ZooChat Big Year 2017

[DesertRhino150]

A trip to Abberton Reservoir today, while extremely cold, did allow me to add one new bird to the year list:

95. Barnacle goose Branta leucopsis

A good day for waders at Heybridge Basin, with three new species added to the list:

96. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica (Nt)
97. Red knot Calidris canutus (Nt)
98. Common greenshank Tringa nebularia

 

[Chlidonias]

from Thailand, almost all from Kaeng Krachan National Park (I didn't really go anywhere else).


BIRDS:


220) Tree sparrow Passer montanus
221) Ashy drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
222) Coppersmith barbet Megalaima haemacephala
223) Olive-backed sunbird Nectarinia jugularis
224) Asian pied fantail Rhipidura javanica
225) White-vented mynah Acridotheres grandis
226) Oriental pied hornbill Anthracoceros albirostris
227) Black-naped oriole Oriolus chinensis
228) Common iora Aegithina tiphia
229) Taiga flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
230) Black-crested bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris
231) Black-headed bulbul Pycnonotus atriceps
232) Striped tit-babbler Macronous gularis
233) Ochraceous bulbul Alophoixus ochraceus
234) Blue-winged leafbird Chloropsis cochinchinensis
235) Thick-billed pigeon Treron curvirostra
236) Asian fairy bluebird Irena puella
237) White-browed shrike-babbler Pteruthius aeralatus
238) Blue-throated barbet Megalaima asiatica
239) Flavescent bulbul Pycnonotus flavescens
240) Mountain imperial pigeon Ducula badia
241) Hair-crested drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
242) Emerald (Green-winged) dove Chalcophaps indica
243) Grey-headed canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
244) Blue-throated flycatcher Cyornis rubeculoides
245) White-browed scimitar-babbler Pomatorhinus schisticeps
246) Black-winged cuckoo-shrike Coracina melaschistos
247) Ashy bulbul Hemixos flavala
248) Chestnut-headed bee-eater Merops leschenaultii
249) Grey-rumped tree-swift Hemiprocne longipennis
250) Germain's swiftlet Collocalia germani
251) Ashy minivet Pericrocotus divaricatus
252) Silver-breasted broadbill Serilophus lunatus
253) White-rumped shama Copsychus malabaricus
254) Black-naped monarch Hypothymis azurea
255) Yellow-bellied warbler Abroscopus superciliaris
256) Rufous-fronted babbler Stachyridopsis rufifrons
257) White-browed piculet Sasia ochracea
258) Grey-eyed bulbul Iole propinqua
259) Vernal hanging parrot Loriculus vernalis
260) Greater flameback woodpecker Chrysocolaptes lucidus
261) Bar-winged flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
262) Dusky broadbill Coryodon sumatranus
263) Great hornbill Buceros bicornis
264) Drongo cuckoo Surniculus lugubris
265) Asian paradise flycatcher Terpsiphone paradisi
266) Orange-breasted trogon Harpactes oreskios
267) Velvet-fronted nuthatch Sitta frontalis
268) Greater racquet-tailed drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
269) Blue-bearded bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni
270) Brown hawk-owl Ninox scutulata
271) Greater necklaced laughing-thrush Garrulax pectoralis
272) Little (Green) heron Butorides striata
273) Common green magpie Cissa chinensis
274) Greater yellownape woodpecker Picus flavinucha
275) Lesser necklaced laughing-thrush Garrulax monileger
276) Green-billed malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis
277) Lesser racquet-tailed drongo Dicrurus remifer
278) Verditer flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus
279) Dark-necked tailorbird Orthotomus atrogularis
280) Streaked spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
281) Red-headed trogon Harpactes erythrocephalus
282) White-hooded babbler Gampsorhynchus rufulus
283) Speckled piculet Picumnus innominatus
284) Red junglefowl Gallus gallus
285) Black-throated sunbird Aethopyga saturata
286) Tickell's brown hornbill Anorrhinus tickelli
287) Abbott's babbler Malacocincla abbotti
288) Puff-throated babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
289) Ferruginous partridge Caloperdix oculea
290) Blue-throated bee-eater Merops viridis
291) Black-capped kingfisher Halcyon pileata
292) Eurasian curlew Numenius arquata
293) Terek sandpiper Xenus cinereus
294) Turnstone Arenaria interpres
295) Great knot Calidris tenuirostris
296) Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
297) Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola
298) Large-tailed nightjar Caprimulgus macrurus
299) Streak-eared bulbul Pycnonotus blanfordi
300) Golden-fronted leafbird Chloropsis aurifrons
301) Spot-necked dove Streptopelia chinensis
302) Indochinese bushlark Mirafra erythrocephala
303) Lineated barbet Megalaima lineata
304) Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
305) Grey peacock-pheasant Polyplectron bicalcaratum
306) Stripe-throated bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni


MAMMALS:


23) Variable squirrel Callosciurus finlaysoni
24) Greater short-nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx
25) Red-bellied (Pallas') squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus
26) Grey-bellied squirrel Callosciurus caniceps
27) Black giant squirrel Ratufa bicolor
28) Dusky langur Trachypithecus obscurus
29) Malayan crested porcupine Hystrix brachyura
30) Asian palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
31) Lesser mouse deer Tragulus kanchil
32) Banded leaf monkey Presbytis femoralis
33) Berdmore's (Indochinese) ground squirrel Menetes berdmorei
34) Himalayan striped squirrel Tamiops macclellandi
35) Fea's muntjac Muntiacus feae
36) White-handed (Lar) gibbon Hylobates lar
37) Common muntjac Muntiacus muntjak
38) Red-cheeked ground squirrel Dremomys rufigenis
39) Asian elephant Elephas maximus
40) Crab-eating macaque Macaca fascicularis

 

[Pleistohorse]

Birds:
1. Common Raven
2. Bald Eagle
3. Black-capped Chickadee
4. Mallard
5. Boreal Chickadee
6. Red-breasted Nuthatch
7. Common Redpoll

Mammals:
1. Arctic Fox
2. Caribou
3. Red Fox
4. Moose
5. American Red Squirrel

 

[Vision]

A few more from today.

BIRDS:
70) Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
71) Dunlin, Calidris alpina
72) Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
73) Stock dove, Columba oenas

 

[LaughingDove]

A few bits and pieces from an actual birding trip today, though not as much as I would have hoped.

55) Willow Tit
56) Crested Lark
57) Yellowhammer

6) Brown Rat

A few additions to the year list from today's birding

58) Common (Mew) Gull
59) Hen Harrier
60) Common Crane
61) Bean Goose

Quite early for cranes. Wouldn't usually be expecting them until mid/late-March maybe.

 

[robmv]

One from last weekend that I forgot to add:

130. Siskin (Spinus spinus)

Then, off to the Forest of Dean today:

131. Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
132. Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
133. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

The Goshawks were on top form and provided and wonderful display of "sky-dancing".

 

[Ituri]

BIRDS:
128 Eastern Screech-Owl - Megascops asio
129 King Rail - Rallus elegans
130 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor

 

[boof]

20/2/2017
118. wonga pigeon

 

[Hix]

Birds
74. Common Noddy
75. Christmas Island Goshawk (or Brown Goshawk)



Hix

There's a rarity that's blown in from Indonesia on the Christmas Island and after a few nights looking for it I finally saw it tonight, albeit, from a distance.

76. Northern Boobook



Hix

 

[Chlidonias]

There's a rarity that's blown in from Indonesia on the Christmas Island and after a few nights looking for it I finally saw it tonight, albeit, from a distance.

76. Northern Boobook

that's cool. So now you've seen two owls on the island?

Further question, if it has come up, is the owl going to be removed so that there is no potential for it mating with the endemic Ninox?

 

[Hix]

Yup. And I could hear the endemic hawk-owl calling in the distance while I was watching the Northern.



Hix

 

[boof]

21/2/2017
119. superb lyrebird
120. spotted padalote
121. eastern whipbird
122. brown gerygone
123. golden whistler
124. white throated treecreeper

 

[Maguari]

Spent the last five days back in Bangor for my uni drama group reunion (which was glorious) and topped-and-tailed it with some birding on Anglesey and the North Wales coast, which has finally jumped me over the hundred mark. Missed a couple of regulars (greenshank and ringed plover, notably) but overall a very satisfying round up of the local specialties. The Point Lynas porpoises were on particularly good form!

Birds:
98. Common Scoter - Melanitta nigra
99. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
100. European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis
101. Common Eider - Somateria mollissima
102. Brent Goose - Branta bernicla
103. Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator
104. Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle
105. Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
106. Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis
107. Common Guillemot - Uria aalge
108. Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
109. Common Raven - Corvus corax
110. Eurasian Rock Pipit - Anthus petrosus

Mammals:
7. Harbour Porpoise - Phocoena phocoena

Invertebrates:
1. Common Periwinkle - Littorina littorea
2. Beadlet Anemone - Actinia equina

 

[DesertRhino150]

A good day for waders at Heybridge Basin, with three new species added to the list:

96. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica (Nt)
97. Red knot Calidris canutus (Nt)
98. Common greenshank Tringa nebularia

Managed to get to Minsmere for the first time this year today. Saw a whole variety of interesting things (top of the list probably a peregrine that stooped no less than fifteen times at one lapwing that consistently evaded capture), including two new birds and a new mammal:

99. Marsh tit Poecile palustris
100. Ruddy turnstone Arenaria interpres

8. Red deer Cervus elaphus

 

[boof]

22/2/2017
125. brown goshawk

 

[LaughingDove]

A few additions to the year list from today's birding

58) Common (Mew) Gull
59) Hen Harrier
60) Common Crane
61) Bean Goose

Quite early for cranes. Wouldn't usually be expecting them until mid/late-March maybe.

A couple of things:

62) Great White Egret

7) Least Weasel

 

[Hix]

Further question, if it has come up, is the owl going to be removed so that there is no potential for it mating with the endemic Ninox?

Just saw this part of your post.

The short answer is no, because the only people who really care a hoot about it don't carry any weight, and the community doesn't care. Its been onthe sland a couple of weeks and even though it's evening movements are routine, making it easy to spot, I was the fifth person to see it (six people have seen it now).

The Parks office has an interest, but it's being classed as a vagrant and I don't think they're too concerned about it.

Secondly, it's here for the Northern Winter - they normally overwinter in South East Asia and this one probably just overshot Java and ended up with us. In six months time it should be back in it's breeding grounds in Siberia/Korea/northern China.



Hix

 

[Hix]

Fish
188. Masked Moray
189. Whitemouth Moray
190. Snowflake Moray
191. Foursaddle Grouper
192. Harlequin Grouper
193. Neon Fusilier
194. Klein's Butterflyfish
195. Orange Anemonefish
196. Spotted Hawkfish
197. Pennant Bannerfish
198. Horned Bannerfish
199. Surge Wrasse
200. Brighteye Damsel
201. Yellowfin Tuna
202. Yellow-margined Triggerfish
203. Wedgetail Triggerfish
204. Blackspot Toby
205. Weber's Chromis

A couple of fish from a night snorkel, a bird from a unique wetland, and a few days in the Cocos (Keeling) Islands have added to my lists.

Fish
206. Small-mouthed Squirrelfish
207. Lionfish
208. Banded Flagtail
209. Blacktip Reef Shark

Birds
77. Christmas Island White-eye
78. Green Junglefowl
79. White Tern

 

[Macaw16]

A pleasant surprise whilst out on a walk near my house:

55. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus

One whilst travelling (28/1/2017):

5. Brown Hare Lepus europaeus

A brief trip up north has allowed me to add a few, 56-65 Washington Wetland Centre (21/2/2017), 66 Blaydon Burn, 67 Jesmond Dene, 68-70 Tynemouth and 6 whilst travelling back (all of the previous (22/2/2017).

56. Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
57. Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
58. Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
59. Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
60. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
61. Common Redshank Tringa totanus
62. Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
63. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
64. Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus
65. European Greenfinch Chloris chloris
66. White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus
67. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
68. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
69. Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
70. Common Eider Somateria mollissima

6. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes

 

[Chlidonias]

Just saw this part of your post.

The shprt answer is no, because the only people who really care a hoot about it don't carry any weight, and the community doesn't care. Its been onthe sland a couple of weeks and even though it's evening movements are routine, making it easy to spot, I was the fifth person to see it (six people have seen it now).

The Parks office has an interest, but it's being classed as a vagrant and I don't think they're too concerned about it.

Secondly, it's here for the Northern Winter - they normally overwinter in South East Asia and this one probably just overshot Java and ended up with us. In six months time it should be back in it's breeding grounds in Siberia/Korea/northern China.

I don't think there's a high risk of interbreeding but it's still a risk. I mean, I don't want it being shot or anything but it should still be caught and removed. I'm not sure it will migrate back the way it came though.