ZooChat Big Year 2020

animal_expert01 said:
Birds:
22. Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
23. Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
24. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
25. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
26. Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
27. Forest Kingfisher (Todiramphus macleayii)
28. White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
29. Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)
30. Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)

Amphibians:
1. Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea)
Click to expand...
Birds:
31. White Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
32. Scared Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
33. Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
34. Red Browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
35. White Headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela)
36. Sulpher Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
37. Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

Mammals:
1. Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Reptiles:
2. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
 
One correction
22. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

Other than that...
24. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
25. Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
26. Southern Coucal Centropus parrotii
27. White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus
28. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
29. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonoyus jocosus
30. Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica
31. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
32. Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Also other birds I couldn’t ID in time.
 
amur leopard said:
After a quick trip to a grassland near Manningtree:
9. European herring gull, Larus argentatus
10. Common gull, Larus canus
11. Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis
12. Black-headed gull, Larus ridibundus
13. Eurasian kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
14. Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
15. Mute swan, Cygnus olor
16. Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
17. Greylag goose, Anser anser
18. Canada goose, Branta canadensis
19. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
20. Coal tit, Periparus ater
21. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
22. Willow tit, Poecile montanus
23. Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
24. Ring necked parakeet, Psittacula krameri
25. European robin, Erithacus rubecula
26. Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
27. Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula

Mammals:
1. Red fox, Vulpes vulpes
2. Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis
Click to expand...

And a quick visit to St James's park:

28. Black swan, Cygnus atratus
29. Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
30. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
31. Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
32. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
33. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
34. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
35. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
36. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
37. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
38. Stock dove, Columba oenas
39. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
40. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
41. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
42. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
43. Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
44. Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
45. Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
46. Mediterranean gull, Ichythyaetus melanocephalus
47. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
48. Pink footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
49. Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
50. Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica
51. Swan goose, Anser cynoides
52. Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
53. Red breasted goose, Branta ruficollis

However, I was walking along the path at one point and suddenly a goose that I would have in any other situation identified as a Nene walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was of that species. Is there any record of this species being seen in the park or around via introduction (like a few of the other bird species there)?
 
amur leopard said:
However, I was walking along the path at one point and suddenly a goose that I would have in any other situation identified as a Nene walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was of that species. Is there any record of this species being seen in the park or around via introduction (like a few of the other bird species there)?
Click to expand...
Barnacle Goose? Or a hybrid? Do you have a photo?
 
amur leopard said:
And a quick visit to St James's park:

28. Black swan, Cygnus atratus
29. Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
30. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
31. Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
32. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
33. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
34. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
35. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
36. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
37. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
38. Stock dove, Columba oenas
39. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
40. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
41. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
42. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
43. Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
44. Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
45. Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
46. Mediterranean gull, Ichythyaetus melanocephalus
47. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
48. Pink footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
49. Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
50. Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica
51. Swan goose, Anser cynoides
52. Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
53. Red breasted goose, Branta ruficollis

However, I was walking along the path at one point and suddenly a goose that I would have in any other situation identified as a Nene walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was of that species. Is there any record of this species being seen in the park or around via introduction (like a few of the other bird species there)?
Click to expand...

Those waterfowl and pelicans are captive animals, so non-countable for this challenge.

Also how sure are you of your Gull ID's?
 
A small tour to a few owl roosts produced two out of three target species and an unexpected bonus mammal. I guess the vole should be happy that the owl roosting in a tree only meters away had decided to call it a night!

Birds
84. White Stork, Ciconia ciconia
85. Eurasian Siskun, Spinus spinus
86. Tawny Owl, Strix aluco
87. Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
88. Long-Eared Owl, Asio otus
89. Mistle Thrush, Turdus viscivorus
90. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
91. Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
92. European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis

Mammals
4. Common Vole, Microtus arvalis
 
amur leopard said:
And a quick visit to St James's park:

28. Black swan, Cygnus atratus
29. Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
30. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
31. Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
32. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
33. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
34. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
35. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
36. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
37. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
38. Stock dove, Columba oenas
39. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
40. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
41. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
42. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
43. Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
44. Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
45. Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
46. Mediterranean gull, Ichythyaetus melanocephalus
47. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
48. Pink footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
49. Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
50. Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica
51. Swan goose, Anser cynoides
52. Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
53. Red breasted goose, Branta ruficollis

However, I was walking along the path at one point and suddenly a goose that I would have in any other situation identified as a Nene walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was of that species. Is there any record of this species being seen in the park or around via introduction (like a few of the other bird species there)?
Click to expand...

lintworm said:
Those waterfowl and pelicans are captive animals, so non-countable for this challenge.

Also how sure are you of your Gull ID's?
Click to expand...
I was skimming through that list thinking there's something wrong here. Then I got to Snow Goose and realised what the problem was.

Most of the gull IDs seem suspect.
 
There would only be about ten legitimate species on that St James Park list I reckon. One of the regular UK birders (e.g. @Maguari) would probably be able to pick out the non-countables and dodgy IDs easily.
 
amur leopard said:
And a quick visit to St James's park:

28. Black swan, Cygnus atratus
29. Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiaca
30. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
31. Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus
32. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
33. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
34. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
35. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
36. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
37. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
38. Stock dove, Columba oenas
39. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
40. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
41. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
42. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
43. Snow goose, Chen caerulescens
44. Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
45. Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
46. Mediterranean gull, Ichythyaetus melanocephalus
47. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
48. Pink footed goose, Anser brachyrhynchus
49. Taiga bean goose, Anser fabalis
50. Lesser whistling duck, Dendrocygna javanica
51. Swan goose, Anser cynoides
52. Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
53. Red breasted goose, Branta ruficollis

However, I was walking along the path at one point and suddenly a goose that I would have in any other situation identified as a Nene walked right in front of me. I'm pretty sure it was of that species. Is there any record of this species being seen in the park or around via introduction (like a few of the other bird species there)?
Click to expand...

Chlidonias said:
There would only be about ten legitimate species on that St James Park list I reckon. One of the regular UK birders (e.g. @Maguari) would probably be able to pick out the non-countables and dodgy IDs easily.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a lot of those would be captive in St James's Park. The Royal Parks can be a real pain to determine what it and isn't 'wild'. To be honest, when it comes to waterfowl in St James's or Regent's Parks, if I don't see it fly I don't treat it as wild! That said, my London trips tend to be late in the year when Ring-necked Parakeet is usually the only likely new year-list species.

Both have very large captive collections, including native species. Only really the tufty, pochard, gadwall and just maybe the shelduck would be likely as true wild species (but could also not be, and the shelduck in particular would be out of normal habitat), with the Barnacle and Egyptian Geese and Red-crested Pochard possibly part of feral/introduced populations, or captive stock.

Black Swan is not generally considered to be a self-sustaining population in the UK, and I don't count them anywhere (on the copy of my list on my PC they go on un-numbered and highlighted purple for 'escape' if I do see them).

Gulls, grebes, moorhens and pigeons would be wild - though I have to say I would be surprised if all those gull IDs are sound - don't suppose you have any pictures? Would be a spectactularly diverse gull site if so. Also I'd be a bit surprised by Stock Dove - juvenile wood pigeon is probably more likely though it's not unthinkable for them to have made it there.

Sorry to put a downer on it! It almost certainly would have been a Ne-ne, for the record!

There's a bit of info on the collections of both parks here:
St James's Park: Waterfowl
Regent's Park: Waterfowl
 
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Maguari said:
Yeah, a lot of those would be captive in St James's Park. The Royal Parks can be a real pain to determine what it and isn't 'wild'. To be honest, when it comes to waterfowl in St James's or Regent's Parks, if I don't see it fly I don't treat it as wild! That said, my London trips tend to be late in the year when Ring-necked Parakeet is usually the only likely new year-list species.

Both have very large captive collections, including native species. Only really the tufty, pochard, gadwall and just maybe the shelduck would be likely as true wild species (but could also not be, and the shelduck in particular would be out of normal habitat), with the Barnacle and Egyptian Geese and Red-crested Pochard possibly part of feral/introduced populations, or captive stock.

Black Swan is not generally considered to be a self-sustaining population in the UK, and I don't count them anywhere (on the copy of my list on my PC they go on un-numbered and highlighted purple for 'escape' if I do see them).

Gulls, grebes, moorhens and pigeons would be wild - though I have to say I would be surprised if all those gull IDs are sound - don't suppose you have any pictures? Would be a spectactularly diverse gull site if so. Also I'd be a bit surprised by Stock Dove - juvenile wood pigeon is probably more likely though it's not unthinkable for them to have made it there.

Sorry to put a downer on it! It almost certainly would have been a Ne-ne, for the record!

There's a bit of info on the collections of both parks here:
St James's Park: Waterfowl
Regent's Park: Waterfowl
Click to expand...

I was certain about the lesser black-backs and the little gulls. Almost sure about the greater black-backs and the others were more doubtful, although I did have a good look at their legs and beaks especially.

The doves were a surprise for me as well and I wasn't quite sure about it.

When I was researching after this, I did come across these pages and was wondering whether any of the introduced species would count. So thanks for clarifying. I gues that means the list is reduced to:

28. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis?
29. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
30. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
31. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
32. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
33. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
34. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
35. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
36. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
37. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
38. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

Still a productive walk :)
 
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amur leopard said:
I was certain about the lesser black-backs and the little gulls. Almost sure about the greater black-backs and the others were more doubtful, although I did have a good look at their legs and beaks especially.
Click to expand...

Did you see adult or juvenile gulls? Gulls can be very tricky!
 
amur leopard said:
I was certain about the lesser black-backs and the little gulls. Almost sure about the greater black-backs and the others were more doubtful, although I did have a good look at their legs and beaks especially.

The doves were a surprise for me as well and I wasn't quite sure about it.

When I was researching after this, I did come across these pages and was wondering whether any of the introduced species would count. So thanks for clarifying. I gues that means the list is reduced to:

28. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis?
29. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
30. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
31. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
32. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
33. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
34. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
35. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
36. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
37. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
38. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

Still a productive walk :)
Click to expand...

Yellow-legged Gulls, Caspian Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls are a bit suspect.
Also, don't make my mistake, sign only the species which you are sure you have identified correctly.
 
Luca Bronzi said:
Yellow-legged Gulls, Caspian Gulls and Mediterranean Gulls are a bit suspect.
Also, don't make my mistake, sign only the species which you are sure you have identified correctly.
Click to expand...

I have removed them. I didn't see yellow-legged gulls on this outing?
 
amur leopard said:
I was certain about the lesser black-backs and the little gulls. Almost sure about the greater black-backs and the others were more doubtful, although I did have a good look at their legs and beaks especially.

The doves were a surprise for me as well and I wasn't quite sure about it.

When I was researching after this, I did come across these pages and was wondering whether any of the introduced species would count. So thanks for clarifying. I gues that means the list is reduced to:

28. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis?
29. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
30. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
31. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
32. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
33. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
34. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
35. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
36. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
37. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
38. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

Still a productive walk :)
Click to expand...

I wouldn't count the Shelduck or Barnacle goose, even Red-crested pochard would be a good species in such a location.

Are you sure about Little gull, was it not a Black-headed gull in winter plumage? I am not sure for UK, But such a species inland in wintee would be a big rarity, even more so in an urban area.
 
lintworm said:
I wouldn't count the Shelduck or Barnacle goose, even Red-crested pochard would be a good species in such a location.

Are you sure about Little gull, was it not a Black-headed gull in winter plumage? I am not sure for UK, But such a species inland in wintee would be a big rarity, even more so in an urban area.
Click to expand...

Almost certain. The spot behind the ear was less pronounced than that of a Black headed gull.
 
amur leopard said:
Almost certain. The spot behind the ear was less pronounced than that of a Black headed gull.
Click to expand...

With such rarities, almost certain is not good enough ans the spot behind the ear is not really a reliable indicator, overall size, bill size & colour and amount (or lack of) blackish feathers on top of the head are much better...
 
Birds:
50. Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
51. Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus
52. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
 
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