ZooChat Big Year 2019

Been stuck indoors doing assignments yesterday, today and will be tomorrow and possibly Friday. I have still managed some sightings to start the year - birds 1-9 seen on the 1st January, birds 10-17 seen today. The sole mammal was seen on the 1st.

1. Black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
2. European robin Erithacus rubecula
3. Carrion crow Corvus corone
4. Common woodpigeon Columba palumbus
5. European blackbird Turdus merula
6. Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
7. Eurasian blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus
8. Eurasian magpie Pica pica
9. Great tit Parus major
10. European starling Sturnus vulgaris
11. Feral pigeon Columba livia
12. Eurasian sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
13. Pied wagtail Motacilla alba (yarrelli)
14. European herring gull Larus argentatus
15. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
16. Common rook Corvus frugilegus
17. House sparrow Passer domesticus

1. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
 
LaughingDove said:
Practically back up to where I was last year already... sigh...

1) Black-headed Gull
2) Hooded Crow
3) Rook
4) Eurasian Collared Dove
5) Tree Sparrow
6) Caspian Gull
7) Jackdaw
8) Feral Pigeon
9) Great Tit
10) Blue Tit
11) Herring Gull
12) Eurasian Siskin
13) Mute Swan
14) Common Moorhen
15) Eurasian Coot
16) House Sparrow
17) Mallard
18) Eurasian Magpie

1) European Red Squirrel

Quite busy at the moment as I go back to university next week, so these are just from a short stroll in the drizzle around near my house (in Poland).
Click to expand...

A local park today.

19) Mandarin Duck
20) Middle Spotted Woodpecker
21) Carolina Wood Duck
22) European Goldfinch
23) European Greenfinch
24) Eurasian Jay
25) Greater Spotted Woodpecker
26) Eurasian Nuthatch
27) Short-toed Treecreeper

2) Striped Field Mouse
 
Well after last year being my most successful year yet and my commitments to getting out and birding more, I decided to stop by a lake near my mother's house today first my first birding session of the new year! The lake is an excellent spot for wintering waterfowl and gulls, and hosts year-round populations of Bald Eagle and kingfisher. The area around it is very forested, which is great for finding songbirds and hawks. A neighboring farm makes for good turkey habitat and I've even spotted a wild Ring-Necked Pheasant here before. I went out today knowing I'd be getting a good head start on my year!

Birds
1) American Robin Turdus migratorius

That's it, that's all I saw. When I simply drove past it around Christmas I found Hooded and Common Merganser, swan, a group of Ring-Billed Gulls, multiple eagles, and even a couple bluebirds. But today, only a single robin that flew across the road in front of my car as I was approaching the lake.

I wasn't going to let that stop me, though. I drove home, sat down at my computer, and found the nearest good birding spot to me. There are surprisingly very few in central Connecticut, but I picked my spot and was determined to find some birds!

That is, until I remembered it's January in New England and it's already pitch black outside.

~Thylo
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I wasn't going to let that stop me, though. I drove home, sat down at my computer, and found the nearest good birding spot to me. There are surprisingly very few in central Connecticut, but I picked my spot and was determined to find some birds!

That is, until I remembered it's January in New England and it's already pitch black outside.

~Thylo
Click to expand...
Have you tried the eBird hotspot map?

This time of year, your best bets for finding birds are bird feeders and the ocean (or a Great Lake). Just going to a forested area just doesn't cut it this time of year. An example of this is there is a spot near where I live that is well known across the state for being an amazing birding spot in the summer months and during migration. Yesterday I spent half an hour there and saw five birds of three species. And I mean the common as dirt species.

EDIT: Any body of water that doesn't freeze over completely is fine.
 
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birdsandbats said:
Have you tried the eBird hotspot map?

This time of year, your best bets for finding birds are bird feeders and the ocean (or a Great Lake). Just going to a forested area just doesn't cut it this time of year. An example of this is there is a spot near where I live that is well known across the state for being an amazing birding spot in the summer months and during migration. Yesterday I spent half an hour there and saw five birds of three species. And I mean the common as dirt species.
Click to expand...

Yeah I check it out every once in a while. The lake I originally went to is a hotspot.

I plan to get down to the coast at least twice this winter and have a couple spots I plan to visit, but I need to have a whole day to do that when you include the driving time. With it being the beginning of the year, common as dirt species are still ones I need to pick up, and I was aiming for an Audubon Center which generally have feeders set up anyhow.

~Thylo
 
animal_expert01 said:
Birds:
10. Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
11. Blue Eyed Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)
12. Sulphur Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
13. Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
14. Peewee (Grallina cyanoleuca)

Reptiles:
1. Blue Tongue (Tiliqua scincoides)
2. Delicate Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)

Mammals:
1. Gray Headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
Click to expand...
Birds:
15. Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
16. Masked Plover (Vanellus miles)
17. Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
18. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
19. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
20. Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
21. Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti)
22. Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)
 
Great Argus said:
I'm in!

Mammals

1. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)


Birds

1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
2. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
4. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
5. California Quail (Callipepla californica)
6. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
7. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
8. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
9. American Coot (Fulica americana)
10. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
11. Great Blue Heron (Area herodias)
12. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
13. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
14. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
15. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
16. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
17. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
18. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
19. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
20. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
21. Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
22. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
23. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
24. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
25. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
26. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
27. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
28. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
29. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
30. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
31. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
32. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
33. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
34. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
35. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
36. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
37. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
38. Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
39. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
40. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
41. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
42. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
Click to expand...

Today's update:

Birds

43. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
44. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
45. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
46. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
47. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
48. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
49. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
50. Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Invertebrates

1. Bordered Plant Bug (Largus succinctus)

As well as a bunch of sowbugs I couldn't manage to ID to species so left out...
 
Dannelboyz said:
BIRDS
33 - Long-billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)
34 - Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
35 - Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
36 - Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)
37 - Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)
38 - Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
39 - Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops)
40 - Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
41 - Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
42 - White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
43 - Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
44 - Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
45 - Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
46 - Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)
47 - Latham's Snipe (Gallinago hardwickii)
48 - Black-fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)
49 - Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)
50 - Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis)
51 - Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
52 - Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
53 - Hardhead (Aythya australis)
54 - Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
55 - Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
56 - Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
57 - Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
58 - Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
59 - Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)
60 - European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)*
61 - Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)
62 - Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
-- Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus) [heard]
63 - Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
-- Shining Bronze-cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) [heard]
64 - Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
65 - Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)*
66 - Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
-- Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis) [heard]
67 - Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

REPTILES
1 - Delicate Skink (Lampropholis delicata)

FISH
1 - Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)*

INVERTEBRATES
-- Unidentified butterfly (working on ID)
9 - Common Brown (Heteronympha merope)
Click to expand...
The first ever tufted duck reported in Australia led to a massive twitch-fest near Werribee today...

BIRDS
68 - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
69 - Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
70 - Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
71 - White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
72 - Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus)
73 - Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
-- Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus) [heard]
74 - Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
75 - Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
76 - Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
77 - Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba/modesta)
78 - Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
79 - Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
80 - Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
81 - Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
82 - Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
83 - White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)
84 - Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
85 - Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

INVERTEBRATES
9 - Australian Grapevine Moth (Phalaenoides glycinae)
10 - Common Brown (Heteronympha merope)
 
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Dannelboyz said:
The first ever tufted duck reported in Australia led to a massive twitch-fest near Werribee today...

BIRDS
68 - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
69 - Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
70 - Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
71 - White-winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
72 - Striated Fieldwren (Calamanthus fuliginosus)
73 - Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
-- Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus) [heard]
74 - Pink-eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
75 - Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
76 - Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea)
77 - Eastern Great Egret (Ardea alba/modesta)
78 - Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
79 - Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
80 - Blue-billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
81 - Yellow-billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
82 - Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficollis)
83 - White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)
84 - Black-shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
85 - Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

INVERTEBRATES
9 - Australian Grapevine Moth (Phalaenoides glycinae)
10 - Common Brown (Heteronympha merope)
Click to expand...

From a European perspective twitching a Tufted duck sounds immensely silly :p
 
Dannelboyz said:
Not when the nearest record seems to be about 5,000km away - at least 100 birders went for it today I'd guess :p
Click to expand...

Was it a drake or a female? Rather fun, smart little ducks, just very common in this part of the world!
 
Updates from around town the last two days, including a lunchtime walk around a more-productive-than-usual Holmebrook Valley Park:

Birds:
24. Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
25. European Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus
26. Rook - Corvus frugilegus
27. Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus
28. Dunnock - Prunella modularis
29. Eurasian Wigeon - Mareca penelope
30. Common Gull - Larus canus
31. Eurasian Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula
32. Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Mammals:
1. Eastern Grey Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

:)
 
Ituri said:
Yay 2019!

MAMMALS:
1 Eastern Fox Squirrel - Sciurus niger

BIRDS:
1 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
2 Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii
3 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
4 Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata
5 Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
6 Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
7 Common Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula
8 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
9 Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus
10 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
11 Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
12 Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
13 Downy Woodpecker - Dryobates pubescens
14 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata
15 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus
16 American Robin - Turdus migratorius
17 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
18 American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea
19 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
20 Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia
21 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis
22 Common Merganser - Mergus merganser
23 American Coot - Fulica americana
24 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus
25 Gadwall - Mareca strepera
26 Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca
27 Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
28 Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola
29 Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula
30 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
31 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
32 Eastern Meadowlark - Sturnella magna
33 Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
34 Greater Scaup - Aythya marila
35 Hooded Merganser - Lophodytes cucullatus
36 Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
37 American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis
38 Horned Lark - Eremophila alpestris
39 Greater White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons
40 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
41 Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus
42 Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis
43 Yellow-rumped Warbler - Setophaga coronata
44 American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
45 Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
46 Wood Duck - Aix sponsa
47 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon
48 House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus
49 White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis
Click to expand...

BIRDS:
50 Hairy Woodpecker - Dryobates villosus
51 Winter Wren - Troglodytes hiemalis
52 Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus
 
Zoo Tycooner FR said:
Slow start but I hope to get to the Manzanares tomorrow to get the rest of common Madrilenian species:

31/12/2018 (Somewhere in La Latina)
BIRDS:
1 - Feral pigeon, Columba livia domestica
2 - House sparrow, Passer domesticus
3 - Blackbird, Turdus merula
Click to expand...

Some "passive" birding near Segovia yielded more additions

03/01/2019 (Toledo & Segovia)
BIRDS:
4 - Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
5 - Common wood pigeon, Columba palumbus
6 - Little egret, Egretta garzetta
7 - Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor
8 - Red kite, Milvus milvus
9 - Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
10 - Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
11 - Common raven, Corvus corax
12 - Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
13 - Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
14 - European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
 
Great Argus said:
Today's update:

Birds

43. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
44. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
45. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
46. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
47. Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
48. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
49. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
50. Common Raven (Corvus corax)

Invertebrates

1. Bordered Plant Bug (Largus succinctus)

As well as a bunch of sowbugs I couldn't manage to ID to species so left out...
Click to expand...

Only two for today... both seen crossing the road while driving!

Mammals:

2. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
3. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
 
BIRDS:
63) Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
64) Great grey shrike, Lanius excubitor
65) Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
 
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