Zoochat Big Year 2025

Laajalahti Nature Preserve 2/5/25

147. Western marsh-harrier, Circus aeruginosus
148.Whinchat, Saxicola rubetra
149. Citrine wagtail, Motacilla citreola

Hanko 2/5/25

150. Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto

Hanko Bird Observatory 2/5/25

151. Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
152. Northern pintail, Anas acuta
153. Dunlin, Calidris alpina

Hanko Bird Observatory 3/5/25

154. Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
155. Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus
156. Lesser whitethroat, Curruca curruca
157. Common murre, Uria aalge
158. Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres
159. Merlin, Falco columbarius
160. Razorbill, Alca torda
161. Sand martin, Riparia riparia
162. Wood sandpiper, Tringa glareola
163. Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
164. Woodlark, Lululla arborea

Hanko Bird Observatory 4/5/25

165. Black guillemot, Cephus grylle
166. Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis

Nuuksio National Park 10/5/25

167. Hazel grouse, Tetrastes bonasia
168. Green sandpiper, Tringa ochropus

Lauttasaari 12/5/25

169. Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus

Laajalahti Nature Preserve 12/5/25

170. Thrush nightingale, Luscinia luscinia
171. Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Haltiala 13/5/25

172. Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla

Vanhankaupunginlahti 13/5/25

173. Greater whitethroat, Curruca communis

Olari 20/5/25

174. Common swift, Apus apus
 
A few from a morning at Padley Gorge (plus a migrant butterfly spotted in the week). Almost all the regulars for this site were very visible (including lots of Pied Flycatchers, which are already on the list) - Common Redstart the major notable exception that will have to wait for another day. Both Red and Roe Deer seen this morning as well - and Wood Warbler and Tree Pipit are both species I never managed to find in the UK last year (though I did see the pipit in India) so a good morning all round. :)

Birds:
168. Wood Warbler - Phylloscopus sibilatrix
169. Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
170. Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis

(UK: 166)

Invertebrates:
16. Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui
17. Green Tiger Beetle - Cicindela campestris

(I'm having a really slow year for inverts from a combination of lack of effort and bad luck with weather - will have to work on that)

:)
 
Mammals
17. Western Meadow Vole Microtus drummondii
18. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Herps
8. Common Watersnake Nerodia sipedon
Birds
245. Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
246. Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus
247. Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis
Birds
248. Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
249. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
250. Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope

Mammals
19. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus

Herps
9. Northern Map Turtle Graptemys geographica
10. Blanding's Turtle Emydoidea blandingii
 
May 17, 2025

BIRDS:
55) Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

REPTILES:
5) Eastern Musk Turtle (Sternothereus odoratus)

INVERTEBRATES:
22) Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 55 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 22 species
TOTAL: 96 species
May 24, 2025

BIRDS:
56) American Coot (Fulica americana)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 56 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 22 species
TOTAL: 97 species
 
I thought that after last weekend, I wouldn't feel like birding for probably a week, but I'm still out here adding species. I've seen a few nice species over the past three days, including an awesome twitch from today.

Birds:
5/15/25
174. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
5/16/25
175. Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens
176. Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
177. Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea
5/18/25
178. White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi

Mammals:
5/16/25
15. American Mink Neogale vision

Total species: 201
Birds: 178
Mammals: 15
Herptiles: 8
It's been a pretty good week! I finally got eyes on a Bell's Vireo, which I've had trouble finding the whole time I've been in Indiana. I went down a path I rarely walk down, and one was vocalizing and flying between a couple of trees. It wasn't in the spot I was told it would be, but there was a Wilson's Warbler there instead. Earlier in the week, I also saw my (at the time) target warbler. Canada Warblers are one of my favorite warblers, and this male was giving amazing looks hanging on some bare branches only 20 feet from the trail.

Birds:
5/22/25
179. Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis
5/23/25
180. Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
181. Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla

Total species: 204
Birds: 181
Mammals: 15
Herptiles: 8
 
Birds
248. Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
249. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum
250. Eurasian Wigeon Mareca penelope

Mammals
19. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus

Herps
9. Northern Map Turtle Graptemys geographica
10. Blanding's Turtle Emydoidea blandingii
Birds
251. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
 
Well, the 100-butterflies challenge is starting feel like, you know, a real challenge.

After a first fail to find green hairstreak, and the first trip abroad resulting in zero new species because of the rain (which resulted in one species being now impossible now and at least six becoming a lot harder), I had another failed search for both chequered skipper and green hairstreak. Despite the seemingly fine weather we only found three individual butterflies: two speckled woods and a male brimstone. A pair of Eyed Hawk Moths in copula was a very good consolation prize though.

On another free day, I was half of a mind to drive to a spot to search for grizzled skipper, sooty copper and green hairstreak again, but I eventually decided against it. Instead, I made a round through my local patch, which was not at all bad for butterflies, with small copper, many small heaths, and several common blues. I was tempted to go search for brown argus, but I accidentally stumbled upon two individuals before had decided. On my way back home, I quickly looked over a few meres to see dragonflies and I came across an excellent wood warbler singing enthusiastically.

Butterflies
13. Common Blue, Polyommatus icarus
14. Small Heath, Coenonympha pamphilus
15. Brown Argus, Aricia agestis
16. Large White, Pieris brassicae
17. Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina

Birds
190. Wood Warbler, Phylloscopus sibilatrix

Mammals
19. European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus

Moths
16. Rusty Tussock Moth, Orgyia antiqua
17. Freyer's Pug, Eupithecia intricata
18. Tortricid Moth, Notocelia cynosbatella
19. Turnip Moth, Agrotis segetum
20. Common Heath, Ematurga atomaria
21. Cinnabar Moth, Tyria jacobaeae
22. Eyed Hawk Moth, Smerinthus ocellatus
23. Angle Shades, Phlogophora meticulosa

Dragonflies
06. Four-spotted Chaser, Libellula quadrimaculata
07. Broad-bodied Chaser, Libellula depressa
08. Blue Featherleg, Platycnemis pennipes
09. Black-tailed Skimmer, Orthethrum cancellatum
10. Blue Emperor, Anax imperator
11. Beautiful Demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo
12. Common Clubtail, Gomphus vulgatissimus

Bees
12. Heath Bumble-bee, Bombus jonellus


Beetles
16. 14-spot Ladybird, Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
17. Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis
18. Common Cockchafer, Melolontha melolontha
19. Common Red Soldier Beetle, Rhagonyncha fulva

Flies
09. Marsh Crane Fly, Tipula oleracea
10. St. Mark's Fly, Bibio marci
11. Hoverfly, Myathropa florea
12. Hoverfly, Eristalis similis
13. Hoverfly, Chrysotoxum cautum

-----

100-butterflies tally: 17/100
 
A couple of recent sitings as I lurch towards a possible 100 birds. A pretty Sandpiper close to a hide at Slimbridge and then a Skylark posing on a post during one of the safari tours that go right up to the Estuary a couple of weeks later.

93. Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, 09/05/2025, WWT Slimbridge
94. Skylark, Alauda arvensis, 24/05/2025, WWT Slimbridge
 
Birds
48. Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
49. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
50. Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)
51. Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
52. Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
53. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
54. Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)
55. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
56. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)
57. Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina)
58. Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
59. Purple Martin (Progne subis)

60. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
61. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Totals: 61 Birds, 6 Mammals, 1 Reptile
Recently got back from my Alaska trip, and I'd say I saw a pretty solid assortment of taxa (though I do wish I had some better opportunities to bird, but alas). This will also probably be the only time I add any inverts to my list, as while I generally don't keep track of them due to my general lack of skill when it comes to identifying them, I'd say I saw some pretty interesting taxa at a couple points. I'll probably make some further updates over the coming days/weeks depending on a couple outstanding iNaturalist postings.

Birds
62. Glaucous-Winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
63. Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus)
64. California Gull (Larus californicus)
65. Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)
66. Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
67. White-Winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)
68. Short-Billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus)
69. Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

70. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
71. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
72. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
73. Ring-Necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
74. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
75. Golden-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
76. Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)

77. Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
78. Black-Legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
79. Common Loon (Gavia immer)
80. Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica)
81. Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)

82. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
83. Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
84. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
85. Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
86. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Mammals
7. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
8. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

9. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)
10. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
11. Harbor Porpose (Phocoena phocoena)

12. Steller Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus)
13. Mountain Goat (Oreamnos americanus)
14. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)


Fishes
1. Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta)

Invertebrates

1. Ochre Sea Star (Pisaster ochraceus)
2. Pacific Lion's Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea ferruginea)
3. Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile)
4. Giant Plumose Anemone (Metridium farcimen)
5. Victoria's Crystal Jellyfish (Aequorea victoria)
6. Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus)
7. Orange Sea Cucumber (Cucumaria miniata)

Totals:
86 Birds, 14 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 1 Fish, 7 Invertebrates
 
Over the last couple of days I have been on a friend's land which involved hosting an open day to the many interested people who can make space and habitat for wildlife on their own land and in their gardens. Me and him gave tours to people around the land and showed many interesting species such as newts and diving beetle larvae from the ponds to the visitors. Given the time of year, plus it being in Norfolk, I acquired many year ticks and lifers as a result. Here is what I had:

23/05:
Driving up to mine saw me acquire two mammals:

9) Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
10) Stoat Mustela erminea

24/05:
He came round my land (encompassing almost a kilometre of hedgerows, plus ancient woodland, neutral wildflower rich grassland and seven ponds) which was only a small whistlestop tour as I didn't have enough time to show him everything in my area and therefore it was more so showing him the physical landscape features and plants rather than the invert and other animal species:

111) Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus

25/05:
We slept the night at university as it was a good mid-point between mine and his, come the morning, I found this common weevil species on the wall outside one of the accommodation blocks:

112) Black Vine Weevil Otiorhynchus sulcatus

By around late afternoon, we arrived on his land which encompasses a mixture of plantation woodland, a large meadow and four ponds. With me sticking around longer I got the chance to see a good number of invert species for both the life and year list respectively. These species are from the 25/05 - 27/05:

113) Oak Leaf-roller Weevil Attelabus nitens
114) Willow Bean-galler Sawfly Euura proxima
115) Yellow-barred Longhorn Nemophora degeerella
116) Bronze Ground Beetle Carabus nemoralis
117) Water Lily Reed Beetle Donacia crassipes
118) Black-margined Loosestrife Beetle Galerucella calmariensis
119) Small Copper Lycaena phlaeas
120) Common Blue Polyommatus icarus
121) Willow Leaf Beetle Plagiodera versicolora
122) Grey Sailor Beetle Cantharis nigricans
123) 14-spot Ladybird Propylea quatuordecimpunctata
124) Nettle Weevil Phyllobius pomaceus
125) Green Immigrant Leaf Weevil Polydrusus formosus
126) Soldier Beetle sp. Cantharis livida
127) Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator
128) Pearly Green Lacewing Chrysopa perla
129) Four-spotted Plant Bug Dryophilocoris flavoquadrimaculatus
130) Thistle Gall Fly Urophora cardui
131) Dark Soldier Beetle Cantharis fusca
132) Wasp Beetle Clytus arietis
133) Speckled Bush Cricket Leptophyes punctatissima
134) Long-winged Conehead Conocephalus fuscus
135) Two-banded Wasp Hoverfly Chrysotoxum bicinctum
136) Willow Beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
137) Yellow Shell Camptogramma bilineata
138) Common White Wave Cabera pusaria
139) Brown-toed Forest Fly Xylota segnis
140) Batman Hoverfly Myathropa florea
 
Back
Top