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ZooChat Big Year 2018

Discussion in 'Wildlife & Nature Conservation' started by Chlidonias, 30 Dec 2017.

  1. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    17 Sep 2017
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    11,356
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    First wild animal of 2018, outside my window this mourning:

    Birds
    1. Black-Capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
     
  2. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Wisconsin
    And now, half an hour later, I have my second animal, also from outside my window:

    Birds
    2. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos

    Kind of slow so far today, but I am going birdwatching soon, so I hope that will change.
     
  3. Swampy

    Swampy Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    13 Apr 2013
    Posts:
    1,042
    Location:
    Liverpool
    Birds
    13. European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
    14. Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
     
  4. DesertRhino150

    DesertRhino150 Well-Known Member 10+ year member

    Joined:
    15 Jul 2010
    Posts:
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    Location:
    Essex
    Had a pretty good first day of birding - saw one more species than I did on the 1st January last year. Also got two mammals and one surprising early insect:

    1. European blackbird Turdus merula
    2. Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
    3. European magpie Pica pica
    4. Carrion crow Corvus corone
    5. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
    6. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
    7. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
    8. Blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus
    9. European robin Erithacus rubecula
    10. Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus
    11. Coal tit Periparus ater
    12. House sparrow Passer domesticus
    13. Great tit Parus major
    14. Green woodpecker Picus viridis
    15. Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
    16. Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
    17. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
    18. Dunnock Prunella modularis
    19. Song thrush Turdus philomelos
    20. Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius
    21. European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
    22. Red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa
    23. Common pheasant Phasianus colchicus
    24. Stock dove Columba oenas
    25. Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
    26. Rook Corvus frugilegus
    27. Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus
    28. Tufted duck Aythya fuligula
    29. Eurasian coot Fulica atra
    30. Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
    31. Redwing Turdus iliacus (NT)
    32. Eurasian wren Troglodytes troglodytes
    33. Canada goose Branta canadensis
    34. Greylag goose Anser anser
    35. Mute swan Cygnus olor
    36. Common starling Sturnus vulgaris
    37. Western jackdaw Coloeus monedula
    38. European herring gull Larus argentatus
    39. Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus
    40. Common buzzard Buteo buteo
    41. Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major
    42. Little egret Egretta garzetta
    43. Grey heron Ardea cinerea

    1. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
    2. European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (NT)

    1. Buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris
     
  5. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, Derbyshire
    Gentle start from birds outside the window and a wander around a local park - group of five Goosander the standout.

    1. Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
    2. Common Wood Pigeon - Columa palumbus
    3. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
    4. European Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
    5. European Robin - Erithacus rubecula
    6. European Magpie - Pica pica
    7. European Blackbird - Turdus merula merula
    8. European Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
    9. Rook - Corvus frugilegus
    10. Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula
    11. Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
    12. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
    13. European Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
    14. Greater Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
    15. European Coot - Fulica atra
    16. Goosander - Mergus merganser
    17. Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
    18. Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
    19. European Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
    20. Great Tit - Parus major
    21. Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

    Birding in earnest will start on Wednesday. :)
     
  6. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

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    Location:
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    Arguably if the fish is released in your presence you could probably count it (on the 'bird-ringing' principle).

    If it's kept as take-home then I would say not, as you've only seen it in 'captivity'.
     
  7. Maguari

    Maguari Never could get the hang of Thursdays. 15+ year member Premium Member

    Joined:
    12 Oct 2007
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    Location:
    Chesterfield, Derbyshire
    For mammals I use Handbook of the Mammals of the World where applicable.

    For other groups:

    Birds - IOC - IOC World Bird List (though I do also use the occasional variation common name!)
    Reptiles - Reptile Database - THE REPTILE DATABASE
    Amphibians - AmphibiaWeb - AmphibiaWeb
    Fish - FishBase - Search FishBase
    Invertebrates - the field guide or ID resource used

    :)
     
  8. Mehdi

    Mehdi Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    5 May 2016
    Posts:
    545
    Location:
    Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
    Starting off with birds from my garden (and around) :p :

    BIRDS
    1) Barbary dove (Streptopelia risoria)
    2) Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
    3) Feral pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
    4) Spotless starling (Sturnus unicolor)
    5) Common sparrow (Passer domesticus)

    Weirdly no magpies yet...
     
  9. robmv

    robmv Well-Known Member 15+ year member

    Joined:
    12 Aug 2007
    Posts:
    572
    Location:
    Shrewsbury
    I started the year with a tour around some reliable local spots:

    1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
    2. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
    3. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
    4. Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
    5. Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)
    6. Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
    7. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
    8. Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
    9. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
    10. Teal (Anas crecca)
    11. Pochard (Aythya ferina)
    12. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
    13. Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
    14. Goosander (Mergus merganser)
    15. Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
    16. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
    17. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
    18. Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
    19. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
    20. Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
    21. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
    22. Coot (Fulica atra)
    23. Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
    24. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
    25. Common Gull (Larus canus)
    26. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
    27. Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
    28. Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus)
    29. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
    30. Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
    31. Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
    32. Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
    33. Magpie (Pica pica)
    34. Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
    35. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
    36. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
    37. Raven (Corvus corax)
    38. Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
    39. Marsh Tit (Poecile palustris)
    40. Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
    41. Great Tit (Parus major)
    42. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
    43. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
    44. Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
    45. Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
    46. Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
    47. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
    48. Blackbird (Turdus merula)
    49. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
    50. Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
    51. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
    52. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
    53. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
    54. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
    55. Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
    56. Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
    57. Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
    58. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
    59. Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)
     
  10. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
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    11,356
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    Went birdwatching at several local nature preserves that are usually reliable. However, I didn't see as much as I hoped.

    Birds
    3. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
    4. Red-Tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
    5. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
    6. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
    7. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
    8. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
    9. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
    10. Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis

    Mammals
    1. Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
    2. White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
    3. Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus

    Weird, I have a duck on my list, but not a Mallard.

    [EDIT: Looks like I am winning mammals so far!]
     
  11. Mr. Zootycoon

    Mr. Zootycoon Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    3 Jun 2015
    Posts:
    1,193
    Location:
    probably in a zoo
    After reaching 200 birds in 2017 my goal for this year will be 225 species. I may of may not go abroad a few times this year and I may or may not have opportunities for serious birding if I go. So my goal can turn out to be very easy or very challenging and everything in between. I use the list from Observation.org/Obsmapp, which is very easy to use but accepts some more or less "controversial" splits when it comes to waterfowl (both on genus and species level).

    Today I had to work so no real birding for me, but working outside meant I could pick up some common species.

    Birds
    1. Great tit [Parus major]
    2. Common chaffinch [Fringilla coelebs]
    3. Eurasian collared dove [Streptopelia decaocto]
    4. Common blackbird [Turdus merula]
    5. House sparrow [Passer domesticus]
    6. Common wood pigeon [Columba palumbus]
    7. Western jackdaw [Coloeus monedula]
    8. Eurasian magpie [Pica pica]
    9. Carrion crow [Corvus corone]
    10. Common buzzard [Buteo buteo]
    11. Black-headed gull [Chroicocephalus ridibundus]
    12. Common starling [Sturnus vulgaris]
    13. Great spotted woodpecker [Dendrocopos major]
    14. European goldfinch [Carduelis carduelis]

     
  12. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    Either you have posted in the wrong thread and intended to post in the 2017 thread, or you are a time traveller from the future :p which is it?
     
    Moorish likes this.
  13. Moorish

    Moorish Active Member

    Joined:
    10 Jun 2017
    Posts:
    35
    Location:
    Cincinnati OH
    Sorry, I think I got confused. Are you supposed to name species you saw in 2017 or intend to see in 2018? Or something else? Im new to the concept of Big Year posts.
     
  14. TeaLovingDave

    TeaLovingDave Moderator Staff Member 10+ year member

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    Location:
    Wilds of Northumberland
    You are supposed to name species you *have* seen - so in this thread people are posting those few species they have seen in 2018 thus far, whilst in the 2017 thread they posted the species seen in that year.
     
  15. Moorish

    Moorish Active Member

    Joined:
    10 Jun 2017
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    35
    Location:
    Cincinnati OH
    Ohhh, I see. Thank you.
     
  16. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    17 Sep 2017
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    11,356
    Location:
    Wisconsin
    An addition seen in a bathroom today:

    Inverts
    1. Long-Bodied Cellar Spider Pholcus phalangioides

    Do species seen caught in a live trap count? Because if they do, I have one more mammal.
     
  17. Chlidonias

    Chlidonias Moderator Staff Member 15+ year member

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    13 Jun 2007
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    Location:
    New Zealand
    Big-time mammal-watchers get most of their species by trapping. I personally don't trap mammals simply to see them (I'm just a small-time mammal-watcher). But yes they can count.
     
  18. birdsandbats

    birdsandbats Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
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    Location:
    Wisconsin
    In that case...

    Mammals
    4. North American Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus

    I am not a big-time mammal watcher either, but I just live traped 3 of these in my house.
     
  19. jayjds2

    jayjds2 Well-Known Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    10 Nov 2015
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    2,742
    Location:
    USA
    Well, today was pretty pitiful. I might go birding sometime soon, but a) I’m not good at it and b) it’s really cold here right now. Anyways, I decided to participate this year, and I do have a fun trip planned...

    Mammals:
    1. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis
     
    Vision and savethelephant like this.
  20. Coelacanth18

    Coelacanth18 Well-Known Member Premium Member 5+ year member

    Joined:
    23 Feb 2015
    Posts:
    3,707
    Location:
    California
    I have decided to also participate this year, as I think this year's travels could give me some hefty counts... alas, today was even worse for me than Jay, as I have not left my apartment and thus have seen nothing.

    There's always tomorrow, I guess.