2. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
3. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
4. Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
5. Wigeon (Anas penelope)
6. Teal (Anas crecca)
7. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
8. Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
9. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
10. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
11. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
12. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
13. Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
14. Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
15. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
16. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
17. Coot (Fulica atra)
18. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
19. Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
20. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
21. Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
22. Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
23. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
24. Magpie (Pica pica)
25. Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
26. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
27. Raven (Corvus corax)
28. Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
29. Great Tit (Parus major)
30. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
31. Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
32. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
33. Blackbird (Turdus merula)
34. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
35. Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
36. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
37. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
38. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
39. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
40. Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
41. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
42. Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)
43. Pine Bunting (Emberiza leucocephalos)
44. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
45. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
46. Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)

 

Started birding about 11:30 this morning. Wasn't able to do much before because of a fog so thick that visibility was at most a quarter mile (half a kilometer). Went to the wildlife refuge east of where I live followed by the state park south of me. Both afford a variety of different habitats.

1 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna autumnalis
2 Snow Goose - Chen caerulescens
3 Ross's Goose - Chen rossii
4 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
5 Gadwall - Anas strepera
6 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
7 Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
8 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
9 Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca
10 Canvasback - Aythya valisineria
11 Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
12 Common Loon - Gavia immer
13 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
14 Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus
15 American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
16 American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus
17 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
18 Great Egret - Ardea alba
19 Black Vulture - Coragyps atratus
20 Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura
21 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
22 Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus
23 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
24 American Coot - Fulica americana
25 Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus
26 Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
27 Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
28 Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia
29 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
30 Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri
31 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
32 Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
33 White-winged Dove - Zenaida asiatica
34 Greater Roadrunner - Geococcyx californianus
35 Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus
36 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus
37 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius
38 Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens
39 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus
40 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
41 Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe
42 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata
43 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
44 Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris
45 Carolina Chickadee - Poecile carolinensis
46 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor
47 Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis
48 Brown Creeper - Certhia americana
49 Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris
50 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula
51 Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis
52 American Robin - Turdus migratorius
53 Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos
54 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
55 Orange-crowned Warbler - Oreothlypis celata
56 Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas
57 Pine Warbler - Setophaga pinus
58 Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata
59 Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla
60 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
61 White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys
62 Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula
63 Vesper Sparrow - Pooecetes gramineus
64 Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis
65 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia
66 Lincoln's Sparrow - Melospiza lincolnii
67 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis
68 Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna
69 Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus
70 Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus
71 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

 

I was able to get out again for a little bit in the afternoon so I went to a wastewater reclamation plant.

Birds:
68 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
69 American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus
70 Limpkin - Aramus guarauna
71 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea
72 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis

Reptiles:
2 Peninsula Cooter - Pseudemys peninsularis
3 Florida Redbelly Turtle - Pseudemys nelsoni

 

It might seem like you had seen more if you numbered properly...

 

BIRDS
13) Greylag goose, Anser anser
14) Great tit, Parus major
15) European robin, Erithacus rubecula
16) Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
17) Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
18) Northern shoveler, Anas clypeata
19) Mute swan, Cygnus olor
20) Common merganser, Mergus merganser
21) Merlin, Falco columbarius
22) Dunnock, Prunella modularis

 

Birds
13. Australian Wood Duck
14. Pacific Black Duck
15. Little Pied Cormorant
16. Australian White Ibos
17. Dusky Moorhen
18. Eurasian Coot
19. Feral Dove
20. Crested Pigeon
21. Red-rumped Parrot
22. Noisy Miner
23. Grey Butcherbird
24. Australian Raven
25. Welcome Swallow
26. Common (or Indian) Mynah
27. Black Swan
28. Willie Wagtail

Reptiles
1. Eastern Water Skink



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