This is a duplicate so I should be at 125 on here.75. Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
This is a duplicate so I should be at 125 on here.75. Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
I visited Fisherman's Island State Park a few days ago to see piping plovers. During my hike to their breeding site, I briefly encountered a ruffed grouse. I was walking along when I heard it call and saw it flying away from me. I heard some loud wing flaps close to the ground earlier along my hike, so it's possible there were two grouses. Once I finally got to the piping plover breeding area I found three with one actively nesting.I've already seen many shorebirds this year from my time in Key West, but I recently saw one that was at the top of my birding bucket list. Despite being far out of their range, I was surprised they weren't flagged as rare on eBird. Though, there have been a few sightings in the past at this location.
6/20/24
Birds:
170. Black-necked stilt Himantopus mexicanus
Total Species: 215
Birds: 170
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 18
Was up in Wisconsin earlier today and was able to add 2 more species to my list, including what could possibly be my first ever wild bald eagle sighting.I'd say my recent trip across the Southwestern US was a pretty successful trip when it comes to adding new species to both my life list as well as my list for this challenge. I've decided to break everything down first by category of vertebrate and then by the state where I saw a given species first.
Birds
Illinois
74. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Missouri
75. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
76. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Oklahoma
77. Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)
78. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
79. Great-Tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
New Mexico
80. Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
81. Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
82. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
83. Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva)
84. Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
85. Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
86. Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
87. Ash-Throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
88. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
89. Chihuahuan Raven (Corvus cryptoleucus)
Arizona
90. White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
91. Curve-Billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre)
92. Broad-Billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris)
93. Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
94. Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
95. Costa's Hummingbird (Calypte costae)
96. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
97. Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)
98. Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus)
99. Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
100. Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum)
101. Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)
102. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
103. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)
104. Canyon Towhee (Melozone fusca)
Sonora
105. Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)
106. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
107. Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)
108. American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)
109. Heermann's Gull (Larus heermanni)
Arizona (continued)
110. Crissal Thrasher (Toxostoma crissale)
111. Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis luciae)
112. Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)
113. Black-Throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
114. Brown-Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus tyrannulus)
115. Zone-Tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
116. White-Throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)
117. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
118. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
119. Williamson's Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
120. Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
121. Violet-Green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
122. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
Colorado
123. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
124. Green-Tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)
125. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
126. Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
127. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
128. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
129. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
130. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
Illinois (continued)
131. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
132. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Mammals
Missouri
4. White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
Texas
5. Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
New Mexico
6. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
7. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
8. Black-Tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus californicus)
Arizona
9. Rock Squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
10. Harris's Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus harrisii)
11. Round-Tailed Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
12. Coyote (Canis latrans)
13. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
California
14. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
Colorado
15. Least Chipmunk (Neotamias minimus)
16. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
Reptiles
New Mexico
4. Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum)
Arizona
5. Western Patch-Nosed Snake (Salvadora hexalepis)
6. Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
7. Zebra-Tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
8. Ornate Tree Lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
9. Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)
10. Sonoran Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis sonorae)
11. California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae)
12. Canyon Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis burti)
13. Long-Tailed Brush Lizard (Urosaurus graciosus)
14. Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii)
15. Common Side-Blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)
16. Sonoran Mud Turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense)
California
17. Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)
Arizona (continued)
18. Plateau Striped Whiptail (Aspidoscelis velox)
Utah
19. Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)
Fishes
Arizona
4. Sonoyta Pupfish (Cyprinodon eremus)
Nevada
5. Devil's Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis)
Total: 174 Vertebrates (132 Birds, 16 Mammals, 19 Reptiles, 5 Fishes, 2 Amphibians)
I'm about to board a train that will take me east into Central Europe.
BirdsBirds
486. American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
Had a nice trip at the start of the month
Birds
260. Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) (Lifer)
261. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) (Lifer)
262. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
263. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
264. Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) (Lifer)
Inverts
65. Feather millipede (Brachycybe lecontii) (Lifer)
66. Streaked lady beetle (Myzia pullata) (Lifer)
67. Common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis)
68. Black deer fly (Chrysops niger) (Lifer)
69. Oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)
70. Rosy maple moth (Dryocampa rubicunda) (Lifer)
71. Fall webworm moth (Hyphantria cunea) (Lifer)
72. Yellow soldier fly (Sargus elegans) (Lifer)
73. White-dotted prominent (Nadata gibbosa)
74. Black-tailed laphria (Laphria flavicollis) (Lifer)
75. Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
76. Black firefly (Lucidota atra)
77. Root collar borer moth (Euzophera ostricolorella) (Lifer)
78. Cabbage white (Pieris rapae)
79. Common buckeye (Junonia coenia)
80. Least skipper (Ancyloxpha numitor)
81. Painted lichen moth (Hypoprepia fucosa)
82. Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus)
83. Typical treehopper (Cyrtolobus maculifrontis) (Lifer)
84. Spiny oak-slug moth (Euclea delphinii) (Lifer)
85. Ribbed buffalo treehopper (Stictocephala brevitylus) (Lifer)
86. Eastern comma (Polygonia comma)
87. Familiar bluet (Enallagma civile)
88. Currant eulithis moth (Eulithis propulsata) (Lifer)
89. Small engrailed (Ectropis crepescularia) (Lifer)
90. Deceptive snout (Hypena deceptalis) (Lifer)
91. Faint-spotted angle (Digrammia ocellinata) (Lifer)
92. Forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria)
93. Celery leaftier moth (Udea rubigalis)
94. Eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americana)
95. Red-lined panopoda moth (Panopoda rufimargo) (Lifer)
96. Porcelain gray (Protoboarmia porcelaria)
97. Yellow-fringed dolichomia moth (Hypsopygia olinalis) (Lifer)
98. Common spring moth (Heliomata cycladata) (Lifer)
99. False underwing (Allotria elonympha) (Lifer)
100. Hebrew moth (Polygrammate hebraeicum) (Lifer)
101. Drab condylolomia moth (Condylolomia participialis) (Lifer)
102. Lesser maple spanworm moth (Macaria pustularia)
103. Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)
104. Two spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus)
105. Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica)
106. Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)
107. Death watch beetle (Trichodesma gibbosa)
108. Leconte’s haploa moth (Haploa lecontei) (Lifer)
109. Peacock fly (Callopistromyia annulipes) (Lifer)
110. Pale beauty (Campaea perlata) (Lifer)
111. Mottled prominent (Macrurocampa marthesia) (Lifer)
112. Fifteen-spotted lady beetle (Anatis labiculata) (Lifer)
113. Orchard orbweaver (Leucauge venusta)
114. Black saddlebags (Tramea lacerata)
115. Winter firefly (Ellychnia corrusca) (Lifer)
116. Synchroa bark beetle (Synchroa punctata)
117. Bristly cutworm moth (Lacinipolia renigera) (Lifer)
118. Oak timberworm weevil (Arrenodes minutus) (Lifer)
119. Eastern tailed-blue (Cupido comyntas)
120. Banded hairstreak (Satyrium calanus) (Lifer)
121. White-striped black (Trichodezia albovittata) (Lifer)
122. Northern pearly-eye (Lethe anthedon)
123. Great spangled fritillary (Argynnis cybele)
124. Diana fritillary (Argynnis diana) (Lifer)
125. Sable Clubtail (Stenogomphurus rogersi) (Lifer)
126. Long-tailed skipper (Urbanus proteus) (Lifer)
What a fantastic trip!And so it happened. I've just returned from spending about ten days in Austria. Most people associate Austria with mountains, alpine meadows and snow, a land of ibex, chamois and grouse. However, I found myself in a world of salt lakes, vineyards and unfathomably large reed beds, where stilts, tree frogs and southern darters where the most consistent elements of the local fauna. The list is very typical for the region, but perhaps a bit atypical for Austria.
The impetus of the trip was a social event, not wildlife. However, I added a few days afterwards to explore some of the most beautiful sites the Nationalpark Neusiedler See - Seewinkel and the Austrian-Hungarian border region had to offer. We peered out over flocks of waders at the salt lakes, searched for butterflies and grasshoppers on flower-rich hills, and explored the mosaic of forests, wetlands and culture steppes of the Waasen/Hansag region. Among the highlights were both major prizes of the local avifauna, great bustard (a whole new bird order for me!) and imperial eagle. There were rare butterflies a plenty, several really good dragonflies and many grasshoppers I had never seen before. Furthermore, after two years of waiting since my failed first chance I was finally able to connect with a European ground squirrel, and a surprise sighting of an otter tumbling through the grass was especially exhilarating. Perhaps best of all was the sheer abundance of life - the sky was a never-ended cacophony of martins, sparrows and finches, the songs of grasshoppers regularly became almost deafening, and there were vast numbers of wildflowers everywhere.
The list is complete in terms of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and dragonflies. For butterflies a handful of pictures of blues need further examining, though I'm positive most if not all will turn out to be common or silver-studded blue. There's quite a few grasshoppers yet to be identified and we aren't certain yet on any of the bees. Those will be added as they are identified.
I'm contemplating writing a more extensive trip report for the wildlife portion of my travels, if there's any interest in that. But I'll write it out in full before posting the first chapter, so it may take a while.
Birds
195. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
196. Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus
197. Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus
198. Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybrida
199. Pygmy Cormorant, Microcarbo pygmeus
200. European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster
201. Corn Bunting, Emberiza calandra
202. Great Bustard, Otis tarda
203. Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
204. Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola
205. Syrian Woodpecker, Dendrocopus syriacus
206. Black Stork, Ciconia nigra
207. Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca
208. European Turtle Dove, Streptopelia turtur
209. Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
210. Red-footed Falcon, Falco vespertinus
211. European Golden Oriole, Oriolus oriolus
212. Crested Lark, Galerida cristata
213. Grey-headed Woodpecker, Picus canus
214. Eurasian Hoopoe, Upupa epops
215. Eastern Imperal Eagle, Aquila heliaca
Mammals
21. Nutria, Myocastor coypus
22. European Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus citellus
23. European Otter, Lutra lutra
24. European Hamster, Cricetus cricetus
Amphibians
13. European Green Toad, Bufotes viridis
14. European Fire-bellied Toad, Bombina bombina
Reptiles
7. European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis
Butterflies
19. Ringlet, Aphantopus hyperantus
20. Marbled White, Melanargia galathea
21. Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages
22. Eastern Short-tailed Blue, Cupido decolorata
23. Wall Brown, Lasiommata megera
24. Silver-washed Fritillary, Argynnis paphia
25. Queen of Spain Fritillary, Issoria lathonia
26. Brown Argus, Aricia agestis
27. Scarce Swallowtail, Iphiclides podalirius
28. Silver-studded Blue, Plebejus argus
29. Short-tailed Blue, Cupido argiades
30. Large Chequered Skipper, Heteropterus morpheus
31. Lesser Purple Emperor, Apatura ilia
32. Great Banded Greyling, Brintesia circe
33. Spotted Fritillary, Melitaea didyma
34. Small Copper, Lycaena phlaeas
35. Violet Fritillary, Boloria dia
36. Chestnut Heath, Coenonympha glycerion
37. Knapweed Fritillary, Melitaea phoebe
38. Pearly Heath, Coenonympha arcania
39. Blue-spot Hairstreak, Satyrium spini
40. Eastern Bath White, Pontia edusa
41. Meadow Skipper, Carcharodus alceae
42. Reverdin's Blue, Plebejus argyrognomon
Moths
89. Hummingbird Hawk Moth, Macroglossum stellatarum
90. Spotted Sulphur, Emmelia trabealis
91. Yellow-belted Burnet, Amata phegea
92. Water Betony, Shargacucullia scrophulariae
93. Small Dotted Footman, Pelosia obtusa
94. Reed Leopard, Phragmataecia castaneae
95. Bright Wave, Idaea ochrata
96. Burnet Companion Moth, Euclidia glyphica
97. Giant Looper, Ascotis selenaria
98. Mother of Pearl Moth, Patania ruralis
99. Handmaid, Dysauxes ancilla
Dragonflies
26. Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum
27. Southern Darter, Sympetrum meridionale
28. White-tailed Skimmer, Orthetrum albistylum
29. Small Bluetail, Ischnura pumilio
30. Small Red-eye, Erythromma viridulum
31. Dainty Bluet, Coenagrion scitulum
32. Blue-eyed Hawker, Aeshna affinis
33. Keeled Skimmer, Orthetrum coerulescens
34. Vagrant Darter, Sympetrum vulgatum
Grasshoppers
06. Striped Bush-cricket, Leptophyes albovittata
07. Roesel's Bush-cricket, Roeseliana roeselii
08. Wart-biter, Decticus verrucivorus
09. Italian Locust, Calliptamus italicus
10. Blue-winged Grasshopper, Oedipoda caerulescens
11. Black-spotted Toothed Grasshopper, Stenobothrus nigromaculatus
12. Gold Grasshopper, Chrysochraon dispar
13. Nosed Grasshopper, Acrida ungarica
14. Large Conehead, Ruspolia nitidula
15. Two-coloured Bush-cricket, Bicolorana bicolor
Mammals:Birds:
118. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
119. Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri)
Herptiles:
18. Dekay’s brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
Fishes:
10. Tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi)
Invertebrates:
81. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)
82. Garden snail (Cornu aspersum)
Mammals: 16
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 18
Fishes: 10
Invertebrates: 82
Total: 245
I've had a string of long-awaited mammal sightings
Mammals
Meadowbrook park, Champaign20. American Beaver (Castor canadensis) (Lifer)
Smokey mtns. NP, TN21. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) (Lifer)
Rainforest Adventure Zoo, Sevierville TN22. House Mouse (Mus musculus) (Lifer)
Pratt's Wayne Woods, Dupage co IL23. Common Racoon (Procyon lotor)
Maple Grove, Dupage co IL24. Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda)
I've also had some nice summer invert species
Inverts
125. Prince baskettail (Epitheca princeps)
126. Orange bluet (Enallagma signatum)
127. Blue dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
128. Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
129. Gray petaltail (Tachopteryx thoreyi) (Lifer)
130. Leaf-footed bug (Acanthocephala terminalis)
131. Pocock’ lampshade-web spider (Hypochilus pococki) (Lifer)
132. Agreeable tiger moth (Spilosoma congrua) (Lifer)
133. Chestnut bark borer (Strophiona nitens) (Lifer)
134. Emerald jumping spider (Paraphidippus aurantius) (Lifer)
135. Black-spotted falsehorn (Temnostoma excentrica) (Lifer)
136. Elm Sphinx (Ceratomia amyntor) (Lifer)
137. Pipevine swallowtail (Battus philenor)
138. Sycamore seed bug (Belonochilus numenius) (Lifer)
139. Yellow-winged oak leafroller moth (Argyrotaenia quercifoliana)
140. Common drone fly (Eristalis tenax)
141. Grapeleaf skeletonizer moth (Harrisina americana) (Lifer)
142. Eastern Crayfish (Cambarus bartonii) (Lifer)
143. Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)
144. Gallinipper (Psorophora ciliata) (Lifer)
145. Painted lichen moth (Hypoprepia fucosa)
146. Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
147. Polished lady beetle (Cycloneda munda)
148. Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus)
149. Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica)
150. White-striped round-necked longhorn beetle (Euderces picipes) (Lifer)
151. Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)
152. Large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)
153. Eye-spotted tumbling flower beetle (Glipa oculata) (Lifer)
154. White-spotted snipe fly (Chrysopilus connexus) (Lifer)
155. Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis)
156. Typical treehopper (Acutalis tartarea)
157. Common striped woodlouse (Philoscia muscorum)
158. Milkweed tussock moth (Euchaetes egle) (Lifer)
159. Spotted grass moth (Rivula propinqualis)
160. Little underwing (Catocala minuta)
161. Cassin’s 13-year cicada (Magicicada tredecassini) (Lifer)
Also a duplicate I should be at 190145. Painted lichen moth (Hypoprepia fucosa)
Just got back two days ago from a 10-day trip to the Top End of the Northern Territory. This was my third time visiting the area, so I wasn't expecting many lifers, but I still got a large amount of lifers and yearticks. Proof that I am getting better at IDing birds, I suppose!Birds
144. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)