ZooChat Big Year 2018

First of the proper spring migrants seen this evening:

76. Common House Martin, Delichon urbicum

A trip to Burton Mere Wetlands tomorrow should hopefully yield some further new additions.
 
Last year I went counting migrating birds a few times, but that was always inland. Turns out it's at least equally fun on the coast! Mainly the fulmar and many terns were exciting. The turtle doves were a nice surprise this evening!

BIRDS:
204) Ring ouzel, Turdus torquatus
205) Common swift, Apus apus
206) Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
207) Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus
208) Northern fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis
209) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
210) Bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica
211) European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur

MAMMALS:
11) Harbour porpoise, Phocoena phocoena
 
a few additions from Burton Mere Wetlands;

77. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
78. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
79. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
80. Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
81. Great White Egret, Ardea alba
82. Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
83. Grey Partridge, Perdix perdix
 
294. Brassy Drummer
295. Topsail Drummer
296. Leopard Blenny
297. Onespot Demoiselle
298. Honeycomb Filefish
299. Oilfish

:p

Hix

Fish
300. Zebra Moray
301. Threespot Wrasse
302. Blackstripe Cardinalfish
303. Whiteblotch Razorfish
304. Chestnut Blenny
305. Epaulette Soldierfish
306. Wideband Fusilier
307. Darkfin Chromis
308. Yellowfin Surgeonfish

Inverts
29. Red-eyed Crab

:p

Hix
 
Mammals
9. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes

Birds
54. Common Raven Corvus corax
55. Pied-Billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps

An unexpected addition from last night:

Birds
58. American Wigeon Mareca americana
A few from a birdwatching trip yesterday. Migration is getting real now!

Mammals
10. Common Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus

Birds
59. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
60. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis
61. Purple Martin Progne subis
62. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
63. Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
64. American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
65. Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
66. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
67. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
 
Spent a week in Fès, was not bad I guess... was awesome

44 - Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
45 - Garganey, Spatula querquedula
46 - Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
47 - Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
48 - Black kite, Milvus migrans
49 - Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
50 - Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
51 - Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
52 - Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
53 - Woodlark, Lullula arborea
54 - Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
55 - Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs africana
56 - Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra

Thanks to @lintworm and @Kakapo , I've got to identify my first invertebrate of the year! (which is also a lifer but I expect nearly all the invertebrates I see to be lifers since I didn't really care much about them before this year):

INVERTS:
1) Provence hairstreak, Tomares ballus

I've also seen another (common) reptile yesterday:

HERPS:
2) Moorish wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica
 
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I've had a great wildlife-ing day with some friends in the Veluwe area, including the National Park Hoge Veluwe. It is quite well-known because the area has (re)gained several large mammals, which were the most important goals. But unexpectedly a bird, a wryneck we found after an exciting hour long search, became the best animal seen. The rest of the bird list includes mosty summer migrants. We did see large mammals, and we got great views of all 5 large hoofed mammals in the region, although very distant ones for mouflon.

I've also got a nice assortment of invertebrates too add. While the list contains a variety of creatures - including butterflies, beetles, isopods and more - the spiders in particular were highlights. One of the best spiders was Myrmarachne formicaria, which is an ant-mimicking jumping spider. The other contender for best invert of the list is the ladybird spider (Eresus sandaliatus) of which the males are especially striking. Definately worth googling if you're not familiar with it!

Birds
156. Eurasian blackcap [Sylvia atricapilla]
157. Wood warbler [Phylloscopus sibilatrix]
158. Common redstart [Phoenicurus phoenicurus]
159. Common cuckoo [Cuculus canorus]
160. Eurasian wryneck [Jynx torquilla]
161. Northern wheatear [Oenanthe oenanthe]
162. Red kite [Milvus milvus]
163. Common swift [Apus apus]
164. Common house martin [Delichon urbicum]

Mammals
7. Roe deer [Capreolus capreolus]
8. Fallow deer [Dama dama]
9. Red deer [Cervus elaphus]
10. Mouflon [Ovis orientalis musimon]*
11. Wild boar [Sus scrofa]


Herptiles
5. Sand lizard [Lacerta agilis]

Invertebrates
30. Alder leaf beatle [Agelastica alni]
31. Orange tip [Anthocharis cardamines]

32. Spitting spider [Scytodes thoracica]
33. Common pill bug [Armadillidium vulgare]
34. Box tree moth [Cydalima perspectalis]
35. Orb-weaving spider [Araneus angulatus]
36. Plant bug [Stenodema trispinosa]
37. Long-jawed orb weaver [Pachygnatha clercki]
38. Jumping spider [Myrmarachne formicaria]
39. Bug [Ceraleptus lividus]
40. Common woodlouse [Oniscus asellus]

41. Speckled wood [Pararge aegeria]
42. Common heath [Ematurga atomaria]
43. Northern dune tiger beetle [Cicindela hybrida]
44. Green tiger beetle [Cicindela campestris]
45. Ladybird spider [Eresus sandaliatus]
46. Land snail [Cochlicopa lubrica]**

47. Orb-weaving spider [Zilla diodia]

* I'm counting those mouflons. Boar, red deer and mouflon were (re)introduced to the area around the same time and they live as wild as the other species.

** On this snail I relied on expert judgement for identification. I'm still waiting for confirmation on some other species.
 
Spent yesterday at RSPB Titchwell Marsh and finally got some serious birding done in April - and a very good day it was:

Birds:
147. Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
148. Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
149. Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
150. Sandwich Tern - Thalasseus sandvicensis
151. Mediterranean Gull - Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
152. Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
153. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
154. Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus
155. Garganey - Spatula querquedula
156. Lesser Whitethroat - Sylvia curruca
157. Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica

(UK: 155)

Mammals:
17. Chinese Water Deer - Hydropotes inermis

Invertebrates:
8. European Honey Bee - Apis mellifera
9. Small White - Pieris rapae
10. Green-veined White - Pieris napi
11. Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus
12. Common Pill Woodlouse - Armadillidium vulgare
13. Common Perwinkle - Litorina littorea
14. Speckled Wood - Pararge aegeria
15. Comma - Polygonia c-album

:)
 
So I have been keeping track of my lists on other sites so I thought I might post them here too! I only really got into bird-watching in recent times but I try my best to remember whether I had or hadn't seen something before. :)

MAMMALS:
1 - Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
2 - Grey-Headed Flying-Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
3 - Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
4 - Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
5 - Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)*
6 - European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)*
7 - Short-Beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
8 - Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
9 - Red-Necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)
10 - Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor)*
11 - Fallow Deer (Dama dama)
*
12 - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)
13 - Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)*
14 - Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps)
15 - Lesser Long-Eared Bat (Nyctophilus geoffroyi)
16 - Greater Glider (Petauroides volans)
17 - Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus)
18 - Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)*
19 - Feral Cat (Felis catus)*
20 - House Mouse (Mus musculus)*

BIRDS:
1 - House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)*
2 - Red Wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
3 - Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
4 - Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)*
5 - Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)*
6 - Magpie-Lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)
7 - Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)*
8 - Little Raven (Corvus mellori)
9 - Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
10 - Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)*
11 - Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
12 - Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
13 - Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
14 - Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)
15 - Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
16 - Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
17 - Pacific Black Duck (Anas superciliosa)
18 - Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
19 - Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
20 - Australasian Swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus)
21 - Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
22 - Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
23 - Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus)
24 - Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)
25 - Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
26 - Australian Pied Cormorant (Phalacrocorax varius)
27 - White-Browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
28 - Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
29 - Australian Coot (Fulica atra)
30 - Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
31 - Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
32 - Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
33 - White-Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
34 - Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
35 - Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
36 - Masked Lapwing (Vanellus miles)
37 - Willy Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
38 - Red-Browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
39 - Little Corella (Cacatua sanguinea)
40 - Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
41 - Long-Billed Corella (Cacatua tenuirostris)
42 - Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
43 - Silver Gull (Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae)
44 - Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
45 - Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
46 - Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
47 - Australian Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus australis)
48 - Australian Golden Whistler (Pachycephala pectoralis)
49 - Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia)
50 - Chestnut Teal (Anas castanea)
51 - Australian King-Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
52 - Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)
53 - Brown Goshawk (Accipiter fasciatus)
54 - White-Eared Honeyeater (Nesoptilotis leucotis)
55 - Southern Boobook (Ninox boobook)
56 - Straw-Necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
57 - Hoary-Headed Grebe (Poliocephalus poliocephalus)
58 - Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
59 - Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)
60 - Tawny Frogmouth (Podargus strigoides)
61 - Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
62 - Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
63 - Superb Lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae)
64 - Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
65 - White-Throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea)
66 - Rock Pigeon (Columbus livia)*
67 - Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
68 - Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
69 - White-Naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)
70 - Common Bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)
71 - Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)
72 - Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
73 - Yellow-Faced Honeyeater (Caligavis chrysops)
74 - Pacific Gull (Larus pacificus)
75 - Fairy Martin (Petrochelidon ariel)
76 - Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
77 - European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)*
78 - Grey Teal (Anas gracilis)
79 - Australian Kestrel (Falco cenchroides)
80 - Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
81 - Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
82 - Musk Duck (Biziura lobata)
83 - Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
84 - Bassian Thrush (Zoothera lunulata)
85 - Satin Flycatcher (Myiagra cyanoleuca)
86 - Red-Browed Treecreeper (Climacteris erythrops)
87 - Rufous Fantail (Rhipidura rufifrons)

88 - Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
89 - Powerful Owl (Ninox strenua)
90 - Cape Barren Goose (Cereopsis novaehollandiae)
91 - Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor)
92 - Kelp Gull (Larus dominicanus)
93 - Swamp Harrier (Circus approximans)
94 - Whistling Kite (Haliastur sphenurus)
95 - Australian Shelduck (Tadorna tadornoides)
96 - Wedge-Tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
97 - Yellow Thornbill (Acanthiza nana)
98 - White-Bellied Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus leucogaster)
99 - Eastern Whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus)
100 - Black-Faced Monarch (Monarcha melanopsis)
101 - Dusky Woodswallow (Artamus cyanopterus)

102 - Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae)
103 - Australasian Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae)
104 - Buff-Rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides)
105 - Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
106 - Striated Pardalote (Pardalotus striatus)
107 - Yellow-Rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza chrysorrhoa)

108 - Gang-Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum)
109 - Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
110 - Fan-Tailed Cuckoo (Cacomantis flabelliformis)
111 - Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata)
112 - Yellow-Tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops)
113 - Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)
114 - Red-Rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)
115 - Spotted Quail-Thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum)
116 - Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki)

117 - Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)
118 - Great Egret (Ardea alba)
119 - Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor)
120 - Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus)
121 - Black-Fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)
122 - Golden-Headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
123 - Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
124 - Black-Shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)
125 - New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)
126 - White-Plumed Honeyeater (Lichenostomus penicillatus)
127 - Bell Miner (Manorina melanophrys)
128 - White-Headed Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
129 - Hardhead (Aythya australis)
130 - Australasian Shoveler (Spatula rhynchotis)
131 - Blue-Billed Duck (Oxyura australis)
132 - Buff-Banded Rail (Gallirallus philippensis)
133 - Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
134 - Little Eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides)
135 - Peaceful Dove (Geopelia placida)
136 - Blue-Faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)
137 - White-Breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
138 - Red-Capped Dotterel (Charadrius ruficapillus)
139 - White-Fronted Chat (Epthianura albifrons)

140 - White-Winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphos)
141 - Mistletoebird (Dicaeum hirundinaceum)
142 - Spotless Crake (Porzana tabuensis)
143 - Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus)
144 - European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)*
145 - Red-Kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus)
146 - Yellow-Billed Spoonbill (Platalea flavipes)
147 - Sharp-Tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata)
148 - Red-Capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii)
149 - Chestnut-Rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza uropygialis)
150 - Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)
151 - Fuscous Honeyeater (Lichenostomus fuscu)

152 - Yellow-Plumed Honeyeater (Ptilotula ornata)
153 - Singing Honeyeater (Gavicalis virescens)
154 - Brown Treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus)
155 - White-Fronted Honeyeater (Purnella albifrons)
156 - Masked Woodswallow (Artamus personatus)
157 - White-Browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)
158 - White-Browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
159 - Spiny-Cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthagenys rufogularis)
160 - Hooded Robin (Melanodryas cucullata)
161 - Australian Hobby (Falco longipennis)
162 - Greater Bluebonnet (Northiella haematogaster)

163 - Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
164 - Variegated Fairywren (Malurus lamberti)
165 - Pink-Eared Duck (Malacorhynchus membranaceus)
166 - White-Winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus)

167 - Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
168 - Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
169 - Long-Toed Stint (Calidris subminuta)


REPTILES:
1 - Southern Water Skink (Eulamprus tympanum)
2 - Eastern Long-Necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)
3 - Common Garden Skink (Lampropholis guichenoti)
4 - Spencer's Skink (Pseudemoia spenceri)
5 - Delicate Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
6 - Cunningham's Skink (Egernia cunninghami)
7 - Tan-Backed Mountain Skink (Liopholis montana)
8 - Mountain Log Skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii)

9 - Jacky Dragon (Amphibolurus muricatus)
10 - White's Skink (Liopholis whitii)
11 - Copper-Tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus)
12 - Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)

13 - Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
14 - Boulenger's Skink (Morethia boulengeri)
15 - Eastern Brown Snake (Pseudonaja textilis)

AMPHIBIANS:
1 - Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingii)
2 - Common Eastern Froglet (Crinia signifera)

FISH:
1 - Smooth Toadfish (Tetractenos glaber)
2 - Southern Garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir)
3 - Sand Grey Mullet (Myxus elongatus)

4 - Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)*
5 - Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)*
6 - Short-Finned Eel (Anguilla australis)
7 - River Blackfish (Gadopsis marmoratus)

BIRDS:
170 - Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata)
 
17. Christmas Island Goshawk
18. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
19. Red-tailed Tropicbird
Birds
20. Striated Heron
21. Asian Koel

:p

Hix
 
Thanks to @lintworm and @Kakapo , I've got to identify my first invertebrate of the year! (which is also a lifer but I expect nearly all the invertebrates I see to be lifers since I didn't really care much about them before this year):

INVERTS:
1) Provence hairstreak, Tomares ballus

I've also seen another (common) reptile yesterday:

HERPS:
2) Moorish wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica

I've seen this one yesterday and, as usual, someone identified it for me:

INVERTS:
2) Nutmeg, Anarta trifolii
 
BIRDS
105. Tawny Owl (Strix aluco)
106. Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
107. Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
108. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
109. Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
110. Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
111. King Eider (Somateria spectabilis)
112. Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)
113. Eurasian Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
114. Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
115. Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)

MAMMALS
6. Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)
7. Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
8. Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)

INVERTS

6. Two-spot Ladybird (Adalia bipunctata)
7. Red-breasted Carrion Beetle (Oiceoptoma thoracicum)
Haven't updated on here in a while. I added some more casual summer birds to my year list over the last weeks, as well as a few inverts I managed to identify. Hopefully my next post will include some additions from the Bavarian Alps!

BIRDS
116. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
117. Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus)
118. Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
119. Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
120. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
121. Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
122. Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
123. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
124. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
125. Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
126. Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)

INVERTS
8. March Dagger Moth (Diurnea fagella)
9. Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)
10. Red-tailed bumblebee (Bombus lapidarius)
11. Oak Catkin Mirid Bug (Harpocera thoracica)
 
Just got home from a study trip in Stuttgart, and during the bus ride I saw these:

BIRDS:
212) Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
213) Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo

HERPS:
7) Common frog, Rana temporaria

Interestingly enough, last year I saw these three for the first time as well on my study trip (which was to Nantes, Bordeaux and Paris).
 
Spent a week in Fès, was not bad I guess... was awesome

44 - Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
45 - Garganey, Spatula querquedula
46 - Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
47 - Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus
48 - Black kite, Milvus migrans
49 - Montagu's harrier, Circus pygargus
50 - Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
51 - Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
52 - Calandra lark, Melanocorypha calandra
53 - Woodlark, Lullula arborea
54 - Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
55 - Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs africana
56 - Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra

Finally a new bird addition:

57 - Alpine swift, Tachymarptis melba
 
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