Zoochat Big Year 2023

Are you going for another big day starting the thread so early

 

Happy new year! Didn't do any birding until late morning as I was focused on catching up with my write-ups. Tried to get a 'better' first bird, but oh well.

Birds:
1. Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
2. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
3. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
4. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
5. Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
6. Tui (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae)
7. Riroriro (Gerygone igata)
8. Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
9. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
10. European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
11. Pukeko (Porphyrio melanotus)
12. Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
13. Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
14. Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus miles)

INVERT Tally:4
Insects:
1. Cabbage-white Butterfly (Pieris rapae)
2. NZ Red Damselfly (Xanthocnemis zealandica)
3. Claybank Cicada (Notopsalta sericea)
4. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

 

Happy New Year everyone – looking forward to seeing what wildlife adventures everyone has planned for the year! Today I decided to do a walking tour of the local parks after a few hours spent in the back garden – something a little less intense that last year’s New Year Day so I hopped from park to park to ease myself into the day. Best species for day one was a Three-toed Worm-Skink that made quick appearance and a Keelback was also nice to find – both were lifers in 2022. I also can’t complain with a Pacific Baza and Buff-banded Rail found on the first day of the year as well. A trio of Brown Quail was another delightful surprise in a very suburban park that hadn't been recorded there for many years.

Mammals
01) Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto
02) Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus

Birds
01) Torresian Crow, Corvus orru
02) Rainbow Lorikeet, Trichoglossus moluccanus
03) Pied Currawong, Strepera graculina
04) Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina novaehollandiae
05) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
06) Noisy Miner, Manorina melanocephala
07) Pied Butcherbird, Cracticus nigrogularis
08) Feral Pigeon, Columba livia
09) Australasian Figbird, Sphecotheres vieilloti
10) Australian White Ibis, Threskiornis moluccus
11) Welcome Swallow, Hirundo neoxena
12) Little Corella, Cacatua sanguinea
13) Channel-billed Cuckoo, Scythrops novaehollandiae
14) Spotted Dove, Spilopelia chinensis
15) Magpie-Lark, Grallina cyanoleuca
16) Australian Magpie, Gymnorhina tibicen
17) Galah, Eolophus roseicapilla
18) Crested Pigeon, Ocyphaps lophotes
19) Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis
20) Masked Lapwing, Vanellus miles
21) Australasian Swamphen, Porphyrio melanotus
22) Buff-banded Rail, Gallirallus philippensis
23) Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
24) Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
25) Olive-backed Oriole, Oriolus sagittatus
26) White-browed Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis
27) Pacific Black Duck, Anas superciliosa
28) Sacred Kingfisher, Todiramphus sanctus
29) Pacific Baza, Aviceda subcristata
30) Brown Honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta
31) Red-backed Fairywren, Malurus melanocephalus
32) Fairy Martin, Petrochelidon ariel
33) Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
34) Silvereye, Zosterops lateralis
35) Brown Quail, Synoicus ypsilophorus
36) Willie Wagtail, Rhipidura leucophrys
37) Rufous Whistler, Pachycephala rufiventris
38) Blue-faced Honeyeater, Entomyzon cyanotis

Herptiles
01) Garden Skink, Lampropholis delicata
02) Three-clawed Worm-skink, Anomalopus verreauxii
03) Australian Water Dragon, Intellagama lesueurii
04) Keelback, Tropidonophis mairii
05) Cane Toad, Rhinella marina

Fish
01) Mozambique Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Invertebrates
01) Daddy Long-legs Spider, Pholcus phalangioides
02) Celtis Leaf Beetle, Menippus cynicus
03) Wandering Ringtail, Austrolestes leda
04) Dome Tent Spider, Cyrtophora moluccensis
05) Black Soldier Fly, Hermetia illucens
06) Yellow Crazy Ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes
07) 28-Spotted Potato Ladybird, Epilachna vigintioctopunctata
08) Housefly, Musca domestica
09) Neon Cuckoo Bee, Thyreus nitidulus
10) Evening Brown, Melanitis leda
11) Humped Golden Orb-weaving Spider, Nephila plumipes
12) European Honeybee, Apis mellifera
13) Meadow Argus, Junonia villida
14) Common Crow, Euploea core
15) Ommatius mackayi [robber fly]
16) Australian Magpie Moth, Nyctemera amicus
17) Blue Triangle, Graphium sarpedon
18) Common Grass-Yellow, Eurema hecabe
19) Blue Skimmer, Orthetrum caledonicum
20) Common Grass-Blue, Zizina labradus
21) Lemon Migrant, Catopsilia pomona
22) Pale Cotton Stainer, Dysdercus sidae

 

Happy New Year Zoochats. I started the year with the same bird at number one as the previous 3 years. I could have almost cut and pasted my 2022 new years day's list for todays list. Good luck for the year and stay safe in the field.'
1/1/2023
1. house sparrow
2. apostlebird
3. Australasian darter
4. Australasian grebe
5. Australasian pipit
6. Australian magpie
7. Australian raven
8. Australian reed warbler
9. Australian white ibis
10. black swan
11. black-faced cuckoo-shrike
12. brown honeyeater
13. common blackbird
14. common myna
15. common starling
16. crested pigeon
17. dusky moorhen
18. eastern great egret
19. emu
20. fairy martin
21. galah
22. great crested grebe
23. grey teal
24. grey-crowned babbler
25. hardhead
26. little black cormorant
27. little friarbird
28. magpie-lark
29. masked lapwing
30. nankeen night-heron
31. peaceful dove
32. peregrine falcon
33. littel pied cormorant
34. red-rumped parrot
35. rock dove (feral pigeon)
36. rufous songlark
37. sacred kingfisher
38. spotted bowerbird
39. straw-necked ibis
40. welcome swallow
41. white-breasted woodswallow
42. white-faced heron
43. white-necked heron
44. white-plumed honeyeater
45. white-winged chough
46. willie wagtail
47. yellow-billed spoonbil
48. yellow-rumped thornbill
49. yellow-throated miner

 

For the record:
Seen Birds
1. Common Pigeon Columba livia
2. Black Kite Milvus migrans
3. House Crow Corvus splendens

Mammals
1. Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum

 

Happy new year everyone, looking forward to another amazing year of seeing animals! First day started strong with twelve birds and one mammal.

Mammals

1. Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris 1/1/2023

Birds

1. Common blackbird, Turdus melura 1/1/2023
2. Great tit, Parus major 1/1/2023
3. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos 1/1/2023
4. Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus 1/1/2023
5. Hooded crow, Corvus cornix 1/1/2023
6. House sparrow, Passer domesticus 1/1/2023
7. Feral pigeon, Columba livia 1/1/2023
8. European greenfinch, Chloris chloris 1/1/2023
9. Eurasian magpie, Pica pica 1/1/2023
10. Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula 1/1/2023
11. Western jackdaw, Corvus monedula 1/1/2023
12. Common merganser, Mergus merganser 1/1/2023

 

Birds
1. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
2. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis
4. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
5. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
6. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
7. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
8. Common Merganser Mergus merganser
9. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
10. Gadwall Mareca strepera
11. Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
12. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
13. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
14. Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
15. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
16. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
17. Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
18. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
19. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
20. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
21. Rock Pigeon Columba livia
22. Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum
23. American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
24. American Black Duck Anas rubripes
25. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
26. Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus

Mammals
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
2. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus

 

Starting off slow, with a first mammal seen on the London tube at 2 this morning and the rest from Holland Park...

Mammals
1. House mouse
2. Grey squirrel

Birds
1. European robin
2. Eurasian blackbird
3. Common starling
4. Great tit
5. Eurasian blue tit
6. Carrion crow
7. Common magpie
8. Ring-necked parakeet
9. Lesser black-backed gull
10. Herring gull
11. Black-headed gull
12. Common moorhen
13. Common woodpigeon
14. Feral pigeon

 

Mammals

1. Eastern gray squirrel

Birds

1. American crow

2. American goldfinch

3. Black-capped chickadee

4. Canada goose

5. Dark-eyed junco

6. House sparrow

7. Northern cardinal

8. Red-tailed hawk

9. Tufted titmouse

All seen near Cleveland, Ohio, USA

 

Happy New Year! This morning I got my wife involved in the NYD birding fun. We set a goal of 40 and by noon managed 45! Not bad for a few hours in January after a summer of drought and a hard freeze.

MAMMALS
1 Eastern Fox Squirrel - Sciurus niger
BIRDS:
1 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
2 Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii
3 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
4 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
5 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
6 Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
7 Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
8 Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola
9 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
10 Common Merganser - Mergus merganser
11 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
12 Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
13 Double-crested Cormorant - Nannopterum auritum
14 American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
15 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
16 Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus
17 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus
18 Downy Woodpecker - Dryobates pubescens
19 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata
20 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
21 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus
22 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor
23 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
24 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
25 House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus
26 American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea
27 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
28 Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula
29 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis
30 Hairy Woodpecker - Dryobates villosus
31 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus
32 American Robin - Turdus migratorius
33 Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus
34 Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata
35 Canvasback - Aythya valisineria
36 Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus
37 White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys
38 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia
39 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
40 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
41 Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna
42 Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris
43 Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus
44 Greater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons
45 Wood Duck - Aix sponsa

 

Mammals
1. Grey Squirrel Neosciurus carolinensis
2. Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
3. European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Birds to follow tomorrow; too tired now!

 

A gentle start to the year with just a stroll around the nearest park this afternoon. Quiet on the bird front even for that.

Birds:
1. Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
2. Feral Pigeon - Columba livia
3. Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
4. European Blackbird - Turdus merula
5. European Magpie - Pica pica
6. Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula
7. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
8. Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
9. European Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
10. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
11. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
12. European Coot - Fulica atra
13. Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
14. Greater Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
15. Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
16. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris

 

My original plans for a 'big day' of sorts had to be scrapped, due to visiting family, the death of my hamster, and other plans. Still managed 10 birds from the backyard.

Mammal
1. Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Birds
1. Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
2. Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
3. Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
4. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
5. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
6. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
7. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
8. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
9. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
10. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

 

New year, new list! Had a stronger start than expected given I got out fairly late in the afternoon around the neighborhood.

Mammals:

1. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemonianus)

Birds:

1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
2. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
3. California Quail (Callipepla californica)
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
5. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte annae)
6. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
7. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
8. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
9. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
10. Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttalli)
11. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
12. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
13. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
14. Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
15. Oak Titmouse (Baelophus inornatus)
16. Bushtit (Psaltripus minimus)
17. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
18. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
19. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
20. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
21. House Finch (Haemohorus mexicanus)
22. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
23. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
24. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicilla)
25. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
26. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
27. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
28. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicus)
29. Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
30. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Invertebrates:

1. Pill Bug (Armadillum vulgare)
2. Paemaropus angusticeps
3. Long-bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangoides)

1-30-0-0-0-3

 

Birds on 1/1, in NE England
1. Mute Swan Cygnus olor
2. White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
3. Pink-footed Goose Anser brachrhynchus
4. Mallard Anas platyrhynchus
5. Wigeon Anas penelope
6. Teal Anas crecca
7. Pochard Aythya ferina
8. Eider Somateria mollissima
9. Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
10. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
11. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
12. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
13. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
14. Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
15. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
16. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
17. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
18. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
19. Turnstone Arenaria interpres
20. Sanderling Calidris alba
21. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
22. Dunlin Calidris alpina
23. Redshank Tringa totanus
24. Curlew Numenius arquata
25. Black-headed Gull Chroiocephalus ridibundus
26. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
27. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
28. Feral Pigeon Columba livia
29. Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
30. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
31. Dunnock Prunella modularis
32. Robin Erithacus rubecula
33. Blackbird Turdus merula
34. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
35. Great Tit Parus major
36. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
37. Magpie Pica pica
38. Carrion Crow Corvus corone
39. Starling Sternus vulgaris
40. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
41. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
42. Goldfinch Carduelis chloris

Mammals
1. Grey Squirrel Neosciurus carolinensis
2. Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
3. Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

Basically an opportunistic twitching day; headed to the NE hoping the Walrus might be refound, or that there might be some Waxwings. Instead a failed attempt to see King Eider at Redcar; the flock was distant and the bird uncooperative! Great views of wader flocks at point blank range however. Then a wild goose chase, firstly to the wrong spot, but eventually getting my first Whitefronts since preCOVID, just before they took off, circled, and departed. Still leaves plenty of easy species to mop up.

 

My list from an hour of birding this morning & any excess species I've seen over the last two days

Birds

• Gold Coast

1. Australian Magpie
2. Black Swan
3. Crested Tern
4. Feral Pigeon
5. Indian Mynah
6. Little Corella
7. Magpie-Lark
8. Masked Lapwing
9. Noisy Miner
10. Pacific Black-Duck
11. Pied Currawong
12. White-Breasted Woodswallow

• Federation Walk/The Spit

13. Australasian Figbird
14. Australasian Pipit
15. Australian Brush-Turkey
16. Australian White-Ibis
17. Bar-Shouldered Dove
18. Blue-Faced Honeyeater
19. Brown Honeyeater
20. Bush Stone-Curlew
21. Double-Barred Finch
22. Leaden Flycatcher
23. Noisy Friarbird
24. Olive-Backed Oriole
25. Pied Butcherbird
26. Rainbow Bee-Eater
27. Rainbow Lorikeet
28. Silvereye
29. Superb Fairywren
30. Torresian Crow
31. Welcome Swallow
32. Willie Wagtail

Reptiles

• Federation Walk/The Spit

1. Arcane Striped-Skink

Amphibians

• Gold Coast

1. Cane Toad

 

Happy new year everyone!

This year I will not be working towards a goal regarding the number of species, but instead focus on enjoying the wildlife I see as much as possible. I have some plans to go abroad early in the year, but beside that I have no major wildlife plans yet. In terms of species groups I will be recording birds, herptiles, mammals, fish, butterflies and dragonflies like last year, but also moths and perhaps bees.

This year, the very first day of the year was a full birding day. I was invited by a friend to go to the Biesbosch, the major wetland area in my province. It was a splendid day. There was plenty of waterfowl around so most of the standard wintering species were seen rather quickly. One of the large flocks of geese had a neat little surprise in the form of a rare and stunningly beautiful red-breasted goose. Raptors were also out in force and among the first birds in the morning were three white-tailed eagles. Later the day we found sparrowhawk, peregrine and two species of harrier, alongside the expected buzzards and kestrels. Songbirds however were mostly absent, though I was very happy with a firecrest and a Cetti's warbler. The lack of songbirds resulted in me having a splendid raptor and waterfowl list including several very good species before I saw my first sparrow of the year in my garden this morning!

Birds
01. Common Blackbird, Turdus merula
02. Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo
03. Carrion Crow, Corvus corone
04. Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
05. Great Egret, Ardea alba
06. Great Cormorant, Phalacrorax carbo
07. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
08. Common Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus
09. Western Jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
10. Black-headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
11. Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica
12. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
13. Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
14. Stock Dove, Columba oenas
15. Common Pochard, Aythya ferina
16. Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
17. Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra
18. Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
19. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
20. Greylag Goose, Anser anser
21. Common Shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
22. Eurasian Wigeon, Mareca penelope
23. Northern Shoveler, Spatula clypeata
24. Greater White-fronted Goose, Anas albifrons
25. Northern Lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
26. Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
27. Eurasian Teal, Anas crecca
28. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
29. Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
30. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
31. (Tundra) Bean Goose, Anser (fabalis) serrirostris
32. Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
33. Dunlin, Calidris alpina
34. Bewick's Swan, Cygnus columbianus
35. White-tailed Eagle, Halieetus albicilla
36. Northern Pintail, Anas acuta
37. Goosander, Mergus merganser
38. Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
39. Ruff, Calidris pugnax
40. Eurasian Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
41. European Greenfinch, Chloris chloris
42. Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
43. Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
44. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
45. Great Tit, Parus major
46. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
47. Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus colybita
48. Eurasian Curlew, Numenius arquata
49. Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
50. Little Grebe, Tachybaptes ruficollis
51. Common Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
52. Cetti's Warbler, Cettia cetti
53. Smew, Mergellus albellus
54. Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
55. Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
56. Red-breasted Goose, Branta ruficollis
57. Peregrine, Falco peregrinus
58. Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
59. Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
60. Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
61. Common Gull, Larus canus
62. Hen Harrier, Circus cyaneus
63. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

Mammals
1. European Roe Deer, Capriolus capriolus

 

2/1/2023
50. Pacific black duck
51. Australian ringneck
52. Australian hobby
53. Eastern barn owl