ZooChat Big Year 2019

Birds:
23. Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)
24. Bush Stone Curlew (Burhinus grallarius)
25. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
26. Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
27. Azure Kingfisher (Alcedo azurea)
28. Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
29. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
30. Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
31. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
32. Great Eastern Egret (Ardea modesta)
33. Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
34. Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
35. Swamp Hen (Porphyrio melanotus)
36. Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
37. Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
38. Bush Turkey (Alectura lathami)
39. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
40. Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
41. Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
42. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus)

Reptiles:
3. Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
4. Short Necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii)
5. Eastern Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

 

I had an excellent birding day near the coast yesterday, and I managed to find quite a number of species including several lifers and even more birds I have only seen one of a few times before. Spectacular were large flocks of coastal passerines (shore larks and snow buntings), as well as large numbers of divers, marine ducks and a very rare guillemot.

BIRDS
31. Great egret, Ardea alba
32. Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
33. Greylag goose, Anser anser
34. Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
35. Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
36. Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
37. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
38. Mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos
39. Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
40. European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
41. Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
42. Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
43. Meadow pipit, Anthus pratensis
44. European herring gull, Larus argentatus
45. Mew gull, Larus canus
46. Shore lark, Eremophila alpestris
47. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
48. Snow bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
49. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
50. Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator
51. Common eider, Somateria mollissima
52. Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus
53. Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
54. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
55. Redwing, Turdus iliacus
56. Common snipe, Gallinago gallinago
57. Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
58. Red-throated diver, Gavia stellata
59. Common guillemot, Uria aalge
60. Common scoter, Melanitta nigra
61. Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
62. Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus
63. Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
64. Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
65. Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
66. Black-throated diver, Gavia arctica
67. Black guillemot, Cepphus grylle
68. Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
69. Purple sandpiper, Calidris maritima
70. Eurasian curlew, Numbenius arquata
71. Mute swan, Cygnus olor
72. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
73. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
74. Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
75. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
76. Grey plover, Pluvialis squatarola
77. Common redhank, Tringa totanus
78. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
79. Northern shoveller, Spatula clypeata
80. Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
81. Dunlin, Calidris alpina
82. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
83. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
84. Brant goose, Branta bernicla
85. Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

MAMMALS
2. European hare, Lepus europaeus
3. Harbour seal, Phoca vitulina
4. Grey seal, Halichoerus gryphus

I hope the get something more in the days to come, because after that I'll have a lot less time for birding for a few months or so.

 

MAMMALS
3 - Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
4 - European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)*

BIRDS
86 - Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
87 - Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)
88 - Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
89 - Crested Tern (Thalasseus bergii)

INVERTEBRATES
12 - Spotted Amber Ladybeetle (Hippodamia variegata)

 

My first trip out for the new year took me to RHS Hyde Hall, where I managed to add thirteen new bird species. I think this is the first time ever where the 1st January has not been my best day for spotting new birds:

18. Coal tit Periparus ater
19. Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus (Near Threatened)
20. Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
21. Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus
22. Dunnock Prunella modularis
23. Common kestrel Falco tinnunculus
24. European jackdaw Corvus monedula
25. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
26. Mistle thrush Turdus viscivorus
27. Common moorhen Gallinula chloropus
28. Canada goose Branta canadensis
29. Greylag goose Anser anser
30. Little egret Egretta garzetta

Also, mentioned purely for interests sake, saw a very tame Canada-greylag goose hybrid in the goose flock at Hyde Hall today. Very interesting looking bird, with washed-out Canada head and neck colours with the bright orange legs of a greylag.

 

I, too, saw my first mammal today:

Mammals
1) Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

~Thylo

 

My first animal of 2019 was a great blue heron. Lots better than last year!

I’m not sure if I’ll participate in this thread this year- I enjoyed it last year, but trailed off in the latter half of the year and I know much the same would happen this year. However, I enjoy everyone’s updates!

 

At 1901, on 1-1-19, I spotted my first birds of the year. A pair of Common Ravens roosting on a utility building near the Put River. Huddled up against the sub-zero (f) weather, illuminated by the building’s lighting, the Ravens continued their multi-year streak of being my first birds of the year. To be an Alaskan is to adore the consistency of Ravens.

Several hours later, at 0333, on 1-2-19, I spotted my first mammal. A Red Fox crossing the road and trotting into the darkness of an Arctic winter’s morning. Before the night was over I would spot two more Red Foxes.

2019~

Birds:
1. Common Raven-Corvus Corax Principalis.

Mammals:
2. Red Fox-Vulpes Vulpes Alascensis

My next spotting should be of an Arctic Fox...

 

Just realised I accidentally skipped invert no. 24. Therefore the green-headed ant is no. 27.
4/1/18

Invertebrates
28. Domestic Container Mosquito Ochlerotatus notoscriptus
29. Dolichopodid Fly Austosciapus connexus

 

BIRDS:
66) Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
67) Rough-legged buzzard, Buteo lagopus

 

5/1/18

Mammals
2. Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula

 

BIRDS
90 - Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
91 - Australian Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus longirostris)
92 - Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
93 - Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
94 - Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
95 - Australian Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica/macrotarsa)
96 - Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)

AMPHIBIANS
1 - Eastern Banjo Frog (Limnodynastes dumerilii)

 

28) Goosander
29) Great Cormorant
30) Dunnock
31) Common Blackbird

3) House Mouse

 

Today was the day for my customary early-January tour of local sites - starting at Big Moor and proceeding via Shillito Wood, Stubbing Court pond, Ogston Reservoir, Cromford Canal and finally Carsington Water for the Great Annual Derbyshire Diver Hunt - pleased to say the diver gave itself up with minimal fuss this year!

Birds:
33. Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
34. Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
35. Common Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus
36. Coal Tit - Periparus ater
37. Yellowhammer - Emberiza cintrinella
38. Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla
39. Eurasian Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris
40. Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris
41. Northern Lapwing - Vanellus vanellus
42. Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius
43. Goosander - Mergus merganser
44. Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
45. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
46. Common Teal - Anas crecca
47. European Pochard - Aythya ferina
48. Gadwall - Mareca strepera
49. Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
50. European Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
51. Greylag Goose - Anser anser
52. Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
53. European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris
54. Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus
55. Little Grebe - Tachybaptus ruficollis
56. Ruff - Philomachus pugnax
57. Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
58. Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
59. Common Pheasant - Phasianus colchichus
60. Dunlin - Calidris alpina
61. Meadow Pipit - Anthus pratensis
62. Great Northern Diver - Gavia immer

Mammals:
2. Red Deer - Cervus elaphus

 

Birds
20. American Robin Turdus migratorius

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Pretending I have a signature

 

Because I didn't go out anywhere today, I only managed one new bird that visited the garden. Earlier this evening, I went out with my flashlight to the bottom of the garden to see my second mammal and in doing so also found my first invertebrate of the year:

31. Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus

2. European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Near Threatened)

1. Brown centipede Lithobius forficatus

 

Got out to the wildlife refuges yesterday and had quite a number of species for the year! A few today as well.

Mammals:

4. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
5. Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)
6. Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani)

Birds:

51. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
52. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii)
53. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
54. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
55. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
56. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
57. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
58. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
59. Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
60. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
61. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
62. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
63. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
64. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
65. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
66. California Gull (Larus californicus)
67. American Bittern (Botaurus lentigosus)
68. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
69. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)
70. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
71. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
72. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
73. Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
74. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
75. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
76. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
77. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
78. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
79. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)

80. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
81. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
82. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Reptiles/Amphibians

1. Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)

 

A few understandable additions as I'm back in Morocco:

05/01/19 (Highway from Marrakesh to Agadir)
BIRDS:
15 - Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto
16 - Common bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus
17 - Maghreb magpie, Pica mauritanica
18 - House bunting, Emberiza sahari

 

An unexpected late-night sighting:

7. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

A lifer in a way, first live wild opossum I've seen. Seen quite a few hit by cars, but that doesn't count.

 

6/1/18

Invertebrates
30. Green Mottled Planthopper Siphanta hebes