Zoochat Big Year 2024

Birds
51. Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
52. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will (Antrostomus vociferus)
53. Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
54. Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
55. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
56. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
57. Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
58. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
59. Brewster's Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera x Vermivora cyanoptera)
60. American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus)

Fishes

1. Eurasian Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Total: 60 Bird, 3 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 1 Fish

Birds:
60. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
61. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
62. White-Rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
63. Chestnut-Sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
64. Black-Crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
65. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Amphibians:
1. American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)
2. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Reptiles:
2. Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
3. Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

FIshes:
2. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
3. Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)

Totals: 65 Birds, 3 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 3 Fishes, 2 Amphibians
 
I'd also put off counting fish due a bunch of species I didn't have IDs for, but I do now, so here's my fish list for the year:

Fishes
1. Pastel Cichlid Cribroheros alfari

2. Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus
3. Brycon costaricensis
4. Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
Fishes
5. Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
6. Northern Redbelly Dace Chrosomus eos
7. Common Carp Cyprinus carpio
 
Went over to the Netherlands to finally see a member of the last class of vertebrates I was still missing (probably gonna stay the only "fish" on my year list). Thanks to @Mr Gharial for the location info.^^ When that was done someone had found the lapwing just half an hour away so I detoured there and the sandpiper was a bonus in the same area (seen before in Australia, but not in Europe).

De Ruitersmolen, Beekbergen & Wageningen, Binnenveld, Netherlands

Mammals
04. European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Birds
02. Sociable Lapwing (Vanellus gregarius)

03. Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)

Fish
01. European Brook Lamprey (Lampetra planeri)
Had a run-in in front of our house tonight (Essen, Germany):

Mammals
05. Beech Marten (Martes foina)
 
A very enjoyable trip to Oxfordshire at the weekend, primarily for Orchids (9 species seen). Visited Hartslock, Warburg, Homefield and Otmoor
Birds
116 Red Kite Milvus milvus
117 Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa
118 Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Mammals
6 European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
7 Brown Hare Lepus europaeus
8 Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus
Invertebrates
53 Dingy Skipper Erynnis tages
54 Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus
55 Azure Damselfly Coenagrion puella
56 Hairy Dragonfly Brachytron pratense
57 Broad-bodied Chaser Libellula depressa
58 Common Brown Click Beetle Athous harmorrhoidalis
59 11-spot Ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata
60 Green Pot Beetle Cryptocephalus aureolus
61 Green Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
62 German Scorpionfly Panorpa germanica
63 Field Digger Wasp Argogorytes mystaceus
64 Pill Woodlouse Armadillidium vulgare
65 Wavy-barred Sable Pyrausta nigrata
66 Sulphur Pearl Sitochroa palealis
 
I will now be living in Indiana for the foreseeable future. I've been busy the past couple of weeks finding a place to live and starting my new job, so I haven't been able to update my totals. I was able to surpass my bird total from last year and find my 200th lifer! Anyway, here is my recap of the past two weeks.

5/5/24
I walked around my parent's neighborhood for one last time before I left the next day. I know I'll be back eventually, but it may be a while. I don't normally see predation, but a coyote chased down the resident sandhill cranes, though it was unsuccessful.

Birds:
157. Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina

Mammals:
12. Coyote Canis latrans

5/8/24
I've now been staying in Fort Wayne for a couple days and decided to check out my favorite birding spot. I went here almost every weekend last summer and couldn't wait to revisit. I always see a variety of all kinds of animals. I managed to pick up new reptilian lifers right on top of each other. A spiny softshell turtle was basking on a fallen branch when a spotted turtle swam up and climbed onto its shell.

Birds:
158. Sedge wren Cistothorus stellaris

Reptiles:
10. Spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera
11. Spotted turtle Clemmys guttata

Fish:
18. Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis

5/13/24
Driving into work a common nighthawk flew across the street into a forested area. I think I've seen a couple around the area before then, but that was my best view at one.

Birds:
159. Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor

5/16/24
I went to the park next to the zoo to explore for warblers. I struggled to find anything when I went birding here last summer, but maybe more experience would help me. I took a different route than I usually do, and found the old gravel road to have the most activity.

Birds:
160. Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris
161. Carolina chickadee Poecile carolinensis
162. Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus
163. Magnolia warbler Setophaga magnolia
164. Bay-breasted warbler Setophaga castanea (200th lifer!)

Total Species: 186
Birds: 164
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 11
Amphibians: 1
Fish: 18
I had probably the easiest owl sighting this morning. I decided to check out a nature preserve in Fort Wayne that I never went to last year. It wasn't a great morning for birds as I mostly heard birds rather than saw them. I stopped on one of the elevated boardwalks when a barred owl flew by. It was surprising to see it active at 9 am, too.

5/21/24
Birds:
165. Barred owl Strix varia

Total Species: 187
Birds: 165
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 11
Amphibians: 1
Fish: 18
 
Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
2) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3) Brown rat/Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
4) Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
5) Greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)
6) House mouse (Mus musculus)

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)
17) Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
18) Feral pigeon (Columba livia)
19) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)
20) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
21) Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
22) Common starling/European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
23) European white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
24) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
25) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
26) Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
27) Great egret (Ardea alba)
28) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
29) Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
30) Greylag goose (Anser anser)
31) Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
32) Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
33) Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
34) Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
35) Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
36) Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
37) Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
38) Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)
39) Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
40) Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
41) Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
42) Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
43) Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica)

Invertebrates
1) Seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
2) Common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
3) Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
4) Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
5) Small cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
6) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
7) Common house mosquito (Culex pipiens)
8) Housefly (Musca domestica)
9) Great grey slug/Leopard slug (Limax maximus)
10) Red slug (Arion rufus)
11) Common garden snail (Cornu aspersum)
12) Black garden ant (Lasius niger)
13) Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
14) Lemon snail (Cepaea nemoralis)
15) Black field slug (Arion hortensis)
16) Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
17) Large white butterfly (Pieris brassicae)
18) Black-headed cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)

Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
2) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3) Brown rat/Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
4) Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
5) Greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula)
6) House mouse (Mus musculus)

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)
17) Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
18) Feral pigeon (Columba livia)
19) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)
20) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
21) Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
22) Common starling/European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
23) European white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
24) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
25) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
26) Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
27) Great egret (Ardea alba)
28) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
29) Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
30) Greylag goose (Anser anser)
31) Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
32) Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
33) Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
34) Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
35) Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
36) Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
37) Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)
38) Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)
39) Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
40) Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
41) Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata)
42) Eurasian oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
43) Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica)
44) Western house martin (Delichon urbicum)
45) Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
46) Black kite (Milvus migrans)

Invertebrates
1) Seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
2) Common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
3) Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
4) Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
5) Small cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
6) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
7) Common house mosquito (Culex pipiens)
8) Housefly (Musca domestica)
9) Great grey slug/Leopard slug (Limax maximus)
10) Red slug (Arion rufus)
11) Common garden snail (Cornu aspersum)
12) Black garden ant (Lasius niger)
13) Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
14) Lemon snail (Cepaea nemoralis)
15) Black field slug (Arion hortensis)
16) Box tree moth (Cydalima perspectalis)
17) Large white butterfly (Pieris brassicae)
18) Black-headed cardinal beetle (Pyrochroa coccinea)
 
Picked up a couple more birds this weekend. One from Bird Point in south-central, the others much further north:

55. Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
56. Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus)
57. Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)
58. Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)
 
Quick update of a couple from a bat box check at Carsington Water - there was also a pipistrelle sp. but it was up in a slot box and not identifiable beyond that.

Mammals:
17. Common Noctule - Nyctalus noctula

Amphibians:
3. Common Toad - Bufo bufo

:)
 
Fishes
5. Green Sunfish Lepomis cyanellus
6. Northern Redbelly Dace Chrosomus eos
7. Common Carp Cyprinus carpio

Birds
457. Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
458. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
459. Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia
Birds
460. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla

Fishes
8. Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus
 
Didn’t release how small Green Heron were! This little guy was hanging out along the shore of a pond along Cope Lake in the Bronx Zoo, very pleasant surprise.

Birds
106) Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Progress:
Mammals- 17
Birds- 106
Herptiles- 9
Total- 132
Heard-only Species- 6
Sorry for the length between updates as I’ve been very busy, with any free time I’ve had dedicated to birding but I finally got a chance to update after a month of birding, just in time to go down the shore. My luck continues with rare Waterfowl as I was able to spot a pair of lost Whistling Ducks (luckily it was in the 80s and they didn’t decide to fly back home before I was able to spot them), other then that no particularly rare birds for the North Jersey area during migration season.

Birds
107) Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
108) Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
109) Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
110) Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)
111) Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
112) Broad-Winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
113) House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
114) Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
115) Norther Parula (Setophaga americana)
116) Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
117) Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
118) Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)
119) Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
120) Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
121) Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
122) Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
123) Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
124) Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri)
125) Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
126) Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
127) Chestnut-Sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)
128) American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
129) Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
130) Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
131) Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
132) Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)
133) Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
134) Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
135) Black-Bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
136) Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
137) White-Rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)

Heard Only Species
4) Black-Throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
5) Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
6) Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
7) Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia)
8) Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
9) Red-Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
10) Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
11) Veery (Catharus fuscescens)
12) Yellow-Throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Progress:
Mammals- 17
Birds- 137
Herptiles- 9
Total- 163
Heard-only Species- 12
 
Back
Top