ZooChat Big Year 2013

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nanoboy said:
Great stuff. I was using you as motivation to get out there and increase my tally, but you are now 20 ahead of me, and I can't fathom how I can clock up any more species.
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have you got to the Werribee treatment plant yet?
 
I may aswell start

birds:
1.crow
2.stock dove (I think, could be another guilliformes species)
3.herring gull
4.Grey heron
5.mallard duck
6.mute swan
7.common buzzard
8.Red kite
9.sparrowhawk
10.blue tit
11.coal tit
12.gold crest
13.pied wagtail
14.european robin
15.pheasant

mammals
1.Roe deer
2.red squirrel

I might remember more species, so I'll say if it's my first sighting or I've remembered.
 
Pleistohorse said:
I'm only at 11 so far....it's about to get busy up here though!
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Yeah I live by a lake so when Spring gets a stronger hold up here I'll be getting everything from Great Blue Herons to American White Pelicans. I've been hearing Bald Eagles for the past few days so I'm keeping an eye out so hopefully it won't be too long before I see them. There's a nest directly across the lake.

~Thylo:cool:
 
Chlidonias said:
have you got to the Werribee treatment plant yet?
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Ok you got me there. That's on the radar when it gets a bit cooler. I should be able to clock up an extra dozen or so there for sure!

PS* I read somewhere that the 168th species of bird was recorded at Werribee Zoo a couple weeks ago: a spotted crake. I am not sure if a guide actually saw this or merely thought it would theoretically make a good photo, but a flame robin perched on a rhino's horn in the late evening. (I only saw the bird on some poo once, which isn't the best pic.)
 
I'd suggest you also try Serendip Sanctuary. Should be able to get a few more there.

:p

Hix
 
84. Red kite

but more important, the first butterfly of the year :) the Common Brimstone, I hope to reach 200 butterfly species this year (without moths), but with trips planned to Bulgaria and the Pyrenees this should be possible.
 
nanoboy said:
Cheers! Any suggestions for the best time for birding for diurnal birds?
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morning.

It depends on where you are of course. In hot places the middle of the day is usually dead. In highland areas all day long can be good. In general though morning is when all the birds are most active and easily seen or heard; same for late afternoon when it is cooling down but I tend to find morning best.

Some habitats tend to be good at any time of day where-ever you are (wetlands for example, because water birds seem not to mind how hot or cold it is so much).
 
I've only been there once, in the afternoon. But I saw plenty of birds in a couple of hours - waterbirds and otherwise.

:p

Hix
 
Cheers guys. It looks like I clearly need to tailor my outings depending on the habitat.

Don't laugh at this question, but is night time really the best time to see nocturnal birds? I am just wondering if maybe during the day they are stationary and asleep and it might be easier to spot them then.
 
nanoboy said:
Don't laugh at this question, but is night time really the best time to see nocturnal birds? I am just wondering if maybe during the day they are stationary and asleep and it might be easier to spot them then.
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that depends on the species. Most nocturnal birds don't sit out in the open (because they get harrassed by diurnal birds) but if they do perch then they do so in secluded spots. They are usually very difficult to find in the daytime but it can be done if you know what to look for (e.g. pellets coughed up by owls denote a roosting position).

But basically, yes, night time is the best time to look for nocturnal birds.


A day-time photo: http://www.zoochat.com/743/brown-wood-owl-strix-leptogrammica-147003/
(I was going to link also to a photo of a satanic nightjar I took in Sulawesi but the photo no longer exists in the gallery)
 
Chlidonias said:
that depends on the species. Most nocturnal birds don't sit out in the open (because they get harrassed by diurnal birds) but if they do perch then they do so in secluded spots. They are usually very difficult to find in the daytime but it can be done if you know what to look for (e.g. pellets coughed up by owls denote a roosting position).

But basically, yes, night time is the best time to look for nocturnal birds.


A day-time photo: http://www.zoochat.com/743/brown-wood-owl-strix-leptogrammica-147003/
(I was going to link also to a photo of a satanic nightjar I took in Sulawesi but the photo no longer exists in the gallery)
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Oh cheers dude. I think that I will just go spotlighting in my park one night to tick off a few species then. (Nice pic!)
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Over the past couple of days I have seen some more new species:

Birds:
59- Red kite
60- Marsh harrier
61- Red-legged partridge

Mammals:
5- Fallow deer
6- Least weasel
7- Chinese water deer (Lifer)
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Birds:
62- European greenfinch

Mammals:
8- Northern water vole

And first fish of the year:
1- Northern pike
 
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74. Yellowface Honeyeater
75. White-eared Honeyeater *
76. http://www.zoochat.com/674/mistletoebird-311313/ *
77. Eastern Yellow Robin
78. http://www.zoochat.com/674/white-throated-treecreeper-311315/ *
79. http://www.zoochat.com/674/rufous-fantail-311311/ *
80. http://www.zoochat.com/674/little-lorikeets-311312/ *
81. http://www.zoochat.com/674/dusky-woodswallow-311317/ *
82. http://www.zoochat.com/674/golden-whistler-juvenile-i-think-311316/ *

A * indicates a Lifer. In my previous post the Yellow-tufted Honeyeater and Rufous Whistler were both Lifers too.

:p

Hix
 
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