I have only seen the caterpillar. I have never seen such a huge and impressive Caterpillar before.
Zoochat Big Year 2022
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
I have only seen the caterpillar. I have never seen such a huge and impressive Caterpillar before.
A trip around Lake Michigan in August
Mammal:
Swimming from the pier to the rocks of the Manitowoc Impoundment, Manitowoc County, WI (8/6)
13. American Mink (Neovison vison)
Seen from the side of the road, Delta County, UP MI (8/7)
14. Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) (Lifer)
Eckerman Trout Pond, Chippewa County, UP MI (8/9)
15. American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) (Lifer)
Birds:
A small gull at the Manitowoc Impoundment, Manitowoc County, WI (8/6)
161. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
Seen first from the interstate, Brown County, WI (8/6)
162. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) (Lifer)
At Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary, Green Bay, Brown County, WI (8/7)
163. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) (Lifer)
Seen at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Schoolcraft County, UP MI (8/8)
164. Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus) (Lifer)
165. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) (Lifer)
Eckerman Trout Pond, Chippewa County, UP MI (8/9)
166. Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus) (Lifer)
South North Hulbert Road Bridge, Chippewa County, UP MI (8/9)
167. Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (Lifer)
168. Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
Munising Marina, Alger County, UP MI (8/9)
169. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (Lifer)
On the pictured rocks cruise from Munising, Alger County, UP MI (8/9)
170. Common Raven (Corvus corax) (Lifer)
171. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (Lifer)
Back in Illinois, a semi-rare juvinile for the location hanging around at Kauffman Lake (8/17)
172. Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (Lifer)
Seen from my backyard (8/27)
173. Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) (Lifer)
Amphibian:
In Escanaba, Delta County, UP MI (8/7)
8. Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) (Lifer)
Herpitile:
19. Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) (Lifer)
Fish:
Caught at Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Schoolcraft County, UP MI (8/8)
21. Northern pike (Esox lucius) (Lifer)
22. Yellow perch (Perca flavescens) (Lifer)
23. Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) (Lifer)
Caught at the Tahquamenon Rivermouth, Chippewa County, UP MI (8/10)
24. Rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris) (Lifer)
25. Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernua) (Lifer)
Insects/Invertebrates:
Many cool inverts seen in Illinois, on the trip up, the way down, and back in Illinois again. Many interesting inverts like butterflies and odonates seen at some spots in UP where I didn't see much else new, like at the Tahquamenon falls and Whitefish point.
175. Orange wing (Mellilla xanthometata)
176. European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum)
177. Wilke’s mining bee (Andrena wilkella) (Lifer)
178. Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius)
179. Goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus)
180. Nursery web spider (Dolomedes striatus) (Lifer)
181. Bronzed tiger beetle (Cicindela repanda) (Lifer)
182. Twelve-spotted tiger beetle (Cicindela duodecimguttata) (Lifer)
183. Yellow-collared scape moth (Cisseps fulvicollis) (Lifer)
184. Brown-shaded gray (Iridopsis defectaria) (Lifer)
185. Thin-winged owlet (Nigetia formosalis) (Lifer)
186. Grease moth (Aglossa cuprina) (Lifer)
187. Laugher moth (Charadra deridens) (Lifer)
188. Dark-banded owlet (Phalaenophana pyramusalis)
189. Confused eusarca moth (Eusarca confusaria) (Lifer)
190. Gray scoopwing (Callizzia amorata) (Lifer)
191. Angle-winged emerald (Chloropteryx tepperaria) (Lifer)
192. Spotted grass moth (Rivula propinqualis) (Lifer)
193. Pale phalaenostola moth (phalaenostola metonalis) (Lifer)
194. European earwig (Forficula auricularia)
195. American pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator) (Lifer)
196. Two-striped grasshopper (Melanoplus bivattatus) (Lifer)
197. Robber fly (Machimus sadyates) (Lifer)
198. Blunt knapweed flower weevil (Larinus obtusus) (Lifer)
199. Eastern flower fly (Syrphus knabi)
200. Spotted bee fly (Anthrax irroratus) (Lifer)
201. Alaska yellowjacket (Vespula alascensis) (Lifer)
202. Northeastern pine sawyer beetle (Monochamus notatus) (Lifer)
203. Twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella)
204. Canada darner (Aeshna canadensis) (Lifer)
205. Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus) (Lifer)
206. Acadian hairstreak (Satyrium acadica) (Lifer)
207. Northern pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon) (Lifer)
208. Fragile white carpet (Hydrelia albifera) (Lifer)
209. Polymorphic pondweed moth (Paraponyx maculalis) (Lifer)
210. Lesser maple spanworm moth (Macaria pustularia) (Lifer)
211. Black-shouldered drone fly (Eristalis dimidiata) (Lifer)
212. Strangalepta flower longhorn beetle (Strangalepta abbreviata) (Lifer)
213. White pine coneborer moth (Eucopina tocullionana) (Lifer)
214. Filbertworm moth (Cydia latiferreana) (Lifer)
215. Net-spinning caddisfly (Potamyia flava) (Lifer)
216. White-speck armyworm moth (Mythimna unipuncta)
217. Elegant grass-veneer (Microcrambus elegans) (Lifer)
218. Black dancer caddisfly (Mystacides sepulchralis) (Lifer)
219. Woolly alder aphid (Prociphilus tessellatus)
Fall migration is starting back in Illinois, I hope to get to 200 birds by the end of the year.
9/2/22
3. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Total:
Mammals: 9
Birds: 84
Reptiles: 6
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 25
Invertebrates: 51
I’ve just returned from a few days in the Camague region on a self-drive canal boat. We travelled from St Gilles to near Frontigran.
Birds
The Camague is widely known for flamingoes, and I had assumed there were only a small number of birds confined to the main water body. In fact we saw them throughout in large numbers, and especially in the western half of our trip. We had many close and excellent views from the boat as well as from land.
260. Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
261. Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
262. Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
263. Eurasian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
264. Eurasian purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
265. White stork (Ciconia ciconia)
266. Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
267. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
268. Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
269. Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
270. European stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
271. Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
272. Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
273. Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
274. Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
275. Eurasian buzzard (Buteo buteo)
276. Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
277. Red kite (Milvus milvus)
278. European roller (Coracias garrulus)
279. European kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
280. Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
281. Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
Reptiles
7. Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) (new Family)
Birds
The Camague is widely known for flamingoes, and I had assumed there were only a small number of birds confined to the main water body. In fact we saw them throughout in large numbers, and especially in the western half of our trip. We had many close and excellent views from the boat as well as from land.
260. Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
261. Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
262. Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)
263. Eurasian moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
264. Eurasian purple swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio)
265. White stork (Ciconia ciconia)
266. Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
267. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
268. Glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
269. Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
270. European stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus)
271. Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
272. Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
273. Ruddy turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
274. Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
275. Eurasian buzzard (Buteo buteo)
276. Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
277. Red kite (Milvus milvus)
278. European roller (Coracias garrulus)
279. European kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
280. Great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
281. Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
Reptiles
7. Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) (new Family)
Quiet day at Rainham with my aunt - shocked by how incredibly dry the marsh is.
Mammals
24. Least weasel
Birds
247. Whinchat
A few extra birds from the Camague.
282. Rock pigeon (Columbia live)
283. Common swift (Apus apus)
284 Western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
285, Common tern (Sterna hirundo)
286. Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris)
Also of note was a sighting of European rabbit, of course a daily sighting at home but now endangered in it’s natural range. Plus a dip in the Mediterranean produced an invertebrate.
51. Barrel jelly (Rhizostoma pulmo)
282. Rock pigeon (Columbia live)
283. Common swift (Apus apus)
284 Western cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
285, Common tern (Sterna hirundo)
286. Tawny pipit (Anthus campestris)
Also of note was a sighting of European rabbit, of course a daily sighting at home but now endangered in it’s natural range. Plus a dip in the Mediterranean produced an invertebrate.
51. Barrel jelly (Rhizostoma pulmo)
A couple more species seen in the last couple of weeks. Getting really close to 200 species of bird this year, which will be a first for me! I also realized I have listed Common Yellowthroat twice, so my count stays at 196.
Birds
192. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
193. Great-Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
194. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
195. Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis)
196. Rose Breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Mammals: 32
Birds: 192
Reptiles: 17
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 5
Invertebrates: 2
The end of last month I got to make a three-night wildlife-watching trip to Bhadra Tiger Reserve with my parents. The place is located on an easterly arm of the Western Ghat mountains close to the ‘Coffee-Town’ of Chikmagalur, known for its coffee plantations, and the tallest peak in Karnataka. The Reserve is situated around the Bhadra river, which has been dammed as part of a water redistribution project. The forest contains large amounts of bamboo, but also many eucalypts and hardwoods (Teak, Rosewood, Crocodile-bark Tree, and Terminalia). Some of these, such as kindal are native I believe, but others such as the eucalypts were supposedly planted by the Forest Department, in some bout of stupidity, following some wildfires.
The time of year at which we visited the reserve was not ideal, as generally the monsoon season is bad for wildlife-watching, because of how densely vegetation grows after the rains begin, concealing all forms of animal, but here in particular the summer is generally recommended as then a lack of waterholes and streams forces herds to the reservoir, where they can be observed from the luxury of boat. However despite this difficulty, the trip was fairly decent.
This method of identifying key areas as ‘Tiger Reserves’ and completely closing these forest areas off has been India’s flagship tiger conservation strategy. However, this strategy has had its fair share of problems and controversies, some of which I personally feel are a bit damning. For instance, it has certainly been harmful to many of India’s forest-dwelling communities, as their ability to access and manage their ancestral land is taken away to create these protected areas. And the lack of any kind of burning or clearing has also done only limited good, as the commonest plants in these reserves are dangerous invasives such as lantana, Parthenium and Eupatorium - as I mentioned earlier the Forest Dept. itself has had a hand in bringing eucalypts into these woods.
At the same time, there is no doubting that in terms of sheer tiger numbers, the creature has bounded back - the official tiger census (another is due to be published this year, and has already happened in some areas) shows that tiger numbers have more than doubled. Tiger reserves also attract large herds of big game, including elephant, gaur and dhole, many of which need conservation attention but probably could not justify the creation of reserves for their own purposes. The largely dense, biodiverse undergrowth, compared to the stark open monoculture of agricultural areas, also affords bird and insect life space to live. So I suppose overall I will continue visiting existing tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries for wildlife-watching, while being wary of them as a conservation strategy.
The crowning glory of the trip was seeing a leopard in the wild for the first time. It was a small female that passed remarkably close to the safari-jeep we were in. While I am one who has always complained about many zoo-goers preoccupations with big cats, I have to admit seeing one in the jungle after many safaris of trying and many other species having been sighted was indeed thrilling.
Butterflies
7. Southern Birdwing Troides minor
8. Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor
Seen Birds
72. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
73. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
74. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
- Crested Lark Galerida/Alauda sp.
75. Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctornis athertoni
76. Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
77. Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
78. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
79. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
80. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
81. Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
82. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax cargo
83. Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
- Large/Median Egret Ardea sp.
84. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
85. Brown Crake Zapornia akool
86. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
87. Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
88. Grey-headed Fish-eagle Haliaeetus inchthyaetus*
89. Lesser Goldenback Dinopium benghalensis*
- Green Pigeon Treron sp.
Heard-only Birds
3. Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica*
4. White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis*
5. Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides*
* - Identified by the naturalists at the safari lodge
Mammals
- Rat Rattus/Madromys/Golunda sp.
1. Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica
2. Black-footed Grey-langur Semnopithecus hypoleucos
3. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus - 1 young lone male, probably just separated from the herd*
4. Wild Pig Sus (scrofa) cristatus - just 1! The entire trip!
5. Indian Muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis
6. Chital Axis axis
7. Gaur Bos gaurus
8. Leopard Panthera pardus
The time of year at which we visited the reserve was not ideal, as generally the monsoon season is bad for wildlife-watching, because of how densely vegetation grows after the rains begin, concealing all forms of animal, but here in particular the summer is generally recommended as then a lack of waterholes and streams forces herds to the reservoir, where they can be observed from the luxury of boat. However despite this difficulty, the trip was fairly decent.
This method of identifying key areas as ‘Tiger Reserves’ and completely closing these forest areas off has been India’s flagship tiger conservation strategy. However, this strategy has had its fair share of problems and controversies, some of which I personally feel are a bit damning. For instance, it has certainly been harmful to many of India’s forest-dwelling communities, as their ability to access and manage their ancestral land is taken away to create these protected areas. And the lack of any kind of burning or clearing has also done only limited good, as the commonest plants in these reserves are dangerous invasives such as lantana, Parthenium and Eupatorium - as I mentioned earlier the Forest Dept. itself has had a hand in bringing eucalypts into these woods.
At the same time, there is no doubting that in terms of sheer tiger numbers, the creature has bounded back - the official tiger census (another is due to be published this year, and has already happened in some areas) shows that tiger numbers have more than doubled. Tiger reserves also attract large herds of big game, including elephant, gaur and dhole, many of which need conservation attention but probably could not justify the creation of reserves for their own purposes. The largely dense, biodiverse undergrowth, compared to the stark open monoculture of agricultural areas, also affords bird and insect life space to live. So I suppose overall I will continue visiting existing tiger reserves and wildlife sanctuaries for wildlife-watching, while being wary of them as a conservation strategy.
The crowning glory of the trip was seeing a leopard in the wild for the first time. It was a small female that passed remarkably close to the safari-jeep we were in. While I am one who has always complained about many zoo-goers preoccupations with big cats, I have to admit seeing one in the jungle after many safaris of trying and many other species having been sighted was indeed thrilling.
Butterflies
7. Southern Birdwing Troides minor
8. Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor
Seen Birds
72. Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
73. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
74. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
- Crested Lark Galerida/Alauda sp.
75. Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctornis athertoni
76. Brown Fish Owl Ketupa zeylonensis
77. Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
78. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
79. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
80. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster
81. Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
82. Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax cargo
83. Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
- Large/Median Egret Ardea sp.
84. White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
85. Brown Crake Zapornia akool
86. Spot-billed Duck Anas poecilorhyncha
87. Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
88. Grey-headed Fish-eagle Haliaeetus inchthyaetus*
89. Lesser Goldenback Dinopium benghalensis*
- Green Pigeon Treron sp.
Heard-only Birds
3. Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica*
4. White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis*
5. Malabar Parakeet Psittacula columboides*
* - Identified by the naturalists at the safari lodge
Mammals
- Rat Rattus/Madromys/Golunda sp.
1. Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica
2. Black-footed Grey-langur Semnopithecus hypoleucos
3. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus - 1 young lone male, probably just separated from the herd*
4. Wild Pig Sus (scrofa) cristatus - just 1! The entire trip!
5. Indian Muntjac Muntiacus vaginalis
6. Chital Axis axis
7. Gaur Bos gaurus
8. Leopard Panthera pardus
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Have left France now, and headed to America. Before leaving the Alps we had the chance to do a bit of night work for mammals (and one amphibian) and also there are a few inverts to add. Highlights of France were the ibex, 10 or more griffon vultures coming in low overhead like a parade of B52 bombers and a flock of white storks circling overhead looking for a place to roost. The most disappointing miss was the wallcreeper. We climbed high enough and scoured cliff faces to no avail. Other alpine birds I was disappointed to miss included alpine accentor, dipper, and ring ouzel. Heard only birds: black woodpecker and tawny owl.
Mammals
21. Common bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) (new Family)
22. Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)
23. Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
24. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
25. Western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
26. Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Amphibians
1. Spiny toad (Bufo spinosus)
Invertebrates
51. Violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea)
52. Dumeril’s rustic moth (Luperina dumerilii)
53. Ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
54. Blue-winged grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)
55. Great green bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima)
56. Cardinal spider (Tegenaria parietina) (new Family)
57. Roman snail (Helix pomatia)
Mammals
21. Common bent-winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) (new Family)
22. Kuhl's pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii)
23. Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
24. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
25. Western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
26. Red deer (Cervus elaphus)
Amphibians
1. Spiny toad (Bufo spinosus)
Invertebrates
51. Violet carpenter bee (Xylocopa violacea)
52. Dumeril’s rustic moth (Luperina dumerilii)
53. Ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
54. Blue-winged grasshopper (Oedipoda caerulescens)
55. Great green bush-cricket (Tettigonia viridissima)
56. Cardinal spider (Tegenaria parietina) (new Family)
57. Roman snail (Helix pomatia)
Arrived in Chicago, and heading to Minnesota,
Walk around our Chicago hotel, located near the airport, at dusk.
287. Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Seen during a stopover at the International Crane Foundation.
Mammals
27. Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
Birds
288. Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
289. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
290. Cedar waxwing (Spinus tristis) (new Family)
Invertebrate
58. Squash bug (Anasa tristis) (New family)
Walk around our Chicago hotel, located near the airport, at dusk.
287. Wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Seen during a stopover at the International Crane Foundation.
Mammals
27. Thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus)
Birds
288. Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)
289. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
290. Cedar waxwing (Spinus tristis) (new Family)
Invertebrate
58. Squash bug (Anasa tristis) (New family)
Loved it. Well laid out, great displays and committed staff. Wonderful to see every crane species. Only thing is I don’t think they get lots of visitors, the car park is very small.
Somehow forgot about this lovely little species:
Seen Birds
90. Orange-headed Ground-thrush Geokichla citrina (cyanotus)
Another bird for the year (a much desired lifer) plus a lovely walk and lunch in Marlow.
Birds
248. Red-necked phalarope
Birds
281. Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
A brief update with three lifers among the birds. The two falcons are long overdue with the Peregrines being spotted in the city and the Brown Falcon at Archerfield Wetlands. The Yellow-billed Spoonbill was a very special find at an urban park being an extremely uncommon species to be found in Brisbane. A lot of the remaining birds were ticked off at Oxley Common Creek and around a few zoos on the Sunshine Coast.
Mammals
12) Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
13) Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor
Birds
133) Rufous Whistler Pachycephala rufiventris
134) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
135) Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis
136) Brown Falcon Falco berigora
137) Pheasant Coucal Centropus phasianinus
138) Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
139) Shining Bronze-Cuckoo Chrysococcyx lucidus
140) Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
141) White-throated Gerygone Gerygone olivacea
142) Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops
143) Scarlet Honeyeater Myzomela sanguinolenta
144) Varied Triller Lalage leucomela
Herptiles
12) Eastern Brown Snake Pseudonaja textilis
Invertebrates
76) Dome-web Spider Cyrtophora moluccensis
77) Forest Day-moth Cruria synopla
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
112. Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius 10/9/22
112. Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius 10/9/22