Zoochat Big Year 2024

[Dr. Loxodonta]

Elmley National Nature Reserve, 03,11,24
Lovely day out monitoring Harvest Mouse nests and even managed to spot one waking up, a huge bonus. Also managed to spot an incredible male Ring Ouzel, my first at Elmley.

Birds
173. Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)

Mammals
21. Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)

WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, 16,11,24
Headed to Slimbridge to attempt to bump up my goose numbers and I sure wasn’t disappointed.
In total I managed to count 24 Russian White-fronted Geese and finally a lone Pink-footed Goose with some Canadas on the edge of the Dumbles. Some other surprises from the Estuary Tower were a Ross's Goose with some Barnacle Geese on the Dumbles (presumed it to be an escapee) and a W-R Sandpiper with some dunlin. The bird kept along the edge of dunlin flock and seemed quite a bit more active. The sighting has been confirmed by WWT staff. A Swan Goose, apparently a pure bird, was viewable from the Discovery Hide with some Greylags along with a very pale headed and pale fronted buzzard. Lastly at the end of the day, I managed to see an American Green-winged Teal Drake on the Tack piece from Zeiss Hide. It was easy to distinguish from the surrounding Eurasians with a beautiful Vertical shoulder stripe.

Birds
174. White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis)
175. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
176. Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
177. Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
178. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)


North Foreland & Botany Bay Beach, 01,12,24
North Foreland is a chalk headland on the Kent coast of southeast England, specifically in Broadstairs. North Foreland is the eastern extremity of the Isle of Thanet. Botany Bay is the northernmost of seven bays in Broadstairs. It was named after Botany Bay in Australia as local smugglers caught on the beach were deported to Botany Bay, hence the name. The sandy bay is approximately 200 metres long, and has sand exposed at high tide. This unspoilt bay has white chalk stacks and cliffs surrounding. Those two areas are brilliant for costal wildlife and many seabirds visit the area including a colony of gannet who frequently feed in the waters.

Birds
179. Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
180. Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
181. Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
182. Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)
183. European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)
184. Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
185. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
186. Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
187. Velvet Scoter (Melanitta fusca)
188. Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)

Mammals
22. Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Total Species: 220
Birds: 188
Mammals: 22
Herptiles: 10

 

[Maguari]

My last full day of birding of the year (and indeed possibly my last birding of any kind of the year) today. The more observant may have noticed my separate UK bird total sitting at 199 after my recent auk excursion - if I'd been on 184 or 191 or something I would be happy to chalk that up to experience but I couldn't leave it on 199, that's far too close to the big 2-0-0. So I wanted a nice spot for a day out but, if possible, with at least one achievable 'banker' bird to tip me over.

I settled on North Lincolnshire, because the 'banker' there was probably my 'easiest' gap, and also corrects the absurdity of a year where I would have seen two species of the genus as normal but only one of the common ones and a crazy rarity. Now order is restored, and all three species sit on the 2024 list.

In the end, the 'banker' was the only addition for the year but a very pleasant day.

Birds:
331. Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica

(UK: 200 )

 

[Lafone]

A bird I completely missed at the time but realised when getting the photos through Lightroom that I caught it among Lapwings, Godwits and Golden Plovers started up by a passing Kestrel. That's the story of Curlews and me this year; not a decent shot the whole time and then get one in passing! I'll take it.

Birds

100. Curlew, Numenius arquata, 30/11/2024, Frampton Marsh

 

[Prochilodus246]

A few hours at country park near my friend's house who I was meeting up with before Christmas saw me acquire another bird I should have seen earlier in the year despite multiple visits to sites where the species is often found:

147) Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula

I also got my first good view of a water rail this year who was feeding merely a foot away from me. Unfortunately, no camera but did manage a decent phone photo.

And just as I think the invert list was done for the year I have received an identification for an unassuming weevil species from my bioblitz at work that took place back in August:

339) Zacladus geranii

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Possibly one of the furthest drives I've made for a twitch relative to my starting location, though still only one state over and 2 hours drive--which is probably pretty mild as far as twitching is concerned. Alas, I cannot resist a good warbler:

234) Black-Throated Grey Warbler Setophaga nigrescens

~Thylo

As teased by @MRJ, I've spent a couple weeks in Australia to close out the year. This was my first visit to the land down unda and with so much to see within only a couple of weeks, I kept within the Sydney and Melbourne areas. I easily could have spent another week or two exploring just these two areas, forget about seeing much more of the country! Australia has very quickly shot up to the top of my favorite countries I've visited list and I sincerely hope to make it back sooner rather than later.

Being a first visit, there was a lot more to see than the zoos/wildlife so this was not two weeks of consecutive wildlife watching/zoo-going as may be expected of me. As such, I spent less time birding than I'd have preferred. That said, I still came out with a wonderful list of birds. My mammal watching outings were even fewer, however I strategized those a bit more to end up with some truly exciting finds!

November 25 - Airport and Centennial Park, Sydney
Birds -
235) Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca (a fitting first bird to see in Sydney!)
236) Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
237) Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
238) Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
239) Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
240) Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
241) Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
242) Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
243) Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
244) Australian Black Swan Cygnus atratus
245) Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
246) Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
247) Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
248) Common Coot Fulica atra
249) Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
250) Black-Shouldered Lapwing Vanellus novaehollandiae
251) Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
252) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
253) Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
254) Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
255) Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
256) Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
257) Australian White-Eyed Duck Aythya australis
258) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
259) Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel

Mammals -
26) Grey-Headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus
27) Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto

November 26 - Taronga Zoo
Birds -
260) Greater Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
261) Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
262) Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami
263) Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
264) Variegated Fairy-Wren Malurus lamberti
265) White-Browed Scrub-Wren Sericornis frontalis
266) Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos

Mammals -
28) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cunciculus

November 27 - Featherdale, Sydney Zoo, and spotlighting Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
Birds -
267) Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea coromanda
268) White-Winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
269) Willie-Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
270) Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Mammals -
29) Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula
30) Eastern/True Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps (following the P. breviceps split, the gliders in this region should be the proper breviceps)
31) Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus
32) Southern Long-Nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta

November 28 - Sydney and Australian Reptile Park
Birds -
271) Great Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
272) Buff-Banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis
273) Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
274) Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
275) Superb Fairy-Wren Malurus cyaneus
276) White-Bellied Sea Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster

November 29 - North Wollongong
Birds -
277) Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
278) Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
279) Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
280) Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus

November 30 - Wollongong Botanical Garden
Birds -
281) Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
282) Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostris
283) Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
284) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
285) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
286) Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
287) Black-Faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
288) Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
289) Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
290) Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana

December 1 - North Wollongong and Wattamolla Beach
Birds -
291) Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
292) New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

December 2 - Great Ocean Road Tour (incl. a criminally short stop in the Otways)
Birds -
293) Little Raven Corvus mellori
294) Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
295) Common Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
296) Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
297) Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
298) White-Plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata
299) Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo Zanda funerea
300) Yellow-Faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
301) Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
302) Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus
303) Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens
304) Pacific Gull Larus pacificus
305) Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides - this bird reaches my 1,000th wild bird milestone
306) White-Faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
307) Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica

Mammals -
33) Eastern Grey Kanagroo Macropus giganteus
34) Koala Phascolarctos cinereus

December 3 - Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) and Moonlit Sanctuary
Birds -
308) Red-Necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
309) Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
310) Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
311) Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
312) Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus
313) Straw-Necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
314) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
315) Yellow-Faced Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
316) Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
317) Hoary-Headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
318) Black Kite Milvus migrans
319) Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis
320) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
321) Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
322) Brolga Antigone rubicunda
323) White-Fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
324) Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis
325) Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera
326) Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
327) Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
328) Australian Hobby Falco longipennis
329) Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
330) Swamp Harrier Circus approximans
331) Musk Duck Biziura lobata
332) Brown Falcon Falco berigora
333) Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
334) Pink-Eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
335) Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
336) Black-Fronted Dotterel Thinornis melanops
337) White-Winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
338) Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
339) Square-Tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura
340) Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans
341) Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera

Mammals -
35) Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus

December 4 - Port Phillip Bay to Phillip Island
Birds -
342) Grey Shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica
343) Australasian Gannet Morus serrator
344) Black-Faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
345) Red-Necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
346) Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus
347) Double-Banded Plover Anarhynchus bicinctus
348) Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor
349) Short-Tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris

Mammals -
36) Burrunan/Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops (aduncus) australis
37) Brown Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus
38) Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor
39) Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii

December 5 - Healesville Sanctuary and spotlighting in Ada
Birds -
350) Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
351) Wedge-Tailed Eagle Aquila audax

Mammals -
40) Southern Greater Glider Petauroides volans
41) Leadbeater's Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
2-3 species of microbat that I will probably never identify fully

December 6 - Melbourne Zoo
352) Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
353) Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
354) Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus

And that's a wrap! I have a handful of reptiles as well that I'll post once they've all been identified. Overall I absolutely loved Australia and I can see myself spending a lot more time there in the future. I also want to sincerely thank @MRJ for taking me birding in Werribee, joining me on the Leadbeater's Possum hunt, and of course, for Moonlit Sanctuary. It truly is a wonderful zoo and must-see for any first-time visitors to Australia--and I highly recommend the night tour!

~Thylo

 

[Lafone]

As teased by @MRJ, I've spent a couple weeks in Australia to close out the year. This was my first visit to the land down unda and with so much to see within only a couple of weeks, I kept within the Sydney and Melbourne areas. I easily could have spent another week or two exploring just these two areas, forget about seeing much more of the country! Australia has very quickly shot up to the top of my favorite countries I've visited list and I sincerely hope to make it back sooner rather than later.

Being a first visit, there was a lot more to see than the zoos/wildlife so this was not two weeks of consecutive wildlife watching/zoo-going as may be expected of me. As such, I spent less time birding than I'd have preferred. That said, I still came out with a wonderful list of birds. My mammal watching outings were even fewer, however I strategized those a bit more to end up with some truly exciting finds!

November 25 - Airport and Centennial Park, Sydney
Birds -
235) Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca (a fitting first bird to see in Sydney!)
236) Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
237) Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
238) Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
239) Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
240) Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
241) Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
242) Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
243) Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
244) Australian Black Swan Cygnus atratus
245) Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
246) Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
247) Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
248) Common Coot Fulica atra
249) Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
250) Black-Shouldered Lapwing Vanellus novaehollandiae
251) Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
252) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
253) Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
254) Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
255) Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
256) Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
257) Australian White-Eyed Duck Aythya australis
258) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
259) Fairy Martin Petrochelidon ariel

Mammals -
26) Grey-Headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus
27) Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto

November 26 - Taronga Zoo
Birds -
260) Greater Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
261) Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
262) Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami
263) Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
264) Variegated Fairy-Wren Malurus lamberti
265) White-Browed Scrub-Wren Sericornis frontalis
266) Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos

Mammals -
28) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cunciculus

November 27 - Featherdale, Sydney Zoo, and spotlighting Ku-ring-gai Chase NP
Birds -
267) Eastern Cattle Egret Ardea coromanda
268) White-Winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
269) Willie-Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
270) Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis

Mammals -
29) Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula
30) Eastern/True Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps (following the P. breviceps split, the gliders in this region should be the proper breviceps)
31) Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus
32) Southern Long-Nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta

November 28 - Sydney and Australian Reptile Park
Birds -
271) Great Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
272) Buff-Banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis
273) Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
274) Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
275) Superb Fairy-Wren Malurus cyaneus
276) White-Bellied Sea Eagle Icthyophaga leucogaster

November 29 - North Wollongong
Birds -
277) Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
278) Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
279) Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
280) Sooty Oystercatcher Haematopus fuliginosus

November 30 - Wollongong Botanical Garden
Birds -
281) Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
282) Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostris
283) Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
284) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
285) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
286) Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
287) Black-Faced Cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
288) Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
289) Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
290) Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana

December 1 - North Wollongong and Wattamolla Beach
Birds -
291) Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
292) New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae

December 2 - Great Ocean Road Tour (incl. a criminally short stop in the Otways)
Birds -
293) Little Raven Corvus mellori
294) Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
295) Common Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
296) Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
297) Weebill Smicrornis brevirostris
298) White-Plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillata
299) Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo Zanda funerea
300) Yellow-Faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
301) Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
302) Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus
303) Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens
304) Pacific Gull Larus pacificus
305) Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides - this bird reaches my 1,000th wild bird milestone
306) White-Faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
307) Pacific Heron Ardea pacifica

Mammals -
33) Eastern Grey Kanagroo Macropus giganteus
34) Koala Phascolarctos cinereus

December 3 - Western Treatment Plant (Werribee) and Moonlit Sanctuary
Birds -
308) Red-Necked Avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
309) Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
310) Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
311) Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
312) Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus
313) Straw-Necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
314) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
315) Yellow-Faced Spoonbill Platalea flavipes
316) Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
317) Hoary-Headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
318) Black Kite Milvus migrans
319) Brown Songlark Cincloramphus cruralis
320) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
321) Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
322) Brolga Antigone rubicunda
323) White-Fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
324) Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis
325) Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera
326) Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
327) Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
328) Australian Hobby Falco longipennis
329) Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
330) Swamp Harrier Circus approximans
331) Musk Duck Biziura lobata
332) Brown Falcon Falco berigora
333) Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
334) Pink-Eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
335) Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
336) Black-Fronted Dotterel Thinornis melanops
337) White-Winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
338) Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
339) Square-Tailed Kite Lophoictinia isura
340) Tree Martin Petrochelidon nigricans
341) Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera

Mammals -
35) Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus

December 4 - Port Phillip Bay to Phillip Island
Birds -
342) Grey Shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica
343) Australasian Gannet Morus serrator
344) Black-Faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
345) Red-Necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
346) Hooded Plover Thinornis cucullatus
347) Double-Banded Plover Anarhynchus bicinctus
348) Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula minor
349) Short-Tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris

Mammals -
36) Burrunan/Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops (aduncus) australis
37) Brown Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus
38) Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor
39) Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii

December 5 - Healesville Sanctuary and spotlighting in Ada
Birds -
350) Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
351) Wedge-Tailed Eagle Aquila audax

Mammals -
40) Southern Greater Glider Petauroides volans
41) Leadbeater's Possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri
2-3 species of microbat that I will probably never identify fully

December 6 - Melbourne Zoo
352) Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
353) Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
354) Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus

And that's a wrap! I have a handful of reptiles as well that I'll post once they've all been identified. Overall I absolutely loved Australia and I can see myself spending a lot more time there in the future. I also want to sincerely thank @MRJ for taking me birding in Werribee, joining me on the Leadbeater's Possum hunt, and of course, for Moonlit Sanctuary. It truly is a wonderful zoo and must-see for any first-time visitors to Australia--and I highly recommend the night tour!

~Thylo

How cool! The little Fairywrens would be worth it alone. Sounds fantastic.

 

[ThylacineAlive]

How cool! The little Fairywrens would be worth it alone. Sounds fantastic.

They were probably my favorite birds I saw.

~Thylo

 

[BerdNerd]

10/14/24

29. Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus)

12/17/24


30. Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis)


Total:

Mammals: 9
Birds: 96
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 2
Invertebrates: 30

 

[Chlidonias]

Mangshi (Yunnan, China)

Birds:
237) Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
238) Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
239) Puff-throated Babbler Pellorneum ruficeps
240) Asian Emerald Dove Chalcophaps indica
241) Rusty-fronted Barwing Actinodura egertoni

Mammals:
14) Shan State Langur Trachypithecus melamera


Ruili (Yunnan, China)

Birds:
242) Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus
243) White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
244) Crimson Sunbird Aethopyga siparaja
245) Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger
246) Burmese Shrike Lanius collurioides
247) Common Iora Aegithina tiphia
248) Taiga Flycatcher Ficedula albicilla
249) White-throated Bulbul Alophoixus flaveolus
250) Rufous-backed Sibia Leioptila annectens
251) Scarlet Minivet Pericrocotus speciosus
252) Black-crested Bulbul Pycnonotus flaviventris
253) Maroon Oriole Oriolus traillii
254) Grey-headed Canary-Flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
255) Bronzed Drongo Dicrurus aeneus
256) Blue Whistling Thrush Myophonus caeruleus
257) White-capped Water Redstart Phoenicurus leucocephalus
258) Fujian Niltava Niltava davidi
259) White-bellied Erpornis Erpornis zantholeuca
260) Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
261) Black-winged Cuckoo-Shrike Lalage melaschistos
262) Rufous-headed Parrotbill Paradoxornis bakeri
263) White-hooded Babbler Gampsorhynchus rufulus
264) Lesser Yellownape Picus chlorolophus
265) Red-billed Scimitar-Babbler Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps
266) Striated Bulbul Alcurus striatus
267) Mrs Gould’s Sunbird Aethopyga gouldiae
268) Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus
269) White-browed Shrike-Babbler Pteruthius aeralatus
270) Bar-winged Flycatcher-Shrike Hemipus picatus
271) Grey Bushchat Saxicola ferreus
272) Green-billed Malkoha Phaenicophaeus tristis

Mammals:
15) Black Giant Squirrel Ratufa bicolor

 

[Giant Eland]

Quick update before my next trip to Bolivia, Chile and Argentina:

Bronx, NY:
68. House Mouse, Mus musculus (Sep 27)

Lots of updates are in order! In October and November I traveled South America for 33 days. Some of the IDs are still unclear, but if they get figured out I'll update later. Here's the haul from the first stop- Bolivia. Wild lifers in Bold.

Yvaga Guazú Ecological Park, Bolivia:
69. Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) (Oct 12)
70. brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus)
71. white-eared titi monkey (Plecturocebus donacophilus)
72. Bolivian squirrel (Sciurus ignitus)

Las Tortugas Eco lodge, Bolivia:
73. capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) (Oct 14)
74. Argentine brown bat (Eptesicus furinalis)
75. Rio Beni titi monkey (Plecturocebus modestus)
76. common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
77. Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis)
78. South American coati (Nasua nasua)
79. Bolivian red howler (Alouatta sara)
80. Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis) (Oct 15)
81. brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata)
82. southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Monte Carlo, Bolivia:
83. southern Amazon red squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus)
84. large-headed capuchin (Sapajus macrocephalus)
85. greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus)
86. lesser bulldog bat (Noctilio albiventris)
87. Azara's night monkey (Aotus azarae)
88. short-tailed spiny-rat (Proechimys brevicauda)
89. Olalla brothers's titi monkey (Plecturocebus olallae) (Oct 16)
90. riparian myotis (Myotis riparius)
91. Common Four-eyed Opossum (Philander canus) (Oct 17)
92. greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata)
93. common tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis)
94. Madidi titi monkey (Plecturocebus aureipalatii) (Oct 18)

Tahuamanu Research Station, Bolivia:
95. Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) (Oct 19)
96. dark fruit-eating bat (Artibeus obscurus)
97. brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus)
98. Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni)
99. Weddell's saddle-back tamarin (Leontocebus weddelli) (Oct 20)
100. Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii)
101. white-lipped tamarin (Saguinus labiatus)
102. elegant rice rat (Euryoryzomys nitidus)
103. Simons's spiny rat (Proechimys simonsi)
104. tayra (Eira barbara) (Oct 21)
105. shock-headed capuchin (Cebus cuscinus)
106. Gray's Bald-faced Saki (Pithecia irrorata)
107. kinkajou (Potos flavus)
108. bicolored-spined porcupine (Coendou bicolor) (Oct 22)
109. brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)

 

[CarnotaurusSastrei]

17. Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger)

This is almost certainly my last update of the year. Overall, given that this was my first time participating in the Big Year, I'd say I didn't do too terribly. I got to see a lot of really interesting animals and had the opportunity to explore a number of places I hadn't visited before. That being said, I honestly doubt that my 2025 list will be quite as extensive as my list from this year (with the possible exceptions of birds and maybe mammals and/or fishes), but I'm definitely hoping to add at least a couple new species to my life list.

Montrose Point, Chicago - 12/19
Birds
144. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
145. Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
146. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Final Count: 190 vertebrates (146 birds, 17 mammals, 19 reptiles, 5 fishes, 3 amphibians)

 

[Yoshistar888]

Not in order and I still need to do a write up on a busy last half a month or so of birding but I thought, I'd put this just to brag haha.

Birds:

44. White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina)

White-faced Storm Petrel from land, there's been at least four individual birds hanging around Altona Pier the last couple days, might not be there anymore. A species you'd think to never see without going on a boat.

I’ve done a lot of wildlife watching this year but haven’t updated much here, so I thought I should share some of the lifers I’ve gotten so far. I’ll try and keep up to date next year, I’ve got some plans to travel to Central and Northern Victoria so should produce many lifers.

Birds:

45. Arctic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)
46. Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
47. Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
48. Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
49. White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea)
50. Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis)
51. Rufous Bristlebird (Dasyornis broadbenti)
52. Southern Emu-Wren (Stipiturus malachurus)
53. Long-toed Stint (Calidris submunita)
54. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialus fulva)
55. White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)


Reptiles:

3. Tussock Skink (Pseudemoia pagenstecheri)
4. Cunningham’s Skink (Egernia cunninghami)
5. Southern Grass Skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii)
6. McCoy’s Skink (Anepischetosia maccoyi)

 

[Chlidonias]

A trip to Taronga Western Plains Zoo yielded just one new species, but I suppose that is to be expected this time of year.

Reptiles
24. Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)

I had you on 22 reptiles - have you missed one out or skipped a number?

 

[Chlidonias]

I am way out with my numbering for reptiles and birds.

These should be numbers 26 and 27.

Birds should be at 507. Not sure how that happened!

Your birds were correct at 525 (perhaps on your own off-forum list you forgot to include the birds seen with Thylo?).

Your reptiles were wrong - as you say you are now on 27.

Your mammals are wrong as well though - you had 46 twice so your current total is up one to 50.

 

[Lafone]

I've had a lot of fun participating in the big year for the first time this year and enjoyed all the amazing birds from around the world.

I didn't think I'd add to my somewhat modest but enjoyable total but today under the small bird feeders at Lakenheath Fen, in the pouring rain, I had great views and hopefully good shots of two Water Rail. I've heard these birds all year and either caught a fleeting glimpse or none at all. A treat as the year draws to a close.

Birds

101. Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus, 21/12/2024, RSPB Lakenheath Fen

The floor under the feeder also had two furry visitors, so snapped those while waiting for the Rail to reappear.

Mammals

12. Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus, 21/12/2024, RSPB Lakenheath Fen

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
509. Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Birds
510. Redpoll Acanthis flammea

 

[KiwiBirb]

Apologies for the long distance between updates, I’ve found myself procrastinating to do one for some reason, even though it is NOT close to the largest update I’ve done. I’ve gotten up to New Hampshire twice more. Among the highlights were a huge variety of Sparrows in Lebanon, a few White-Winged Crossbills (honestly one of the last finches I was expecting) up in Pittsburg, and a flock of Horned Lark and Snow Bunting along the 13-Mile Woods. I’ve also gotten 2 long-awaited species down here in Bergen County too: The Sharp-Shinned Hawk and Purple Finch! As for my plans the rest of the year I will continue birding around the are looking for any potential winter birds in the NYC area, primarily waterfowl, with Barnacle Goose being a big target of mine (I’ll be keeping up with my local rare bird alerts.) I also may be able to go to a College Football Bowl Game in December which, depending on the location, could be a good opportunity for me to sneak in some last-minute birds (heck even mammals or herptiles!)

Birds
251) White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
252) Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)
253) American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)
254) White-Winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
255) Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
256) Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
257) Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
258) Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

Progress:
Mammals- 24
Birds- 258
Herptiles- 15
Total- 297 (almost 300 )
Heard-only Species- 11

After getting back from my last trip to New Hampshire this year, it has been a rough month for birding back here in Jersey. Started off by getting sick after getting back from New Hampshire and missing the final days of the fall migration. After recovering I went to DeKorte park in search of a Hudsonian Godwit but it was nowhere to be seen (it was visible from the parking lot the next day.) The next weekend I traveled to Overpeck Park in search of a pair of Greater White-Fronted Goose which was also a failure (although I did see a rare Cackling Goose, first for my state list!) The next weekend there were reports of Snowy Owl in Bayonne, however the next day when I was around it was gone. After Thanksgiving I took 2 trips to Parsons Pond in search of Wigeon (both American and Eurasian) however missed them by a few hours both times. A trip to the Celery Farm in search of a Virginia Rail turned up nothing but hundreds of Robins, Blackbirds, Geese, and a little Winter Wren. JMU ended up drawing the Boca Raton Bowl, which I couldn’t attend due to scheduling, preventing me from getting a trip down south this year. Last Weekend I traveled to Jersey City in search of a Male Painted Bunting. After about an hour of waiting I had to go get ready for dinner. I saw on eBird later that day that the Bunting that the Bunting showed up less then 10 minutes after I left. Today I was doing nothing so I braved the holiday traffic to travel back down to Jersey City. After another hour of waiting that turned up nothing but an unseasonal Catbird, my feet were beginning to feel like ice blocks. I took one last look at the feeder where it had been hanging out and there was a splash of color among a group of House Sparrows- a Painted Bunting! I unfortunately had no time by this point to stop by Liberty State Park to search for Scaups and Goldeneyes, although I hope to get them after Christmas; however, knowing my luck, this may very well be my last update before the new year.


Birds
259) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Progress:
Mammals- 24
Birds- 259
Herptiles- 15
Total- 298 (almost 300 )
Heard-only Species- 11

 

[CMP]

When I saw a report of three individuals of this species at a site only about 40 minutes from my house, I knew I had to reschedule a meeting and be ready to miss class to see one. It's a species I've looked for and missed before, so it's somewhat of a nemesis bird. Although, with a global population of under 500, and an eastern population of only around 70, can I really consider it a nemesis bird?

I've not updated my invert list in a while. Some really nice species in this group.
Inverts
268. Flat-faced longhorn beetle (Astylidius parvus) (Lifer)
269. Virginian tiger moth (Spilosoma virginica)
270. Cream-edged dichomeris moth (Dichomeris flavocostella) (Lifer)
271. Hairy dichomeris moth (Dichomeris setosella) (Lifer)
272. American rubyspot (Hetaerina americana)
273. Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)
274. Heavy ochre harp ground beetle (Stenolophus ochropezus) (Lifer)
275. Carolina satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) (Lifer)
276. Saddleback caterpillar (Acharia stimulea) (Lifer)
277. Versute sharpshooter (Graphocephala versuta)
278. Double-banded scoliid wasp (Scolia bicincta) (Lifer)
279. Red-abdomen mole cricket hunter (Larra analis) (Lifer)
280. Beggar moth (Eubaphe mendica)
281. Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
282. Blue-winged scoliid wasp (Scolia dubia)
283. White-marked tussock caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma) (Lifer)
284. Maize calligrapher (Toxomerus politus)
285. Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)
286. Poison ivy sawfly (Arge humeralis) (Lifer)
287. Bronze copper (Tharsalea hyllus) (Lifer)
288. American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus)
289. Plain-tailed hanging-theif (Diogmites neoternatus) (Lifer)
290. Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus)
291. Gold moth (Basilodes pepita) (Lifer)
292. Cloudless sulphur (Phoebis sennae) (Lifer)
293. Visored Pygmy Spittlebug (Clastoptera testacea) (Lifer)
294. Red-headed bush cricket (Phyllopalpus pulchellus) (Lifer)
295. Five-banded thynnid wasp (Myzinum quinquecintum)
296. Versute sharpshooter (Graphocephala versuta)
297. Margined blister beetle (Epicauta funebris) (Lifer)
298. False milkweed bug (Lygaeus turcicus)
299. Twice-stabbed stink bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)
300. Metric paper wasp (Polistes metricus)
301. Red-banded hairstreak (Calycopis cecrops) (Lifer)
302. Coppery leafhopper (Jikradia olitoria)
303. Hyaline grass bug (Liorhyssus hyalinus) (Lifer)
304. Spotted beet webworm moth (Hymenia perspectalis)
305. Lucerne moth (Nomophila nearctica)
306. Helmeted squash bug (Euthochtha galeator)
307. American snout (Libytheana carinenta)
308. American cockroach (Periplaneta americana) (Lifer)
309. Citrus flatid planthopper (Metcalfa pruinosa)
310. Rice stink bug (Oebalus pugnax) (Lifer)
311. Bridled arches moth (Lacinipolia lorea) (Lifer)

Bird

Upper Clinton Lake Flats, DeWitt Co. IL​

290. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) (Lifer)

Ecstatic to have seen four percent of the entire eastern population at once, at the same site where the Wood Stork was two months ago.

Got a pretty nice state lifer last weekend at riverbend, a forest preserve of water filled quarries that hold the largest lakes in the county. With finals finally over, I hope to go out in search of one or two more state lifers or year birds.

Bird

Riverbend FP, Champaign, Dec 15​

291. Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)

Insects/Inverts
312. Green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra)
313. Three-spotted fillip (Heterophleps triguttaria)
314. Greenhouse camel cricket (Tachycines asynamorus)
315. Hollow-spotted blepharomastix moth (Blepharomastix ranalis) (Lifer)
316. Pink-masked pyralid moth (Aglossa disciferalis) (Lifer)
317. White-banded pubitelphusa moth (Pubitelphusa latifasciella) (Lifer)
318. Maple-basswood leafroller moth (Cenopis pettitana) (Lifer)
319. Green cone-headed planthopper (Acanalonia conica) (Lifer)
320. Cottonwood leaf beetle (Chrysomela scripta) (Lifer)
321. Wilke’s mining bee (Andrena wilkella)
322. Meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius)
323. Huron sachem (Atalopedes huron)
324. Big sand tiger beetle (Cicindela formosa) (Lifer)
325. Minute pirate bug (Orius tristicolor) (Lifer)
326. Giant sweat bee (Dieunomia heteropoda) (Lifer)
327. Pale green assassin bug (Zelus luridus)
328. Northern spring amphipod (Gammarus pseudolimnaeus) (Lifer)
329. Ocola skipper (Panoquina ocola) (Lifer)
330. Little glassywing (Vernia verna) (Lifer)

Some cool insects in this batch from the latter half of the year. Probably my last invert update, although I hopefully will have some nice additions at the very end of the month.

 

[Giant Eland]

Lots of updates are in order! In October and November I traveled South America for 33 days. Some of the IDs are still unclear, but if they get figured out I'll update later. Here's the haul from the first stop- Bolivia. Wild lifers in Bold.

Yvaga Guazú Ecological Park, Bolivia:
69. Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis) (Oct 12)
70. brown-throated sloth (Bradypus variegatus)
71. white-eared titi monkey (Plecturocebus donacophilus)
72. Bolivian squirrel (Sciurus ignitus)

Las Tortugas Eco lodge, Bolivia:
73. capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) (Oct 14)
74. Argentine brown bat (Eptesicus furinalis)
75. Rio Beni titi monkey (Plecturocebus modestus)
76. common opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
77. Brazilian porcupine (Coendou prehensilis)
78. South American coati (Nasua nasua)
79. Bolivian red howler (Alouatta sara)
80. Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis) (Oct 15)
81. brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata)
82. southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)

Monte Carlo, Bolivia:
83. southern Amazon red squirrel (Sciurus spadiceus)
84. large-headed capuchin (Sapajus macrocephalus)
85. greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus)
86. lesser bulldog bat (Noctilio albiventris)
87. Azara's night monkey (Aotus azarae)
88. short-tailed spiny-rat (Proechimys brevicauda)
89. Olalla brothers's titi monkey (Plecturocebus olallae) (Oct 16)
90. riparian myotis (Myotis riparius)
91. Common Four-eyed Opossum (Philander canus) (Oct 17)
92. greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata)
93. common tapeti (Sylvilagus brasiliensis)
94. Madidi titi monkey (Plecturocebus aureipalatii) (Oct 18)

Tahuamanu Research Station, Bolivia:
95. Pallas's long-tongued bat (Glossophaga soricina) (Oct 19)
96. dark fruit-eating bat (Artibeus obscurus)
97. brown-eared woolly opossum (Caluromys lanatus)
98. Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmanni)
99. Weddell's saddle-back tamarin (Leontocebus weddelli) (Oct 20)
100. Goeldi's monkey (Callimico goeldii)
101. white-lipped tamarin (Saguinus labiatus)
102. elegant rice rat (Euryoryzomys nitidus)
103. Simons's spiny rat (Proechimys simonsi)
104. tayra (Eira barbara) (Oct 21)
105. shock-headed capuchin (Cebus cuscinus)
106. Gray's Bald-faced Saki (Pithecia irrorata)
107. kinkajou (Potos flavus)
108. bicolored-spined porcupine (Coendou bicolor) (Oct 22)
109. brown four-eyed opossum (Metachirus nudicaudatus)

Next up is Chile which also featured some really special captive mammals that I'll mention at the end. Was really happy to see a couple new wild families, especially Chinchilla Rat which I've hardly ever heard people mention. Also made up for a few misses the last time I went to Chiloe Island in Darwin's Fox and Southern River Otter! Wild lifers in bold as usual.

Las Chinchillas National Reserve, Chile:
110. common degu (Octodon degus) (Oct 25)
111. European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
112. Valparaiso Myotis (Myotis arescens)
113. long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera) (Oct 26)
114. Bennett's chinchilla rat (Abrocoma bennettii)

Huinca Limache, Chile:
115. coruro (Spalacopus cyanus) (Oct 27)

Parque Nacional La Campana, Chile:
116. long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus)

Parque Tepuhueico, Chiloe Island, Chile:
117. Southern Pudu (Pudu puda) (Oct 28)
118. southern big-eared brown bat (Histiotus magellanicus)
119. Chilean Myotis (Myotis chiloensis)
120. Southern Monito del Monte (Dromiciops gliroides)
121. Darwin's Fox (Lycalopex fulvipes) (Oct 30)
122. Hairy Soft-haired Mouse (Abrothrix hirta) (Oct 31)
123. Southern River Otter (Lontra provocax)

Queilén, Chiloe Island, Chile:
124. South American Sea Lion (Otaria flavescens)


And just for fun the new captive species I saw:

*Darwin's Leaf-eared Mouse (Phyllotis darwini)
*Kodkod (Leopardus guigna) (not totally new but my 1st decent photos, and 1st non-melanistic)
*South Andean Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus)
*Central Chilean Colocolo (Leopardus colocola)
*Elegant Fat-tailed Mouse Opossum (Thylamys elegans)

 

[oflory]

A little zoo trip down to the lovely Shaldon Wildlife Trust for the Owston's civet (finally seen!) gets me another mammal and another bird (the latter a much wanted lifer!) for the year. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to get up to Cambridgeshire for wild swans before the New Year...

Mammals
40. Roe deer

Birds
492. Cirl bunting

Some further additions from the Gambia - identified from photos (not all the herps, I hasten to add). And that ends (probably) my 2024 Big Year!

Mammals
41. Variegated butterfly bat

Herps
6. West African crocodile
7. Nile monitor
8. Common agama
9. West African mud turtle
10. Brown-flanked skink
11. Tropical house gecko
12. Sierra Leone wall gecko
13. Broad-banded grass frog
14. Crowned bullfrog
15. Francis's puddle frog