Birds
22. Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
22. Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Zoochat Big Year 2022
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
On January the first I attempted my first ever "Big Day". That account can be read here: Zoochat Big Year 2022
It ended with a bunch of "100% guaranteed" birds missing from the total. Seeing I had to go out again to see them for the year list anyway, I figured I may as well do a second Big Day (although it turned into more of a Big Part-Day because I gave up near the end). I had decided to take out a couple of the sites I visited (Pauatahanui because I really only go there for Grey Teal; and Keith George because I really only go there for Tomtit) which would mean I'd be at least two birds down but I'd have more time at the two main sites (Zealandia and the Waikanae Estuary), hopefully ending up with more species overall.
As it happened, I saw Grey Teal at Waikanae so that evened out. However, while I did see eight species which I hadn't seen last week, I missed nine species I had seen on that previous day so the finishing number was almost the same.
The eight "new" species seen for the year: Grey Warbler, Sacred Kingfisher, Little Black Shag, Australasian Shoveller, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern, Common Chaffinch, New Zealand Dotterel.
The nine species I saw last week but not this one: White-capped Mollymawk, Australasian Gannet, Californian Quail, Stitchbird, Red-crowned Kakariki, Rifleman, Eastern Rosella, Fernbird, Tomtit.
The species which I continued to not see this week: Fluttering Shearwater, Spotted Shag, Banded Dotterel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Skylark, Ring-necked Pheasant.
...............................
I started off the same way as last week, with a very early trip to the south coast at Island Bay. A House Sparrow was seen before leaving the house. On the way down the road the only other birds seen were European Blackbirds, which are active under the street-lights.
At the beach the morning was light enough to see Red-billed Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, a Mallard, Variable Oystercatchers, and Welcome Swallows.
On the beach-track I found a New Zealand Pipit at the exact same spot as last week. A Little Pied Shag landed on a nearby rock as well - I knew I'd see this species later at Zealandia, but still better to see it earlier just in case. One of the species I figured I'd have a good chance of not repeating on today's Big Day was Reef Heron - but while walking back along the beach to the road a heron flew past across the bay (and I saw a second one a bit later flying across Island Bay itself). Dunnock was also seen back at the start of the track.
Unfortunately, although it was windy out there, I couldn't see any seabirds over the ocean, so no tubenoses or gannets could be added to the morning list.
The first Common Starlings were seen along the road back to Island Bay, and on the way home I could add Feral Pigeons, European Goldfinches, Australian Magpie, and Tui.
...............................
I got to Zealandia just before opening time (which is 8am), seeing Kaka, New Zealand Pigeon, Saddleback and Grey Warbler on the short walk from the bus stop to the entrance. Last week I could hear Grey Warblers all day but couldn't see any - today I saw heaps of them. On the other hand, whereas last week Californian Quails were everywhere inside the sanctuary, today I didn't see a single one which was most unusual. I also eventually gave up on Red-crowned Kakariki and Stitchbird, both of which I had expected to see. Not unexpectedly I didn't see any Riflemen either.
Pied Shags, New Zealand Scaup, and Black Shags were on the reservoir; a New Zealand Robin showed up by the bird-call area; a surprise Sacred Kingfisher (missed entirely last week) was perched on a branch by the pontoon walkway just before the Takahe lawn; Pied Fantail and Whitehead were at the Eve Lynch Track, and a Brown Teal was again under the Kaka feeder picking up dropped pellets. I had to make a couple of visits to the nectar feeders to see a New Zealand Bellbird but no Stitchbirds showed up and eventually I decided to quit on them.
...............................
Next destination was the Waikanae Estuary reserve, about an hour north of the city. On weekdays the trains run three times an hour (only twice an hour on weekends) which gives a little more leeway, although the connecting buses at the other end are still only once an hour. This week I took the train to Waikanae and caught a bus to the Waimeha and Waimanu Lagoons, then walked to the south end of the Waikanae reserve to catch the other bus to the Paraparaumu train station. Last week I had done it the opposite way - it doesn't really make any difference which way you do it.
Birds seen from the train were Pukeko, Black Swan, Spur-winged Plover and Australasian Harrier.
In Waikanae I got off the bus first at the Waimeha Lagoon. I hadn't been there before, but I saw it on the map. Is there even a lagoon there? I found a "wetlands boardwalk" where I only saw sparrows, but no lagoon. I walked instead along to the Waimanu Lagoons where I quickly ticked off Canada Geese, Little Black Shags, Common Coots, a lone female Australasian Shoveller, and some Song Thrushes, Paradise Ducks and European Greenfinches.
At the river mouth were Pied Stilts, and the only Royal Spoonbill of the day flying away upriver. I headed out onto the sandspit to see what I might spy. On the beach I found a South Island Pied Oystercatcher; a bit later I saw another one just up the river. I think these are unusual to see here: I've never seen them there before, at least. Caspian Terns and White-fronted Terns were also flying about. I had a look for dotterels and godwits but couldn't see any.
Heading upriver to the bridge I added White-faced Heron, Waxeye, and finally a Common Chaffinch - I thought I was going to have to face not being able to find a Chaffinch yet again!
On the other side of the river in the Waikanae reserve I spent some time hanging around on the boardwalk waiting for Fernbirds but none showed themselves. Also no Pheasants or Skylarks. The birds had pretty much stalled for the day. I took one of the short side-tracks to check out the lagoon behind the sand-spit. There was a pair of ducks at one end which turned out to be Grey Teal, which I hadn't expected at all. I detoured off to the pond on Takahe Drive for New Zealand Dabchick, then had another look at the lagoon. There was a New Zealand Dotterel on the edge of the sand. Still no Banded Dotterels though. Finally, when I was nearly back at the bus stop, a Yellowhammer popped up out of the grass.
...............................
Back in the city I walked along the waterfront to see if I could see any Spotted Shags or shearwaters through binoculars, but no luck. I had been planning on finishing the day by heading out to Te Raekaihau Point on the south coast, which would probably have bumped up the day's total by at least two or three species of seabird, but I was pretty tired so instead I just packed it in and went home to have a sleep.
...............................
Total number of bird species seen: 52
1) House Sparrow Passer domesticus
2) European Blackbird Turdus merula
3) Red-billed Gull Larus novaehollandiae
4) Black-backed Gull Larus dominicanus
5) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
6) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
7) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
8) New Zealand Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
9) Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
10) Eastern Reef Heron Egretta sacra
11) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
12) Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock) Prunella modularis
13) Feral Pigeon Columba livia
14) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
15) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
16) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
17) Kaka Nestor meridionalis
18) New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
19) Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus
20) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
21) Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius
22) New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
23) Black Shag (Great Cormorant) Phalacrocorax carbo
24) New Zealand Robin Petroica australis
25) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
26) Pied Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
27) Whitehead Mohoua albicilla
28) Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
29) New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura
30) Pukeko (Purple Swamphen) Porphyrio porphyrio
31) Black Swan Cygnus atrata
32) Spur-winged Plover (Masked Lapwing) Vanellus miles
33) Australasian Harrier Circus approximans
34) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
35) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
36) Common Coot Fulica atra
37) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
38) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
39) Paradise Duck Tadorna variegata
40) European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
41) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
42) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
43) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
44) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
45) White-fronted Tern Sterna striata
46) White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
47) Waxeye Zosterops lateralis
48) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
49) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
50) New Zealand Dabchick Poliocephalus rufopectus
51) New Zealand Dotterel Charadrius obscurus
52) Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
New birds for the year-list:
54) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
55) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
56) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
57) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
58) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
59) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
60) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
61) New Zealand Dotterel Charadrius obscurus
It ended with a bunch of "100% guaranteed" birds missing from the total. Seeing I had to go out again to see them for the year list anyway, I figured I may as well do a second Big Day (although it turned into more of a Big Part-Day because I gave up near the end). I had decided to take out a couple of the sites I visited (Pauatahanui because I really only go there for Grey Teal; and Keith George because I really only go there for Tomtit) which would mean I'd be at least two birds down but I'd have more time at the two main sites (Zealandia and the Waikanae Estuary), hopefully ending up with more species overall.
As it happened, I saw Grey Teal at Waikanae so that evened out. However, while I did see eight species which I hadn't seen last week, I missed nine species I had seen on that previous day so the finishing number was almost the same.
The eight "new" species seen for the year: Grey Warbler, Sacred Kingfisher, Little Black Shag, Australasian Shoveller, South Island Pied Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern, Common Chaffinch, New Zealand Dotterel.
The nine species I saw last week but not this one: White-capped Mollymawk, Australasian Gannet, Californian Quail, Stitchbird, Red-crowned Kakariki, Rifleman, Eastern Rosella, Fernbird, Tomtit.
The species which I continued to not see this week: Fluttering Shearwater, Spotted Shag, Banded Dotterel, Bar-tailed Godwit, Skylark, Ring-necked Pheasant.
...............................
I started off the same way as last week, with a very early trip to the south coast at Island Bay. A House Sparrow was seen before leaving the house. On the way down the road the only other birds seen were European Blackbirds, which are active under the street-lights.
At the beach the morning was light enough to see Red-billed Gulls, Black-backed Gulls, a Mallard, Variable Oystercatchers, and Welcome Swallows.
On the beach-track I found a New Zealand Pipit at the exact same spot as last week. A Little Pied Shag landed on a nearby rock as well - I knew I'd see this species later at Zealandia, but still better to see it earlier just in case. One of the species I figured I'd have a good chance of not repeating on today's Big Day was Reef Heron - but while walking back along the beach to the road a heron flew past across the bay (and I saw a second one a bit later flying across Island Bay itself). Dunnock was also seen back at the start of the track.
Unfortunately, although it was windy out there, I couldn't see any seabirds over the ocean, so no tubenoses or gannets could be added to the morning list.
The first Common Starlings were seen along the road back to Island Bay, and on the way home I could add Feral Pigeons, European Goldfinches, Australian Magpie, and Tui.
...............................
I got to Zealandia just before opening time (which is 8am), seeing Kaka, New Zealand Pigeon, Saddleback and Grey Warbler on the short walk from the bus stop to the entrance. Last week I could hear Grey Warblers all day but couldn't see any - today I saw heaps of them. On the other hand, whereas last week Californian Quails were everywhere inside the sanctuary, today I didn't see a single one which was most unusual. I also eventually gave up on Red-crowned Kakariki and Stitchbird, both of which I had expected to see. Not unexpectedly I didn't see any Riflemen either.
Pied Shags, New Zealand Scaup, and Black Shags were on the reservoir; a New Zealand Robin showed up by the bird-call area; a surprise Sacred Kingfisher (missed entirely last week) was perched on a branch by the pontoon walkway just before the Takahe lawn; Pied Fantail and Whitehead were at the Eve Lynch Track, and a Brown Teal was again under the Kaka feeder picking up dropped pellets. I had to make a couple of visits to the nectar feeders to see a New Zealand Bellbird but no Stitchbirds showed up and eventually I decided to quit on them.
...............................
Next destination was the Waikanae Estuary reserve, about an hour north of the city. On weekdays the trains run three times an hour (only twice an hour on weekends) which gives a little more leeway, although the connecting buses at the other end are still only once an hour. This week I took the train to Waikanae and caught a bus to the Waimeha and Waimanu Lagoons, then walked to the south end of the Waikanae reserve to catch the other bus to the Paraparaumu train station. Last week I had done it the opposite way - it doesn't really make any difference which way you do it.
Birds seen from the train were Pukeko, Black Swan, Spur-winged Plover and Australasian Harrier.
In Waikanae I got off the bus first at the Waimeha Lagoon. I hadn't been there before, but I saw it on the map. Is there even a lagoon there? I found a "wetlands boardwalk" where I only saw sparrows, but no lagoon. I walked instead along to the Waimanu Lagoons where I quickly ticked off Canada Geese, Little Black Shags, Common Coots, a lone female Australasian Shoveller, and some Song Thrushes, Paradise Ducks and European Greenfinches.
At the river mouth were Pied Stilts, and the only Royal Spoonbill of the day flying away upriver. I headed out onto the sandspit to see what I might spy. On the beach I found a South Island Pied Oystercatcher; a bit later I saw another one just up the river. I think these are unusual to see here: I've never seen them there before, at least. Caspian Terns and White-fronted Terns were also flying about. I had a look for dotterels and godwits but couldn't see any.
Heading upriver to the bridge I added White-faced Heron, Waxeye, and finally a Common Chaffinch - I thought I was going to have to face not being able to find a Chaffinch yet again!
On the other side of the river in the Waikanae reserve I spent some time hanging around on the boardwalk waiting for Fernbirds but none showed themselves. Also no Pheasants or Skylarks. The birds had pretty much stalled for the day. I took one of the short side-tracks to check out the lagoon behind the sand-spit. There was a pair of ducks at one end which turned out to be Grey Teal, which I hadn't expected at all. I detoured off to the pond on Takahe Drive for New Zealand Dabchick, then had another look at the lagoon. There was a New Zealand Dotterel on the edge of the sand. Still no Banded Dotterels though. Finally, when I was nearly back at the bus stop, a Yellowhammer popped up out of the grass.
...............................
Back in the city I walked along the waterfront to see if I could see any Spotted Shags or shearwaters through binoculars, but no luck. I had been planning on finishing the day by heading out to Te Raekaihau Point on the south coast, which would probably have bumped up the day's total by at least two or three species of seabird, but I was pretty tired so instead I just packed it in and went home to have a sleep.
...............................
Total number of bird species seen: 52
1) House Sparrow Passer domesticus
2) European Blackbird Turdus merula
3) Red-billed Gull Larus novaehollandiae
4) Black-backed Gull Larus dominicanus
5) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
6) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
7) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
8) New Zealand Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
9) Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
10) Eastern Reef Heron Egretta sacra
11) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
12) Hedge Sparrow (Dunnock) Prunella modularis
13) Feral Pigeon Columba livia
14) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
15) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
16) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
17) Kaka Nestor meridionalis
18) New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
19) Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus
20) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
21) Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius
22) New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
23) Black Shag (Great Cormorant) Phalacrocorax carbo
24) New Zealand Robin Petroica australis
25) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
26) Pied Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
27) Whitehead Mohoua albicilla
28) Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
29) New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura
30) Pukeko (Purple Swamphen) Porphyrio porphyrio
31) Black Swan Cygnus atrata
32) Spur-winged Plover (Masked Lapwing) Vanellus miles
33) Australasian Harrier Circus approximans
34) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
35) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
36) Common Coot Fulica atra
37) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
38) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
39) Paradise Duck Tadorna variegata
40) European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
41) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
42) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
43) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
44) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
45) White-fronted Tern Sterna striata
46) White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
47) Waxeye Zosterops lateralis
48) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
49) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
50) New Zealand Dabchick Poliocephalus rufopectus
51) New Zealand Dotterel Charadrius obscurus
52) Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
New birds for the year-list:
54) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
55) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
56) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
57) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
58) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
59) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
60) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
61) New Zealand Dotterel Charadrius obscurus
Birds
60 Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Invertebrates
2 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
60 Goldcrest Regulus regulus
Invertebrates
2 Common Rough Woodlouse Porcellio scaber
Birds
62. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
63. Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
64. Brown Creeper Certhia americana
A one from a few days ago I forgot about (I always forget fish count on these threads):
Fish
1. American Gizzard Shad Dorosoma cepedianum
An exciting way to start the year with a trip to Maiala which is part of D'Aguilar National Park. The antechinus was the clear highlight of my visit.
Mammals
01) Common Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus vulpecula
02) Black Flying Fox, Pteropus alecto
03) Subtropical Antechinus, Antechinus subtropicus
04) Red-legged Pademelon, Thylogale stigmatica
05) Red-necked Pademelon, Thylogale thetis
Birds
55) Eastern Koel, Eudynamys orientalis
56) Little Pied Cormorant, Microcarbo melanoleucos
57) Laughing Kookaburra, Dacelo novaeguineae
58) Torresian Kingfisher, Todiramphus sordidus
59) Striated Heron, Butorides striata
60) Mangrove Honeyeater, Lichenostomus fasciogularis
61) Noisy Friarbird, Philemon corniculatus
62) Australian Pelican, Pelecanus conspicillatus
63) Silver Gull, Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
64) Brown Gergyone, Gerygone mouki
65) Eastern Spinebill, Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
66) White-browed Scrubwren, Sericornis frontalis
67) Satin Bowerbird, Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
68) Eastern Yellow Robin, Eopsaltria australis
69) Lewin’s Honeyeater, Meliphaga lewinii
70) Yellow-throated Scrubwren, Sericornis citreogularis
71) Black-faced Monarch, Monarcha melanopsis
72) Rufous Fantail, Rhipidura rufifrons
73) Pale-yellow Robin, Tregellasia capito
74) Green Catbird, Ailuroedus crassirostris
75) Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Ptilinopus magnificus
76) Russet-tailed Thrush, Zoothera heinei
Reptiles
01) Asian House Gecko, Hemidactylus frenatus
Invertebrates
5) Variable Ladybird, Coelophora inaequalis
6) Zebra Blue, Leptotes plinius
7) Celtis Leaf Beetle, Menippus cynicus
8) Common Crow, Euploea core
9) Wandering Percher, Diplacodes bipunctata
10) Scarlet Percher, Diplacodes haematodes
11) Common Eggfly, Hypolimnas bolina
Invertebrates
4. Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum
A very small bug. A pest, but surprisigly cute!
4. Red Flour Beetle Tribolium castaneum
A very small bug. A pest, but surprisigly cute!
Birds
61 Blackcap (first female I have ever seen in the garden!)
61 Blackcap (first female I have ever seen in the garden!)
A couple more from outside the office in Old Town, Wichita.
Birds:
58 Rock Pigeon - Columba livia
59 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Mammals:
European rabbit 11/1/22
European rabbit 11/1/22
Oooh where did you see the Beaver? I'm still waiting for my first wild beavers (will be a wild family lifer!!). Only tried 3 times so far.
A couple days back, I decided to join my half-brother and mother up north on a fishing trip, in hopes of getting more life/year birds. Whilst most of those that I did see ended up being birds which are common around the suburbs I live, still got quite a few year and life birds which's great. Driving up north through the countryside, and a quick pitstop netted me the first few non-lifers of this update, and I gotta say swamp harriers are just a quintessential part of the countryside, whilst I never got that good views, being in a speeding car and all, they have real majestic silhouettes and only wish I got a better look. Another quintessential part of NZ highways, are the sheer abundance of possum roadkill scattered directly on the roadside. their rotund shapes resembling a portrait of Westerners which you'd see in some 1950's cartoon from the Eastern Bloc. Also may have seen a kookaburra whilst driving near Whangarei, but all I could discern was a kingfisher shape which I'm almost certain was larger than the sacred's I saw later on, but I'm not counting such a poor viewing for my year or life list.
By the time I'd arrived in Whangarei, it was already early evening, and I had a walk through a reserve which apparently had wild kiwi and long-tailed bat! Entering and immediately getting great views of kereru, I'd thought there was only going to be great things ahead. And then hiking through for 30 minutes I saw literally nothing, only exiting the reserve I netted a fantail for my list. And I wasn't allowed to go there to try spotlight anything, but I'd still love trying to go there again.
The next day had an early start at 6am, boarding the small boat, with small rusty orange blobs immediately seen upon leaving the harbour confidently id'ed to belong to NZ dotterel, although they were piss poor viewings which is quite sad for a lifer and a really nice one at that. Pied shag, flocks of terns and Buller's Shearwater were all seen whilst the boat was plowing through the sea, probably with some fluttering and diving petrels mixed in which I couldn't id, on account to not only being unfamiliar with a newly pair bought of binocs and the constant rocking of the small craft, but also to my laughable amount of knowledge on the seabirds themselves, leading to me most likely missing out on a ton of a lot of lifers/year birds. Though the beauty of the rising sun dazzling off the waves as shearwaters majestically glide and always seem to be just in the brink of falling in the blue but rise up at the last moment, skimming the open seas, it was truly a sight to behold. Upon reaching the fishing spot I was surprised to find that we were literally on the coast of the Hen and Chicken Islands, which's really interesting considering that it was the last stronghold of North Island Saddleback, and provided one of a few offshore islands which still had wild tuatara, never scanned the islands with my binocs and any viewing would've been garbage anyways but the thought of seeing a saddleback still lingered in my head. Anchored on the islands, gulls abounded, with a pair especially minute of fluttering shearwaters diving and swimming directly next to the boat. It astounds me how these thrush/blackbird size birds are even able to brave the rough winds of the seas, let alone crossing the Tasman Sea to Australia, it astounds me how these birds aren't grounded to the most secluded and protected of coves. (Still absolutely great and really fun to watch birds tough!) An hour later, after a quick nap the avifauna around the boat had completely transformed, with hordes of aggressive flesh-footed shearwaters dominating the waters around the boat, their abundance and pluckiness being especially proven, when ten of them were caught by the fishing lines! With once three being caught on the same line!! However I did get to watch a small storm petrel bound and weave through the shearwaters right next to the boat, which I initially thought was a fairy prion, but can be sure of my id after finding out no other similar birds occur up in Whangarei. Gannet was spotted soaring, although sadly never got to see it dive, common dolphin also surrounded the boat for a bit, always coming in pairs I estimate there were around 12? dolphins surrounding the boat during the entire encounter, with one even breaching and looking quite pinkish in the light. Tough I came away from the sighting feeling, dissatisfied, which I don't understand considering they were pretty goddamn good sightings of them, but I guess I just don't find dolphins interesting. Coming back from the islands, reef heron was spotted foraging on the rocks at the wharf's mouth, and SIPO's and flocks of brown shorebird jobs occupying where the dotterel's where, but my poor id skills and the boat zooming almost immediately way lead to none of them going on my life or year list. On the way back from Whangarei came across a sign, promoting NZ, to be called NZ instead of Aotearoa which I find frankly quite disgusting and stupid at the same time. With anyone with this mindset clearly being a Dutch spy, working for their eventual coup where everyone under 6 foot 5 will be culled and we'll all be forced to wear wooden shoes and buy tulips or whatever they do in the Netherlands.
Birds
15. European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
16. Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
17. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
18. White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
19. Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
20. Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata)
21. Kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)
22. NZ Fantail (Rhipidura fuliginosa)
23. New Zealand Dotterel (Charadrius obscurus)
24. Pied Shag (Phalacrocorax varius)
25. White-fronted Tern (Sterna striata)
26. Buller's Shearwater (Puffinus bulleri)
27. Fluttering Shearwater (Puffinus gavia)
28. Flesh Footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes)
29. White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina)
30. Australasian Gannet (Morus serrator)
31. South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi)
32. Reef Heron (Egretta sacra)
Mammals
2. Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
Inverts
7. Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris)
8. Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
The Brandywine Creek, just below the Delaware border.
Thanks!! Good photo opportunities?
Bengal Tiger
Well-Known Member
A quick look out the window yielded a few nice species:
Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)
Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Not a very impressive list to start off the year with, but I would hope this currently tiny amount will grow much bigger as the year progresses, and hopefully I don't give up so early on like I did last year!
Mammals
Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Birds
Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Mammals
Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Birds
Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Birds
65. Greater Scaup Aythya marila
Birds
23. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Invertebrates
5. European Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
23. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Invertebrates
5. European Honeybee (Apis mellifera)
Invertebrates
3 Daddy-long legs Spider Pholcus phalangiodes
4 Common Harvestman Phalangidium opilio
3 Daddy-long legs Spider Pholcus phalangiodes
4 Common Harvestman Phalangidium opilio
Birds
24. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
24. House Sparrow Passer domesticus