Zoochat Big Year 2025

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

Moderator
Staff member
15+ year member
The basic rules as always:

1. Make sure to number your lists.
2. Keep separate numbered lists for whichever animals you are listing (birds, mammals, herptiles, fish, invertebrates)
3. Species must be part of an established wild population or be a natural migrant/vagrant/straggler. Exotics don't count unless they are part of an established breeding population in the country.
4. Animals must be wild.
5. Subspecies do not count towards your total, only full species.
6. Don't bother counting Human on your mammal list - everyone is going to see at least one.
7. Only species seen should be counted on the numbers lists but feel free to add a "plus x species" for heard-only species. So at the end of the year if you stipulate this then your tally will be "x species plus x heard-only".
8. Have fun and go out looking for animals.

*It is helpful if you include scientific names (especially for the mammals because I keep track of them to post a full list at the end of the year).


Links to the previous years can be found here: ZooChat Big Year - Index
 
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May as well start this thread off with a bang, powernapped in some dingy hut till 2 and hear a Ruru and Little Spotted Kiwi going off at exactly the same time!! And im still on the mainland!

Birds:
1. Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) !!!



Invertebrates TALLY: 2
Insects:
1. Cabbage Tree Moth (Epiphryne verriculata)
Molluscs:
1. Leopard Slug (Limas maximus)
 
WalkingAgnatha said:
May as well start this thread off with a bang, powernapped in some dingy hut till 2 and hear a Ruru and Little Spotted Kiwi going off at exactly the same time!! And im still on the mainland!

Birds:
1. Little Spotted Kiwi (Apteryx owenii) !!!



Invertebrates TALLY: 2
Insects:
1. Cabbage Tree Moth (Epiphryne verriculata)
Molluscs:
1. Leopard Slug (Limas maximus)
Click to expand...
Where was this?
 
Chlidonias said:
Where was this?
Click to expand...
Shakespear Regional Park, gate closes at 9pm (at least in the summer) but you can leave any time, also really good because you can get away with only having to pay the bus-fare and no extra costs whilst still seeing a damn good amount of endemic bird life!! (Eg there’s a pair of singing Fernbirds in front of me as I type this :D )
 
First bird of the year seen by me was a pair of Eastern rosellas feeding on berries outside the window of my study as I had my wake-up coffee.

1. Eastern rosella Platycercus eximius
 
Just a quick outing to the T-Section Ponds at the Western Treatment Plant, will bird it more thoroughly for the year list another time, mainly just looking for the rarities that are currently present there.


Birds

1. Yellow-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chryssorrhoa)
2. Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
3. White-fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)
4. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
5. Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
6. Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
7. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
8. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
9. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
10. Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
11. Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
12. White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
13. Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
14. Australian Spotted Crake (Porzana fluminea)
15. Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)
16. Red-necked Stint (Calidris ruficolus)
17. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
18. Long-toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)
19. White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fusciocollis)
20. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
21. Hoary-headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)

Herptiles

1. Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis)
 
Normally I have only two or three species on New Year’s so I decided to take a stroll round the neighbourhood to see if I could find a few extra. I could have probably found even more with patience but I was getting some strange looks so I headed back. Tomorrow I head to the zoo which should hopefully give some interesting wild birds on the grounds, seeing as it is next to a state forest.
Birds
1. Black Kite Milvus migrans
2. Common Pigeon Columba livia
3. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus jocosus
4. Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
5. Jungle Crow Corvus macrorhynchus
Mammals
1. Three-striped Palm Squirrel Funambulus palmarum
 
Did a little bit of birding and herping today just locally; here are the results.

Birds
1. Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
2. Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
3. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
4. Satin Bowerbird (Ptilinorhynchus violaceus)
5. Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosus)
6. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
7. Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
8. Little Wattlebird (Anthocaera chrysoptera)
9. White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
10. Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)
11. Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
12. Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
13. Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
14. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
15. Willie-wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
16. Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)
17. Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
18. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
19. Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
20. Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
21. Brown Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia phasianella)
22. Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
23. White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus)

Reptiles
1. Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii)
2. Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama leseurii)
3. Common Garden Sunskink (Lampropholis guichenoti)
 
My wildlife year didn't start with a grand full-day of birding this time. I did manage a short stroll close to home and see a couple of common birds. The weather is rather inconvenient for birding anyways today. Furthermore, my good pair of binoculars broke at the end of last year, and have been send to the manufacturer for repairs. My spare pair is serviceable, but it is quite a step down.

Birds
01. Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
02. Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica
03. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
04. Common Wood Pigeon, Columba palumbus
05. Common Blackbird, Turdus merula
06. Western Jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
07. Crested Tit, Lophophanes cristatus
08. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
09. Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
10. Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
11. Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra
12. Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
13. European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
14. Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
15. Eurasian Siskin, Spinus spinus
16. Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea
17. Great Tit, Parus major
18. European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
19. European Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
20. Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs

This year I won't set any targets. This year could really go in any direction to be honest, both wildlife-related and not, which is quite exciting and also a little terrifying. I do have this weird idea in my head of seeing one hundred butterfly species in one year, but that will take significant traveling abroad. I have a few plans, but I'm quite unsure how many of then, if any at all, will materialise. I guess we'll see what happens.
 
Started the year with a trip to a nearby lake.

BIRDS:
1 Cackling Goose - Branta hutchinsii
2 Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
3 Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
4 Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
5 American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
6 Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon
7 Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus
8 Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus
9 American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
10 Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus
11 Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus
12 European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
13 Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis
14 American Robin - Turdus migratorius
15 House Finch - Haemorhous mexicanus
16 Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
17 Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis
18 Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata
19 House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

MAMMALS:
1 Eastern Fox Squirrel - Sciurus niger
 
A romp around my regular haunts saw more birds today than this time last year (alas missing some species I hoped would have cropped up) but the same species of mammal and invertebrate:

Birds:
1) Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
2) Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
3) Carrion Crow Corvus corone
4) Feral Pigeon Columba livia
5) Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
6) House Sparrow Passer domesticus
7) Lesser black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
8) Common Gull Larus canus
9) Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
10) European Herring Gull Larus argentatus
11) Common Blackbird Turdus merula
12) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
13) European Robin Erithacus rubecula
14) Long-tailed tit Aegithalos caudatus
15) Great Tit Parus major
16) Dunnock Prunella modularis
17) Western Jackdaw Coloeus monedula
18) Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
19) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
20) Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
21) Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
22) Western Nuthatch Sitta europaea
23) Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
24) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
25) Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
26) Mute Swan Cygnus olor
27) Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
28) Common chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
29) Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
30) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
31) Goosander Mergus merganser
32) Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
33) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
34) Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris

Mammals:
1) Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Invertebrates:
1) European Holly Leafminer Phytomyza ilicis
 
I started the year off by taking part in a classic "first of the first" competition with my friend. The winter in Finland has been really mild this year in southern Finland, so we were able to easily pick up a lot of species which we would have otherwise had to have waited later in the year to find.

Mammals

1. Western roe deer

Birds

1. Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
2. Hooded crow, Corvus cornix
3. Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
4. Great tit, Parus major
5. Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caerulus
6. Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
7. Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus
8. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
9. Feral pigeon, Columba livia
10. Eurasian goshawk, Astur gentilis
11. Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
12. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
13. Mew gull, Larus canus
14. House sparrow, Passer domesticus
15. Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
16. Common merganser, Mergus merganser
17. European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
18. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
19. Mute swan, Cygnus olor
20. Canada goose, Branta canadensis
21. European herring gull, Larus argentatus
22. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
23. Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus
24. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
25. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
26. Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
27. Whooper swan, Cygnus cygnus
28. Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
29. Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
30. Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
31. Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
32. Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
33. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
34. Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
35. Brambling, Fringilla montifringilla
36. Willow tit, Poecile montanus
37. Common raven, Corvus corax
38. Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
39. Redwing, Turdus iliacus
 
Just a quick wander around the park and a local fishing pond today - nothing grand but gets the list started.

Birds:
1. Western Jackdaw - Coloeus monedula
2. European Magpie - Pica pica
3. Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus
4. Common Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
5. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
6. Carrion Crow - Corvus corone
7. European Blackbird - Turdus merula
8. European Robin - Erithacus rubecula
9. Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
10. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
11. Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
12. Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
13. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
14. European Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
15. European Coot - Fulica atra
16. Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
17. Goosander - Mergus merganser
18. Greater Canada Goose - Branta canadensis

:)
 
Hello. The following species have been sighted either at my house or at my aunt's.

BIRDS

1. (Columba livia) - Domestic pigeon
2. (Columbina tapalcoti) - Ruddy ground dove
3. (Thraupis sayaca) - Sayaca tanager
4. (Passer domesticus) - House sparrow
5. (Coereba flavia) - Bananaquit
6. (Coragyps atratus) - Black vulture
7. (Troglodytes musculus) - Southern house wren
8. (Estrilda astrid) - Common waxbill
 
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birdsandbats said:
Greater Canada Goose? Are you splitting it or something?
Click to expand...

Only from Cackling Goose - that was the retained name I picked up along the way for the remnant species but I see that IOC now just uses 'Canada Goose'.
 
The fifty mile-per-hour wind gusts and horizontal rain through much of the day here meant I had the worst start to a birding year, but hopefully I'll be able to get out and about tomorrow:

1. Common woodpigeon, Columba palumbus
2. Eurasian blackbird, Turdus merula
3. Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
4. Red kite, Milvus milvus
5. Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
6. Redwing, Turdus iliacus
7. Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes

I did see a couple of smaller passerines, but they were being carried along by a tailwind and were gone before I could get binoculars on them.
 
January 1st, 2025
I haven't done this before and I'm excited to do this for 2025. It was raining today so I saw less animals than I wanted too. I went to the museum of science (Boston) and saw all of my animals in that area. I did see a smaller amount than I hoped though.

MAMMALS
  1. Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
  2. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
BIRDS
  1. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
  2. Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
 
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