ZooChat Big Year 2018

Some additions over the last few days: the first courtesy of my parents' back garden, the last from my local reserve, and the remainder from a highly enjoyable mooch around mid-Wales yesterday.

126. Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
127. Black Grouse (Lyrurus tetrix)
128. Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
129. Siskin (Spinus spinus)
130. Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
 
Back from my traditional February trip to North Wales for my Uni reunion, with a nice set of additions from the coasts of Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey:

Birds:
115. Common Scoter - Melanitta nigra
116. Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
117. Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula
118. Sanderling - Calidris alba
119. Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus
120. European Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis
121. Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator
122. Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle
123. Eurasian Rock Pipit - Anthus petrosus
124. Common Guillemot - Uria aalge
125. Red-legged Partridge - Alectoris rufa
126. Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
127. Red-billed Chough - Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
128. Razorbill - Alca torda
129. Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis

Mammals:
10. Harbour Porpoise - Phocoena phocoena
11. Grey Seal - Halichoeus grypus

:)
 
Maguari said:
122. Black Guillemot


:)
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Maguari- where do you see Black Guillemot. Is it Holyhead harbour? Do you know locations for Twite (winter and/or summer)? I've heard Flint Castle in winter and thought to try when I visit Chester again but not sure how long they still until.
 
Pertinax said:
Maguari- where do you see Black Guillemot. Is it Holyhead harbour? Do you know locations for Twite (winter and/or summer)? I've heard Flint Castle in winter and thought to try when I visit Chester again but not sure how long they still until.
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Black Guillemots were in Holyhead Harbour, yes - three in total. I've found the most reliable approach is to walk out among the yachts - the birds are often lurking under the pontoons here: Google Maps

I wish I could help with Twite but they've always evaded me as well!
 
Maguari said:
Black Guillemots were in Holyhead Harbour, yes - three in total. I've found the most reliable approach is to walk out among the yachts - the birds are often lurking under the pontoons here: Google Maps

I wish I could help with Twite but they've always evaded me as well!
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Thanks. I guess the Black Guillemots were still in winter plumage? I shall wait until later in the 'spring' before I try to see them in summer plumage. I could have seen them last year in Scotland easily, but forgot all about them until it was too late. (have seen them before though)

I shall probably try for Twite at Flint Castle, having read a few comments on Bird Forums. Have only seen them once before- many years ago in Scotland, after ten days(!!) of looking out for them. If I fail with the winterers on the Dee I shall also try Nant Francon in Snowdonia in the Spring but they are very local there I know.
 
Pertinax said:
Thanks. I guess the Black Guillemots were still in winter plumage? I shall wait until later in the 'spring' before I try to see them in summer plumage. I could have seen them last year in Scotland easily, but forgot all about them until it was too late. (have seen them before though)
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Two in winter and one in summer plumage - Feb half term in North Wales is an annual trip for me and it's usually a similar mix.
 
Pertinax said:
I shall probably try for Twite at Flint Castle, having read a few comments on Bird Forums. Have only seen them once before- many years ago in Scotland, after ten days(!!) of looking out for them. If I fail with the winterers on the Dee I shall also try Nant Francon in Snowdonia in the Spring but they are very local there I know.
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I've seen Twite at Flint Castle in the past and they have been reported there recently - it's a nice setting. The most reliable site on the Dee estuary seems to be Connay's Quay Nature Reserve, but you need a permit to visit.

If you're visiting Anglesey for Black Guillemot in the summer then Fedw Fawr is a good bet, but to be honest they can turn up anywhere.
 
Not very useful I know, but I've seen Twite in Sichuan. They really are lovely little birds.
 
robmv said:
I've seen Twite at Flint Castle in the past and they have been reported there recently - it's a nice setting. The most reliable site on the Dee estuary seems to be Connay's Quay Nature Reserve, but you need a permit to visit.

If you're visiting Anglesey for Black Guillemot in the summer then Fedw Fawr is a good bet, but to be honest they can turn up anywhere.
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Thanks for the tips. Yes, I've noted they've been seen at Flint Castle recently, also that Connah's Quay you need a permit for- not living in the area I don't have one... I don't know how long Twite stay on the Dee before leaving for breeding area in Snowdonia though.
 
Chlidonias said:
Not very useful I know, but I've seen Twite in Sichuan. They really are lovely little birds.
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They have a discontinuous distribution with two entirely separate Western and Eastern populations apparently. I've seen them on Skye in Scotland, but that was the only time(so far) and would like to see them again.
 
Pertinax said:
Twite
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Maguari said:
Twite
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robmv said:
Twite
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Every so often I come across an unfamiliar bird name and I have simply no idea what it could be, just like this one. It isn't about not knowing the species - when I read about a spieces of flycatcher, warbler or woodpecker that I didn't know I still have some idea what it is. And in this case I certainly know the species, I just never realised Twite is the English common name for Linaria flavirostris :p

I've also picked up a few species myself:

Birds
118. Yellowhammer [Emberiza citrinella]
119. Rook [Corvus frugilegus]

I've currently seen all but a handful of regular winter birds my area. So until spring I'm mostly dependent on rare vigrants/migrants or birding trips further away to update my list.
 
Twites are seeable without too much difficulty in a lot of areas of Poland during the winter (I've already got them on the year list). There are even some areas in the Warsaw suburbs where you've got a half-decent chance during winter.
If anyone is ever visiting Warsaw in the winter and wants some suggestions then let me know.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Went to a bird count this morning at my local Audubon center and got a handful of mostly backyard birds and one mammal (plus one from the other night):

Mammals
20) Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
21) Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

Birds
82) House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
83) White-Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
84) Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
85) Dark-Eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
86) Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
87) Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
88) Black-Capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
89) Broad-Winged Hawk Buteo platypterus
90) Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
91) Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

~Thylo
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Birds
92) Black Vulture Coragyps atratus

~Thylo
 
Mr. Zootycoon said:
I've currently seen all but a handful of regular winter birds my area. So until spring I'm mostly dependent on rare vigrants/migrants or birding trips further away to update my list.
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When I said this I didn't include owls in that "handful". Basically because unless one knowns where they prefer to roost, most owls are not exactly the easiest birds to find. But yesterday I got some new information on the whereabouts of a few roosting sites in my area. In the afternoon I managed to find a tawny owl and 11 long-eared owls, but I failed to find the little owl. That night because of sheer luck I stumbled upon a hunting barn owl (well actually the owl stumbled upon me). Trying to stretch my luck on owls I tried to see the little owl again this morning, and this time I actually found it!

Birds
120. Tawny owl [Strix aluco]
121. Barn owl [Tyto alba]
122. Little owl [Athene noctua]

And yes, both barn and little owl are lifers too! :D
 
And an afternoon without classes meant I could go chasing another vagrant gull! Didn't get a fantastic view of it as it flew away, but it was definitely a very beautiful bird.

BIRDS:
140) Iceland gull, Larus glaucoides
 
Zoo Tycooner FR said:
Well guess what, first birding session of the season and probably one of the best I've ever had (not for the number of species I've seen but for the whole experience and some of the species)! :D

18 - Crested lark, Galerida cristata
19 - Southern gray shrike, Lanius meridionalis
20 - Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
21 - Thekla lark, Galerida theklae
22 - European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur
23 - Sardinian warbler, Sylvia melanocephala
24 - Maghreb long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus cirtensis
25 - Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
26 - Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
27 - Moussier's redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with me because I don't know where the charger is and it is completely discharged; it is even more frustrating when you consider the fact raptors are rare in Morocco (because of poisoning mainly) and that these 2 species were very close to me (both were looking to steal chicks from the farmers in the are)!

The Black-winged kite and the Western olivaceous warbler are uncommon, the Maghreb long-legged buzzard is rare and the Spanish sparrow , although supposed to be found here, is one of the species that keeps on eluding me so I consider it to be a nice addition (although not a lifer). All in all, a very good day! :)
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On-road to Marrakesh which generally brings me quite some birds but I only have one species to add yet, although I cannot complain since said species is rare in Morocco (and very rare in the region I'm at):

28 - Common raven, Corvus corax

There were also tons of stonechats, I've never seen so many of them. I will try and get the other local species which I cannot really get in Agadir tomorrow.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Some more from San Antonio:

Birds
93) Neotropical Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
94) Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
95) Snow Egret Egretta thula
96) Blue-Winged Teal Spatula discors

~Thylo
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Mammals
22) New England Cottontail Sylvilagus transitionalis

~Thylo
 
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