Zoochat Big Year 2023

1/4/23

6. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
7. Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
8. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
9. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)


1/8/23


10. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)


Total:

Mammals: 1
Birds: 10
Invertebrates: 2
 
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Birds (41)
Waterfowl
1. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
2. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
3. Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
4. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
5. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
6. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
7. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
8. Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis)
9. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
10. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
Wading and Shorebirds
11. American Coot (Fulica americana)
12. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
13. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
14. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
15. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
16. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
17. Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
18. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
Raptors
19. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
20. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
21. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
22. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
23. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
24. Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)
Songbirds
25. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
26. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
27. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
28. Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus obscurus)
29. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
30. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
31. American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)
32. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
33. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
34. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
35. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
36. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
37. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
38. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cynocephalus)
Other Birds
39. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
40. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
41. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

Mammals (1)
1. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)

Ended up having a longer and more uneventful weekend than planned, so I filled it out by going to local birding spots every day trying to fill out my January list. I made a lot of progress, adding an additional 29 birds and two mammals. Highlights I wasn't expecting were the falcon, sapsucker, and phainopepla. Also had two frustrating heard-only birds, California Quail and Belted Kingfisher; Nuttall's Woodpecker threatened to be a third, but I waited over 20 minutes for it to pop out for a visual. Overall a pretty solid start before my birding trip later this week.

Birds
Waterfowl
42. Redhead (Aythya americana)
43. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
44. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
45. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
Other Aquatic Birds
46. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
47. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
48. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
49. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
Raptors
50. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)
Songbirds
51. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
52. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
53. European Starling (Sturna vulgaris)
54. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicius)
55. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
56. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
57. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
58. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
59. Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
60. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
61. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
62. Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
63. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
64. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
65. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
Other Birds
66. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
67. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
68. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
69. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
70. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)

Mammals
2. Coyote (Canis latrans)
3. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
 
A few more from a twitch to see the great grey shrike at Hothfield before work, worth braving a national rail strike... Perhaps my most wanted UK lifer and very scarce in recent years.

33. Collared dove
34. Meadow pipit
35. House sparrow
36. European stonechat
37. Mistle thrush
38. Rook
39. Eurasian jackdaw
40. Eurasian jay
41. Eurasian green woodpecker
42. Common kingfisher
43. Eurasian sparrowhawk
44. Little egret
45. Great crested grebe
46. Dartford warbler
47. Great grey shrike
48. Common shelduck


A mammal and another bird from the weekend.

Mammals
3. Red fox

Birds
49. Great black-backed gull
 
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A mammal and another bird from the weekend.

Mammals
3. Red fox

Birds
49. Great black-backed gull

And - apologies for a double-post - some more birds from my lunchtime walk this afternoon:

Birds
50. Greater scaup
51. Eurasian teal
52. Little grebe
53. Cetti's warbler
 
Slow start to the year, a much shorter list than everyone else:

Birds:
1. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
2. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
4. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Mammals:
1. Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
2. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
3. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Total Species: 7
 
New year, new list! Had a stronger start than expected given I got out fairly late in the afternoon around the neighborhood.

Mammals:

1. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemonianus)

Birds:

1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
2. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
3. California Quail (Callipepla californica)
4. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
5. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte annae)
6. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
7. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
8. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
9. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
10. Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttalli)
11. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
12. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
13. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
14. Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttalli)
15. Oak Titmouse (Baelophus inornatus)
16. Bushtit (Psaltripus minimus)
17. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
18. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
19. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
20. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
21. House Finch (Haemohorus mexicanus)
22. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
23. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
24. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicilla)
25. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
26. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
27. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
28. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicus)
29. Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
30. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Invertebrates:

1. Pill Bug (Armadillum vulgare)
2. Paemaropus angusticeps
3. Long-bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangoides)

1-30-0-0-0-3

The stormy weather of late has rather put a damper on wildlife watching, but this afternoon ended up sunny so I got out and made the most of it.

Mammals:

2. Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)

Birds:

31. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
32. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
33. Canvasback (Aythya valisneria)
34. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
35. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
36. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
37. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
38. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
39. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
40. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
41. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
42. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
43. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
44. American Coot (Fulica americana)
45. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delewarensis)
46. California Gull (Larus californicus)
47. Herring Gull (Larus argenteus)
48. Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
49. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
50. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
51. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
52. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
53. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
54. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
55. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
56. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)
57. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)

2-57-0-0-0-3
 
Today's daily trip to work place provided me with four more bird species:

8. Western jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
9. Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
10. Red kite (Milvus milvus)
11. Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)

Some additions from yesterday 9th January 2023:

BIRDS:

12. Yellow-legged gull (Larus cachinnans), a pair flying high over the city.
13. Great tit (Parus major)

INVERTEBRATES:

2. Tapinoma nigerrimum. These ants are a plague in my parent's garden, but until this year they were not active in full winter. However, this year they are.
3. Porcellionides pruinosus
4. Cornu aspersum. A young one.
5. Rumina decollata. Two young ones, with only 3 and 4 coils of the shell.
6. Lehmannia valentiana.
7. Milax gagates, various individuals.
8. Polydesmus angustus. A young one.

Surprised by how many juveniles were found amongst snails and millipedes. Maybe this is not the season to adults for be found.
 
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Mammal
I saw a common mammal in my backyard
2. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

I was surprised to find this small mammal active in the reeds at Riverbend, even though the portion of the lake it was at was mostly frozen

3. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Birds
I saw some more common birds in my backyard as well
11. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
12. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
13. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
14. Red Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

seen on the power lines on the drive to Riverbend forest preserve
15. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Seen at Riverbend
16. Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
17. White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
18. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
19. Brown Creeper/American Treecreeper (Certhia americana)
20. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

I also heard Trumpeter swans calling, but the fog was so thick that looking straight across the lake I couldn't make out their shape.

Insect/Invertebrate
1. Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
2. Common citronella ant (Lasius claviger) (Lifer)
3. American winter ant (Prenolepis imparis)

Somehow an ant managed to be my first lifer of the year, I did not see that coming.

Mammals
Seen in a yard in Lincoln, IL
4. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)​
Seen near Clinton Lake
5. White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)​

Birds
Seen near
A quick drive to Mattis lake yielded a couple common birds, including the grackles which I normally wouldn't see until later in the year. It is also nice to get started on the inverts game early with the unseasonably warm and moist weather.

Birds
On power lines on the way
21. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)​

At Mattis Lake

22. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
23. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
24. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)​

Insect/Invertebrate
4. Milky slug (Deroceras reticulatum)
5. Rathke’s woodlouse (Trachelipus rathkii)
6. Black-headed Silvan flat bark beetle (Telephanus atricapillus)
7. Small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii)
8. Long-necked seed bug (Myodocha serripes)
9. Common pill woodlouse (Armadillidium vulgare)​

Mammals
Seen in a yard in Lincoln, IL (From the road)
4. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)​

Seen near Clinton Lake (From the road)

5. White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)​

Birds
Seen in the overspill creek of the Clinton lake dam (From the road)
25. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Retry at Riverbend forest preserve, and, success! Saw both the Trumpeter and Tundra swans that have been overwintering there.
26. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
27. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
28. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
29. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
30. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
31. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
32. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)​
 
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1/9/23

11. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)


1/10/23


12. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
13. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
14. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
15. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)


Total:

Mammals: 1
Birds: 15
Invertebrates: 2
 
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Mammals:

1. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Birds:

1. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
2. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
3. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
4. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
5. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
6. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
7. Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
8. Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
9. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
10. Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)
11. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
12. Short-tailed Hawk (Buteo brachyurus)
13. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens)
14. Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni)
15. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)

Herptiles:

1. Northern Curly-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus)
2. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
3. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)

Fishes:

1. Atlantic Needlefish (Strongylura marina)
2. Ladyfish (Elops saurus)
3. Yellowfin Mojarra (Gerres cinereus)
4. Silver Jenny (Eucinostomus gula)
5. Hardhead Silverside (Atherinomorus stipes)
6. Atlantic Sergeant Major (Abudefduf saxatilis)
7. White Grunt (Haemulon plumierii)
8. Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus)
9. Rainbow Parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia)

Invertebrates:

1. Red-tailed Pennant (Brachymesia furcata)
2. Mangrove Upside-down Jelly (Cassiopea andromela)
3. Atlantic Horseshoe Crab (Limulus polyphemus)
4. Great Southern White (Ascia monuste)
5. Common House Fly (Musca domestica)
6. Pale Anemone (Exaiptasia

Mammals: 1
Birds: 15
Herptiles: 3
Fishes: 9
Invertebrates: 6
Total: 34
Mammals:

2. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
3. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
4. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Birds:

16. Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
17. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
18. Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
19. American Crow (Corvus americanus)
20. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
21. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
22. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
23. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
24. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
25. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

Invertebrates:

7. Bathroom Moth Fly (Clogmia albipunctata)
8. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (Halyomorpha halys)
9. House Centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata)

Mammals: 4
Birds: 25
Herptiles: 3
Fishes: 9
Invertebrates: 9
Total: 50
 
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Mammals
Seen in a yard in Lincoln, IL
4. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)​
Seen near Clinton Lake
5. White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)​

Birds
Seen near


Mammals
Seen in a yard in Lincoln, IL (From the road)
4. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)​

Seen near Clinton Lake (From the road)

5. White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)​

Birds
Seen in the overspill creek of the Clinton lake dam (From the road)
25. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Retry at Riverbend forest preserve, and, success! Saw both the Trumpeter and Tundra swans that have been overwintering there.
26. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
27. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
28. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
29. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
30. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
31. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
32. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)​

Birds
Forgot to add this bird heard and briefly seen diving at Riverbend
33. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)​

Seen at Homer Lake
34. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
35. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
36. Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
Seen at Colbert Park
37. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)​
 
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1/10/23


12. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
13. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
14. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
15. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)


1/11/23


16. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)


Total:

Mammals: 1
Birds: 16
Invertebrates: 2
 
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Slow start to the year, a much shorter list than everyone else:

Birds:
1. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
2. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
4. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Mammals:
1. Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
2. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)
3. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Total Species: 7
Birds:
5. Canada goose Branta canadensis
6. Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Mammals:
4. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus

Total Species: 10
Birds: 6
Mammals: 4
 
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