Zoochat Big Year 2025

Couple of nice things popping into the lens for the first time this year on a long but fun day at Bempton Cliffs. Was fortunate to catch a puffin close up (no one else there for that, bit of a strange moment given how busy it was, but was trying to catch some Razorbills and found a Puffin just peeking out from a ledge) and also get a few more distant views. The Linnets were super active with no dilly dallying, so hope those turned out. Great weather for a photo day out with just the right wind! There were youngsters visible for the Gannets and Guillemots too, treat stuff all round.

Birds

96. Linnet, Linaria cannabina, 15/06/2025, RSPB Bempton Cliffs
97. Puffin, Fratercula arctica, 15/06/2025, RSPB Bempton Cliffs
 
After reviewing records, I found out that I forgot to mention several species. It also appears that I miscounted some of the animals

BIRDS:
62) Smooth-billed Ani (Crotophaga ani) [Nassau, February 18]
63) Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula) [Rome, April 20]
64) Common Wood-Pigeon (Columba palumbus) [Tuscany, April 25]
65) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) [Tuscany, April 25]
66) American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) [Boston, June 15]
June 16, 2025

INVERTEBRATES:
24) Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 66 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 24 species
TOTAL: 109 species

Document of All Species Seen: Zoochat Big Year 2025
 
Not new for the year. I forgot to list the bullfrog, though, which was.

(For those who could not tell the obvious here, I had a great time meeting up with CMP yesterday, mostly to look for Kirtland's Warbler. I had a great time, the first time I've ever met another ZooChatter in person).




Birds
259. Louisiana Waterthrush Parkesia motacilla
260. Cerulean Warbler Setophaga cerulea
261. Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
262. Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum

Herps
12. American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
Another lifer reptile at work yesterday: a beautiful 5'7" Bullsnake!:

Herps
13. Gopher Snake Pituophis catenifer
 
June 16, 2025

INVERTEBRATES:
24) Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle (Psyllobora vigintimaculata)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 66 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 24 species
TOTAL: 109 species

Document of All Species Seen: Zoochat Big Year 2025
June 18, 2025
I went to the aquarium today!

BIRDS:
67) Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

INVERTEBRATES:
25) Common Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita)
26) Lion's Mane Jelly (Cyanea capillata)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 67 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 26 species
TOTAL: 112 species
 
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

Some new additions from over the past week or so

Birds
87. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
88. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
89. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
90. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Amphibians
1. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)

Fishes
2. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
3. Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus)
4. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans)

Totals:
89 Birds, 14 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 1 Amphibian, 4 Fishes, 7 Invertebrates
 
217) Chinese Bamboo Partridge

218) Red Billed Leiothrix

219) Japanese Paradise Flycatcher

220) Japanese Night Heron

Can't believe I finally got wild Japanese Night Herons!! And a breeding pair with chicks!

221) Japanese Quail

222) Whiskered Tern

223) Black Browed Reed Warbler

224) Oriental Reed Warbler

225) Marsh Grassbird

226) Black Winged Stilt

Had a nice time at the Watarase Retention Ponds two days ago, where I got a number of lifers! Japanese Quail was a big one, and it flushed from beneath my feet while I was trying to photograph a pheasant. I went and saw the Black Winged Stilts today, and photographed some adorable chicks!
 
June 18, 2025
I went to the aquarium today!

BIRDS:
67) Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)

INVERTEBRATES:
25) Common Moon Jelly (Aurelia aurita)
26) Lion's Mane Jelly (Cyanea capillata)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 67 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 26 species
TOTAL: 112 species
June 19, 2025

INVERTEBRATES:
27) Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)

MAMMALS: 7 species
BIRDS: 67 species
REPTILES: 5 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 27 species
TOTAL: 113 species
 
Long overdue lifer which now finally means I have seen every resident bird species found in Greater Melbourne. Still missing a couple migrants

Birds.
26. Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)

A trip to Central Victoria produced two lifers including a very special vagrant that was successfully twitched.

27. Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis)
28. Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis)
 
A few more things to add from a recent trip to NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes, identified as I went through editing my photos.

Birds

98. House Martin, Delichon urbicum, 31/05/2025, NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes
99. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica, 31/05/2025, NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes

Other

12. Drinker moth caterpillar, Euthrix potatoria, 31/05/2025, NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes
13. Red Tailed Bumblebee, Bombus lapidarius, 31/05/2025, NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes
 
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