ZooChat Big Year 2018

I spent this weekend birding in the Northern Netherlands again, mainly to find a very rare Spur-winged lapwing that has been hanging around for about two weeks now, and is believed to be a second calendar year individual from Eastern Europe (hasn't been confirmed yet, but is viewed by most people as countable; should evidence eventually point to this animal being an escapee I will of course remove it from the list). In the surrounding areas I also twitched a Marbled teal and Bufflehead, two very rare vagrant ducks, but the origin of those animals has not yet been looked into, so I'll refrain from counting them unless they get accepted by the local authorities.

BIRDS:
296) Spur-winged lapwing, Vanellus spinosus
297) Temminck's stint, Calidris temminckii

298) Curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea
299) Ruddy shelduck, Tadorna ferruginea
300) Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia

Pictures of the lapwing will follow shortly!
Yesterday evening another vagrant duck was found nearby, so I had to go check that out as well! This one is looking like it will be accepted, but of course I'll keep an eye on what the local authorities do with it.

BIRDS:
301) Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors

302) Red-necked grebe, Podiceps grisegena
 
HBW Split:

886) Plumed Egret (Australian Intermediate Egret)

Missed off species:

887) Brolga
888) Red-tailed Black-cockatoo
889) White-throated Honeyeater

New ones:

890) Fairy Martin
891) Little Crow

Rottnest Island:

892) Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross
893) Little Shearwater
894) Australasian Gannet
895) White-fronted Chat
896) Wedge-tailed Shearwater
897) Banded Stilt
898) White-browed (Spotted) Scrubwren
899) Red-capped Robin
900) Sooty Oystercatcher
901) Red-necked Avocet
902) Banded Lapwing


Mammals:
166) Quokka
167) New Zealand Fur Seal
168) Australian Sea Lion
169) White-striped Freetail Bat
 
Found a rare butterfly today:

Inverts
20. Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes

This species has been turning up in very unusual large numbers in Wisconsin, and the species is being seen farther north than normal.
A couple more random inverts I haven't counted:

21. Goldenrod Soldier Beetle Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
22. Milkweed Tussock Moth Euchaetes egle
23. Fall Webworm Hyphantria cunea
 
I had another brilliant day of birding in the Biesbosch, with no less than 80 species seen, 3 of which were lifers. Although it started out as a general birding day, it quickly became an eagle chase. We found one very far away, just good enough to count, but we weren't really happy with it. Around noon, just when decided to have a break (it was over 30 degrees!), 2 juveniles approached and they came close enough for amazing views. Of course, with 80 species seen the eagles weren't the only highlight, and the hundreds of waders, geese and ducks and dozens of spoonbills and herons (in 5 species!) sure made an impressive sight.

Birds
221. Ruff [Calidris pugnax]
222. Ruddy shelduck [Tadorna ferruginea]
223. Garnagey [Spatula querquedula]
224. Northern pintail [Anas acuta]
225. Dunlin [Calidris alpina]
226. Spotted redshank [Tringa erythropos]
227. Purpe heron [Ardea purpurea]

228. Cattle egret [Bubulcus ibis]
229. White-tailed eagle [Haliaeetus albicilla]

Invertebrates
172. Dark crimson underwing [Catocala sponsa]
173. Rush veneer [Nomophila noctuella]
174. Lesser cream wave [Scopula immutata]
 
Birds:
75. Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
76. Little Wattle Bird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
77. Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
78. Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
79. Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)

Mammals:
8. Hare (Lepus europaeus)

Fish:
23. Pacific Blue-Eye (Pseudomugil signifer)

Reptiles:
11. Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher)
Birds:
80. Emerald Dove (Chalcophaps indica)

Fish:
24. Eyestripe Surgeonfish (Acanthurus dussumieri)
25. Redtail Parrotfish (Chlorurus japanensis)
 
Late July/early August catchup post - the first two birds and first two invertebrates from a jaunt to North Yorkshire and the remainder from completely the other direction, in Dorset.

Birds:
198. Merlin - Falco columbarius
199. Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis
200. Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata

(UK: 195)

Mammals:
25. Sika - Cervus nippon

Invertebrates:
78. Beadlet Anemone - Actinia equina
79. Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui
80. Wasp Spider - Argiope bruennichi
81. Jersey Tiger Moth - Euplagia quadripunctaria

Sika (at RSPB Arne) is the big news as that completes the UK deer set for me (and, in fact, UK ungulates as a whole, unless you want to get into feral domestics).
 
I've gone hiking with friends several times over the last few days. Wildlife watching wasn't the primary goal, but I sure had a good time, and was glad to see a few new animals here and there.
Mammals:
6. White-tailed deer
7. Coyote

Birds:
101. Green heron
102. Eastern towhee
103. House wren


Reptiles:
12. Common snapping turtle
13. Painted turtle
14. Pond slider
15. Northern water snake

Amphibians:
2. Green frog
3. Northern cricket frog
4. Cope's gray tree frog
Some fun trips the last month or two:
Mammals
8. California sea lion
9. California ground squirrel
10. Harbor seal

11. Mule deer
12. Desert cottontail
13. Black-tailed jackrabbit

Birds
104. Lesser goldfinch
105. Western gull
106. Brandt’s cormorant

107. Eurasian collared dove
108. Great-tailed grackle
109. White-faced ibis
110. Hooded oriole
111. Cliff swallow
112. Black phoebe
113. California towhee
114. Allen’s hummingbird
115. Heermann’s gull

116. Snowy egret
117. Western scrub-jay
118. Bewick’s wren
119. Sooty shearwater
120. Anna’s hummingbird
121. Caspian tern
122. Western kingbird
123. Eurasian tree sparrow


Reptiles
16. Western fence lizard
17. Western whiptail
18. Great Basin whiptail
19. Common sagebrush lizard
20. Zebra-tailed lizard
21. Yellow-backed spiny lizard
22. Common wall lizard
 
I've been updating my records for the thread, and so even though it's the middle of a month here are the current "firsts" in each category


BIRDS:
LaughingDove – 902

MAMMALS:
LaughingDove – 169

HERPTILES:
Swampy – 96 (in the lead in both Reptiles (70) and Amphibians (26))

FISH:
Hix – 340

INVERTEBRATES:
Mr. Zootycoon – 174
 
And, here's the full mammal list for the year so far. I have no idea how many species are on it.


Platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus
Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

Virginian Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Yellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus flavipes
Gilbert’s Dunnart Sminthopsis gilberti
Red-tailed Phascogale Phascogale calura
Brush-tailed Phascogale Phascogale tapoatafa
Numbat Myrmecobius fasciatus
Northern Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles pallescens
Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii
Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus
Western Brown Bandicoot (Quenda) Isoodon fusciventer
Northern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon macrourus
Koala Phascolarctos cinereus
Common Wombat Vombatus ursinus
Honey Possum Tarsipes rostratus
Long-tailed Pygmy Possum Cercartetus caudatus
Western Pygmy Possum Cercartetus concinnus
Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Western Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus occidentalis
Green Ringtail Possum Pseudochirops archeri
Daintree River Ringtail Possum Pseudochirulus cinereus
Herbert River Ringtail Possum Pseudochirulus herbertensis
Lemuroid Ringtail Possum Hemibelideus lemuroides
Greater Glider Petauroides volans
Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps
Squirrel Glider Petaurus norfolcensis
Australian Striped Possum Dactylopsila trivirgata
Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula
Coppery Brushtail Possum Trichosurus johnstonii
Northern Brushtail Possum Trichosurus arnhemensis
Musky Rat Kangaroo Hypsiprymnodon moschatus
Rufous Bettong Aepyprymnus rufescens
Brush-tailed Bettong Bettongia penicillata
Gilbert’s Potoroo Potorous gilbertii
Quokka Setonix brachyurus
Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica
Red Kangaroo Osphranter rufus
Common Wallaroo Osphranter robustus
Antilopine Wallaroo Osphranter antilopinus
Black Wallaroo Osphranter bernardus
Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus
Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus
Whiptail Wallaby Notamacropus parryi
Agile Wallaby Notamacropus agilis
Red-Necked Wallaby Notamacropus rufogriseus
Tammar Wallaby Notamacropus eugenii
Western Brush Wallaby Notamacropus irma
Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor
Mareeba Rock Wallaby Petrogale mareeba
Sharman's Rock Wallaby Petrogale sharmani
Allied Rock Wallaby Petrogale assimilis
Black-footed Rock Wallaby Petrogale lateralis
Wilkin's Rock Wallaby Petrogale wilkinsi
Unadorned Rock Wallaby Petrogale inornata
Herbert's Rock Wallaby Petrogale herberti
Rothschild's Rock Wallaby Petrogale rothschildi
Lumholtz's Tree Kangaroo Dendrolagus lumholtzi

Common Shrew Sorex araneus
Masked Shrew Sorex cinereus
Eurasian Pygmy Shrew Sorex minutus
Eurasian Water Shrew Neomys fodiens
European Mole Talpa europaea

West European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
Lesser Gymnure Hylomys suillus

Common Tree Shrew Tupaia glis
Long-footed Tree Shrew Tupaia longipes
Large Treeshrew Tupaia tana
Lesser Tree Shrew Tupaia minor
Striped Tree Shrew Tupaia dorsalis
Slender Tree Shrew Tupaia gracilis
Mountain Tree Shrew Tupaia montana
Bornean Smooth-tailed Tree Shrew Dendrogale melanura

Eastern Tube-nosed Bat Nyctimene robinsoni
Large Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus
Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto
Christmas Island (Black-eared) Flying Fox Pteropus melanotus
Grey-headed Flying Fox Pteropus poliocephalus
Spectacled Flying Fox Pteropus conspicillatus
Little Red Flying Fox Pteropus scapulatus
Dusky Fruit Bat Penthetor lucasi
Lesser Short-nosed (Dog-faced) Fruit Bat Cynopterus brachyotis
Egyptian Fruit Bat Rousettus aegyptiacus
Straw-colored Fruit Bat Eidolon helvum
Wahlberg’s Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomophorus wahlbergi
Eastern Blossom Bat Syconycteris australis
Long-tongued Nectar Bat Macroglossus minimus
Cave Nectar Bat Eonycteris spelaea
Ghost Bat Macroderma gigas
Rüppell's Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus fumigatus
Large-eared (Philippine) Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus philippinensis
Eastern Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus megaphyllus
Dayak Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros dyacorum
Fawn Leaf-nosed Bat Hipposideros cervinus
Cantor’s Roundleaf Bat Hipposideros galeritus
Large-footed (Southern) Myotis Myotis macropus
Daubenton's Bat Myotis daubentonii
Serotine Bat Eptesicus serotinus
Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus
Common Noctule Nyctalus noctula
Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi
Common Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Soprano Pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus
Canyon Bat (Western Pipistrelle) Parastrellus hesperus
Northern Cave Bat Vespadelus caurinus
Lesser Long-eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi
Common Sheathtail Bat Taphozous georgianus
Wrinkle-lipped Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon plicatus
White-striped Freetail Bat Austronomus australis
Common Bent-winged Bat Miniopterus schreibersii
Little Bentwing Bat Miniopterus australis

Small-eared Greater Galago Otolemur garnettii
Sunda Slow Loris Nycticebus coucang
Bornean (Philippine) Slow Loris Nycticebus menagensis
Western (Horsfield's) Tarsier Cephalopachus bancanus
Zanzibar Red Colobus Procolobus kirkii
Angolan Colobus Colobus angolensis
Eastern Black-and-white Colobus Colobus guereza
White-thighed Langur Presbytis siamensis
Maroon Langur Presbytis rubicunda
Hose’s Langur Presbytis hosei
Sunda Silvered Langur Trachypithecus cristatus
***Selangor Silvered Langur Trachypithecus selangoriensis
Dusky (Spectacled) Langur Trachypithecus obscurus
Proboscis Monkey Nasalis larvatus
Sykes's Guenon Cercopithecus albogularis
Blue Monkey Cercopithecus mitis
Vervet Monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Southern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina
Crab-eating (Long-tailed) Macaque Macaca fascicularis
Stump-tailed Macaque Macaca arctoides
Olive Baboon Papio anubis
Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus
White-handed Gibbon Hylobates lar
Bornean Gibbon Hylobates muelleri
Bornean Orangutan Pongo pygmaeus

Sunda Colugo Galeopterus variegatus

European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis
Mountain Cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii
Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii
Brush Rabbit Sylvilagus bachmani
European Hare Lepus europeaus
Granada Hare Lepus granatensis
Mountain Hare Lepus timidus
Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus
Cape Hare Lepus capensis
African Savannah Hare Lepus microtis
Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus
Antelope Jackrabbit Lepus alleni

Eurasian Red Squirrel Sciurus vulgaris
Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Arizona Grey Squirrel Sciurus arizonensis
Eastern Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger
Kaibab Squirrel Sciurus aberti kaibabensis
American Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
Uinta Chipmunk Tamias umbrinus
Plantain Squirrel Callosciurus notatus
Variable Squirrel Callosciurus finlaysoni
Grey-bellied Squirrel Callosciurus caniceps
Sunda Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus nigrovittatus
Bornean Black-banded Squirrel Callosciurus orestes
Kinabalu Squirrel Callosciurus baluensis
Pallas' (Red-bellied) Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus
Prevost's Squirrel Callosciurus prevostii
Ear-spot Squirrel Callosciurus adamsi
Red-bellied Sculptor Squirrel Glyphotes simus
Horse-tailed Squirrel Sundasciurus hippurus
Low’s Squirrel Sundasciurus lowii
Slender Squirrel Sundasciurus tenuis
Malaysian Upland Squirrel Sundasciurus tahan
Brooke's Squirrel Sundasciurus brookei
Jentink's Squirrel Sundasciurus jentinki
Bornean Mountain Ground Squirrel Dremomys everetti
Himalayan (Western) Striped Squirrel Tamiops mcclellandii
Variable Giant Squirrel Ratufa affinis
Plain Pygmy Squirrel Exilisciurus exilis
Whitehead's Pygmy Squirrel Exilisciurus whiteheadi
Three-striped Ground Squirrel Lariscus insignis
Four-striped Ground-squirrel Lariscus hosei
Harris's Antelope Squirrel Ammospermophilus harrisii
Piute Ground Squirrel Urocitellus mollis
Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel Callospermophilus lateralis
California Ground Squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi
Mexican Rock Squirrel Otospermophilus variegatus
Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus
White-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys leucurus
Ochre Bush Squirrel Paraxerus ochraceus
Barbary Ground Squirrel Atlantoxerus getulus
Unstriped Ground Squirrel Xerus rutilus
Alpine Marmot Marmota marmota
Woodchuck (Groundhog) Marmota monax
Yellow-bellied Marmot Marmota flaviventris
Red Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista petaurista
Spotted (Lesser) Giant Flying Squirrel Petaurista elegans
Thomas’ Giant Flying Squirrel Aeromys thomasi
Black Flying Squirrel Aeromys tephromelas
Temminck’s Flying Squirrel Petinomys setosus
Red-cheeked Flying Squirrel Hylopetes spadiceus

Black (Ship) Rat Rattus rattus
Asian House Rat Rattus tanezumi
Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes
Cape York Rat Rattus leucopus
Canefield Rat Rattus sordidus
Australian Swamp Rat Rattus lutreolus
False Water Rat Xeromys myoides
Australian Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster
Giant White-tailed Rat Uromys caudimaculatus
Long-tailed Giant Rat Leopoldamys sabanus
Dark-tailed Niviventer Niviventer cremoriventer
African Grass Rat Arvicanthis niloticus
Dusky-footed Wood Rat Neotoma fuscipes
Rajah Spiny Rat Maxomys rajah)
Bornean Montane Niviventer Niviventer rapit
Prehensile-tailed Rat Pogonomys mollipilosus
House Mouse Mus musculus / Mus domesticus
Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus
Striped Field Mouse Apodemus agrarius
Yellow-necked Mouse Apodemus flavicollis
North American Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus
White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus
Indomalayan Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys gliroides
Large Pencil-tailed Tree Mouse Chiropodomys major
Fawn-footed Melomys Melomys cervinipes
Bank Vole Myodes glareolus
Northern Red-Backed Vole Myodes rutilus
Field Vole Microtis agrestis
Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus
Water Vole Arvicola amphibius
European Hamster Cricetus cricetus
North American Brown Lemming Lemmus trimucronatus
Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae
Hoary Bamboo Rat Rhizomys pruinosus
Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
Coypu Myocastor coypus
European Beaver Castor fiber
East African Springhare Pedetes surdaster
Malayan Porcupine Hystrix brachyura
Asian Brush-tailed Porcupine Atherurus macrourus

Sunda Pangolin Manis javanica

Asian Elephant Elephas maximus
African Elephant Loxodonta africana

Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis
Black-necked Rock Hyrax Procavia johnstoni
Yellow-spotted Bush Hyrax Heterohyrax brucei

Black-and-rufous Elephant Shrew Rhynchocyon petersi

Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis

Malayan Tapir Tapirus indicus

Feral Horse (Brumby) Equus caballus
Grant's Zebra Equus quagga

Masai Giraffe Giraffa (camelopardalis) tippelskirchi

Guanaco Lama guanicoe

Common Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius

Collared Peccary Pecari tajacu

European Wild Pig Sus scrofa
***Southeast Asian Wild Pig Sus scrofa (vittatus)
Bornean Bearded Pig Sus barbatus
Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus

Alpine Chamois Rupricapra rupicapra
Pyrenean Chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica
Musk Ox Ovibos moschatus
Rocky Mountain Goat Oreamnos americanus

Mouflon Ovis orientalis musimon
Bighorn Sheep Ovis canadensis
Dall's Sheep Ovis dalli
Feral Goat Capra hircus

Pronghorn Antilocapra americana

Feral Cattle Bos taurus
Feral Water Buffalo Bubalus bubalis
African Buffalo Syncerus caffer
American Bison Bison bison
European Bison (Wisent) Bison bonasus
Gaur Bos gaurus

Eland Taurotragus oryx
White-bearded Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus mearnsi
Topi Damaliscus lunatus jimela
Cokes' Hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus cokii
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Steenbok Raphicerus campestris
Bohor Reedbuck Redunca redunca
Impala Aepyceros melampus
Thomson's Gazelle Eudorcas thomsonii nasalis
Grant's Gazelle Nanger granti robertsi
Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus schillingsii
Cavendish's Dikdik Madoqua kirkii cavendishi
Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola

Lesser Mouse Deer Tragulus kanchil
Greater Mouse Deer Tragulus napu

European Red Deer Cervus elaphus
Sika Cervus nippon
Sambar Cervus unicolor
(American) Moose Alces (alces) americanus
Caribou Rangifer tarandus
Fallow Deer Dama dama
European Roe Deer Capreolus capreolus
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus
Southern Huemul Hippocamelus bisulcus
Common (Indian, Red) Muntjac Muntiacus muntjak
Bornean Yellow Muntjac Muntiacus atherodes
Reeves' Muntjac Muntiacus reevesi
Chinese Water Deer Hydropotes inermis

Grey Whale Eschrichtius robustus
Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus
Common Minke Whale Balaenopetra acutorostrata
Australian Humpback Dolphin Sousa sahulensis
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis
Long-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus capensis
Common Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
Indopacific Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops aduncus
Spinner Dolphin Stenella longirostris
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena

Lion Panthera leo
Leopard Panthera pardalis
Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Serval Leptailurus serval
Feral Cat Felis catus
Leopard Cat Prionailurus bengalensis

Dingo Canis dingo
African Golden Wolf Canis anthus
Coyote Canis latrans
Golden Jackal Canis aureus
Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas
Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus
Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
Arctic Fox Vulpes lagopus
Island Fox Urocyon littoralis
South American Grey Fox Lycalopex griseus
Andean Fox (Culpeo) Lycalopex culpaeus
Bat-eared Fox Otocyon megalotis
Raccoon Dog Nyctereutes procyonoides

Brown Bear Ursus arctos
Polar Bear Ursus maritimus
American Black Bear Ursus americanus

Least Weasel Mustela nivalis
Stoat Mustela erminea
European Polecat Mustela putorius
Malay Weasel Mustela nudipes
European Pine Marten Martes martes
Yellow-throated Marten Martes flavigula
European Otter Lutra lutra
North American River Otter Lontra canadensis
European Badger Meles meles
Hog Badger Arctonyx collaris
Sunda Stink Badger Mydaus javanensis
Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis

Spotted Hyaena Crocuta crocuta

African Civet Civettictis civetta
Malayan Civet Viverra tangalunga
Common Palm Civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus
Sunda Palm Civet Paradoxurus musangus
Island Palm Civet Paradoxurus philippensis
Masked Palm Civet Paguma larvata
Small-toothed Palm Civet Arctogalidia trivirgata
Bornean Small-toothed Palm Civet Arctogalidia stigmatica
Banded Palm Civet Hemigalus derbyanus

Egyptian Mongoose Herpestes ichneumon
Short-tailed Mongoose Herpestes brachyurus
White-tailed Mongoose Ichneumia albicauda
Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo
Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula

Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor

Harbour (Common) Seal Phoca vitulina
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus
Ringed Seal Pusa hispida
Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris
New Zealand Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri
California Sealion Zalophus californianus
Galapagos Sealion Zalophus wollebaeki
Australian Sealion Neophoca cinerea
 
I've been updating my records for the thread, and so even though it's the middle of a month here are the current "firsts" in each category


BIRDS:
LaughingDove – 902

MAMMALS:
LaughingDove – 169

HERPTILES:
Swampy – 96 (in the lead in both Reptiles (70) and Amphibians (26))

FISH:
Hix – 340

INVERTEBRATES:
Mr. Zootycoon – 174
I guess that means we're not disallowing people visiting multiple continents, then? :P
 
Mammals
8. California sea lion
9. California ground squirrel
10. Harbor seal

11. Mule deer
12. Desert cottontail
13. Black-tailed jackrabbit
Another two I forgot:
14. Short-beaked common dolphin
15. Fin whale
 
Well I decided that it wouldn't be fair to discriminate against those people who didn't remain in-continent. Wait...

Think of all those poor Europeans who have trouble getting past the 300 species. Oh wait...

I reached my goal for birds (225) of this year already. Given that I have a five-day birding trip planned in August and still 4 months after that I decided to change it into 250. How difficult it will be to reach that number depends on the succes of the August trip.

Also, just a little creature I saw crossing the road:

Mammals
18. European mole [Talpa europaea]
 
Two birds from yesterday:

Birds
135. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
136. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto

And some random inverts from the past couple moths:

Inverts
17. Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica
18. Common House Spider Parasteatoda tepidariorum
19. Yellow Garden Argiope Argiope aurantia
Went birding today and saw some cool stuff:

Birds
137. Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
138. Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
139. Black Tern Chlidonias niger

That Least Bittern might be my most interesting bird sighting yet this year. Got some good photos, too.
 
A question that's been on my mind recently is, how do you identify inverts? Surely there are no field guides, so do you have to take a picture and identify later? Wouldn't that be quite hard?
 
A question that's been on my mind recently is, how do you identify inverts? Surely there are no field guides, so do you have to take a picture and identify later? Wouldn't that be quite hard?
I used to collect insects. I remember the field marks of a few species, but not all. Any species I can remember how to ID, I count.
 
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