somehow never put this on my list
BIRDS
237 - Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
Zoochat Big Year 2025
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
BIRDS
237 - Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
A very interesting report. I had no kowledge of these. A couple of years ago I saw a flock of about twenty white birds flying in v. formation that I was sure must have been Snow geese (they were geese not egrets/spoonbill etc) but I rather doubted myself. This was in Dorset but they (or some of them) may wander I guess.
KiwiBirb
Well-Known Member
It’s fall migration and I’ve been hitting my usual stops in North Jersey for the most part to see the usual birds. I did take one half day to go to Sandy Hook for some rare and migratory birds where I saw a continuing pair of Lark Sparrows (surprisingly not a lifer as it’s a bird I saw in the Badlands National Park before I started birding.) I did try and make it to the North End of the peninsula before I had to go but I didn’t have time to go to where a Baird’s Sandpiper and Say’s Phoebe had been spotted. Later in the week I was making a routine stop at the Oradell Reservoir when I finally hit the jackpot. A large flock of migratory birds that included Black-Throated Green Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Least Flycatcher, and a lifer Tennessee Warbler! The next day I went to the Closter Nature Center where there were a ton of Woodpeckers, at least 2 of every species common in my area including 18 Red-Bellied! But what counts for this challenge though would be the Wood Frog that I almost stepped on when looking straight up a Wood-Pewee. Despite no new warblers or a Sora at Garett Mountain on Saturday, Blackpoll Warbler and a Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher, my 2nd in a row at this location, are notable. Finally I was wondering if any of my fellow US birders were experiencing a high amount of Red-Breasted Nuthatches. I have recorded half a dozen already this season after only recording 2 all of last season here in NJ. Would be really cool if it was an irruption year!
Birds
271) Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
272) Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
Herptiles
12) Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)
Progress:
Mammals- 20
Birds- 272
Herptiles- 11
Total- 304
I have returned from a two week trip to central Europe. I mostly was visiting zoos or touring in some cities, but I spent a couple of days in the Alps from where many of these sightings came from. Additionally, I found Vienna to be a very wildlife-rich city.
174. Common Wood-Pigeon, Columba palumbus
175. Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula
176. European Robin, Erithacus rubecula
177. Great Tit, Parus major
178. Eurasian Jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
179. Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
180. Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
181. Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
182. Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica
183. European White Stork, Ciconia ciconia
184. Western House Martin, Delichon urbicum
185. Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo
186. Black-Headed Gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
187. Barnacle Goose, Branta leucopsis
188. Alexandrine Parakeet, Psittacula eupatria
189. Short-Toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla
190. Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
191. Eurasian Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
192. Eurasian Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
193. Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
194. Hawfinch, Coccothraustes coccothraustes
195. Eurasian Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
196. Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea
197. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
198. Wild Greylag Goose, Anser anser
199. Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
200. White Wagtail, Motacilla alba
201. Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula
202. Great Crested Grebe, Podiceps cristatus
203. Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
204. Yellow-Legged Gull, Larus michahellis
205. Common Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus
206. Yellow-Billed Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
207. Little Grebe, Trachybaptus ruficollis
208. Eurasian Siskin, Spinus spinus
209. White-Throated Dipper, Cinclus cinclus
210. Northern Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes
211. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
212. Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
213. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
214. Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
53. Eurasian Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris
54. Alpine Chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra
55. Soprano Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus
56. Common Noctule, Nyctalus noctula
57. Kuhl’s Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii
58. Nathusius’ Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii
59. Alpine Ibex, Capra ibex
60. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes
61. European Hamster, Cricetus cricetus
62. European Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus
63. Brown Rat, Rattus norvegicus
64. Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
65. Mountain Hare, Lepus timidus - seen on the grounds of Dublin Airport during my layover
~Thylo
Yes it's definitely a Red-breasted Nuthatch irruption year. We always have them in some numbers here but over the last few weeks they've been unusually common. I've been getting them almost every time I go out.
CarnotaurusSastrei
Well-Known Member
Birds
108. Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Mammals
15. Groundhog (Marmota monax)
Totals: 108 Birds, 15 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 18 Invertebrates (151 Total)
New Life List Entries: 46 Birds, 7 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 3 Fishes, 12 Invertebrates (69 Total)
Yes, thanks for that. When checking where I was, I did not scroll far enough down the previous post on two occasions. I am putting it down to tiredness from a busy trip. So, I need to add seven birds to my numbers making a total to date of 309.
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another I seem to have missed...somehow never put this on my list
BIRDS
237 - Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
BIRDS
238 - Noisy Friarbird Philaemon corniculatus
I went to Las Vegas for a business function on Saturday afternoon. Arriving Thursday night, I went straight to the Luxor Hotel and Casino where I had secured a room for AU$107. (The same room would have been well over US$1,000 on Saturday night). The room was bland and uninteresting, and looked into a concrete wall.
After sleeping in, the next morning I headed back to the airport to pick up a car. As I had my first look in daylight, my impression was that possibly there was nowhere else more alien to the possibilities of wildlife watching than Las Vegas.
I was aware there was a range restricted endangered chipmunk in nearby mountains, and I had already decided to search it out. I also had hopes of some interesting birds.
I was headed to the Spring Mountains, specifically to Mt Charleston, which is only about 45 minutes' drive from central Las Vagas. I was a little worried about driving into the mountains with windy, tight roads to gain altitude. In fact, the road went straight up a canyon, and I barely noticed as I gained about 3000 feet in altitude. What I did notice was an increase in the amount of vegetation as we went further up the canyon. I also saw my first animals, two burros conveniently standing next to a sign explaining the dangers of contact with wild burros and horses.
My hotel was not going to be available for a couple of hours, so I checked out the nearby Spring Mountains Visitor Centre. I walked down into the canyon and along several trails but did not notice many birds other than a number of Woodhouse's scrub jays.
My hotel turned out to have clean and comfortable rooms, and a charming western ambiance. Noticeable was the stuffed black bear on the staircase landing. Overall, the most enjoyable hotel of my trip. I took a pre-dinner drive and later after dark to reconnoiter the surroundings but failed to see any further animals.
Palmer's chipmunk is confined to the Spring Mountains and to altitudes above 7000 feet. It is classified as Endangered. According to Mammalwatching.com most sightings have been in the early morning in campgrounds. I was up early the next morning and drove to the Hilltop Campground. Driving through the campground I soon saw a chipmunk on the ground, and a second one at the McWilliams Campground. I did not leave the car as it was the weekend, and the campgrounds were busy with campers making their breakfasts. I did leave the car at other spots for birding but did not see any more mammals.
I returned to my hotel for a late breakfast, then after some further exploring around that area, headed back down the canyon to my function.
Mammals
31. Feral donkey (burro) Equus africanus
32. Palmer's chipmunk Neotamias palmeri EN
Birds
16 species
310. Woodhouse's scrub-jay Aphelocoma woodhouseii
311. Steller's jay Cyanocitta stelleri
312. Clark's nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana
313. Cassin's finch Haemorhous cassinii
314. Pine siskin Spinus pinus
315. Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis
316. Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina
.... Bullock's oriole Icterus bullockiorum (heard only)
317. Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli
318. Ruby-crowned kinglet Corthylio calendula
319. White-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
320. Pygmy nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
After sleeping in, the next morning I headed back to the airport to pick up a car. As I had my first look in daylight, my impression was that possibly there was nowhere else more alien to the possibilities of wildlife watching than Las Vegas.
I was aware there was a range restricted endangered chipmunk in nearby mountains, and I had already decided to search it out. I also had hopes of some interesting birds.
I was headed to the Spring Mountains, specifically to Mt Charleston, which is only about 45 minutes' drive from central Las Vagas. I was a little worried about driving into the mountains with windy, tight roads to gain altitude. In fact, the road went straight up a canyon, and I barely noticed as I gained about 3000 feet in altitude. What I did notice was an increase in the amount of vegetation as we went further up the canyon. I also saw my first animals, two burros conveniently standing next to a sign explaining the dangers of contact with wild burros and horses.
My hotel was not going to be available for a couple of hours, so I checked out the nearby Spring Mountains Visitor Centre. I walked down into the canyon and along several trails but did not notice many birds other than a number of Woodhouse's scrub jays.
My hotel turned out to have clean and comfortable rooms, and a charming western ambiance. Noticeable was the stuffed black bear on the staircase landing. Overall, the most enjoyable hotel of my trip. I took a pre-dinner drive and later after dark to reconnoiter the surroundings but failed to see any further animals.
Palmer's chipmunk is confined to the Spring Mountains and to altitudes above 7000 feet. It is classified as Endangered. According to Mammalwatching.com most sightings have been in the early morning in campgrounds. I was up early the next morning and drove to the Hilltop Campground. Driving through the campground I soon saw a chipmunk on the ground, and a second one at the McWilliams Campground. I did not leave the car as it was the weekend, and the campgrounds were busy with campers making their breakfasts. I did leave the car at other spots for birding but did not see any more mammals.
I returned to my hotel for a late breakfast, then after some further exploring around that area, headed back down the canyon to my function.
Mammals
31. Feral donkey (burro) Equus africanus
32. Palmer's chipmunk Neotamias palmeri EN
Birds
16 species
310. Woodhouse's scrub-jay Aphelocoma woodhouseii
311. Steller's jay Cyanocitta stelleri
312. Clark's nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana
313. Cassin's finch Haemorhous cassinii
314. Pine siskin Spinus pinus
315. Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis
316. Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina
.... Bullock's oriole Icterus bullockiorum (heard only)
317. Mountain chickadee Poecile gambeli
318. Ruby-crowned kinglet Corthylio calendula
319. White-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
320. Pygmy nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
The next set of birds and mammals from my Australia trip, these ones all from the Adelaide area. Details can be found in my trip thread here: https://www.zoochat.com/community/threads/chlidonias-presents-bustralia.495102/page-3#post-1653401
BIRDS:
512) White-eyed Duck Aythya australis
513) Australian Little Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
514) Buff-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza reguloides
515) Crescent Honeyeater Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus
516) Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
517) Long-billed Corella Cacatua tenuirostris
518) Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
519) Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
520) Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius
521) Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
522) Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
523) Singing Honeyeater Gavicalis virescens
524) Elegant Parrot Neophema elegans
525) Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
526) Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii
527) White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus
528) Yellow-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza chrysorrhoa
529) Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla harmonica
530) Redrump Psephotus haematonotus
531) Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana
532) Hooded Robin Melanodryas cucullata
533) Bush Bronzewing Phaps elegans
534) Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
535) Black-faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
536) Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus australis
537) Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus
538) Black-fronted Dotterel Charadrius melanops
539) Freckled Duck Stictonetta naevosa
540) Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
541) Australian Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
MAMMALS:
53) Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus
54) Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus
55) Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
56) Fallow Deer Dama dama
57) Red Kangaroo Osphranter rufa
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After the function I was convinced by a small group of colleagues to drive them to downtown Las Vagas. We spent a lot of our time on Fremont St, the original strip which has now been roofed over and named the Fremont Experience. Not being a gambler or big drinker, I spent my time people watching. It was a fascinating experience, but not one I would bother repeating.
I was at a hotel about 30 minutes to the south, the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino. The room was fine, but to get to the lifts, you had to walk across the smoke-filled gambling room, which completely lacked any of the glamour sometimes associated with the word casino.
Despite my late night I managed to get up early enough to get to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve by 7am opening time. Contrary to my previous comments about Las Vagas, this place is a gem. It is a group of fourteen redundant sewage settling ponds. They have done an excellent job of planting out the site, and birdlife is abundant.
I started using the Merlin app for the first time here. I found it an excellent aid to identification. However, it did identify quite a few more birds than I saw. I will have to improve my game!
After leaving the preserve, the rest of the day was devoted more touristy activities, including visiting the Hoover Dam. Passing through Boulder City, I stopped at Hemenway Park, which has a large area of irrigated and therefore always green grass that attracts bighorn sheep. I saw at least two dozen sheep there. They obviously tolerate people and allow them to approach to about three metres away. However, when a child approached closer, the simply moved a few metres away. People watching them seemed to be respectful of them too. Many park users were going about their normal activities ignoring them.
I was up early the next morning to take a flight to Los Angeles.
Mammal
33. Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis
Birds
31 species seen
321. Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis
322. Cinnamin teal Spatula cyanoptera
323. Gambel's quail Callipepla gambelii
324. Clark's grebe Aechmophorus clarkii
325. Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis
326. Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps
327. Costa's hummingbird Calypte costae
328. Sora Porzana carolina
329. Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
330. Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
331. White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
332. Verdin Auriparus flaviceps
333. Black-billed gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura
I was at a hotel about 30 minutes to the south, the Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino. The room was fine, but to get to the lifts, you had to walk across the smoke-filled gambling room, which completely lacked any of the glamour sometimes associated with the word casino.
Despite my late night I managed to get up early enough to get to the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve by 7am opening time. Contrary to my previous comments about Las Vagas, this place is a gem. It is a group of fourteen redundant sewage settling ponds. They have done an excellent job of planting out the site, and birdlife is abundant.
I started using the Merlin app for the first time here. I found it an excellent aid to identification. However, it did identify quite a few more birds than I saw. I will have to improve my game!
After leaving the preserve, the rest of the day was devoted more touristy activities, including visiting the Hoover Dam. Passing through Boulder City, I stopped at Hemenway Park, which has a large area of irrigated and therefore always green grass that attracts bighorn sheep. I saw at least two dozen sheep there. They obviously tolerate people and allow them to approach to about three metres away. However, when a child approached closer, the simply moved a few metres away. People watching them seemed to be respectful of them too. Many park users were going about their normal activities ignoring them.
I was up early the next morning to take a flight to Los Angeles.
Mammal
33. Bighorn sheep Ovis canadensis
Birds
31 species seen
321. Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis
322. Cinnamin teal Spatula cyanoptera
323. Gambel's quail Callipepla gambelii
324. Clark's grebe Aechmophorus clarkii
325. Eared grebe Podiceps nigricollis
326. Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps
327. Costa's hummingbird Calypte costae
328. Sora Porzana carolina
329. Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
330. Savannah sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
331. White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
332. Verdin Auriparus flaviceps
333. Black-billed gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura
There has been a big influx of grey phalarope to land-locked counties in the UK this week. One of the three (!) currently in London was at Beddington Farmlands (one of my old birding patches), so I popped over to see it.
200. Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
Some long-overdue additions, just identified from Tasmania
INVERTS
129 - Little Blue Periwinkle Austrolittorina unifasciata
130 - Common Warrener Lunella undulata
131 - Orange-edged Limpet Cellana solida
132 - Wavy Top Diloma concameratum
133 - Southern Ribbed Top Snail Austrocochlea constricta
And a few more additions from first few days in Montenegro. Going to one of the better birding spots in the country tomorrow so might have some luck there...
Mammals
20. Red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris
Birds
162. Western rock nuthatch, Sitta neumayer
163. Eurasian goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
164. White backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos
165. Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
166. Eastern subalpine warbler, Curruca cantillans
167. Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
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Mammals
43. Franklin's Ground Squirrel Poliocitellus franklinii
CarnotaurusSastrei
Well-Known Member
Invertebrates
19. Brown-Belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis)
20. Black Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)
21. Cedar Beetle (Sandalus niger)
Totals: 108 Birds, 15 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 21 Invertebrates (154 Total)
New Life List Entries: 46 Birds, 7 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 3 Fishes, 15 Invertebrates (72 Total)
BIRDS
239 - Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides
HERPS
24 - Carpet Python Morelia spilota
INVERTS
135 - Giant Grasshopper Valanga irregularis
136 - Quick Stick Insect Acrophylla thoon
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Lake Skadar National Park
Very interesting day here. The pelican was probably the coolest bird but seen very poorly. They're typically not big fans of the boats on the lake so the only time it is possible to see them in this season is very distantly across the open expanse of the lake. Otherwise, the Sombre tit and the tern were also lovely to see.
Birds
168. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
169. Pygmy cormorant, Microcarbo pygmaeus
170. Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus
171. Whiskered tern, Chlidonias hybrida
172. Common kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
173. Sombre tit, Poecile lugubris
174. Common sand martin, Riparia riparia
175. Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
176. Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
177. Spotted flycatcher, Muscicapa striata
Amphibians
2. Marsh frog, Pelophylax ridibundus