Zoochat Big Year 2024

[Chlidonias]

Birds (and one mammal) from the Yingjiang and Nabang part of my trip in China.


Laifengshan again

Birds:
273) Verditer Flycatcher Eumyias thalassinus


Yingjiang Wetland Park

Birds:
274) Osprey Pandion haliaetus
275) Collared Mynah Acridotheres albocinctus
276) Grey-breasted Prinia Prinia hodgsonii
277) Tickell’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus affinis
278) Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
279) Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
280) Grey-throated Martin Riparia chinensis
281) Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
282) Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
283) Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola
284) Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus


Nabang

Birds:
285) Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
286) Indian Pied Starling Gracupica contra
287) Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius
288) Striated Heron Butorides striata
289) White-vented (Great) Mynah Acridotheres grandis
290) Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica
291) Hair-crested Drongo Dicrurus hottentottus
292) Blue-bearded Bee-eater Nyctyornis athertoni
293) Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
294) Crow-billed Drongo Dicrurus annectens
295) Bianchi’s Warbler Phylloscopus valentini
296) Rufous-faced Warbler Abroscopus albogularis
297) Grey-lored Broadbill Serilophus rubropygius (a split from the Silver-breasted Broadbill Serilophus lunatus)
298) Hill Blue Flycatcher Cyornis whitei
299) Little Spiderhunter Arachnothera longirostra
300) Black-naped Monarch Hypothymis azurea
301) Yellow-bellied Warbler Abroscopus superciliaris
302) Black-backed Forktail Enicurus immaculatus

Mammals:
16) Anderson’s Squirrel Callosciurus quinquestriatus


Yingjiang Wetland Park again

Birds:
303) Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
304) Brown Hawk Owl Ninox scutulata
305) Yellow-eyed Babbler Chrysomma sinense
306) Common Merganser Mergus merganser

 

[Lafone]

Well, er... lets follow that with a Sparrow...! What a list though between the squirrels and the warblers.

I've sought these all year for a picture (with a false identification in April) and finally at Welney today (with plans to go to the Ouse washes in the afternoon to see if I could find them) there was a little flock of Tree Sparrows on the right hand side entrance to the Lady Fen walk.

102, Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, 23/12/2024 WWT Welney

 

[Giant Eland]

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)

In today's edition I'll cover Argentina! This was the third and final stop from my month in South America and included a very special family lifer! I was also extremely pleased to finally get a Pichi armadillo after thinking I had seen one that was labeled incorrectly at Temaikèn Zoo a decade earlier. Wild lifers in bold of course!

El Manantial, Argentina:
125. seven-banded armadillo (Dasypus septemcinctus) (Nov 3)
126. Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus)
127. European hare (Lepus europaeus)
128. nutria (Myocastor coypus)
129. white-eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris)
130. screaming hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus vellerosus)
131. small vesper mouse (Calomys laucha)
132. big hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus)

General Lavalle, Argentina:
133. South American hoary bat (Lasiurus villosissimus) (Nov 4)
134. Molina's hog-nosed skunk (Conepatus chinga)
135. Talas tuco-tuco (Ctenomys talarum) (Nov 5)

Mar Chiquita, Argentina:
136. South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) (Nov 6)
137. La Plata dolphin or franciscana (Pontoporia blainvillei)
138. southern right whale (Eubalaena australis)
139. Brazilian guinea pig (Cavia aperea)
140. lesser grison (Galictis cuja)

Necochea, Argentina:
141. Red Hocicudo (Oxymycterus rufus) (Nov 7)
142. southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)
143. Dune Tuco-tuco (Ctenomys australis)
144. web-footed marsh rat (Holochilus brasiliensis)
145. plains viscacha (Lagostomus maximus)

Monte Hermoso, Argentina:
146. Puma (Puma concolor) (Nov 8)

Villarino, Argentina:
147. southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis) (Nov 9)
148. lowland yellow-toothed cavy (Galea leucoblephara)
149. Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

Pedro Luro, Argentina:
150. Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) (Nov 10)
151. pichi (Zaedyus pichiy) (Nov 11)
152. drylands vesper mouse (Calomys musculinus)
153. Lowland Gerbil Mouse (Eligmodontia typus)
https://www.ecoregistros.org/sheet/Eligmodontia-typus

Ethiopia is up next!

 

[Giant Eland]

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Now let's go to the Horn of Africa! It was an honor to join Jon Hall, Charles Foley and Ian Thompson on this quest for the elusive Dibatag! I'd have to imagine it's the first time a member of zoochat has seen one

I was hoping for at least one, but got two wild family lifers from this visit!

This also marks the first time I've seen at least one new mammal (towards the big year) for every month of the year!

Wild lifers in bold.

Gerdame, Ethiopia:
154. unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) (Dec 3)
155. Harar Dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana hararensis)
156. Günther's dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri)
157. African wolf (Canis lupaster)
158. gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)
159. desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
160. Speke's pectinator (Pectinator spekei) (Dec 4)
161. heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor)
162. Somalian gerbil (Gerbillus somalicus)
163. Silver Dik-dik (Madoqua piacentinii)
164. Dibatag (Ammodorcas clarkei)
165. Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus)
166. common genet (Genetta genetta)
167. rufous elephant shrew (Galegeeska rufescens) (Dec 5)
168. Ethiopia lesser galago (Galago senegalensis dunni) (Dec 6)
169. naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) (Dec 7)
170. Ammodile (Ammodillus imbellis) (Dec 8)

Degehabur, Ethiopia:
171. Somali Grass Rat (Arvicanthis somalicus) (Dec 9)

 

[Rayane]

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Now let's go to the Horn of Africa! It was an honor to join Jon Hall, Charles Foley and Ian Thompson on this quest for the elusive Dibatag! I'd have to imagine it's the first time a member of zoochat has seen one

I was hoping for at least one, but got two wild family lifers from this visit!

This also marks the first time I've seen at least one new mammal (towards the big year) for every month of the year!

Wild lifers in bold.

Gerdame, Ethiopia:
154. unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) (Dec 3)
155. Harar Dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana hararensis)
156. Günther's dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri)
157. African wolf (Canis lupaster)
158. gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)
159. desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
160. Speke's pectinator (Pectinator spekei) (Dec 4)
161. heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor)
162. Somalian gerbil (Gerbillus somalicus)
163. Silver Dik-dik (Madoqua piacentinii)
164. Dibatag (Ammodorcas clarkei)
165. Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus)
166. common genet (Genetta genetta)
167. rufous elephant shrew (Galegeeska rufescens) (Dec 5)
168. Ethiopia lesser galago (Galago senegalensis dunni) (Dec 6)
169. naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) (Dec 7)
170. Ammodile (Ammodillus imbellis) (Dec 8)

Degehabur, Ethiopia:
171. Somali Grass Rat (Arvicanthis somalicus) (Dec 9)

Couldn't you consider the Gerenuks you saw lifers too? I think they could be ssp. Sclateri unlike the ones you had seen before, right?

Can't wait for the Ammodilus pictures, probably the first ones ever taken?

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

How did you see Naked Mole Rat?

 

[WalkingAgnatha]

302) Black-backed Forktail Enicurus immaculatus

Forktails are nice! Anywhere close to completing that set?

 

[Chlidonias]

Forktails are nice! Anywhere close to completing that set?

I just checked and Black-backed was the final one. I'm not sure why I haven't seen Black-backed before - I rather suspect I have probably seen it somewhere like northern Thailand but not well enough to get an ID. Forktails are often quite flighty and some of the species are quite similar.

This is where I have seen the other species:

Bornean Montane Forktail E. borneensis (Sabah)
White-crowned Forktail E. leschenaulti (Java; Peninsular Malaysia; Sabah; Thailand; Burma; China)
Spotted Forktail E. maculatus (China)
Chestnut-naped Forktail E. ruficapillus (Peninsular Malaysia; Sarawak)
Slaty-backed Forktail E. schistaceus (Peninsular Malaysia; Thailand; China)
Little Forktail E. scouleri (China)
Lesser (Sunda) Forktail E. velatus (Java)

 

[Giant Eland]

Couldn't you consider the Gerenuks you saw lifers too? I think they could be ssp. Sclateri unlike the ones you had seen before, right?

Can't wait for the Ammodilus pictures, probably the first ones ever taken?

@Rayane I had actually already seen Northern Gerenuk at Aledeghi Wildlife Reserve back in 2019, so that's why it didn't get the lifer shout-out. Yes, will be excited to post the Ammodilus photos when I get the chance!!

How did you see Naked Mole Rat?

@Tetzoo Quizzer there were active borrows a 5 minutes walk from the camp we had set up near Gerdame. They were kicking up sand each day around 1pm. They don't come out very much so the key was finding a hole that was a bit on an angle so it was easier to see further inside. I was able to see the back half of the animal an a quick flash of the head.

 

[Bisonblake]

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 walked along Lake Michigan to get back to my car. I wasn't expecting to see anything interesting, but to my surprise, there was a lone willet! I saw a bunch of them in Key West earlier this year, but this was my first in breeding plumage.

7/3/24
Birds:
171. American redstart Setophaga ruticilla
172. Ruffed grouse Bonasa umbellus
173. Eastern wood-pewee Contopus virens
174. Veery Catharus fuscescens
175. Piping plover Charadrius melodus

Total Species: 220
Birds: 175
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 18

Between a lack of motivation and some stuff in my personal life, I haven't done much birding since my last post here. Now, it looks like I will fall short of my goal of 200 birds by the end of the year, but it was a fun year of birding. There are still a few days until I reach my goal, but I may need a miracle. Here's a little recap of what I've seen between July 3rd and today:

Birds:
7/11/24
176. Purple martin Progne subis

8/12/24
177. Solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria
178. Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
179. Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla

9/16/24
180. Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus

10/13/24
181. Wilson's snipe Gallinago delicata
182. Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla
183. Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos

10/24/24
184. Lincoln's sparrow Melospiza lincolnii

10/28/24
185. Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis
186. Horned grebe Podiceps auritus

Total Species: 220
Birds: 186
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 18

 

[Chlidonias]

And I am now all up to date with my bird lists:


Pianma Pass

307) Common (Winter) Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
308) Yellow-billed Blue Magpie Urocissa flavirostra
309) Assam Laughing Thrush Trochalopteron chrysopterum
310) Black-faced Laughing Thrush Trochalopteron affine
311) Stripe-throated Yuhina Yuhina gularis
312) Rusty-flanked Treecreeper Certhia nipalensis
313) Beautiful Sibia Heterphasia pulchella

Dali

314) White-crowned Forktail Enicurus leschenaulti
315) Tibetan Serin Serinus thibetanus
316) Yellow-throated Bunting Emberiza elegans
317) Long-tailed Minivet Pericrocotus ethologus
318) Blue-fronted Redstart Phoenicurus frontalis
319) Russet Sparrow Passer cinnamomeus
320) Scaly Laughing Thrush Trochalopteron subunicolor
321) Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris
322) Black Eagle Ictinaetus malayensis
323) White-browed Fulvetta Fulvetta vinipectus
324) Golden-breasted Fulvetta Lioparus chrysotis
325) Bar-tailed Treecreeper Certhia himalayana

 

[Junklekitteb]

Sorry for the massive hiatus, I’ve been somewhat busy (I joined college), and also simply been too lazy sit down and type an update out. The following species are from many different places and times:

• The first few reptiles were left-overs from my March visit to Wayanad I described in a previous update.
• The first set of birds and the gaur are from a trip with my family to Ooty (Udhagamandalam) the Nilgiri mountains in June. The Nilgiri laughingthrush is completely endemic to this range, and many other species from the Western Ghats were first described from here. I dipped on a few endemics I certainly could have seen, but it was certainly an interesting trip overall. It was especially unique (and frightening) seeing a wild bull gaur roaming around on busy streets right amidst people. In the 19th century this town was set up as summer retreat by the overheated British, and it has remained a popular tourist site since. It was disheartening was how horribly destroyed the landscape was, with the forests being replaced with groves of pines and eucalypts, mountainsides covered in tea plantations and nearly every valley submerged by a dam. Many species were also seen on the way there and back, including some adorable gaur calves.
• The second set of birds and reptiles are from Bangalore, seen during the chances I got here and there to go birding/herping, nothing special to report here.
• The third set of birds and the second set of mammals are from the forests of the Eastern Ghats near the Cauvery River, now a wildlife sanctuary bearing the river’s name. Although the Western Ghats forests near Mysore are more well known, until relatively recently the Eastern Ghats forests were also quite rich in wildlife, as described in the accounts of big game hunter Kenneth Anderson. It is perhaps the only place in the state of Karnataka that one can see Grizzled Giant Squirrels. The crocodiles are also from here.
• Lastly, the remaining birds and mammals are from a recent visit to Kodiyakkarai, or as it is known in English, Point Calimere. You may know it as previously one of the wintering sites for Spoon-billed Sandpipers, or for being one of the important sites for ringing and banding in India. Since I had never done much birding near the seashore most of the birds seen were completely new to me. The land and freshwater areas of the sanctuary there also provided some new animals, especially excellent views of wild blackbuck.

Birds
118. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
119. Red-naped Ibis Pseudibis papillosa
120. Brahminy Myna Sturnia pagodarum
121. Nilgiri Black-chinned Laughingthrush Montecincla cachinnans
122. Nilgiri Wood-pigeon Columba elphinstonii
123. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
124. Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher Culicicapa ceylonensis
125. Scaly-breasted Munia Lonchura punctulata
126. Jungle Babbler Argya striata
127. Nilgiri Flycatcher Eumyias albicaudata
128. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
---
129. Baya Weaver Ploceus philippinus
130. White-rumped Munia Lonchura striata
131. Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
132. Red Avadavat Amandava amandava
133. Jungle Prinia Prinia sylvatica
134. Plain Prinia Prinia inornata
135. Pied Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
136. Grey-bellied Cuckoo Cacomantis passerinus
137. Jerdon’s Bushlark Plocealauda affinis
138. Indian Large Cuckooshrike Coracina macei
139. Large Grey Babbler Argya malcolmi
140. Asian Barn Owl Tyto javanica
141. Indian Shag Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
---
142. Black-hooded Oriole Oriolus xanthornus
143. Jungle Owlet Glaucidium radiatum
144. Loten’s Sunbird Cinnyris lotenius
145. Common Woodshrike Tephrodornis pondicerianus
146. Stork-billed Kingfisher Pelargopsis capensis
147. Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker Yungipicus nanus
149. Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
150. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
---
151. Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius
152. Tibetan Sand Plover Anarhynchus atrifrons
153. Temminck’s Stint Calidris temminckii
154. Kentish Plover Anarhynchus alexandrinus
155. Common Redshank Tringa totanus
156. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
157. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
158. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
159. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
160. Northern Pintail Anas (Dafila) acuta
161. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
162. Brown-headed Gull Chroicocephalus brunnicephalus
163. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
164. Median Egret Ardea intermedia
165. Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
166. Chestnut-winged Cuckoo Clamator coromandus
167. Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
168. Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
169. Striated Heron Butorides striata
170. Orange-breasted Green-pigeon Treron bicinctus
171. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus, probably L. f. heuglini
172. Little Stint Calidris minuta
173. Northern Shoveller Spatula clypeata
174. Pacific Golden-plover Pluvialis fulva
175. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
176. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
177. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
178. Small Pratincole Glareola lactea
179. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
180. Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope
181. Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata
182. Rosy Starling Pastor roseus
183. Common Tern Sterna hirundo
- Philippine Brown Shrike Lanius cristatus lucionensis
184. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
185. Long-toed Stint Calidris subminuta
186. Oriental Skylark Alauda gulgula
187. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
188. Great Egret Ardea alba
- Little/Saunder’s Tern Sternula albifrons/saundersi
- Snipe sp. Gallinago/Lymnocryptes sp.

Mammals
11. Gaur Bos gaurus
---
12. Grizzled Giant Squirrel Ratufa macroura dandolena
13. Tufted Grey Langur Semnopithecus priam
---
14. Blackbuck Antelope Antilope cervicapra cervicapra
15. Feral Horse Equus caballus
16. Feral Cattle Bos taurus
17. Indian Wild Boar Sus (scrofa) cristatus

Reptiles
2. Southern Flying Dragon Draco dussumieri
3. Checkered Keelback Fowlea piscator
- Kukri Snake Oligodon sp., probably Western O. affinis
- Forest Lizard Monilesaurus sp., probably Elliot’s M. ellioti
---
4. Bamboo Pit-viper Craspedocephalus gramineus
5. Indian Chameleon Chamaeleo zeylanicus
6. Bloodsucker Calotes versicolor
---
7. Mugger-much Crocodylus palustris

 

[Giant Eland]

Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Now let's go to the Horn of Africa! It was an honor to join Jon Hall, Charles Foley and Ian Thompson on this quest for the elusive Dibatag! I'd have to imagine it's the first time a member of zoochat has seen one

I was hoping for at least one, but got two wild family lifers from this visit!

This also marks the first time I've seen at least one new mammal (towards the big year) for every month of the year!

Wild lifers in bold.

Gerdame, Ethiopia:
154. unstriped ground squirrel (Xerus rutilus) (Dec 3)
155. Harar Dik-dik (Madoqua saltiana hararensis)
156. Günther's dik-dik (Madoqua guentheri)
157. African wolf (Canis lupaster)
158. gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)
159. desert warthog (Phacochoerus aethiopicus)
160. Speke's pectinator (Pectinator spekei) (Dec 4)
161. heart-nosed bat (Cardioderma cor)
162. Somalian gerbil (Gerbillus somalicus)
163. Silver Dik-dik (Madoqua piacentinii)
164. Dibatag (Ammodorcas clarkei)
165. Abyssinian hare (Lepus habessinicus)
166. common genet (Genetta genetta)
167. rufous elephant shrew (Galegeeska rufescens) (Dec 5)
168. Ethiopia lesser galago (Galago senegalensis dunni) (Dec 6)
169. naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) (Dec 7)
170. Ammodile (Ammodillus imbellis) (Dec 8)

Degehabur, Ethiopia:
171. Somali Grass Rat (Arvicanthis somalicus) (Dec 9)

One final update for the year and it's a special one! Djibouti!! Fun to say and even more fun to visit. This country hugely outdid all of our expectations! Beira was the biggest target for me. I was invited to visit Al Wabra in Qatar back in 2013 but my dad had complications with a cancer surgery so I understandably canceled the trip. The next time I reached out was 2018, but by then they were closing up and had already lost their Beira.

Fast-forward to the beginning of this month, and I finally had another chance 11 years after my initial near miss! On top of that Maned Rat was my biggest miss on my Kenya trip in 2021, which I also had another chance at. Lastly we had the potential to see Somali Elephant Shrew and Ethiopian Genet- two species hardly known to science!!

Wild lifers in bold, you know the drill.

Djalelo Camp, Djibouti:
172. Pelzen's gazelle (Gazella dorcas pelzeni) (Dec 10)
173. crested porcupine (Hystrix cristata)
174. Mullah spiny mouse (Acomys mullah)
175. rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) (Dec 11)
176. Soemmerring's gazelle (Nanger soemmerringii)

Assamo Camp, Djibouti:
177. Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis)
178. Louise's spiny mouse (Acomys louisae)
179. Egyptian tomb bat (Taphozous perforatus) (Dec 12)

Dittilou Camp, Djibouti:
180. grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops)
181. Ethiopian Genet (Genetta abyssinica)
182. white-tailed mongoose (Ichneumia albicauda)
183. Maned Rat (Lophiomys imhausi)
184. Somali Elephant Shrew (Galegeeska revoilii) (Dec 13)
185. bush hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei)
186. Somali Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragus somalicus)
187. common slender mongoose (Herpestes sanguineus) (Dec 14)
188. hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas)

Ahhh, what a year!

 

[Crotalus]

Again been a while since I've been on here! Since my last post I have gone to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in north Alabama twice and both times scored some amazing birds - the highlight, of course, being Whooping Cranes! This National Wildlife Refuge hosts up to 20,000 Sandhill Cranes each fall through spring, and almost every year, they are joined by at least 1 larger cousin - one of the rarest birds in the United States. The Refuge has hosted up to 29 Whooping Cranes in a single winter at its peak. I was lucky enough to see one when I was there, which stayed visible for my visit a few days later.
The other major wildlife hotspot was, of course, Panama - I stayed on the Azuero Peninsula in Los Santos Province and fished and hiked for about a week. I had been to Costa Rica before, so there were some species I'd seen before - Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Boat-Billed Flycatcher, White-Nosed Coati, and Variegated Squirrel to name a few. However, there were a whole host of new species I had never seen before, including some amazing marine and pelagic life: Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Whitetip Reef Shark, boobies & shearwaters, and Giant Oceanic Manta Ray! Some nighttime tidepooling was also a species-rich adventure. An amazing trip both experience and wildlife wise.

Mammals:
13. Azuero Howler (Alouatta coibensis trabeata) – 12/15/24*
14. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) – 12/16/24
15. Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris orientalis) – 12/18/24
16. Variegated Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides) – 12/19/24
17. White-Nosed Coati (Nasua narica) – 12/19/24

Birds:
181. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) – 11/18/24
182. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) – 11/24/24
183. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) – 11/25/24
184. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) – 11/26/24
185. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) – 11/26/24
186. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – 11/26/24
187. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – 11/26/24
188. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) – 11/26/24
189. Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) – 11/26/24
190. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) – 11/26/24
191. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) – 11/26/24
192. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) – 11/26/24
193. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) – 11/30/24
194. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 11/30/24
195. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) – 11/30/24
196. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) – 11/30/24
197. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) – 12/11/24
198. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) – 12/11/24
199. American Wigeon (Mareca americana) – 12/11/24
200. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) – 12/11/24
201. Great-Tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – 12/15/24
202. Yellow-Headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) – 12/15/24
203. Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) – 12/15/24
204. Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) – 12/15/24
205. White-Tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) – 12/15/24
206. Orange-Chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis)
207. Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) – 12/15/24
208. Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) – 12/15/24
209. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) – 12/16/24
210. Wedge-Tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) – 12/16/24
211. Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) – 12/16/24
212. Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) – 12/17/24
213. Blue-Footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) – 12/17/24
214. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) – 12/17/24
215. Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) – 12/17/24
216. Boat-Billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) – 12/17/24
217. Blue-Gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) – 12/17/24
218. Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) – 12/17/24
219. Groove-Billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) – 12/18/24
220. Sapphire-Throated Hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis) – 12/19/24
221. Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) – 12/19/24
222. Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) – 12/19/24
223. Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) – 12/19/24
224. Red-Crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) – 12/19/24
225. Yellow-Bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) – 12/19/24
226. Rufous-and-White Wren (Thryophilus rufalbus) – 12/19/24
227. Gray-Breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) – 12/19/24
228. White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) – 12/19/24
229. Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) – 12/19/24
230. Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus subalaris) – 12/20/24
231. Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – 12/20/24
232. Nazca Booby (Sula granti) – 12/20/24
233. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) – 12/20/24
234. Clay-Colored Thrush (Turdus grayi) – 12/20/24
235. Gray-Cowled Wood-Rail (Aramides cajaneus) – 12/21/24

Reptiles:
17. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) – 12/16/24
18. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) – 12/17/24
19. Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) – 12/17/24
20. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) – 12/18/24
21. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) – 12/19/24
22. Whitenose Blind Snake (Liotyphlops albirostris) – 12/19/24

Fish:
13. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) – 12/16/24
14. Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) – 12/16/24
15. Big-Eyed Jack (Caranx sexfasciatus) – 12/16/24
16. Orangeside Triggerfish (Sufflamen verres) – 12/16/24
17. Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis) – 12/16/24
18. Pacific Dog Snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) – 12/16/24
19. White-Spotted Puffer (Arothron hispidus) – 12/17/24
20. Striped Bonito (Sarda orientalis) – 12/17/24
21. Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus) – 12/17/24
22. Blackfin Barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) – 12/17/24
23. Baja California Scorpionfish (Pontinus furcirhinus) – 12/17/24
24. Yellow Snake Eel (Ophichthus zophochir) – 12/17/24
25. Indo-Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) – 12/18/24
26. Blue Runner (Caranx crysos) – 12/18/24
27. Panamic Frillfin Goby (Bathygobius ramosus) – 12/19/24
28. Dusky Sergeant (Abudefduf concolor) – 12/19/24
29. Acapulco Major (Stegastes acapulcoensis) – 12/19/24
30. White Mullet (Mugil curema) – 12/19/24
31. Tinsel Squirrelfish (Sargocentron suborbitale) – 12/19/24
32. Palenose Moray (Echidna nocturna) – 12/19/24
33. Panamic Clingfish (Gobiesox adustus) – 12/19/24
34. Southern Blenny (Malacoctenus sudensis) – 12/19/24
35. Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) – 12/20/24
36. Blue and Gold Snapper (Lutjanus viridis) – 12/20/24


Invertebrates:
92. Teminius hirsutus [wolf spider] – 12/17/24
93. Philophyllia guttulata [katydid] - 12/17/24
94. Tropical House Cricket (Gryllodes sigilatus)
95. Hancock’s River Prawn (Macrobrachium carcinus) – 12/17/24
96. Painted Ghost Crab (Ocypode gaudichaudii) – 12/19/24
97. Ecuadorian Hermit Crab (Coenobita compressus) – 12/19/24
98. Lumpy Claw Crab (Eriphia squamata) – 12/19/24
99. Red Land Crab (Gecarcinus quadratus) – 12/19/24
100. Striped Shore Crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes) – 12/19/24
101. Calcinus obscurus [hermit crab] – 12/19/24
102. Purple Bristle Crab (Eriphides hispida) – 12/19/24
103. Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) – 12/19/24
104. Tropical Orbweaver (Eriophora ravilla) – 12/19/24
105. Mabel Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyrobapta) – 12/19/24
106. Stokes’s Chiton (Chiton stokesii) – 12/19/24
107. Nicaragua Sea Hare (Dolabrifera nicaraguana) – 12/19/24


Butterflies & Moths:
34. Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima) – 12/19/24
35. Common Morpho (Morpho helenor) – 12/19/24


*New World primate taxonomy seems to always be in flux, and the howlers are no exception. The howlers on the Azuero Peninsula, specifically, are, right now, recognized as a separate species from the Mantled Howler, being a subspecies of the Coiba Island Howler. Even this may change, though, as some authorities believe that the mainland Azuero howlers constitute their own species. Right now, I have chosen to label them as a subspecies of the Coiba Island Howler.

 

[birdsandbats]

Again been a while since I've been on here! Since my last post I have gone to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in north Alabama twice and both times scored some amazing birds - the highlight, of course, being Whooping Cranes! This National Wildlife Refuge hosts up to 20,000 Sandhill Cranes each fall through spring, and almost every year, they are joined by at least 1 larger cousin - one of the rarest birds in the United States. The Refuge has hosted up to 29 Whooping Cranes in a single winter at its peak. I was lucky enough to see one when I was there, which stayed visible for my visit a few days later.
The other major wildlife hotspot was, of course, Panama - I stayed on the Azuero Peninsula in Los Santos Province and fished and hiked for about a week. I had been to Costa Rica before, so there were some species I'd seen before - Tropical Kingbird, Great Kiskadee, Boat-Billed Flycatcher, White-Nosed Coati, and Variegated Squirrel to name a few. However, there were a whole host of new species I had never seen before, including some amazing marine and pelagic life: Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake, Whitetip Reef Shark, boobies & shearwaters, and Giant Oceanic Manta Ray! Some nighttime tidepooling was also a species-rich adventure. An amazing trip both experience and wildlife wise.

Mammals:
13. Azuero Howler (Alouatta coibensis trabeata) – 12/15/24*
14. Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) – 12/16/24
15. Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris orientalis) – 12/18/24
16. Variegated Squirrel (Sciurus variegatoides) – 12/19/24
17. White-Nosed Coati (Nasua narica) – 12/19/24

Birds:
181. Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) – 11/18/24
182. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) – 11/24/24
183. Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) – 11/25/24
184. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) – 11/26/24
185. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) – 11/26/24
186. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – 11/26/24
187. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – 11/26/24
188. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) – 11/26/24
189. Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) – 11/26/24
190. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) – 11/26/24
191. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) – 11/26/24
192. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) – 11/26/24
193. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) – 11/30/24
194. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 11/30/24
195. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) – 11/30/24
196. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) – 11/30/24
197. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) – 12/11/24
198. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) – 12/11/24
199. American Wigeon (Mareca americana) – 12/11/24
200. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) – 12/11/24
201. Great-Tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) – 12/15/24
202. Yellow-Headed Caracara (Daptrius chimachima) – 12/15/24
203. Squirrel Cuckoo (Piaya cayana) – 12/15/24
204. Ruddy Ground Dove (Columbina talpacoti) – 12/15/24
205. White-Tipped Dove (Leptotila verreauxi) – 12/15/24
206. Orange-Chinned Parakeet (Brotogeris jugularis)
207. Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) – 12/15/24
208. Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) – 12/15/24
209. Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) – 12/16/24
210. Wedge-Tailed Shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) – 12/16/24
211. Common Pauraque (Nyctidromus albicollis) – 12/16/24
212. Cocos Booby (Sula brewsteri) – 12/17/24
213. Blue-Footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) – 12/17/24
214. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) – 12/17/24
215. Tropical Mockingbird (Mimus gilvus) – 12/17/24
216. Boat-Billed Flycatcher (Megarynchus pitangua) – 12/17/24
217. Blue-Gray Tanager (Thraupis episcopus) – 12/17/24
218. Palm Tanager (Thraupis palmarum) – 12/17/24
219. Groove-Billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) – 12/18/24
220. Sapphire-Throated Hummingbird (Chrysuronia coeruleogularis) – 12/19/24
221. Green Kingfisher (Chloroceryle americana) – 12/19/24
222. Common Black Hawk (Buteogallus anthracinus) – 12/19/24
223. Roadside Hawk (Rupornis magnirostris) – 12/19/24
224. Red-Crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus) – 12/19/24
225. Yellow-Bellied Elaenia (Elaenia flavogaster) – 12/19/24
226. Rufous-and-White Wren (Thryophilus rufalbus) – 12/19/24
227. Gray-Breasted Martin (Progne chalybea) – 12/19/24
228. White-Winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) – 12/19/24
229. Southern House Wren (Troglodytes musculus) – 12/19/24
230. Galapagos Shearwater (Puffinus subalaris) – 12/20/24
231. Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) – 12/20/24
232. Nazca Booby (Sula granti) – 12/20/24
233. Ferruginous Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium brasilianum) – 12/20/24
234. Clay-Colored Thrush (Turdus grayi) – 12/20/24
235. Gray-Cowled Wood-Rail (Aramides cajaneus) – 12/21/24

Reptiles:
17. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) – 12/16/24
18. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) – 12/17/24
19. Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake (Hydrophis platurus) – 12/17/24
20. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) – 12/18/24
21. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) – 12/19/24
22. Whitenose Blind Snake (Liotyphlops albirostris) – 12/19/24

Fish:
13. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) – 12/16/24
14. Little Tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus) – 12/16/24
15. Big-Eyed Jack (Caranx sexfasciatus) – 12/16/24
16. Orangeside Triggerfish (Sufflamen verres) – 12/16/24
17. Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis) – 12/16/24
18. Pacific Dog Snapper (Lutjanus novemfasciatus) – 12/16/24
19. White-Spotted Puffer (Arothron hispidus) – 12/17/24
20. Striped Bonito (Sarda orientalis) – 12/17/24
21. Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus) – 12/17/24
22. Blackfin Barracuda (Sphyraena qenie) – 12/17/24
23. Baja California Scorpionfish (Pontinus furcirhinus) – 12/17/24
24. Yellow Snake Eel (Ophichthus zophochir) – 12/17/24
25. Indo-Pacific Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) – 12/18/24
26. Blue Runner (Caranx crysos) – 12/18/24
27. Panamic Frillfin Goby (Bathygobius ramosus) – 12/19/24
28. Dusky Sergeant (Abudefduf concolor) – 12/19/24
29. Acapulco Major (Stegastes acapulcoensis) – 12/19/24
30. White Mullet (Mugil curema) – 12/19/24
31. Tinsel Squirrelfish (Sargocentron suborbitale) – 12/19/24
32. Palenose Moray (Echidna nocturna) – 12/19/24
33. Panamic Clingfish (Gobiesox adustus) – 12/19/24
34. Southern Blenny (Malacoctenus sudensis) – 12/19/24
35. Whitetip Reef Shark (Triaenodon obesus) – 12/20/24
36. Blue and Gold Snapper (Lutjanus viridis) – 12/20/24


Invertebrates:
92. Teminius hirsutus [wolf spider] – 12/17/24
93. Philophyllia guttulata [katydid] - 12/17/24
94. Tropical House Cricket (Gryllodes sigilatus)
95. Hancock’s River Prawn (Macrobrachium carcinus) – 12/17/24
96. Painted Ghost Crab (Ocypode gaudichaudii) – 12/19/24
97. Ecuadorian Hermit Crab (Coenobita compressus) – 12/19/24
98. Lumpy Claw Crab (Eriphia squamata) – 12/19/24
99. Red Land Crab (Gecarcinus quadratus) – 12/19/24
100. Striped Shore Crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes) – 12/19/24
101. Calcinus obscurus [hermit crab] – 12/19/24
102. Purple Bristle Crab (Eriphides hispida) – 12/19/24
103. Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis) – 12/19/24
104. Tropical Orbweaver (Eriophora ravilla) – 12/19/24
105. Mabel Orchard Orbweaver (Leucauge argyrobapta) – 12/19/24
106. Stokes’s Chiton (Chiton stokesii) – 12/19/24
107. Nicaragua Sea Hare (Dolabrifera nicaraguana) – 12/19/24


Butterflies & Moths:
34. Banded Peacock (Anartia fatima) – 12/19/24
35. Common Morpho (Morpho helenor) – 12/19/24


*New World primate taxonomy seems to always be in flux, and the howlers are no exception. The howlers on the Azuero Peninsula, specifically, are, right now, recognized as a separate species from the Mantled Howler, being a subspecies of the Coiba Island Howler. Even this may change, though, as some authorities believe that the mainland Azuero howlers constitute their own species. Right now, I have chosen to label them as a subspecies of the Coiba Island Howler.

How did you miss Orange-chinned Parakeet in Costa Rica initially?

 

[Crotalus]

How did you miss Orange-chinned Parakeet in Costa Rica initially?

Good question In hindsight they were probably all around me, especially in Puntarenas, and I neglected to count them. Then again, I also didn't count the Yellow-Headed Caracara in CR which is equally as omnipresent

 

[Prochilodus246]

A walk on patch back on Boxing Day saw me see this unwelcome mammal added to both my year list and also my patch list:

20) American Mink Neogale vision

However, oncer again I am adding to my invertebrate totals. This time it is a moth which I caught back in August in Norfolk that I have only just received an identification on:

340) Small China-mark Cataclysta lemnata

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
510. Redpoll Acanthis flammea

Another crazy twitch here in Wisconsin, the ABA area's second furthest inland all time:

Birds
511. White Wagtail Motacilla alba

Should be my last addition for the year from Wisconsin.

 

[CarnotaurusSastrei]

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)

This is going to be my actual last update, as I ended up seeing 2 new species of waterfowl while out and about yesterday

Chicago Lakefront - 12/28
Birds
147. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
148. Redhead (Aythya americana)

Final Count: 192 vertebrates (148 birds, 17 mammals, 19 reptiles, 5 fishes, 3 amphibians)

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Bird
593 Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator West Kirby Marine Lake