Zoochat Big Year 2025

Xiang'e Lake, Yingjiang, January 17, 2025

Birds:
26. Indian Spot-billed Duck (Anas poecilorhyncha)
27. Bronze-winged Jacana (Metopidius indicus)
28. Little Cormorant (Microcarbo niger)
29. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
30. Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus)
31. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
32. Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
33. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
34. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
35. White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis)
36. Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)

Yingjiang Wetland Park, Yingjiang, January 17, 2025

Birds:
37. Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)
38. Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus)
39. Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
40. Collared Myna (Acridotheres albocinctus)
41. Pied Bushchat (Saxicola caprata)

Near Downtown Yingjiang, January 18, 2025

Birds:
42. River Tern (Sterna aurantia)

Hongbenghe and Shiti (Hornbill Valley), Yingjiang, January 18-20, 2025

Mammals:
2. Northern Treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri)
3. Phayre's Squirrel (Callosciurus phayrei)
4. Anderson's Squirrel (Callosciurus quinquestriatus)
5. Himalayan Striped Squirrel (Tamiops mcclellandii)
6. Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)

Birds:
43. Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
44. Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
45. Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
46. Grey-capped Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
47. Pin-tailed Green-pigeon (Treron apicauda)
48. Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata)
49. Blue-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni)
50. Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens)
51. Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)
52. Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus)
53. Greater Yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha)
54. Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
55. Grey-faced Woodpecker (Picus canus)
56. Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)
57. Oriental Hobby (Falco severus)
58. Blue-naped Pitta (Hydrornis nipalensis)
59. Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
60. Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)
61. Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
62. Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
63. Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
64. Grey-backed Shrike (Lanius tephronotus)
65. Common Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)
66. Black-crested Bulbul (Rubigula flaviventris)
67. Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
68. White-throated Bulbul (Alophoixus flaveolus)
69. Grey-eyed Bulbul (Iole propinqua)
70. Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)
71. Hume's Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
72. Yellow-bellied Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris)
73. Large Scimitar-babbler (Erythrogenys hypoleucos)
74. Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus ruficollis)
75. Red-billed Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps)
76. Grey-throated Babbler (Stachyris nigriceps)
77. Rufous-fronted Babbler (Cyanoderma rufifrons)
78. Puff-throated Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps)
79. Brown-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe poioicephala)
80. White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus)
81. Black-throated Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus chinensis)
82. Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa)
83. Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis whitei)
84. White-tailed Flycatcher (Cyornis concretus)
85. Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)
86. Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus)
87. White-tailed Blue Robin (Myiomela leucura)
88. Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
89. Grey Bushchat (Saxicola ferreus)
90. Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons)
91. Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii)
92. Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis moluccensis)
93. Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna)
94. Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)
 
Some additions from a day trip down to Norfolk on Sunday, mostly from a glorious sunny Titchwell - might be a few more invert IDs to follow from this as well. The Cetti's in particular was the best view I've had in ages. Also a couple of fish from an evening stroll along a nearby river.

Mammals:
16. Common Seal - Phoca vitulina

Birds:
131. Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
132. Sanderling - Calidris alba
133. Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
134. Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis
135. Great Bittern - Botaurus stellaris
136. Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti
137. Common Eider - Somateria mollissima

Fishes:
2. Brook Lamprey - Lampetra planeri
3. Brown Trout - Salmo trutta

Invertebrates:
7. Green-veined White - Pieris napi
8. Red Admiral - Vanessa atalanta

:)
 
The continued sunshine and more inverts over the last couple of days:

38) Rose Aphid Macrosiphum rosae
39) Small White Pieris rapae
40) Garden Snail Cornu aspersum
41) Western Yellow Centipede Haplophilus subterraneus
42) Cabbage Whitefly Aleyrodes proletella
43) Common Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris
44) Common Wasp Vespula vulgaris

Undertaking my first nest box survey of the year in our woods tomorrow and out on the moors at work on Friday so hopefully some of the spring bird migrants and a few missing species will crop up too.
 
4/1/25

77. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
78. Yellow-Throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)


Got some great views of both an Osprey and Great Horned Owl nest (as well as some owl nestlings!), as well as an Anhinga, a bird I've been wanting to see for a very long time.


4/8/25


79. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
80. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus
81. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica
82. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
83. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
84. Osprey Pandion haliaetus)


Total:
Mammals: 5
Birds: 84
Reptiles: 2
Invertebrates: 1
 
Again Leasowe produced the goods yesterday
Birds
85 Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
86 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
87 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus

Invertebrates
7 Peacock butterfly Aglais io
8 Small Tortoiseshell Aglais urticae

And from a pool on Moel Fammau
Fish
1 Three-spined Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus
 
Hongbenghe and Shiti (Hornbill Valley), Yingjiang, January 18-20, 2025

Mammals:
2. Northern Treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri)
3. Phayre's Squirrel (Callosciurus phayrei)
4. Anderson's Squirrel (Callosciurus quinquestriatus)
5. Himalayan Striped Squirrel (Tamiops mcclellandii)
6. Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus)

Birds:
43. Kalij Pheasant (Lophura leucomelanos)
44. Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
45. Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus)
46. Grey-capped Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)
47. Pin-tailed Green-pigeon (Treron apicauda)
48. Brown Boobook (Ninox scutulata)
49. Blue-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis athertoni)
50. Great Barbet (Psilopogon virens)
51. Blue-throated Barbet (Psilopogon asiaticus)
52. Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes guttacristatus)
53. Greater Yellownape (Chrysophlegma flavinucha)
54. Lesser Yellownape (Picus chlorolophus)
55. Grey-faced Woodpecker (Picus canus)
56. Collared Falconet (Microhierax caerulescens)
57. Oriental Hobby (Falco severus)
58. Blue-naped Pitta (Hydrornis nipalensis)
59. Black-hooded Oriole (Oriolus xanthornus)
60. Scarlet Minivet (Pericrocotus flammeus)
61. Ashy Drongo (Dicrurus leucophaeus)
62. Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus)
63. Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus)
64. Grey-backed Shrike (Lanius tephronotus)
65. Common Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis)
66. Black-crested Bulbul (Rubigula flaviventris)
67. Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
68. White-throated Bulbul (Alophoixus flaveolus)
69. Grey-eyed Bulbul (Iole propinqua)
70. Black Bulbul (Hypsipetes leucocephalus)
71. Hume's Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus humei)
72. Yellow-bellied Warbler (Abroscopus superciliaris)
73. Large Scimitar-babbler (Erythrogenys hypoleucos)
74. Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus ruficollis)
75. Red-billed Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus ochraceiceps)
76. Grey-throated Babbler (Stachyris nigriceps)
77. Rufous-fronted Babbler (Cyanoderma rufifrons)
78. Puff-throated Babbler (Pellorneum ruficeps)
79. Brown-cheeked Fulvetta (Alcippe poioicephala)
80. White-crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus)
81. Black-throated Laughingthrush (Pterorhinus chinensis)
82. Common Hill Myna (Gracula religiosa)
83. Hill Blue Flycatcher (Cyornis whitei)
84. White-tailed Flycatcher (Cyornis concretus)
85. Rufous-bellied Niltava (Niltava sundara)
86. Verditer Flycatcher (Eumyias thalassinus)
87. White-tailed Blue Robin (Myiomela leucura)
88. Little Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula westermanni)
89. Grey Bushchat (Saxicola ferreus)
90. Golden-fronted Leafbird (Chloropsis aurifrons)
91. Orange-bellied Leafbird (Chloropsis hardwickii)
92. Blue-winged Leafbird (Chloropsis moluccensis)
93. Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna)
94. Black-throated Sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)

A rather busy month with no "formal" wildlife watching. All the species below were spotted near my workplace.

Nanjing, March 2025

Birds:
95. Besra (Accipiter virgatus)
96. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
97. Long-tailed Shrike (Lanius schach)
98. Pallas's Leaf-warbler (Phylloscopus proregulus)
99. White-cheeked Starling (Spodiopsar cineraceus)
100. Dusky Thrush (Turdus eunomus)
101. Daurian Redstart (Phoenicurus auroreus)
102. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
103. Chinese Grosbeak (Eophona migratoria)
 
I said I’d actually do it this year, but it got to the point where I had 80+ birds to add at once so it didn’t end up happening. However, like last year I’ll continue to show some of the lifers I’ve gotten.

Birds

1. Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata)
2. White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fusciollis)
(was a well reported vagrant)
3. Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
4. Siberian Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus)
5. Red Knot (Calidris canutus)
6. Brown Quail (Synocius ypsilophorus)
7. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
8. Shy Heathwren (Hylacota cauta)
9. Black Falcon (Falco subniger)
(for real this time)
10. Black-faced Woodswallow (Artamus cinereus)
11. Mulga Parrot (Psephotus varius)
12. Little Crow (Corvus bennetti)
13. Striped Honeyeater (Plectoryncha lanceolata)
14. Australian Ringneck (Barnadius zonarius)
15. Regent Parrot (Polytelis anthopeplus)

16. Crimson Rosella (Yellow) (Platycercus elegans flaveolus)
17. Splendid Fairywren (Malurus splendens)
18. Chestnut-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus ruficeps)

Still a couple days left in Mallee Vic/NSW so plenty more potential lifers ahead.

Back from the Mallee, also thought I’d share my Herptile list in its entirety since it’s pretty small. Overall the trip was great, got twelve lifer birds and four herps.

Birds:

19. Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster)
20. Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula)
21. Fire-crested (Pink) Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Herptiles:

1. Growling Grass Frog (Litoria raniformis)
2. Garden Skink (Lampropholis gutchenoti)
3. Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum)
4. Eastern Three-lined Skink (Bassania duperreyi)
5. Coventry’s Coolskink (Carinascincus coventryi)
6. Delicate Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
7. Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus)
8. Ragged Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pannosus)
9. Southern Mallee Dragon (Ctenophorus tuniluki)
10. Southeastern Morethia (Morethia boulengeri)
11. Peter’s Lined Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis petersi)
 
Birds
127. American Pipit Anthus rubescens
128. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
Birds
129. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
130. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
131. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
132. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
133. Barred Owl Strix varia
134. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula
135. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Barred Owl is supposed to be the most common owl species in my area (and I would generally say it is), but somehow this year I got 9 other owl species for the year before I got Barred.
 
Some gardening yesterday saw these two pollinators on the apple blossom:

46) Grey-spotted Sedgesitter Platycheirus albimanus
47) Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum

Today me and some friends from college took a walk which involved a search for spring bird migrants which was successful for the following passerines but missed out on Ring Ouzel & Wheatear despite searching. We also had some good invert taxa too:

116) Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
117) Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
118) Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
119) Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica

48) Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
49) Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi
50) Common Heath Ematurga atomaria
51) Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis
 
Some gardening yesterday saw these two pollinators on the apple blossom:

46) Grey-spotted Sedgesitter Platycheirus albimanus
47) Tree Bumblebee Bombus hypnorum

Today me and some friends from college took a walk which involved a search for spring bird migrants which was successful for the following passerines but missed out on Ring Ouzel & Wheatear despite searching. We also had some good invert taxa too:

116) Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
117) Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
118) Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
119) Red Grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica

48) Orange-tip Anthocharis cardamines
49) Green Hairstreak Callophrys rubi
50) Common Heath Ematurga atomaria
51) Heather Beetle Lochmaea suturalis
It appears that the Wheatear aren’t playing ball with me either this year ;). I wonder if i’ll see any before I next update my list.
 
It appears that the Wheatear aren’t playing ball with me either this year ;). I wonder if i’ll see any before I next update my list.

I have been planning on getting up to the moors which I work but the recent arsonists haven't made the site the most safe to be honest.

Hopefully next week I'll be up on the tops which wheatear in some if the lower slopes always provide wheatear. Best of luck with your wheatear too.
 
A few from a potter around South Yorkshire this morning, including an unusual inland godwit at Orgreave and a gorgeous drake Garganey at Catcliffe.

Birds:
138. Garganey - Spatula querquedula
139. Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
140. Eurasian Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
141. Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica

Invertebrates:
9. Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria

:)
 
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Day out at a Horse Trials today offered a great group of Yellowhammers at the side of the cross country course, fortunately in range of the shorter lens.

Birds

72. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella, 13/04/2025, Burnham Market

I also found a welcome butterfly missing from my list last year when looking through the pictures from my trip last week

Other

3. Orange tip, Anthocharis cardamines, 05/04/2025, RSPB Otmooor
 
Birds
129. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
130. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
131. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
132. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
133. Barred Owl Strix varia
134. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula
135. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Barred Owl is supposed to be the most common owl species in my area (and I would generally say it is), but somehow this year I got 9 other owl species for the year before I got Barred.
Birds
136. Great Egret Ardea alba
 
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