Zoochat Big Year 2025

birdsandbats said:
Birds
106. Green-winged Teal Anas crecca
107. American Wigeon Mareca americana
108. Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata
109. Canvasback Aythya valisineria

Mammals
11. Woodchuck Marmota monax
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birdsandbats said:
Birds
119. Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
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Birds
120. American Woodcock Scolopax minor

Mammals
12. Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor
 
CMP said:
Hybrids aren't countable?

Nice list!
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I believe some sources consider them a separate species from the Heuglin's Gull, but there are many different views on this. You are correct, some sources do count them as hybrids between Heuglin's and Vega, but in Japan they are most often treated as a distinct population which is why I decided to list it here.
 
Dr. Wolverine said:
186. Taimyr gull
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CMP said:
Hybrids aren't countable?
Click to expand...
Dr. Wolverine said:
I believe some sources consider them a separate species from the Heuglin's Gull, but there are many different views on this. You are correct, some sources do count them as hybrids between Heuglin's and Vega, but in Japan they are most often treated as a distinct population which is why I decided to list it here.
Click to expand...
This sounds like one of those cases where recognition of a split depends on author, so if a person counts (or doesn't count) a taxon as a split on their list then that's fine for this thread. So for this gull it sounds like some authorities consider it a hybrid and some a valid taxon, so it just comes down to what the individual wants to count it as. (It does seem like the majority view is that it is a hybrid though).
“Taimyr Gull” – birdfinding.info
 
Bisonblake said:
3/13/25
78. Brown-Headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

Total species: 88
Birds: 78
Mammals: 10
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Went up to northern Michigan for the week. Didn't do a whole lot of birding, but I had a couple of nice sightings. I saw my second northern shrike of the year and a rough-legged hawk on the same hike. I wasn't sure I'd see one this year because I skipped an opportunity to see them a month ago in East Lansing, and I was worried that was my only chance this year.

Birds:
3/23/25
79. Common Raven Corvus corax
3/26/25
80. American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus
81. Rough-Legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
82. Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum

Mammals:
11. Red fox Vulpes vulpes

Total species: 93
Birds: 82
Mammals: 11
 
MRJ said:
First stop today was in the Sierra Balneano National Park, primarily to see the island's second iguana, Ricord's iguana. An arid area, it was originally a seabed, and we walked constantly on dead coral pieces, albeit thousands of years old.

We also saw our final Hispaniolan endemic, the palm crow. That made 33 by our guide's count, although a few are not currently recognised widely as full species. There is a 34th, but that is only found in Haiti, and nobody volunteered to go and have a look.

Funnily, the white-necked crow was constantly seen in palms, feeding and nesting, while the palm crow is hardly ever seen near them. Also seen were burrowing owls at the nest burrows.

Birds
119. Mangrove cuckoo Coccyzus minor
120. Palm crow Corvus palmarum

Reptiles
18. Ricord's iguana Cyclura ricordii EN

In the afternoon we moved to the Dominican section of Lake Azuei, for our first attempt at water birds.

Birds
121. White-cheeked pintail Anas bahamensis
122. American wigeon Mareca americana
123. Blue-winged teal Spatula discors
124. American flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
125. Reddish egret Egretta rufescens
126. Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
127. Wilson's plover Anarhynchus wilsonia
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Today was something of a bonus day, as we were meant to return to Santo Dominico for a night, pick up an additional participant then return to the west for the "mammal" tour. However the person concerned was already in the west, so we got to stay an additional night at the lodge and visit Sierra de Bahoruco. We had some magnificent views from an observation platform perched on the side of a mountain across a broad valley all encompassed in a huge untouched National Park.

Birds
128, White-crowned pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala
129. Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

The next day we went down to the Caribbean coast to pick up our fourth participant. Steve is a young American biologist with a special interest in herps who was wondering if he still had a job given the Trump sackings.

We were staying in the town of Perdenales, which is located beside the sea right on the Haitian border. There were numerous police and military checkpoints we were obliged to stop at. An officer stared intently at each person in the car looking for Haitian features, and thus a possible border crosser.

After lunch we had some spare time. The hotel was a cut above the two we stopped at earlier and had luxuries such as coffee available throughout the day. Midafternoon we headed up into the hills to look for our two mammal targets. First stop was by the road looking out over a mostly cleared valley for some birdwatching. Some nice birds were seen including a falcon hunting below us.

As dusk fell, we moved to an area of forest to look for hutias. The landscape was somewhat dangerous, as it was dotted with potholes, and times a leg would disappear down one. We soon found a trio in a tree and enjoyed observing them.

Next was the solenodon hunt. Solenodons on Hispaniola were first described by European science in 1833, despite, the island first being settled by the Spanish in 1493. A second animal was found in 1907, but the species was presumed extinct until late in the 20th Century and classified as "Endangered" in 2007. In 2020 it was reclassified as "Least Concern". No local we spoke to had ever seen one, outside a catching session and one seen as roadkill. It is not that these animals are difficult to see, they are simply never seen.

Researchers developed a method of catching them. It involves listening for them rustling in the leaves on the forest floor and charging after them, running them down and grabbing them by the tail. This method only works in the dry season. Obviously, this is not something for the inexperienced to do. While this was being done, we had to wait in the car, in total darkness and silence. In our case it took five hours and four locations before an animal was caught.

We were then able to enter the edge of the forest where we had a chance to examine and watch the animal, both while in hand and after they are released. This is not a cheap exercise; however, the profit does fund conservation work by the non-government organization that organizes it. About 15 to 30 people per year do this experience.

Mammals
6. Hispaniolan hutia Plagiodontia aedium (new Family)
7. Hispaniolan solenodon Solenodon paradoxus (new Family)

Birds
130. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
131. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
 
Decided to wait till my numbers were higher to make my first post and I must have forgotten…Anyway, from the start of the year:


Local Reserve, 02.01.25
An early morning romp around my Local Reserve managed to get me off to a very good start. It was a beautiful crisp morning and the bird life was spectacular, with a stunning drake Goosander and magnificent flocks of Siskin. Another bonus was a reported Caspian Gull, quite a nice surprise as I missed out on seeing the species last year.

Birds
1. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
2. Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans)
3. Common Gull (L. canus)
4. European Herring Gull (L. argentatus)
5. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
6. Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
7. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis)
8. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
9. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
10. Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
11. Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
12. Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
13. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
14. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus)
15. Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos)
16. Eurasian Teal (A. crecca)
17. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
18. Common Pochard (A. ferina)
19. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
20. Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
21. Goosander (Mergus merganser)
22. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
23. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
24. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
25. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
26. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
27. Eurasian/Common Magpie (Pica pica)
28. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
29. Eurasian Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
30. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
31. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
32. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
33. Common Wood Pigeon (C. palumbus)
34. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
35. Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
36. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
37. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
38. Redwing (T. iliacus)
39. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
40. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
41. Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
42. Coal Tit (Periparus ater britannicus)
43. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
44. Common Chaffinch, (Fringilla coelebs)
45. European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
46. Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)
47. Reed Bunting (E. schoeniclus)
48. Eurasian Nuthatch, (Sitta europaea)
49. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

Mammals
1. Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
2. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Leybourne Lakes Country Park & New Hythe Gravel Pits, 02.01.25
Later that same day, I could not resist the temptation and headed to LLCP in pursuit of the American Yellow Warbler which had been spotted, and I was not disappointed.

The Yellow Warbler is one of those birds I really wanted to see in the UK, after spotting them out in Canada previously. There has only been 7 U.K records since the first one on Bardsey Island in 1964 and the majority have been short stayers on the northern isles. On 24 December 2024, an American Yellow Warbler was discovered at the sewage works at New Hythe GPs. The first ever record for Kent, the bird was later identified as a 1st winter male and showed a few times in and around the nearby sewage works. I only saw him briefly for about 30 or so seconds but even that was enough for this true rarity.

Birds
50. American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
51. Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
52. Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
53. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Other, 17-18.01.25
Just a few mammals here and there…

Mammals
3. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes crucigera)
4. Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Elmley National Nature Reserve (NNR), 19.01.25
After a break due to a mix of poor weather and a lack of free time, I finally managed to visits Elmley again (a personal favourite of mine). Elmley is the only National Nature Reserve that is farmer owned and managed and is located on the Isle of Sheppey. The 3000 acres of grazing marsh provides an important habitat for wildlife, and at this time of year is truly magical. It was rather cold, but well worth visiting. Most of the shallow pools were still frozen along the entrance track, Lapwing dotted about here and there. Whilst participating in this months Marsh Harrier Survey (a species very numerous during the winter at Elmley), I had a brilliant view of a local male Hen Harrier fly past and also a Stoat, which dived past me.

Birds
54. Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus)
55. Great Black-Backed Gull (L. marinus)
56. Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
57. Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
58. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
59. European Golden Plover (P. apricaria)
60. Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
61. Dunlin (C. alpina)
62. Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
63. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
64. Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)
65. Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
66. Northern Pintail (A. acuta)
67. Eurasian Wigeon (M. penelope)
68. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
69. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
70. Brant (B. bernicla)
71. Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
72. Hen Harrier, (C. cyaneus)
73. Common Kestrel (F. tinnunculus)
74. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)
75. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) (only a single bird now)
76. Common Raven (C. corax)
77. Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
78. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
79. Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
80. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
81. Mistle Thrush (T. viscivorus)
82. Fieldfare (T. pilaris)
83. European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
84. Cetti's Warbler, (Cettia cetti)
85. Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus)
86. Great Tit (Parus major)
87. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
88. Linnet (Linaria cannabina)

Mammals
5. European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
6. Stoat (Mustela erminea stabilis)
7. Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)

WWT London Wetland Centre, 25.01.25
WWT London is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Barnes. The site is formed of four disused Victorian reservoirs tucked into a loop in the Thames. The centre is magical at this time of year, especially for bittern which seem to be a regular.

Birds
89. Eurasian Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
90. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
91. Stock Pigeon (C. oenas)
92. European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
93. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
94. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Elmley NNR, 02.02.25
A lovely day out at Elmely NNR, with another Harvest Mouse survey near the car park. There were huge flocks GW-F Geese soaring over the reserve by Cod’s House, the derelict two-storey old farmhouse in the east of the reserve. I even had the rare joy of seeing a Red kite, an uncommon sight at the wetland.

Birds
95. Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
96. Barnacle Goose (B. leucopsis)
97. Merlin (F. columbarius)
98. Barn Owl (Tyto alba)
99. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)

Swale NNR, 02.02.25
After Elmley NNR, I headed out to the Isle of Sheppey’s east coast. Along this stretch of coastline is the Swale National Nature Reserve, a grazing marsh that supports significant populations of waterfowl. It is also a brilliant area for seawatching, with huge numbers of Red-throated Diver.

Birds
100. Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)
101. Knot (Calidris canutus islandica)
102. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
103. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
104. Corn Bunting (E. calandra)

Wiltshire & Gloucestershire Trip, 19.02.25
As I’ve never truly had a trip around Wiltshire’s hidden places, I decided why not have a proper look around?

First I started off at the small village of Grittleton, where a flock of Hawfinch had been seen. I parked up near the entrance of the splendid Grittleton House and headed to the nearby Churchyard. Almost as soon as I began looking, I heard the distinctive call of a Hawfinch. Later, as I watched, a flock of >20 Hawfinch flew from the some trees opposite the Church across and disappeared from view.

My next site was a quick drive away. Swillbrook was one of the first sand and gravel quarries to be dug in the 1960s. Nowadays it is a strikingly peaceful place, with large woodlands bordering the lakes. There were a couple of surprising species, such as a Great Egret and a few Goldeneye.

After a nice stroll around, I headed to Lower Moor Nature Reserve. Once a gravel quarry, Lower Moor Farm is now a thriving habitat with three lakes, two brooks, ponds, and wetland scrapes. Mallard Lake, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, boasts a unique collection of aquatic plants, including rare stoneworts. The cafe on the reserve is also amazing, well worth visiting.

Lastly, I spent the afternoon strolling around Whelford Pools Nature Reserve, across the county border in Gloucestershire. Located to the west of the Cotswold Water Park, this nature reserve used to be the site of two barren gravel pits, but is now a freshwater haven for all sorts of wildlife. Whelford Pools and the surrounding lakes attracts a large number of wintering wildfowl, including the beautiful Red-crested Pochard.

Birds
105. Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
106. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
107. Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina)

Mammals
8. European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)
9. Reeves's Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

Elmley NNR, 02.03.25
A truly beautiful morning at Elmley, but not much to add to the list.
full


Birds
108. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

River Medway, 22.03.25
I decided to get up early and head out in my canoe to see what had changed over winter. Despite being a fair way away from me, the River Medway is truly spectacular. The river is nearly 70 miles long and sprawls across my home county of Kent. There was life teeming a round everyone bend, including a pair of Grey Wagtail any several molluscs where the river shallowed. I also spotted a small flock of Redpoll last week, which I have grouped under here.

Birds
109. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
110. Eurasian Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
111. Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)

Herptiles
1. Common Toad (Bufo bufo)

Other, 26.03.24
Managed to find my second herptile of the year in a local pond.

Herptiles
2. Smooth Newt (L. vulgaris)

Birds: 111
Mammals: 9
Herptiles: 2
Total: 122
 
Matthew Typpo said:
March 14, 2025

Birds

34. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Reptiles

1. Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Fish

1. Silverjaw Minnow (Notropis buccatus)

Invertebrates

3. Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)
4. Brown Water Scorpion (Ranatra fusca)

Totals
Birds: 34
Mammals: 6
Invertebrates: 4
Reptiles:1
Fish:1
Total: 46
Click to expand...

March 15-29, 2025

Birds

35. Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
36. Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus)
37. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
38. Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Mammals

7. Groundhog (Marmota Monax)

Totals
Birds: 38
Mammals: 7
Invertebrates: 4
Reptiles:1
Fish:1
Total: 51
 
DesertRhino150 said:
A couple of days ago, I had a rather unusual sighting from my bedroom window. A kingfisher, probably displaced from the local river by rain-induced turbidity, found a shallow floodwater pool in the field behind the garden and was checking it out, hovering over it at times. Unfortunately, two local magpies took an instant dislike to it and attacked it. Unfortunately, I did not see whether the kingfisher escaped or not:

47. Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis

Today, I went on my first visit to Abberton Reservoir of the year. I managed to get quite a fair number of new wildfowl - unfortunately, the really scarce and vagrant species there at the moment all eluded me, so no smew, white-fronted goose, lesser scaup, ring-necked duck or canvasback were added to the list. Still, even though the species are all pretty common, the numbers were quite something - probably over a hundred swans in a fairly small part of the lake, and the mixed flock of tufted duck and pochard probably numbered in the thousands. Also got a good view of a scarce wintering grebe, and saw a new mammal on the drive over to the reservoir - one that I missed entirely last year. The first and last birds on this part of the list were also seen on the journey:

48. Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
49. Mute swan, Cygnus olor
50. Common goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
51. Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
52. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
53. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
54. Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
55. Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
56. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
57. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
58. Goosander, Mergus merganser
59. Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
60. Slavonian grebe, Podiceps auritus
61. Common kestrel, Falco tinnunculus

4. European brown hare, Lepus europaeus
Click to expand...

Somehow missed updating this thread since late January. Over the course of the last two months, I have added a further eight birds, a single rather regular mammal and three identified insects.

For the birds, number 62 was seen while walking locally, 63 was seen on the grounds of London Zoo, 64 on the grounds of Colchester Zoo, 65 was in the garden and the last four were seen on a weekend trip to Rutland Water.

62. European green woodpecker, Picus viridis
63. Goldcrest, Regulus regulus
64. Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
65. Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
66. Common reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
67. Northern pintail, Anas acuta
68. Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
69. Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
70. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus

The mammal and all the insects were seen locally.

5. European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus

2. Buff-tailed bumblebee, Bombus terrestris
3. Common brimstone butterfly, Gonepteryx rhamni
4. Comma butterfly, Polygonia c-album
 
MRJ said:
Today was something of a bonus day, as we were meant to return to Santo Dominico for a night, pick up an additional participant then return to the west for the "mammal" tour. However the person concerned was already in the west, so we got to stay an additional night at the lodge and visit Sierra de Bahoruco. We had some magnificent views from an observation platform perched on the side of a mountain across a broad valley all encompassed in a huge untouched National Park.

Birds
128, White-crowned pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala
129. Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

The next day we went down to the Caribbean coast to pick up our fourth participant. Steve is a young American biologist with a special interest in herps who was wondering if he still had a job given the Trump sackings.

We were staying in the town of Perdenales, which is located beside the sea right on the Haitian border. There were numerous police and military checkpoints we were obliged to stop at. An officer stared intently at each person in the car looking for Haitian features, and thus a possible border crosser.

After lunch we had some spare time. The hotel was a cut above the two we stopped at earlier and had luxuries such as coffee available throughout the day. Midafternoon we headed up into the hills to look for our two mammal targets. First stop was by the road looking out over a mostly cleared valley for some birdwatching. Some nice birds were seen including a falcon hunting below us.

As dusk fell, we moved to an area of forest to look for hutias. The landscape was somewhat dangerous, as it was dotted with potholes, and times a leg would disappear down one. We soon found a trio in a tree and enjoyed observing them.

Next was the solenodon hunt. Solenodons on Hispaniola were first described by European science in 1833, despite, the island first being settled by the Spanish in 1493. A second animal was found in 1907, but the species was presumed extinct until late in the 20th Century and classified as "Endangered" in 2007. In 2020 it was reclassified as "Least Concern". No local we spoke to had ever seen one, outside a catching session and one seen as roadkill. It is not that these animals are difficult to see, they are simply never seen.

Researchers developed a method of catching them. It involves listening for them rustling in the leaves on the forest floor and charging after them, running them down and grabbing them by the tail. This method only works in the dry season. Obviously, this is not something for the inexperienced to do. While this was being done, we had to wait in the car, in total darkness and silence. In our case it took five hours and four locations before an animal was caught.

We were then able to enter the edge of the forest where we had a chance to examine and watch the animal, both while in hand and after they are released. This is not a cheap exercise; however, the profit does fund conservation work by the non-government organization that organizes it. About 15 to 30 people per year do this experience.

Mammals
6. Hispaniolan hutia Plagiodontia aedium (new Family)
7. Hispaniolan solenodon Solenodon paradoxus (new Family)

Birds
130. Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
131. Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla
Click to expand...
The next day was quite relaxed. The schedule called for a visit to a location for Ricord's iguana. As it involved a long trek through mosquito infested habitat with no shade, and we had seen the lizard, Graeme and I decided to visit the beach down the road. We had a lovely swim, and we managed to see a new tern. As the only new species seen by the others was a peregrine falcon, I was very happy with our choice. In the evening we went out again to look for solenodons and found one. Given our success the previous night I thought this trip was unnecessary but others in the group really wanted to go.

132. Least tern Sternula antillarum

The next day was the final official day of the tour. We headed towards the Jaragua National Park. On the way we passed through a massive new hotel development. Not one massive hotel, but thirteen. It is in an arid area in the middle of nowhere. The hotels will all offer "all inclusive" holidays, and a new international airport being constructed nearby will ensure nobody will have to interact with locals, except maybe as wait staff in the bar.

Further on we entered the national park for some stunning scenery and maybe our best look at a rhinoceros iguana yet. We ended up at another beach where the National Park offered the services of a Lifegard. A beautiful swimming spot in the Caribbean Sea, we enjoyed ourselves for about an hour.

That evening we headed back into the hills for the last time to look for a Stygian Owl.

133. Northern shoveller Spatula clypeata
134. Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus
135. Brown booby Sula leucogaster
136. Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla
137. Greater yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
138. Willet Tringa semipalmata
139. Stygian owl Asio stygius
140. Merlin Falco columbarius
 
For about two weeks I had very little to report, and then I got two days of wildlife-watching back to back.

Throughout the last two weeks all wildlife I saw was from strolls through my local area, adding several expected early spring species. The highlight was the first 'challenging' butterfly species of the year: a large tortoiseshell. Though they are becoming slowly more common in my neck of the woods, they are still quite rare. I refused to go and see an individual found by someone else, instead I decided to check all seemingly suitable spots in my local area for the species. This eventually resulted in a single sighting of the species, along with many sightings of common butterflies like peacocks and brimstones, along with a couple of whites, admirals and commas.

Then, the other day, a friend asked if I wanted to join him to find northern white-tailed bumblebees. The same location also being home to a population of Kentish Glory - a rather spectacular moth - sealed the deal. The bumblebee turned out to be quite the challenge: we walked for several hours to find only three individuals - along with a surprise sighting of cranes flying over. In contrast, the moth was very easy to find: we saw it quite quickly on a known spot. It is a gorgeous species though and I am very happy to have seen it. Pictures of the bumblebees, which can be notoriously hard to identify, have been validated by experts.

The day after I went with another friend to the Biesbosch, which is a large wetland, which turned out to be a very fine day with brilliant weather. There were plenty of birds to see, as is always the case in the Biesbosch, but nothing quite out of the ordinary. Seeing a white-tailed eagle grab a fish out of the water was quite the sight though!

The end result is a rather diverse list of additions.

Birds
144. Eurasian Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
145. Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
146. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
147. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe Oenanthe
148. Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
149. Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
150. Little Owl, Athene noctua
151. Common Crane, Grus grus
152. Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
153. Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
154. Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
155. Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
156. Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
157. (Western) Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava

Mammals
11. Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Butterflies
5. Small White, Pieris rapae
6. Large Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis polychloros
7. Green-veined White, Pieris napi
8. Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines
9. Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus

Moths
4. Engrailed, Ectropis crepuscularia
5. Ruby Tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa
6. Pine Beauty, Panolis flammea
7. Kentish Glory, Endromis versicolora
8. Satellite, Eupsilia transversa

Dragonflies
1. Common Winter Damselfly, Sympecma fusca

Bees
04. Common Carder Bee, Bombus pascuorum
05. European Orchard Bee, Osmia cornuta
06. Tree Bumblebee, Bombus hypnorum
07. Clark's Mining Bee, Andrena clarkella
08. Northern White-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus magnus
09. Orange-tailed Mining Bee, Andrena haemorrhoa
10. Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum
11. Grey-backed Mining Bee, Andrena vaga

Beetles
06. Carabus problematicus
07. Cychrus caraboides
08. Byrrhus pilula
09. Northern Dune Tiger Beetle, Cicindela hybrida
10. Green Tiger Beetle, Cicindela campestris
11. Harlequin Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

Flies
2. Scaeva selenitica
3. Common Drone Fly, Eristalis tenax
4. Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus
5. Chequered Hoverfly, Melanostoma scalare
6. Tapered Drone Fly, Eristalis pertinax

Gastropods
5. Brown-lipped Snail, Cepaea nemoralis

-------------

100-Butterflies Tally: 9/100
 
CarnotaurusSastrei said:
3/21/2025

Birds
17. Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
18. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
19. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Mammals
5. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Current Totals: 19 Birds, 5 Mammals
Click to expand...
3/29/2025

Birds
20. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
21. Eurasian Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
22. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
23. Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Reptiles
1. Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)

Current Totals: 23 birds, 5 mammals, 1 reptile
 
DaLilFishie said:
Finally, my first (living) Japanese mammal! Saw a Japanese Marten a few days ago but it had been killed on the road, so not countable for big year.

MAMMALS
6 - Japanese Macaque Macaca fuscata

BIRDS
114 - Oriental Greenfinch Chloris sinica
115 - Bull-headed Shrike Lanius bucephalus
Click to expand...
A wild bird on grounds of Ueno Zoo

BIRDS
116 - Brown-headed Thrush Turdus chrysolaus
 
Mr. Zootycoon said:
For about two weeks I had very little to report, and then I got two days of wildlife-watching back to back.

Throughout the last two weeks all wildlife I saw was from strolls through my local area, adding several expected early spring species. The highlight was the first 'challenging' butterfly species of the year: a large tortoiseshell. Though they are becoming slowly more common in my neck of the woods, they are still quite rare. I refused to go and see an individual found by someone else, instead I decided to check all seemingly suitable spots in my local area for the species. This eventually resulted in a single sighting of the species, along with many sightings of common butterflies like peacocks and brimstones, along with a couple of whites, admirals and commas.

Then, the other day, a friend asked if I wanted to join him to find northern white-tailed bumblebees. The same location also being home to a population of Kentish Glory - a rather spectacular moth - sealed the deal. The bumblebee turned out to be quite the challenge: we walked for several hours to find only three individuals - along with a surprise sighting of cranes flying over. In contrast, the moth was very easy to find: we saw it quite quickly on a known spot. It is a gorgeous species though and I am very happy to have seen it. Pictures of the bumblebees, which can be notoriously hard to identify, have been validated by experts.

The day after I went with another friend to the Biesbosch, which is a large wetland, which turned out to be a very fine day with brilliant weather. There were plenty of birds to see, as is always the case in the Biesbosch, but nothing quite out of the ordinary. Seeing a white-tailed eagle grab a fish out of the water was quite the sight though!

The end result is a rather diverse list of additions.

Birds
144. Eurasian Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
145. Black Redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
146. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
147. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe Oenanthe
148. Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
149. Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
150. Little Owl, Athene noctua
151. Common Crane, Grus grus
152. Pied Avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
153. Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus
154. Western Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus
155. Mediterranean Gull, Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
156. Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
157. (Western) Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava

Mammals
11. Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus

Butterflies
5. Small White, Pieris rapae
6. Large Tortoiseshell, Nymphalis polychloros
7. Green-veined White, Pieris napi
8. Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines
9. Holly Blue, Celastrina argiolus

Moths
4. Engrailed, Ectropis crepuscularia
5. Ruby Tiger, Phragmatobia fuliginosa
6. Pine Beauty, Panolis flammea
7. Kentish Glory, Endromis versicolora
8. Satellite, Eupsilia transversa

Dragonflies
1. Common Winter Damselfly, Sympecma fusca

Bees
04. Common Carder Bee, Bombus pascuorum
05. European Orchard Bee, Osmia cornuta
06. Tree Bumblebee, Bombus hypnorum
07. Clark's Mining Bee, Andrena clarkella
08. Northern White-tailed Bumblebee, Bombus magnus
09. Orange-tailed Mining Bee, Andrena haemorrhoa
10. Garden Bumblebee, Bombus hortorum
11. Grey-backed Mining Bee, Andrena vaga

Beetles
06. Carabus problematicus
07. Cychrus caraboides
08. Byrrhus pilula
09. Northern Dune Tiger Beetle, Cicindela hybrida
10. Green Tiger Beetle, Cicindela campestris
11. Harlequin Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis

Flies
2. Scaeva selenitica
3. Common Drone Fly, Eristalis tenax
4. Marmalade Hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus
5. Chequered Hoverfly, Melanostoma scalare
6. Tapered Drone Fly, Eristalis pertinax

Gastropods
5. Brown-lipped Snail, Cepaea nemoralis

-------------

100-Butterflies Tally: 9/100
Click to expand...

Sounds and looks as though you had a very productive trip! Nice one on the Kentish Glories, a very smart species indeed. Good to see all the bird migrants are back in the Netherlands, I'm hoping to be back up on the moors by the middle of the week so fingers crossed for Ring Ouzel, Wheatear, Willow Warbler etc.
 
DesertTortoise said:
Birds
January 11 to 30, 2025 - Missouri
56. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
57. Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
58. Rock pigeon (Columba livia)
59. Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)
60. Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
61. Redhead (Aythya americana)
62. White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
63. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
64. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
65. Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
66. Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
67. Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus)
68. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
69. Harris’s sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
70. Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
71. Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata)
72. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
73. Hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
74. Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
75. Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Mammals
January 24 to 29, 2025 - Missouri
4. Common raccoon (Procyon lotor)
5. Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
6. Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Click to expand...
Birds
Shawnee State Fishing Lake, Kansas - February 1
76. Northern shrike (Lanius borealis)
Smithville Lake, Missouri - February 2 to 9
77. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
78. Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
79. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
80. Ross’s goose (Anser rossii)
81. Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus)
Old Mud Lake, Missouri - February 27
82. Lapland longspur (Calcarius lapponicus)
River Road, Missouri - February 28
83. Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Backyard, Missouri - March 4
84. Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Little Bean Marsh Conservation Area, Missouri - March 7
85. Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
86. Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
Pettet Road, Missouri - March 7
87. Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Lake Contrary, Missouri - March 7
88. Blue-winged teal (Spatula discors)
Backyard, Missouri - March 9 & 11
89. Cooper’s hawk (Astur cooperii)
90. American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Smithville Lake, Missouri - March 13 to 15
91. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
92. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
93. Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
94. Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Backyard, Missouri - March 15
95. Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
Burchard Lake Wildlife Management Area, Nebraska - March 18
96. Greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri - March 18 to 21
97. Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
98. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
99. Yellow-headed blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
100. Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
101. Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata)
102. Field sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
103. Brewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
104. Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
105. Merlin (Falco columbarius)
106. Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
107. Sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis)
Smithville Lake, Missouri - March 25
108. Baird’s sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
Backyard, Missouri - March 25 to 29
109. Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
110. Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus)
111. Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Pettet Road, Missouri - March 29
112. Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Mammals
Roadside, Missouri - February 23
7. Coyote (Canis latrans)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri - March 2
8. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Amphibians
Missouri - March 11
1. American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
Backyard, Missouri - March 14
2. Plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi)
3. Boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)
4. Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
Kendzora Conservation Area, Missouri - March 23
5. Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi)
Kansas City Zoo, Missouri - March 28
6. American toad (Anaxyrus americanus)

Reptiles
Backyard, Missouri - March 14
1. Common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, Missouri - March 18
2. Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)
3. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
Kendzora Conservation Area, Missouri - March 23
4. Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Kansas City Zoo, Missouri - March 28
5. Spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera)
Muskrat Lake, Missouri - March 29
6. Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
 
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