ZooChat Big Year 2019

First of all, a bit of going through pics from Vietnam got me two more species. (*) Secondly, there were also a few random new additions from the past few weeks (**) and lastly, @KevinVar, another friend and I did another big day yesterday. We saw a total of 97 birds, 5 mammals and 2 herps! Exhausting day, but also a lot of fun with many surprising bird encounters. A quick twitch of a pair of very nice birds on the way back home gets me 400 species for the year!

BIRDS:
379) Common swift, Apus apus**
380) Dunlin, Calidris alpina
381) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
382) Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
383) Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
384) Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
385) Common guillemot, Uria aalge
386) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
387) Common greenshank, Tringa nebularia
388) Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
389) Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
390) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
391) Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
392) Sanderling, Calidris alba
393) Woodlark, Lullula arborea
394) Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
395) Little tern, Sternula albifrons
396) Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
397) Red knot, Calidris canutus
398) Garganey, Spatula querquedula
399) Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
400) Black-winged stilt, Himantopus himantopus

MAMMALS:
25) Western hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
26) Common pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus

HERPS:
18) Sa Pa spadefoot toad, Leptobrachium chapaense*
19) Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris

INVERTS:
35) Common jester, Symbrenthia lilaea*
36) Common brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni**
37) Orangetip, Anthocharis cardamines
38) Chrysomela saliceti

 

Time for me to update my list as well. The birds are a mix of species picked up here and there and three rather short birding sessions. Wader migration is peaking now and most of the other spring/summer migrants have arrived as well, and the list shows that quite well I think. Best birds were of course the Dotterel (spend 4 days searching for them last year, now they just turn up in my local patch!), the Stilt and the Hobby.

Birds
166. Black Kite, Milvus migrans
167. Eurasian Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
168. Feral Pigeon, Columbia livia domestica
169. House Martin, Delichon urbicum
170. Common Swift, Apus apus
171. Common Cuckoo, Cuculus canoris
172. Red Kite, Milvus milvus
173. European Pied Flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca
174. Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia
175. Ruff, Calidris pugnax
176. Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos
177. Common Tern, Hirundo rustica
178. Eurasian Reed Warbler, Acrocephalus scirpaceus
179. Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo
180. Black-Winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus

Mammals
10. House Mouse, Mus musculus
11. Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus

Invertebrates
51. Speckled Wood, Pararge aegeria
52. Leaf bug, Harpocera thoracica
53. Garden Snail, Cornu aspersum
54. Common Cockchafer, Melolontha melolotha
55. Gelechioid moth, Esperia sulphurella
56. Green Longhorn, Adela reaumurella
57. Longhorn moth, Nematopogon swammerdamella
58. German Wasp, Vespula germanica
59. Concealer moth, Eratophyes amasiella
60. Yellow-Banded Longhorn, Nemophora degeerella
61. Old World Swallowtail, Papilio machaon
62. Box Tree Moth, Cydalima perspectalis
63. Longhorn beetle, Pyrrhidium sanguineum
64. Common Wasp, Vespula vulgaris
65. Pine Lady Beetle, Brumus quadripustulatus
66. Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus

I do have quite some trouble finding inverts. There are rediculously few butterflies, hover flies and beetles around, and I haven't seen a single dragonfly or damselfly (despite spending quite some time close to water!).

 

Birds
118. Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina
119. Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
120. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
121. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

Inverts
8. Winnebago Lake Fly Chironomus plumosus

 

147 common redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus
148 spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata
also a new spicis for sweden was found today grey headed lapwing
only 2 wp obsevation and a true mega. but it is bit to far to drive 3 houers for me

 

Seems I forgot yet another butterfly from Vietnam! Also got a bunch more good birds today.

BIRDS:
401) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
402) Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
403) Temminck's sandpiper, Calidris temminckii
404) Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
405) Black tern, Chlidonias niger

INVERTS:
39) Common birdwing, Troides helena

 

Birds
122. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris

 

A rare vagrant wader turned up not too far from where I live, so I coudn't resist trying to find it. It turned out quite easy, and we also got a few nice extras including a new species for the year list and another dotterel in full breeding plumage.

Birds
181. Broad-Billed Sandpiper, Calidris falcinellus
182. Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii

Invertebrates
67. Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae

The sandpiper by the way was found in the exact same location as the Black-Winged Pratincole (the one @Vision saw as well) was last year!

 

Got back in to Anchorage today and headed straight out to Potter Marsh hoping to see the Falcated Duck and the Great Blue Heron that have been hanging around the area...I saw neither, but did watch a large American Black Bear cross the road and amble into the woods on the hillside of the Marsh. This sighting, along with the two Brown Bear sightings I made up-North last week, puts me 2/3rds the way, this year, to spotting all three wild bear species found north of the Panama Canal. Further observed Pintails, Scaups, Arctic Terns, Robins, Swallows, Shovelers, Teals, and Yellow-legs. Official listing (with Latin Names) coming. Leaving town and driving home we spotted Bald Eagles and 14 Moose as we crossed the Palmer Flats between the Knik River and Wasilla Creek. Each species was among the first animals sighted earlier in the year...but still...Alaska. ;-)

 

BIRDS:
406) Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
407) Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio

INVERTS:
40) Marpissa muscosa

 

I've been on a little trip. A few inverts to follow - vertebrate additions as below (see how long it takes to guess where I've been if you haven't seen my posts elsewhere):

Mammals:
22. European Bison - Bison bonasus
23. Wild Boar - Sus scrofa
24. Least Weasel - Mustela nivalis
25. Common Vole - Microtus arvalis
26. Northern Water Vole - Arvicola amphibius
27. European Beaver - Castor fiber
28. Moose - Alces alces
29. East European Hedgehog - Erinaceus roumanicus

Birds:
177. European White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
178. Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
179. Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
180. Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arudinaceus
181. Middle Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocoptes medius
182. Black Woodpecker - Dryocopus martius
183. White-backed Woodpecker - Dendrocopos leucotos
184. European Pied Flycatcher - Ficedula hypoleuca
185. Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca
186. Common Grasshopper Warbler - Locustella naevia
187. Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra
188. Collared Flycatcher - Ficedula albicollis
189. European Crested Tit - Lophophanes cristatus
190. Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix
191. Spotted Nutcracker - Nucifraga caryocatactes
192. Hazel Grouse - Tetrastes bonasia
193. Lesser Spotted Eagle - Clanga pomarina
194. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Dryobates minor
195. Eurasian Wryneck - Jynx torquilla
196. Tawny Owl - Strix aluco
197. Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida
198. Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
199. Eurasian Hobby - Falco subbuteo
200. Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegna
201. Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus
202. Western Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
203. Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor
204. Savi's Warbler - Locustella luscinioides
205. Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
206. Hen Harrier - Circus cyaneus
207. Thrush Nightingale - Luscinia luscinia
208. European Golden Oriole - Oriolus oriolus
209. White-tailed Eagle - Haliaeetus albicilla
210. Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
211. White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
212. Aquatic Warbler - Acrocephalus paludicola
213. Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus
214. Woodlark - Lullula arborea
215. European Hoopoe - Upupa epops
216. Northern Goshawk - Accipiter gentilis
217. Common Redstart - Phoenicurus phoenicurus

(UK unchanged on 158)

Reptiles:
3. Sand Lizard - Lacerta agilis



In unrelated news, I love Poland.

 

Bialowiezsa and Biebrza That is a very nice list, seems like it has been an amazing time.

 

...is of course the correct answer! We did have a fantastic time - the mammals in particular were incredible. Wonderful part of the world.

 

Birds
123. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

Probably the most common Vulnerable species in existence, barring Common Carp.

 

Currently in Bali, partly to look at threatened species work here partly for relaxation. The first few days were in Pading Bai, on the east coast and produced the following:

Mammals;

15. Long-tailed macaque Macaca fasciculari
16. Plantain squirrel Callosciurus notatus
17. Black rat Rattus rattus *
18. Cave nectar bat Eonycteris spelaea

Birds:

195. Eastern reef heron Egretta sacra
196. White-breasted waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
197. Red junglefowl Gallus gallus
198. Collared kingfisher Todiramphus chloris
199. Sunda yellow-vented bulbul Pycnonotus analis
200. Sunda white-eye Zosterops melanurus
201. Ornate sunbird Cinnyris ornatus
202. Javan munia Lonchura leucogastroides
203. Scaly breasted munia Lonchura punctulate
204. Tree sparrow Passer montanus

Local reptiles:

1. Common sun skink Eutropis multifasciata
2. House gecko Hemidactylus frenatus

And as I am now including reptiles some from home:

3. Common garden skink Lampropholis guichenoti
4. Common blue-tounge skink Tiliqua scincoides
5. Lowland copperhead Austrelaps superbus
6. Tiger snake Notechis scutatus

At a breeding centre near Ubud, flying wild and breeding:

205. Bali myna Leucopsar rothschildi

Seen hunting in mountains during lunch stop at Munduk on the way to West Bali:

206. Black eagle Ictinaetus malaiensis

Part 2 will be time spent at West Bali National Park, and will have to wait till I get back.

 

Birds
157 Hooded Robin
158 Black-shouldered Kite
159 Painted Buttonquail
160 Little Lorikeet
161 Jacky Winter
162 Diamond Firetail
163 Double-barred Finch
164 Nankeen Kestrel
165 Little Corella
166 Restless Flycatcher
167 Brown Treecreeper
168 Crested Shrike-tit
169 Blue-billed Duck
170 Musk Duck
171 Great Crested Grebe



Hix

 

BIRDS:
408) Marsh warbler, Acrocephalus palustris

INVERTS:
41) Speckled wood, Pararge aegeria
42) Early bumblebee, Bombus pratorum

 

Two new additions to my list this week. The first new addition is a woodpecker of which I knew that one lived on my route to school (I heard the wood drilling several times when I'm on my way) but never saw it till this week! And so far I saw it twice. Once right on the middle of the road and just this afternoon on my home near (what I assume) its nest sticking its head in, assuming feeding the chick that's in there (had seen the chick before, and heard). And a nice beetle species that I found while I stopped to take a look at some of the high grass next to the road.
Also, will add a total list of what I've seen so far (spoiler), honestly quite surprised with how much I managed to see so far, definitely didn't expect to see this many species just on my daily 15 minutes of travel to school.

Spoiler

FISH:
1. Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus)
2. European perch (Perca fluviatilis)

MAMMALS:
1. Wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

REPTILES:
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)

INVERTEBRATES:
1. Green-veined white (Pieris napi)
2. Common brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)
3. Orange-tip (Anthocharis cardamines)
4. European firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
5. Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
6. Grove snail (Cepaea nemoralis)
7. Alderfly (Sialis lutaria)
8. Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
9. Downy emerald (Cordulia aenea)
10. Green shield bug (Palomena prasin)
11. Kidney-spot ladybird beetle (Chilocorus renipustulatus)

BIRDS:
1 - Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
2 - Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
3 - Great egret (Ardea alba)
4 - Greylag goose (Anser anser)
5 - Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
6 - Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
7 - Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
8 - Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
9 - Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
10 - Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
11 - Eurasian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
12 - Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
13 - Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
14 - Rock pigeon (Columba livia)
15 - Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
16 - Common blackbird (Turdus merula)
17 - Great tit (Parus major)
18 - Eurasian jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
19 - Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)
20 - Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
21 - Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
22 - House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
23. Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
24. Eurasian treecreeper (Certhia familiaris)
25. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
26. Goldcrest (Regules regules)
27. European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
28. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
29. Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
30. European nutchatch (Sitta europaea)
31. Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
32. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
33. Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)

BIRDS:
34. Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

INVERTEBRATES:
12. Red-headed cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa serraticornis)

 

Birds
183. Icterine Warbler, Hippolais icterina
184. Red-Backed Shrike, Lanius collurio

Invertebrates
68. European Hornet, Vespa crabro

 

i was on a scoll fileld camping trip wile i was the only one intrsted in birds i manegs to see
46 spicies of birds 3 mammals and a coupel of insekts but only a few was new for this year
birds
149 common cuckoo Cuculus canorus
150 common sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
151 black grouse etrao tetrix whe had a displeing sigt in sigt from wher i sleep
152 western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava bothe flava and thunbergi
153 black woodpecker Dryocopus martius
mammals
13mountain hare Lepus timidus
]inverebre
1 Nymphalis antiopa
2 Aglais io
3 melolontha hippocastani

 

Seen at the zoo today:

Birds
124. Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata