You numbered two birds as 103, so you should be on 109 now.
Zoochat Big Year 2024
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
241. Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra 17/8/24
241. Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra 17/8/24
Birds
493. Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
494. Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
A spot of camping this weekend gained me a weevil lifer:
290) Clover root weevil Sitona lepidus
290) Clover root weevil Sitona lepidus
A few more birds, from Pagham Harbour.
255. Willow warbler
256. Garganey
257. Black-tailed godwit
258. Common sandpiper
259. Green sandpiper
260. Semipalmated sandpiper
The last few weeks in the lead-up to the academic year have been slow but not without some great sightings. The earliest summer migrants have started coming in, and reptiles are often sunning right out near or on forest trails, making for easy observation. Ruffner Mountain, a state park, and a local nature preserve have been my go to spots. Didn't end up making a trip to Wheeler.
This is the first year I've been getting invested in migration, particularly those of vireos & warblers, so I'm keeping an eye on the trees the next few weeks and months. The Black-Throated Green, Worm-Eating, and Blue-Winged Warblers were great sightings as they darted around a tangle of vines in the dense shrubbery, joined by a few female Scarlet Tanagers (which means I've completed the "Primary Color Trio" of Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-Throated Vireo, and Blue Grosbeak...though of course, female Scarlet Tanagers aren't scarlet
). Baltimore Oriole is not a common bird for that area at this time of year so a female was a nice find as well. The local nature preserve didn't have any migrants yet, though I did find a lone female Blue-Winged Teal, pretty early this year.
Reptiles have been great and comes with a minor update. So far, I have been labelling the skinks I see as Southeastern Five-Lined Skinks, since there are 3 species that look nearly identical if you don't manage to catch them. I have now come to the conclusion that almost every skink I have seen has been a Common Five-Lined Skink, as they are much more numerous in every area I go herping than the Southeastern (which is mostly found further South near the coast and is declining in most areas). This is also my first positively identified Broad-Headed Skink because I took note of the supralabial scale pattern on the face, which in this species, has the white stripe distinctively "jump" above the mouth. Also this location, I saw both a juvenile and adult Midland Water Snake - the tiny young snake certainly hatched this year, and the adult in the creek below was likely a parent. Not even a hundred yards away was an Eastern Black Racer which wrestled with some unknown prey item before slinking into the brush, recognizable by its glossy black scales.
Birds:
147. Black-Throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) – 8/08/24
148. Worm-Eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) – 8/08/24
149. Blue-Winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) – 8/08/24
150. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) – 8/08/24
151. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) – 8/08/24
152. Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula discors) – 8/18/24
Reptiles:
4. (Replacement) Common Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) - 4/18/24
14. Broad-Headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) – 8/08/24
15. Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) – 8/08/24
16. Eastern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) – 8/08/24
Invertebrates:
85. Long-Bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) – 8/08/24
86. Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) – 8/08/24
87. Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) – 8/08/24
88. Brilliant Jumping Spider (Phidippus clarus) – 8/18/24
Butterflies/Moths:
27. Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) – 8/08/24
28. Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) – 8/08/24
29. Sad Underwing (Catocala maestosa) – 8/08/24
I have now met & surpassed both my "Realistic" and "Hopeful" Goals for both Birds (Realistic 125, Hopeful 150) & Reptiles (Realistic 8, Hopeful 9) this year. At this rate I will likely make 200 by the end of the year, particularly as I go to Wheeler, maybe Eufaula again, and in December, Panama! Primarily a fishing trip but I'm sure there'll be at least a few hours for birding.
This is the first year I've been getting invested in migration, particularly those of vireos & warblers, so I'm keeping an eye on the trees the next few weeks and months. The Black-Throated Green, Worm-Eating, and Blue-Winged Warblers were great sightings as they darted around a tangle of vines in the dense shrubbery, joined by a few female Scarlet Tanagers (which means I've completed the "Primary Color Trio" of Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-Throated Vireo, and Blue Grosbeak...though of course, female Scarlet Tanagers aren't scarlet
). Baltimore Oriole is not a common bird for that area at this time of year so a female was a nice find as well. The local nature preserve didn't have any migrants yet, though I did find a lone female Blue-Winged Teal, pretty early this year.Reptiles have been great and comes with a minor update. So far, I have been labelling the skinks I see as Southeastern Five-Lined Skinks, since there are 3 species that look nearly identical if you don't manage to catch them. I have now come to the conclusion that almost every skink I have seen has been a Common Five-Lined Skink, as they are much more numerous in every area I go herping than the Southeastern (which is mostly found further South near the coast and is declining in most areas). This is also my first positively identified Broad-Headed Skink because I took note of the supralabial scale pattern on the face, which in this species, has the white stripe distinctively "jump" above the mouth. Also this location, I saw both a juvenile and adult Midland Water Snake - the tiny young snake certainly hatched this year, and the adult in the creek below was likely a parent. Not even a hundred yards away was an Eastern Black Racer which wrestled with some unknown prey item before slinking into the brush, recognizable by its glossy black scales.
Birds:
147. Black-Throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) – 8/08/24
148. Worm-Eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) – 8/08/24
149. Blue-Winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) – 8/08/24
150. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) – 8/08/24
151. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) – 8/08/24
152. Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula discors) – 8/18/24
Reptiles:
4. (Replacement) Common Five-Lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus) - 4/18/24
14. Broad-Headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps) – 8/08/24
15. Midland Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) – 8/08/24
16. Eastern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) – 8/08/24
Invertebrates:
85. Long-Bodied Cellar Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) – 8/08/24
86. Australian Sheep Blowfly (Lucilia cuprina) – 8/08/24
87. Green Stink Bug (Chinavia hilaris) – 8/08/24
88. Brilliant Jumping Spider (Phidippus clarus) – 8/18/24
Butterflies/Moths:
27. Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) – 8/08/24
28. Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) – 8/08/24
29. Sad Underwing (Catocala maestosa) – 8/08/24
I have now met & surpassed both my "Realistic" and "Hopeful" Goals for both Birds (Realistic 125, Hopeful 150) & Reptiles (Realistic 8, Hopeful 9) this year. At this rate I will likely make 200 by the end of the year, particularly as I go to Wheeler, maybe Eufaula again, and in December, Panama! Primarily a fishing trip but I'm sure there'll be at least a few hours for birding.
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
With me now having over 15 willows in the garden from 5 native species (Salix caprea, cinerea, fragilis, viminalis & alba) has certainly done wonders for the sawfly and moth species this year with me recording yet another larvae feeding yesterday afternoon:
291) Peppered moth Biston betularia
If you have the space, plant a willow
291) Peppered moth Biston betularia
If you have the space, plant a willow
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
242. Merlin, Falco columbarius 21/8/24
242. Merlin, Falco columbarius 21/8/24
Birds
495. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris
Quick but significant catchup of the last few days' wildlife activities.
On Sunday I went over to Anglesey for a day that combined a social visit, some wildlife, and just plain wanting to be by the seaside in summer. A fantastic seawatch at Point Lynas produced really high numbers of porpoises, plus birds like gannet and fulmar and a couple of Grey Seals, but nothing new for year. I did do a bit of rockpooling up the coast a bit (something I always tell myself I need to plan a special day for and never get round to) and add a few inverts - the only fish I could find were some unidentifiable Pomatoschistus gobies.
Timings and sightings reports aligned, however, for me to be able to call in for half an hour at RSPB Burton Mere (near Chester) on my way home, where the wildlife jewel of the day was waiting. Mere yards from the car park - a very amenable Hudsonian Godwit. A massive rarity in these parts, recorded only a few times a decade in the UK. It spent most of the time asleep alongside the local Black-tailed Godwits, but did perk up a few times to give the small gaggle of evening birders a look at its bill, and once during the time I was there it spent a few seconds stretching its wings to give us the satisfaction of the diagnostic black underwing. Very well-behaved bird.
One other addition to make is my missing 'easy' bat species, of which I was finally able to pick up an individual that was both visible and audible on the detector on an evening excursion on Tuesday.
Mammals:
22. Common Pipistrelle - Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Birds:
192. Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica
(UK: 190)
Invertebrates:
66. Common Periwinkle - Littorina littorea
67. Beadlet Anemone - Actinia equina
68. Flat Top Shell - Steromphala umbilicalis
On Sunday I went over to Anglesey for a day that combined a social visit, some wildlife, and just plain wanting to be by the seaside in summer. A fantastic seawatch at Point Lynas produced really high numbers of porpoises, plus birds like gannet and fulmar and a couple of Grey Seals, but nothing new for year. I did do a bit of rockpooling up the coast a bit (something I always tell myself I need to plan a special day for and never get round to) and add a few inverts - the only fish I could find were some unidentifiable Pomatoschistus gobies.
Timings and sightings reports aligned, however, for me to be able to call in for half an hour at RSPB Burton Mere (near Chester) on my way home, where the wildlife jewel of the day was waiting. Mere yards from the car park - a very amenable Hudsonian Godwit. A massive rarity in these parts, recorded only a few times a decade in the UK. It spent most of the time asleep alongside the local Black-tailed Godwits, but did perk up a few times to give the small gaggle of evening birders a look at its bill, and once during the time I was there it spent a few seconds stretching its wings to give us the satisfaction of the diagnostic black underwing. Very well-behaved bird.
One other addition to make is my missing 'easy' bat species, of which I was finally able to pick up an individual that was both visible and audible on the detector on an evening excursion on Tuesday.
Mammals:
22. Common Pipistrelle - Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Birds:
192. Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica
(UK: 190)
Invertebrates:
66. Common Periwinkle - Littorina littorea
67. Beadlet Anemone - Actinia equina
68. Flat Top Shell - Steromphala umbilicalis
It is only the seventh Hudsonian Godwit in the U.K. ever! (And I still haven’t managed to go and see it as it’s good shows were when I was otherwise engaged, and I failed to find it at Flint today).
Thanks - I was trying to find a specific number but because some birds were seen many times, everywhere I could find was hedging and not stating outright.
I was very lucky with how it behaved on Sunday night - even if it had been down the far end of Burton Mere I wouldn't have had time to see it. Best of luck in finding it!
CarnotaurusSastrei
Well-Known Member
Saw a few birds while out on a bike ride yesterday, including three great egrets and a great blue heron, but only have one new addition to my list for the year
Birds
137. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
Birds
496. Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor
Lafone
Well-Known Member
A few nice new additions from recent trips. Also got to see a Temminck's Stint at Frampton, first time I have seen one of those and it really has been a waders year, but too far away for a photo (an obliging birder offered a nice view through a scope).
Birds
89. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
And two good additions for the 'others'.
12. Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
13. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
Birds
89. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
And two good additions for the 'others'.
12. Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
13. Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) 17/08/2024 Frampton Marsh
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)
7) Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
8) European hare (Lepus europaeus)
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)
47) European greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
48) Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
49) Common swift (Apus apus)
50) Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)
51) Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
52) Song thrush (Turdus philomelos)
Amphibians
1) Edible frog (Pelophylax kl. esculentus)
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)
19) Northern damselfly or Spearhead blue (Coenagrion hastulatum)
20) Black-tailed skimmer (Orthetrum cancellatum)
21) Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
22) Common rough woodlouse (Porcellio scaber)
23) Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris)
24) Yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus)
25) Common gooseberry sawfly (Nematus ribesii)
26) Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)
27) House centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata)
28) Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
29) European peacock (Aglais io)
30) Common darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
I am currently spending a couple of days on the Isle of Skye with some friends who are over from the USA.
One of my favourite birds I saw today, albeit as brown and as drab as you can imagine, but all birdwatchers love their LBJs. The last time I saw the species was in April 2021, and on Skye. Very special, and fast declining:
131) Twite Linaria flavirostris
And a trip to Scotland would be incomplete without this mammal:
13) Red deer Cervus elaphus
One of my favourite birds I saw today, albeit as brown and as drab as you can imagine, but all birdwatchers love their LBJs. The last time I saw the species was in April 2021, and on Skye. Very special, and fast declining:
131) Twite Linaria flavirostris
And a trip to Scotland would be incomplete without this mammal:
13) Red deer Cervus elaphus
Two long awaited lifers
Mammal
26. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis) (Lifer)
I had a wonderful (And close) sighting of a family of NAROs when looking for some ardids that were new for my county. Later, a long-staying Swallow-tailed Kite was refound, and I fortunately saw it from about a mile away.
Birds
274. Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
275. Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) (Lifer)
276. Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
As of now, I don't have any heard-only birds, something I'm proud of with a year of 4 owls and a nightjar species.
Fish
14. Brook silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) (Lifer)
15. Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus)
16. Round goby (Neogobius melanostomus)
Saw the latter two on a visit to Montrose, where I saw Nagamo, the child of Imani and grandchild of Monty and Rose
Insects
267. Four-banded stink wasp (Bicyrtes quadrifasciatus)
268. Sculptured moth (Eumarozia malachitana) (Lifer)
I had hoped to visit the mega shorebird hotspots along the Illinois River before my classes start Monday, but unfortunately, I've been down with a fever since I finished with my work on Wednesday, so I'm probably not going to get to 300 birds.
Mammals
55. North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum
One of my favourite finches. Some years ago now I spent a couple of weeks in Scotland and was looking out for Twite all the time. But didn't see them until I got to Skye where I finally tracked some down in a farmyard.
Have only seen them once since, in North Wales, where the very small population is assisted with seed-hopper feeding- makes for brilliant views!.