No, it should be 326 - you jumped from 323 to 234 and then continued with 235 and 236.Just realized, this should be 336...Posting this so I don't forget later.
Zoochat Big Year 2024
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
My first proper birding day of the year, a wonderful morning to be doing some birding in Sherbrooke Forest.
27/1/24 Sherbrooke Forest
31. Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
32. Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata)
33. Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
34. Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
35. Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
36. Yellow Faced Honeyeater (Lichenostomus chrysops)
37. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
28/1/24
38. New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
Fairly modest list, Yellow Faced Honeyeater and Lyrebird good to get early. Was hoping for something like a Bassian Thrush, Whipbird or Pilotbird but can’t complain with my best ever views of a lyrebird!
KiwiBirb
Well-Known Member
After a week, I finally saw 2 new species today
Birds
34) Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
35) Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Total:
Mammals- 5
Birds- 35
Herptiles- 0
Heard-only Species- 3
Friday, January 5
After arriving at our accommodation the night before in Sedona, I was well rested and eager to get out. While waiting to get ready, I logged onto ZC for the first time since leaving home and got the shock of the year when I found ZTL was going global! I'd have a lot of updates to add once I got back home.
We went up the Oak Creek Canyon, where the north end was still covered in snow. We backtracked and stopped at the Bootlegger Picnic Area. I walked down to the creek, and the first thing I saw was some sort of sandpiper-like bird being flushed out from behind some boulders and landing in the creek. Lo and behold, it was one of my most wanted North American birds ever, the American Dipper! What followed is probably one of my favorite birding experiences, watching the very cooperative little puffball bounce around the creek, occasionally diving in the cool stream of water. It was spectacular to witness this little waterbird of mountain creeks bob and dip around. It was a pleasant surprise and the highlight of the trip; I knew it was a possible species but certainly didn't expect to see it the first time I walked down to a mountain creek. My father certainly got a kick out my enthusiasm for the bird; I was ecstatic.
Through the crystal-clear water, I also saw some Gila Trout, a vulnerable species endemic to the southwest. Shortly after the dipper flew off farther down the creek, I noticed a tiny bird flitting in between the rocks on the other side of the creek. It would only be visible for a split second before diving back into the crevices. It also had quite the distinctive call. Could it be - yes! Finally, after waiting a while for the tiny bird to stop out in the open long enough for me to take a picture, I saw the distinctive white throat - Canyon Wren, a species I'd hoped to see but wasn't expecting.
We continued south down Oak Creek Canyon, stopping across from the visitor center. A Great Blue Heron sat at a small fork in the creek, and a little way down to its right, bobbing around the creek, flitting for food, was - another dipper? To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. I was so happy to see the dipper because I thought it wasn't really a guaranteed bird, but here I was, 2/2 it seemed. This was a different bird too, streaked and everything, must've been a female. Wait, are female dippers streaked? This one looks a lot like a waterthrush, and behaves like one too, but that couldn't be possible. Those really shouldn't be found here. I should probably snap a few photos just in case, is what I thought to myself.
I then followed a very difficult to photograph squirrel, which after seeing a lack of ear tufts, turned out to be an Arizona Gray Squirrel, not an Aberts like I had expected. The 'female dipper' turned out to be a Louisiana Waterthrush, of course I'd get that in Arizona instead of Illinois, because why not? Very cool bird, the only winter record on ebird for Coconino Co.
Back at the house in Sedona, I had a lovely trio of western lifers, the Phainopepla being especially cool (And a nice surprise as I wasn't sure I'd get this one). We then headed toward the page springs and bubbling ponds fish hatcheries. Page springs had another surprising eastern warbler rarity, while bubbling ponds had a pair of spectacular Vermilion Flycatchers. Really lovely birds with such saturated coloration.
At Red Rock State Park, the feeders were very productive, with Lesser Goldfinch, Bridled Titmouse, and a visiting Bewick's Wren being highlights. I really liked the pattern of the titmice in particular. Walking the trails, there was an impressive Mule Deer buck, although there wasn't much else after except for Spotted Towhee. I also had started to feel a bit under the weather. I hoped the scratchy throat I'd felt the morning before hadn't caught up to me. On the way out, a pair of Western Bluebirds caught my eye, and a wonderfully colored Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay was the last bird seen of the day, further down the road.
Mammals
Across from the Oak Creek Canyon Visitor Center, Coconino Co. AZ
4. Arizona Gray Squirrel (Sciurus arizonensis) (Lifer)
Red Rock State Park, Yavapai Co. AZ5. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
Birds
Bootlegger Picnic Area, Oak Creek Canyon, Coconino Co.
59. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
60. American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) (Lifer)
61. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) (Lifer)
Across from the Oak Creek Canyon Visitor Center, Coconino Co. 60. American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus) (Lifer)
61. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) (Lifer)
62. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
63. Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (Lifer)
Accommodation in Sedona, Yavapai Co.63. Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (Lifer)
64. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) (Lifer)
65. Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) (Lifer)
66. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) (Lifer)
Page Springs Fish Hatchery, Yavapai Co. 65. Juniper Titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi) (Lifer)
66. Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens) (Lifer)
67. Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
68. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
Bubbling Ponds Fish Hatchery, Yavapai Co. 68. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
69. Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (Lifer)
70. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
71. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
Red Rock State Park, Yavapai Co.70. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
71. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
72. Bridled Titmouse (Baeolophus wollweberi) (Lifer)
73. Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) (Lifer)
74. Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
75. Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
76. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (Lifer)
Upper Red Rock Loop Rd. Yavapai Co.73. Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) (Lifer)
74. Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
75. Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
76. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) (Lifer)
77. Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma woodhouseii) (Lifer)
Inverts
Note- these are questionable, as trout are commonly stocked fish with hatcheries all around. For what it is worth, the areas I saw them in were no-fishing zones.
1. Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) (Lifer)
2. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) (Lister)
2. Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) (Lister)
Inverts
From Jan 1st in Illinois
1. Rathke’s woodlouse (Trachelipus rathkii)
From Jan 4th at Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix2. Longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis) (Lifer)
Later that night at the house, my thermometer read 102 degrees Fahrenheit. I went to bed early, wondering how I'd manage the below freezing temperatures of the south rim the next morning.
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Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Birds
1) Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
2) Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
3) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
4) Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6) Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
7) House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
8) Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
9) Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
10) European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
11) Great tit (Parus major)
12) Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
13) European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
14) Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
15) Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
3) Spanish slug Arion vulgaris
Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
Birds
1) Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
2) Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
3) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
4) Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6) Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
7) House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
8) Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
9) Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
10) European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
11) Great tit (Parus major)
12) Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
13) European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
14) Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
15) Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
16) Western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
Super cool you got dipper and Canyon Wren. Those are both species I tried for in AZ and missed.
As per trout, pretty much all "game fish" in the US are stocked, even in places you wouldn't expect. Trying to parse out which fish are stocked and which are "truly wild" is an impossible task most of the time, and ultimately there's not much point to it. Your list is your own, of course, but I'd recommend you don't worry about it.
Realized I forgot a frog from Costa Rica:
Herps
45. Canal Zone Tree Frog Boana rufitela
A smattering of extras from the weekend - the birds and fish at Avenue Washlands, the mammal at Chester Zoo - and a first invertebrate.
Mammals:
7. House Mouse - Mus musculus
Birds:
88. European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola
89. Stock Dove - Columba oenas
Fishes:
1. Three-spined Stickleback - Gasterosteus aculeatus
Invertebrates:
1. Common Shiny Woodlouse - Oniscus asellus
Mammals:
7. House Mouse - Mus musculus
Birds:
88. European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola
89. Stock Dove - Columba oenas
Fishes:
1. Three-spined Stickleback - Gasterosteus aculeatus
Invertebrates:
1. Common Shiny Woodlouse - Oniscus asellus
I figured as much, this is why I never list trout from Central Illinois, for example.
In my mind, however, rivers have better potential than isolated ponds and lakes to be 'wild', or at least the trout act wilder, so I'll probably keep these on my list (with an asterix), but the Rainbow trout from the Salt River later on were quite obviously farmed as they only bit on commercial trout bait
An end-of-month update from me – lots of waterbirds around but not a lot of small bush birds as their big influx comes later in the year with seasonal movement. The inverts have been absolutely insane – highest densities I have seen for rhino beetles and native bees especially in years and butterflies are having a good year with strong numbers for January. The spider (invert no. 84) was a real highpoint – incredible looking creature. A recent rockpool adventure has grown the diversity of molluscs and crustaceans.
The lizards have been good as well with two recent lifers. Notably, a very large Bar-sided Skink has also moved into my house which is not unheard of for this species to enter dwellings. It is feasting on any insects it comes across and suns itself in the kitchen most mornings. It is gradually becoming bolder but I haven’t managed to get a clear photograph as it pops up out of nowhere. A very welcome guest.
Mammals:
03) Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus
04) Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto
05) Little Red Flying Fox Pteropus scapulatus
Birds:
48) Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
49) Brahminy Kite Haliastur indus
50) Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
51) Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta
52) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
53) Far Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis
54) Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
55) Red-capped Plover Charadrius ruficapillus
56) Beach Stone-Curlew Esacus magnirostris
57) Striated Heron Butorides striata
58) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
59) Brown Honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
60) Eastern Osprey Pandion cristatus
61) White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
62) Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
63) Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
64) Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
65) Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
66) Black Swan Cygnus atratus
67) Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra
68) Magpie Goose Anseranas semipalmata
69) Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
70) Superb Fairywren Malurus cyaneus
71) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
72) Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
73) Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
74) Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris
75) Bush Stone-Curlew Burhinus grallarius
76) Pale-headed Rosella Platycercus adscitus
77) White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
78) Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
79) Topknot Pigeon Lopholaimus antarcticus
80) Rufous Shrike-thrush Colluricincla rufogaster
81) Eastern Whipbird Psophodes olivaceus
82) Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
83) Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula
84) Australian Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons
85) Eastern Cattle Egret Bubulcus coromandus
86) House Sparrow Passer domesticus
87) Red-backed Fairywren Malurus melanocephalus
88) Bar-shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis
89) Channel-billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
Herptiles:
04) Pale-flecked Garden Sunskink Lampropholis guichenoti
05) Eastern Water Skink Eulamprus quoyii
06) Elegant Snake-eyed Skink Cryptoblepharus pulcher
07) Bar-sided Skink Concinnia tenuis
08) Lace Monitor Varanus varius
09) Lively Rainbow-skink Carlia vivax
10) Asian House Gecko Hemidactylus frenatus
Fish:
01) Cocos Frillgoby Bathygobius cocosensis
02) Mozambique Tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus
03) Long-finned Eel Anguilla reinhardtii
Inverts:
25) Common Crow Euploea core
26) Horned Ghost Crab Ocypode ceratophthalmus
27) Light-blue Soldier Crab Mictyris longicarpus
28) Orange-collared Spider Wasp Ferreola handschini
29) Green-head Ant Rhytidoponera metallica
30) Gold-mouthed Conniwink Bembicium auratum
31) Purple Climber Crab Metopograpsus frontalis
32) Radumeris tasmaniensis [flower wasp]
33) Large Grass-Yellow Eurema hecabe
34) Yellow-footed Hermit Crab Clibanarius virescens
35) Squamopleura curtisiana [chiton]
36) Mulberry Whelk Tenguella marginalba
37) Mottled Lightfoot Crab Grapsus albolineatus
38) Striped-mouth Conniwink Bembicium nanum
39) Tropical Periwinkle Planaxis sulcatus
40) Variegated Limpet Cellana tramoserica
41) Blotched Nerite Nerita albicilla
42) Siphonaria denticulata [false limpet]
43) Clypeomorus petrosa [sea snail]
44) Black Sea Cucumber Holothuria atra
45) Milky Oyster Saccostrea scyphophilla
46) Pilosabia trigona [hoof snail]
47) Siphonaria zelandica [false limpet]
48) Zebra Top Snail Austrocochlea porcata
49) Wandering Percher Diplacodes bipunctata
50) Graphic Flutterer Rhyothemis graphiptera
51) Daemel’s Spiny Ant Polyrhachis daemeli
52) Black-headed Strobe Ant Opisthopsis rufithorax
53) 28-Spotted Ladybird Epilachna vigintioctopunctata
54) Large Purple Line-Blue Nacaduba berenice
55) Red-thighed Polyrhachis Polyrhachis rufifemur
56) Fiery Skimmer Orthetrum villosovittatum
57) Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum
58) Black Soldier Fly Hermetia illucens
59) Blue Riverdamsel Pseudagrion microcephalum
60) Lesser Coconut Weevil Diocalandra frumenti
61) Australian Rhinoceros Beetle Xylotrupes australicus
62) Yellow Tussock Euproctis lutea
63) Asian Tramp Snail Bradybaena similaris
64) Monarch Danaus plexippus
65) Orchard Swallowtail Papilio aegeus
66) Sapphire Rockmaster Diphlebia coerulescens
67) White-banded Line-Blue Nacaduba kurava
68) Splendid Ochre Trapezites symmomus
69) Cruria synpola [day-flying moth]
70) Chrysosoma leucopogon [dolichopodid fly]
71) Pale Hunter Austrogomphus amphiclitus
72) Thin-striped Wattle Cicada Ewartia roberti
73) Blackish Meadow Katydid Conocephalus semivittatus
74) Silver Orb Spider Leucauge dromedaria
75) Bright Cornelian Deudorix diovis
76) Speckled Line-Blue Catopyrops florinda
77) Large Purple Line-Blue Nacaduba berenice
78) Hairy Line-Blue Erysichton lineatus
79) Glasswing Acraea andromacha
80) Didymocantha obliqua [longhorn beetle]
81) Lychee Stink Bug Lyramorpha rosea
82) Four-spined Spiny Orbweaver Gasteracantha quadrispinosa
83) Lydia Lichen Moth Asura lydia
84) Chalky Percher Diplacodes trivialis
85) Small Dusky-Blue Candalides erinus
86) Orange Palm-Dart Cephrenes augiades
87) Orange Grass-Dart Taractrocera anisomorpha
88) Pale Ciliate-Blue Anthene lycaenoides
89) Large Squash Bug Mictis caja
90) Northern Saint Andrew's Cross Spider Argiope aetherea
91) Cephaloconus tenebrosus [fly]
92) Wide-brand Grass Dart Suniana sunias
93) Platymela sticticollis [leaf beetle]
94) Common Eggfly Hypolimnas bolina
95) Giant Grasshopper Valanga irregularis
96) Caper White Belenois java
A bunch of additions from here and there. The first few (107-110) are from a stroll through the village and the nearest part of my local patch. No big surprises except a big flock of hawfinches in the village, which was a delight to see! During fieldwork I was lucky enough to see a grey wagtail on a roof of a building. Not a particularly great sighting, but it counts.
The rest is from a short stay with friends in the northwest of the country. We visited a few sites they were more familiar with than I am, ranging from dune forests to the coast. The were a lot of really good species for me, as I don't visit the coast very often (rock pipit, razorbil, kittiwake, purple sandpiper, shag). But because I had already done one big birding trip to the coast this year, there were few new year-birds at the coast. Instead I got most new species from a visit to a dune reserve - all species I will doubtless see in my local area as the year progresses. One exception, and perhaps the wildlife highlight of the trip, was a big flock of red-crested pochards. Absolutely gorgeous birds they are, and their crests almost seemed to shine in the bright winter sun. We ended the birding part of the trip with a very rare American vagrant that turned up very close to where I stayed. It was also the very first lifer of the year.
Birds
107. Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
108. European Greenfinch, Chloris chloris
109. Northern Raven, Corvus corax
110. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
111. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
112. Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
113. European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
114. Common Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
115. Red-crested Pochard. Netta rufina
116. Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis
117. Coal Tit, Periparus ater
118. Woodlark, Lullula arborea
119. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
120. Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris
Mammals
7. European Fallow Deer, Dama dama
The rest is from a short stay with friends in the northwest of the country. We visited a few sites they were more familiar with than I am, ranging from dune forests to the coast. The were a lot of really good species for me, as I don't visit the coast very often (rock pipit, razorbil, kittiwake, purple sandpiper, shag). But because I had already done one big birding trip to the coast this year, there were few new year-birds at the coast. Instead I got most new species from a visit to a dune reserve - all species I will doubtless see in my local area as the year progresses. One exception, and perhaps the wildlife highlight of the trip, was a big flock of red-crested pochards. Absolutely gorgeous birds they are, and their crests almost seemed to shine in the bright winter sun. We ended the birding part of the trip with a very rare American vagrant that turned up very close to where I stayed. It was also the very first lifer of the year.
Birds
107. Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
108. European Greenfinch, Chloris chloris
109. Northern Raven, Corvus corax
110. Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
111. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
112. Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
113. European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
114. Common Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
115. Red-crested Pochard. Netta rufina
116. Meadow Pipit, Anthus pratensis
117. Coal Tit, Periparus ater
118. Woodlark, Lullula arborea
119. Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus
120. Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris
Mammals
7. European Fallow Deer, Dama dama
Have been slightly remiss in updating - but not much seen, as still sorting out my new flat. I dipped a white-billed diver in Southend but saw a few other good things. In the coming weeks, hopefully I will get out a bit more.
Mammals
2. Red Fox
3. Grey seal
Birds
43. Meadow pipit
44. Long-tailed tit
45. Redwing
46. Brent goose
47. Ruddy turnstone
48. Sanderling
49. Razorbill
50. Mediterranean gull
51. Red-throated diver
52. Great northern diver
53. European shag
Bactrian Deer
Well-Known Member
I’ve been at my local pond recently and managed to come across a small group of American Black Ducks for the first time, before that only Mallards and Canadian Geese came.Silly me accidentally putting all the dates as 2023
13 American Robin, Turdus Migratorius, 1-15-2024
14 Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, 1-19-2024
15 Eurasian Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, 1-19-2024
Total 16
Birds 15
Mammals 1
Birds:
16. Black-Capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus, 1-22-2024
17. White-Crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia Leucophrys, 1-25-2024
18. Chipping Sparrow, Spizella Passerina, 1-28-2024
19. American Black Duck, Anas Rubripes, 1-29-2024
Mammals:
2. Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, 1-27-2024 - It was roadkill
but I saw another one the following dayTotal: 21
19 Birds
2 Mammals
1/29/24
73. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Total:
Mammals: 3
Birds: 73
Invertebrates: 2
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Birds
103. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
104. New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
105. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
No new birds to report, but I did pick up two more mammals:
2. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3. Beringian Lemming (Lemmus nigripes)
I'll be in the MatSu Valley for the remainder of the week so we will see what we pick up.
2. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3. Beringian Lemming (Lemmus nigripes)
I'll be in the MatSu Valley for the remainder of the week so we will see what we pick up.