Zoochat Big Year 2025

I'm going to Australia next week, so these are the birds I've seen around while I've been back in New Zealand.


BIRDS:

412) European Blackbird Turdus merula
413) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
414) Waxeye (Silvereye) Zosterops lateralis
415) Paradise Duck Tadorna variegata
416) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
417) NZ Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
418) Red-billed Gull Larus novaehollandiae
419) Southern Black-backed (Kelp) Gull Larus dominicanus
420) Spur-winged Plover Vanellus novaehollandiae
421) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
422) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
423) Black Swan Cygnus atrata
424) Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius
425) White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
426) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
427) Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
428) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
429) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
430) Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus
431) Pukeko (Australasian Swamphen) Porphyrio melanotus
432) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
433) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
434) Australasian Harrier Circus approximans
435) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
436) Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri
437) European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
438) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
439) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
440) Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) Prunella modularis
441) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
442) Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
443) NZ Pied Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
444) NZ Bellbird Anthornis melanura
445) Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus
446) NZ Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
447) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
448) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
449) Spotted Shag Stictocarbo punctatus
450) NZ Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
451) Weka Gallirallus australis
452) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
453) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
454) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
455) Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis
456) Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
457) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
458) Kaka Nestor meridionalis
459) Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus
460) NZ Robin Petroica australis
461) Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
462) Stitchbird Notiomystis cincta
463) Red-crowned Kakariki Cyanoramphus novaezealandiae
464) Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
465) NZ Dabchick Poliocephalus rufopectus


MAMMALS:

44) NZ Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri
45) House Mouse Mus musculus
46) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
47) European (Brown) Hare Lepus europaeus
 
Chlidonias said:
I'm going to Australia next week, so these are the birds I've seen around while I've been back in New Zealand.


BIRDS:

412) European Blackbird Turdus merula
413) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
414) Waxeye (Silvereye) Zosterops lateralis
415) Paradise Duck Tadorna variegata
416) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
417) NZ Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
418) Red-billed Gull Larus novaehollandiae
419) Southern Black-backed (Kelp) Gull Larus dominicanus
420) Spur-winged Plover Vanellus novaehollandiae
421) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
422) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
423) Black Swan Cygnus atrata
424) Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius
425) White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
426) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
427) Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
428) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
429) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
430) Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus
431) Pukeko (Australasian Swamphen) Porphyrio melanotus
432) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
433) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
434) Australasian Harrier Circus approximans
435) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
436) Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri
437) European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
438) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
439) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
440) Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) Prunella modularis
441) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
442) Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
443) NZ Pied Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
444) NZ Bellbird Anthornis melanura
445) Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus
446) NZ Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
447) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
448) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
449) Spotted Shag Stictocarbo punctatus
450) NZ Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
451) Weka Gallirallus australis
452) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
453) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
454) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
455) Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis
456) Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
457) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
458) Kaka Nestor meridionalis
459) Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus
460) NZ Robin Petroica australis
461) Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
462) Stitchbird Notiomystis cincta
463) Red-crowned Kakariki Cyanoramphus novaezealandiae
464) Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
465) NZ Dabchick Poliocephalus rufopectus


MAMMALS:

44) NZ Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri
45) House Mouse Mus musculus
46) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
47) European (Brown) Hare Lepus europaeus
Click to expand...
I don't know, by the look of that list it seems you don't need to come across here.
 
Najade said:
18.08.25 - Coachella Valley Preserve (204, 17), Andreas Canyon road (364, 365), Mt San Jacinto (205, 206, 366, 367), Vendel Road (362, 363), California, USA

Mammals
204. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)
205. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
206. California Chipmunk (Neotamias obscurus)

Birds (non-passerines)
362. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
363. Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Birds (passerines)
364. Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
365. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
366. Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
367. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Reptiles
17. Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
Click to expand...
26.08.25 - Neue Mitte 2 (behind Topgolf), Oberhausen, NRW, Germany

Birds (passerines)
368. Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
 
BerdNerd said:
8/26/25

28. Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus)
Click to expand...


8/26/25

29. Spinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)


9/2/25

30. Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)
31. Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis)
32. Duckweed Firetail (Telebasis byersi)
33. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia)


Total:
Mammals: 8
Birds: 125
Reptiles: 9
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 37
Invertebrates: 33
 
Yoshistar888 said:
Been a couple of these that have arrived early, went for one in Geelong and missed it but got onto this one near Breamlea. Pretty hard to find bird in this part of the world, they like hanging around along rocky shorelines where they bob up and down inbetween rocks and go in and out of crevices.

birds

30. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Click to expand...

Recent trips have netted me the following species.

Mammals

14. Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Herptiles

15. White’s Skink (Liopholis whitii)
 
Chlidonias said:
I'm going to Australia next week, so these are the birds I've seen around while I've been back in New Zealand.


BIRDS:

412) European Blackbird Turdus merula
413) Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
414) Waxeye (Silvereye) Zosterops lateralis
415) Paradise Duck Tadorna variegata
416) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
417) NZ Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
418) Red-billed Gull Larus novaehollandiae
419) Southern Black-backed (Kelp) Gull Larus dominicanus
420) Spur-winged Plover Vanellus novaehollandiae
421) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
422) Pied Stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
423) Black Swan Cygnus atrata
424) Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius
425) White-faced Heron Ardea novaehollandiae
426) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
427) Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
428) Australasian Shoveller Anas rhynchotis
429) Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
430) Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicinctus
431) Pukeko (Australasian Swamphen) Porphyrio melanotus
432) Grey Teal Anas gracilis
433) Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus sanctus
434) Australasian Harrier Circus approximans
435) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
436) Black-billed Gull Larus bulleri
437) European Greenfinch Carduelis chloris
438) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
439) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
440) Dunnock (Hedge Sparrow) Prunella modularis
441) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
442) Little Pied Shag Microcarbo melanoleucos
443) NZ Pied Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
444) NZ Bellbird Anthornis melanura
445) Black-fronted Tern Chlidonias albostriatus
446) NZ Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
447) Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia
448) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
449) Spotted Shag Stictocarbo punctatus
450) NZ Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
451) Weka Gallirallus australis
452) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
453) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
454) Little Black Shag Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
455) Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis
456) Greater Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
457) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
458) Kaka Nestor meridionalis
459) Saddleback Philesturnus carunculatus
460) NZ Robin Petroica australis
461) Brown Teal Anas chlorotis
462) Stitchbird Notiomystis cincta
463) Red-crowned Kakariki Cyanoramphus novaezealandiae
464) Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
465) NZ Dabchick Poliocephalus rufopectus


MAMMALS:

44) NZ Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri
45) House Mouse Mus musculus
46) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
47) European (Brown) Hare Lepus europaeus
Click to expand...
One more:

466) Whitehead Mohoua albicilla
 
birdsandbats said:
And for the mammal and herp lists:

Mammals
26. California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus
27. Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina
28. Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus
29. Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
30. Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
31. Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena
32. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus
33. Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus
34. Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris
35. California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi
36. Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii
37. Merriam's Chipmunk Neotamias merriami
38. Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani
39. Sea Otter Enhydra lutris
40. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
41. Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus

Herps
17. Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
18. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans
19. Western Skink Plestiodon skiltonianus
20. Western Whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris
21. Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus
22. Pond Slider Trachemys scripta

Also one additional bird since getting back:

Birds
344. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Click to expand...
Mammals
42. Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Another winter update from me. Whale watching produced countless of Humpback Whales around Moreton Island and a lifer sea-turtle which is exciting. Hawksbill Turtle can be one of trickier sea-turtle species to get so I was thrilled with an up-close sighting near the boat. Loggerhead Turtle will be the next logical sea-turtle with some well-monitored nesting sites north of Brisbane. Some decent winter birding with highlights including a day-time sighting of Eastern Barn Owl being pursued by a Peregrine Falcon, over a dozen Cotton Pygmy-Goose which are localised winter migrants and tend to be reliable once they find suitable habitat for a few months of the year, Australasian Shoveler, Glossy Ibis and a juvenile Spotted Harrier out west.

Mammals:
19) Little Red Flying Fox Pteropus scapulatus
20) Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae

Birds:
229) Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
230) White-winged Fairywren Malurus leucopterus
231) Radjah Shelduck Radjah radjah
232) Torresian Kingfisher Todiramphus sordidus
233) Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
234) Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
235) Wandering Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna arcuata
236) Cotton Pygmy-Goose Nettapus coromandelianus
237) Azure Kingfisher Ceyx azureus
238) Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
239) Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
240) Australasian Gannet Morus serrator
241) Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
242) Eastern Barn Owl Tyto javanica
243) Pacific Baza Aviceda subcristata
244) Yellow-billed Spoonbill Platalea flavipes

Herptiles:
29) Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata

Invertebrates:
297) Large-spotted Ladybird Harmonia conformis
298) Fungus-eating Ladybird Illeis galbula
Click to expand...
Another update. I have been participating in a bioblitz for the last two days at Toohey Forest – one of Brisbane’s largest remnant bushlands, adding a new skink, and the first spring flush of inverts with two new species of jumping spider. The Golden-tailed Jumping Spider is a bucket-list species and I was thrilled to see a spectacular male [Golden-tailed Jumping Spider, Astia maculata - ZooChat]. The Water Scorpion [Water Scorpion - ZooChat] was scooped while we completed water surveys and was just awesome. For birds it has been quieter but the owl and new frogmouth remain highlights.

Mammals:
21) Subtropical Antechinus Antechinus subtropicus

Birds:
245) Greater Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa
246) Marbled Frogmouth Podargus ocellatus
247) White-cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris niger
248) Double-banded Plover Anarhynchus bicinctus

Herptiles:
30) Lace Monitor Varanus varius
31) Lively Rainbow Skink Carlia vivax
32) Tree-base Litter Skink Lygisaurus foliorum

Fish:
22) Halfband Snake Eel Malvoliophis pinguis
23) Common Toadfish Tetractenos hamiltoni

Inverts:
299) Southern Bubble Pond Snail Bullastra lessoni
300) Light-Blue Soldier Crab Mictyris longicarpus
301) Common Halfband Melangyna viridiceps
302) Stomorhina subapicalis [nose fly]
303) Outstanding Orbweaver Araneus praesignis
304) Dieuches maculicollis [seed bug]
305) Synthesiomyia nudiseta [house fly]
306) Polyrhachis brisbanensis [spiny ant]
307) Golden-tailed Spiny Ant Polyrhachis ammon
308) Podomyrma elongata [ant]
309) Painted Pine Moth Orgyia australis
310) Pygophora apicalis [house fly]
311) Steganopsis melanogaster [lauxaniid fly]
312) Polyrhachis australis [spiny ant]
313) Eastern Bush Orbweaver Plebs eburnus
314) Parallel Beautiful-Masked Bee Palaeorhiza parallela
315) Copper-bellied Ant Ochetellus glaber
316) Mallotus Harlequin Bug Cantao parentum
317) White-banded Line-Blue Nacaduba kurava
318) White-banded House Jumper Maratus griseus
319) Sphaeniscus atilius [fruit fly]
320) Derocephalus angusticollis [banana fly]
321) Calomela pallida [beetle]
322) Nisotra bicolorata [beetle]
323) Water Scorpion Laccotrephes tristis
324) Flat-white Jumping Spider Arasia mollicoma
325) Ant-eating Jumping Spider Zenodorus orbiculatus
326) Green-head Ant Rhytidoponera metallica
327) Giant Water Spider Megadolomedes trux
328) Golden-tailed Jumping Spider Astia maculata
329) Stenolemus edwardsii [spider assassin bug]
 
WhistlingKite24 said:
Mammals:
21) Subtropical Antechinus Antechinus subtropicus
Click to expand...
About time! The local mammal species that I had been wanting to see for probably the longest. As I type this I have clear views of a pup that has emerged from its grassy den, resting in sunshine. It has been returning to cover every so often.

22) Rakali/Australian Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster
 
birdsandbats said:
And for the mammal and herp lists:

Mammals
26. California Sea Lion Zalophus californianus
27. Harbor Seal Phoca vitulina
28. Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus
29. Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
30. Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus
31. Harbor Porpoise Phocoena phocoena
32. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus
33. Western Gray Squirrel Sciurus griseus
34. Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris
35. California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi
36. Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii
37. Merriam's Chipmunk Neotamias merriami
38. Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani
39. Sea Otter Enhydra lutris
40. Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
41. Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus

Herps
17. Western Fence Lizard Sceloporus occidentalis
18. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans
19. Western Skink Plestiodon skiltonianus
20. Western Whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris
21. Italian Wall Lizard Podarcis siculus
22. Pond Slider Trachemys scripta

Also one additional bird since getting back:

Birds
344. Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Click to expand...
Herps
23. Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata
 
Giant Eland said:
I just returned from 5 days in Pico Island, Azores with fantastic results!! Including not just one, but two members of a mammal family lifer for me (13 remain!) while closing out the 2nd and final species from the Kogiidae family.

Pico Island, The Azores:
55. Azores noctule (Nyctalus azoreum) (Jul 19)
56. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) (Jul 20)
57. Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
58. Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
59. Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
60. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)
61. Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)
62. False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) (Jul 21)
63. Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
64. Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)
65. Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)
66. Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus) (Jul 22)

Note: Short-finned pilot whale was confirmed to species level using underwater GoPro footage.
Click to expand...

Latest update. Took a road trip to Quebec with the main goal of seeing a representative of the Beluga family wild for the first time. Happy to report I had sucess along with my first ever NA Porcupine, despite already having seen maybe 10 other wild porcupine species abroad.

Long Island:
67. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) (Aug 8)
68. brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Aug 23)

Quebec, Canada:
69. house mouse (Mus musculus) (Sep 1)
70. Eastern Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (Sep 2)
71. North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) FINALLY!
72. snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) (Sep 3)
73. fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) (Sep 4)
74. Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Wild Family Lifer!!
75. grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
76. northern minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
 
Giant Eland said:
Latest update. Took a road trip to Quebec with the main goal of seeing a representative of the Beluga family wild for the first time. Happy to report I had sucess along with my first ever NA Porcupine, despite already having seen maybe 10 other wild porcupine species abroad.

Long Island:
67. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) (Aug 8)
68. brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Aug 23)

Quebec, Canada:
69. house mouse (Mus musculus) (Sep 1)
70. Eastern Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (Sep 2)
71. North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) FINALLY!
72. snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) (Sep 3)
73. fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) (Sep 4)
74. Beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) Wild Family Lifer!!
75. grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)
76. northern minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)
Click to expand...
How were you missing porcupine? :p I get missing them in the wild, but they're so common in captivity.
 
oflory said:
Chiming in here again - wedding planning still continues to heavily limit my birding time! But with the added benefit of now beginning to plan our honeymoon to Indonesia - so my 2026 list will be significantly better, I hope!

Birds
189. Eurasian Sparrowhawk
190. Western House Martin
191. Northern Gannet
192. Black Redstart

We're also going to Austria for a little bit after the wedding - as a 'mini-moon' - so hopefully will get some nice Alpine birds around Innsbruck - and if anyone has any tips for seeing hamsters in the cemetery in Vienna - I'd love to hear them.
Click to expand...

The wedding went very well and it was a relatively successful trip for wild animals on our 'mini-moon in Austria (the grey seal is from a boat trip to Greenwich) - though the wild creatures were slightly eclipsed by the rare chameleons in Schonnbrunn.

One benefit of being married is that I have an excellent spotter by my side. My wife managed to find a single hamster in the Zentralfriedhof. We were unavoidably there at c. 2.45 pm on the way to the airport and it almost certainly wasn't the best time of day for them. However, very glad to have seen even one - lots of roe deer and red squirrel though.

Mammals
12. Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus)
13. Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
14. Soprano Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)
15. Savi's Pipistrelle (Hypsugo savii)
16. European Hamster (Cricetus cricetus)
17. Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
18. Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Birds
193. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
194. Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix)
195. Citril Finch (Carduelis citrinella)
196. Alpine Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
197. European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
198. Common Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
199. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)

Herps
6. Common Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)
 
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