ZooChat Big Year 2021

Banked a bit of outside time at Idle Valley NR this evening ahead of a largely-indoors kind of weekend. Always find something here.

Birds:
160. Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina

Amphibians:
3. Common Toad - Bufo bufo

Invertebrates:
54. Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum
55. Brown-lipped Banded Snail - Cepaea nemoralis
56. Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis

:)
 
Today I went to Somes Island, which is a small predator-free island in Wellington Harbour. There aren't many birds there - Red-crowned Kakariki and European Blackbirds are the dominant species - and because it is winter there were no reptiles out (the island is the only feasible place to see Brothers Island Tuatara in the wild - there's a photo here from an earlier year: Brothers Island Tuatara - ZooChat).

I was mainly there to add Spotted Shag to the year-list, and I also wanted to try and get some photos of them in their breeding plumage but the colony is on an offshore islet so too far for my camera to get anything worthwhile.

The highlight of the visit was a NZ Falcon hunting along the tracks, which would come zooming around a bend right at head-height and shoot straight past without a care.


86) Spotted Shag Stictocarbo punctatus
 
Maguari said:
Invertebrates:
54. Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum
55. Brown-lipped Banded Snail - Cepaea nemoralis
56. Brown Hawker - Aeshna grandis
Click to expand...

Just realised I forgot one:

Invertebrates:
57. Common Red Soldier Beetle - Rhagonycha fulva

:)
 
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Since returning from Heron Island I've had little opportunity for worthwhile wildlife watching. We had a two-week lockdown almost as soon as I got back, and winter has really set in.

This weekend I had to go to Halls Gap for a memorial service. Halls Gap is located at the base of The Grampians which form Gariwerd National Park. We stayed overnight and in particular I was hoping to see red deer, which are found in the Park. They are commonly seen around Halls Gap but despite driving local roads late at night I failed to see any. I did get up early this morning for some birding but the weather was awful and I only saw one species to add to this year's list. One thing I did notice was the large number of groups of crimson rosellas I saw beside the road on the way there and back.

203. Yellow thornbill Acanthiza nana
 
MRJ said:
Since returning from Heron Island I've had little opportunity for worthwhile wildlife watching. We had a two-week lockdown almost as soon as I got back, and winter has really set in.

This weekend I had to go to Halls Gap for a memorial service. Halls Gap is located at the base of The Grampians which form Gariwerd National Park. We stayed overnight and in particular I was hoping to see red deer, which are found in the Park. They are commonly seen around Halls Gap but despite driving local roads late at night I failed to see any. I did get up early this morning for some birding but the weather was awful and I only saw one species to add to this year's list. One thing I did notice was the large number of groups of crimson rosellas I saw beside the road on the way there and back.

203. Yellow thornbill Acanthiza nana
Click to expand...
I forgot the star turn of the trip, seen on the drive home!

204. Australian hobby Falco longipennis
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Rounding out the Cincinnati observations and some new ones from when I got back home. I'm surprised but the herp additions just keep coming. Didn't think I would get this far but I may get more than 10, probably more if I travel down south this year.

Bird:
75. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Insect/Invertebrate:
112. Bicolored striped sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens)
113. Oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)
114. Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
115. Brown wasp mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea)
116. Squash vine borer moth (Melittia cucurbitae)
117. Eastern calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus)
118. Garganus plant bug (Garganus fusiformis)
119. Orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)
120. Carabid ground beetle (Lebia analis)
121. Helmeted squash bug (Euthochtha galeator)

Herptiles
8. American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
------------------------
Amphibians
4. American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
------------------------
Click to expand...
Bird:
76. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Insect/Invertebrate:
122. Small honey ant (Prenolepis imparis)
123. Garden fleahopper (Mircrotechnites bractatus)
124. Common sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
125. Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta)

Herptiles
9. False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
------------------------
Reptiles
5. False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
------------------------
 
I don't keep lists per se, and I don't go looking for new animals specifically. However I have a lot of wildlife in my new condominium in the Tucson Mountains (which has a wash that runs along the parking lot), so I am picking up things randomly without trying. Two new birds for me within the last couple weeks are Lucy's warbler and ash-throated flycatcher. I have a photo thread of my backyard wildlife sightings here: Today's backyard wildlife - ZooChat
 
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Mehdi said:
The Saharan part of Morocco is one of the regions I've most wanted to visit since I've become a birder. As such, I was ecstatic to learn that an impromptu visit to the Dakhla region (one of the best regions for birding in the whole country) was planned for the last days of June.

Due to lack of time (and it being a family trip), I knew I wouldn't be able to visit the now famous and probably best birding spot of the area, the Aousserd road, where all the Sahellian specialties are seen: Golden nightjar, Cricket longtail, Dunn's lark, Sudan golden sparrow, Black-crowned sparrow-lark etc..

Nonetheless, I still had enough time to plan visits to get as much desert specialties (something I've been lacking for years as I've never birded in the Sahara) and maybe even try for the elusive Namaqua dove, one of the rarest breeding birds in the country, known from only one location: a tomato farm in the middle of the desert.

Well, I think it went quite well...

27/06/2021 (Aéroport de Laâyoune, Morocco)
BIRDS:
158 - Cream-coloured courser, Cursorius cursor

28/06/2021 (Baie de Dakhla, Morocco)
BIRDS:
159 - Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
160 - West African tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis
161 - White-breasted cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus

MAMMALS:
2 - Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus

INVERTS:
35 - West African fiddler crab, Afruca tangeri

(Route N1, vers el Argoub)
162 - Greater hoopoe-lark, Alaemon alaudipes
163 - Red-rumped wheatear, Oenanthe moesta

29/06/2021 (Gleib Jediane, Morocco)
BIRDS:
164 - Bar-tailed lark, Ammomanes cinctura

(Ferme de Mijk, Morocco)
165 - Namaqua dove, Oena capensis

(Sebkhat Imlili, Morocco)
166 - Brown-necked raven, Corvus ruficollis
167 - Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti

The major highlight and rarest species of the trip, as mentioned above, is obviously the Namaqua dove of which I got excellent views of one individual and poor views of a possible second, maybe young, one. Definitely, one of my best species in Morocco!

However, all the other species are amazing as well and nearly all desert species (barring things like courser) were lifers for me. Greater hoopoe-lark is especially notable as it was one of the species I wanted to see most due to its uniqueness, and I have to say it doesn't disappoint (and luckily it seems to be a very common species in that corner of the world).

Apart from birds, a group of Common bottlenose dolphin, a lifer for me, gave some great views as they were fishing right in front of our hotel room, followed by Caspian and West African crested terns feeding on the bits that came to the surface. West African fiddler crabs were also everywhere, to our delight.
Click to expand...

Forgot another very good non-bird species I picked up on this trip!

29/06/2021 (Sebkhat Imlili, Morocco)
FISH:
1 - Guinean tilapia, Coptodon guineensis

Sebkhat Imlili is the only place in the whole of Morocco (and I think in the Palearctic as a whole although I'm not so sure) to boast this species (and in quite big numbers too!). As of now, most scientists list them as Guinean tilapia but as this is a seemingly ancient relict population (as can be seen with birds with, for exemple, our local subspecies of Marsh owl and Double-spurred francolin), it might warrant species status soon. In any case, definitely one of my best fish species ever (though, to be fair, it's not like I have seen or identified many :P )
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Bird:
76. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Insect/Invertebrate:
122. Small honey ant (Prenolepis imparis)
123. Garden fleahopper (Mircrotechnites bractatus)
124. Common sootywing (Pholisora catullus)
125. Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta)

Herptiles
9. False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
------------------------
Reptiles
5. False map turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica)
------------------------
Click to expand...
Insect/Invertebrate:
126. Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
127. Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea)
128. Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
 
Intervertebrates

Beetles

21. Anoplotrupes stercorosus


Reptiles

Lizards

1. Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)


Birds

Passerines

26. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Swallows

27. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)


Storks

28. White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

Note i have Seen the lizards, Starling and Storks on grounds of Tripsdrill Wildlife.
 
Dannelboyz said:
MAMMALS
29 - Large Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus orianae)
30 - Rock-haunting Ringtail Possum (Petropseudes dahli)

BIRDS
332 - Banded Honeyeater (Cissomela pectoralis)
333 - Spinifexbird (Poodytes carteri)
334 - Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
335 - Red-browed Pardalote (Pardalotus rubricatus)
336 - Grey Falcon (Falco hypoleucos)

REPTILES
33 - Western Brown Snake (Pseudonaja nuchalis)
34 - Slater's Dragon (Ctenophorus slateri)
35 - Lined Firetail Skink (Morethia ruficauda)
36 - Metallic Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus metallicus)
Click to expand...
A great little trip up to the northwest Kimberley got me a few awesome lifers. Lack of time and high winds made it difficult bird-wise and I unfortunately dipped my main target of Black Grasswren but I'm sure I'll be back!

BIRDS
337 - Shining Flycatcher (Myiagra alecto)
338 - Kimberley Honeyeater (Territornis fordiana)
339 - Spangled Drongo (Dicrurus bracteatus)

MAMMALS
31 - Northern Nail-tail Wallaby (Onychogalea unguifera)
32 - Common Rock Rat (Zyzomys argurus)
33 - Monjon (Petrogale burbidgei)
34 - Kimberley Rock Rat (Zyzomys woodwardi)
35 - Northern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus)

REPTILES
37 - Crocodile-faced Dtella (Gehyra xenopus)
38 - Kimberley Rough Knob-tail (Nephrurus sheai)
39 - Kimberley Sandstone Dragon (Diporiphora bennettii)
 
ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Insect/Invertebrate:
126. Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
127. Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea)
128. Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
Click to expand...
Insect/Invertebrate:
129. Two-spotted tree cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata)
130. Thick-legged hover fly (Syritta pipiens)
131. Citrus flatid planthopper (Metcalfa pruinosa)
132. Pyropyga firefly (Pyropyga decipiens)
 
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Had a nice morning looking mainly for dragonflies. Although the diversity in dragonflies was quite low, there was a large number of individuals present, the highlight being many spreadwings (Lestidae) in four species. Those might be my favourite dragonflies overall, so I was very pleased. Two of the spreadwing species we saw are considered rare in the Netherlands: Lestes dryas and L. barbarus. I had seen the former already this year but this time we saw a couple of fully coloured males which are gorgeous. It was also good to increase my so far quite low butterfly tally - including finally my first Holly Blue of the year!

Dragonflies
22. Migrant Spreadwing, Lestes barbarus
23. Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum
24. Western Willow Spreadwing, Chalcolestes viridis

Butterflies
16. Large White, Pieris brassicae
17. Essex Skipper, Thymelicus lineola
18. Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina
19. Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus

Other inverts
57. Orgyia antiqua
58. Amphimallon solstitiale
59. Rutpela maculata
60. Scopula nigropunctata
61. Hemithea aestivaria
 
Invertebrates
107 Woodlouse Spider Dysdera crocata
108 Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina
110 Garden Tiger Arctia caja
111 Chimney Sweeper Odezia atrata
112 Map-winged Swift Hepialus fusconebulosa (lifer)
 
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Invertebrates:

31. American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Mammals: 11
Birds: 108
Herptiles: 13
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 31
Total: 165
 
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red river hog said:
Invertebrates:

31. American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

Mammals: 11
Birds: 108
Herptiles: 13
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 31
Total: 165
Click to expand...
Birds:

109. Purple Martin (Progne subis)
110. Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans)

Invertebrates:

32. Atlantic Marsh Fiddler Crab (Minuca pugnax)

Mammals: 11
Birds: 110
Herptiles: 13
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 32
Total: 168
 
Poo-farms are favorite haunts for birders, as they usually attract lots of birds of many species to their treatment lagoons. Normally birdwatchers have to peer through wire fences for a glimpse of the birds, as most treatment works are rightly reluctant to have members of the general public wandering around what is a hazardous environment.

Western Treatment Plant near Werribee is different. The plant dates back to the 19th Century, and as they have improved the efficiency of their sewage treatment processes, they no longer use all of the lagoons. These have become great bird habitat, with leftover nutrients attracting plenty of insects to eat and water available all year round. It is also located on the coast. More than 295 bird species have been recorded at the plant, which is recognised at as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,

Birders can access a portion of the plant around the unused lagoons, by applying for a key to gates which stop members of the general public entering. The key is supplied after completing an online OH&S course and paying the appropriate fee. My guess is that birders have access to about 2,000 hectares (5,000 acres). Access around the lagoons is easy along well maintained roads with most observation done from your car, which makes an excellent mobile hide. I'm not aware of a public property anywhere else of such size reserved exclusively for bird watchers.

I have visited several times on official OBP business, but never for personal birdwatching. I tried to get a key before COVID, but for some reason my application was lost. They have reopened after last years closure and only just started issuing new keys. I applied and finally got my key last week. I took the opportunity yesterday to make a brief visit yesterday, my birthday, but only arrived after lunch then had to leave by 3pm because of prior commitments. So we only saw 30 species, with only one new this year. However we had some great views of the birds including raptors, cisticolas, and some waders. Can't wait to get back.

205. Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
 
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