ZooChat Big Year 2018

New birds:
979) Green-backed Tit
980) Chestnut-vented Nuthatch
981) Vietnamese Greenfinch
982) White-faced Jay

983) Long-tailed Shrike
984) Orange-headed Thrush
985) Langbian Sunbird
(distinctive local race of Black-throated. I’m not sure that any lists actually split it, it almost qualified under HBW’s Tobias Criterion. Given it’s a distinctive geographically isolated population of an otherwise widespread species, I don’t think there’s any clinal variation, I think it’s a good split. If you think I shouldn't list it, then I'll remove it)
986) Blue Whistling-thrush

987) Wire-tailed Swallow
988) Plain-backed Sparrow
989) Ashy Bulbul (sensu stricto)
990) Asian Barred Owlet
991) Black-throated Tit
992) Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch
993) Flavescent Bulbul
994) Mountain Bulbul
995) Mrs Gould’s Sunbird
996) White-browed Fantail
997) Himalayan Shortwinig
998) Ashy-throated Warbler
999) Indochinese Fulvetta
1000) Grey-bellied Tesia
1001) Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler
1002) Dalat Shrike-babbler
1003) White-cheeked Laughingthrush
1004) Green Cochoa
1005) Grey-cheeked Warbler
1006) Spot-throated Babbler
1007) Asian House Martin
1008) Yellow-cheeked Tit
1009) Collared Laughingthrush
1010) Pin-tailed Green-pigeon

Mammals:
190) Eastern Striped Squirrel
 
987) Wire-tailed Swallow
988) Plain-backed Sparrow
989) Ashy Bulbul (sensu stricto)
990) Asian Barred Owlet
991) Black-throated Tit
992) Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch

993) Flavescent Bulbul
994) Mountain Bulbul
995) Mrs Gould’s Sunbird
996) White-browed Fantail
997) Himalayan Shortwinig
998) Ashy-throated Warbler
999) Indochinese Fulvetta
1000) Grey-bellied Tesia
1001) Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler
1002) Dalat Shrike-babbler
1003) White-cheeked Laughingthrush
1004) Green Cochoa
1005) Grey-cheeked Warbler
1006) Spot-throated Babbler

1007) Asian House Martin
1008) Yellow-cheeked Tit
1009) Collared Laughingthrush
1010) Pin-tailed Green-pigeon


Mammals:
190) Eastern Striped Squirrel
Congrats on 1000 birds in a year!

What does sensu stricto mean?
 
Thanks! Yes, I'm super happy with that 1000 birds. (Although I won't see all that many more this year)

Sensu stricto means 'in the narrow sense' and is the opposite of sensu lato. You would generally see it used with scientific names rather than with the common name as I've done, but it basically means you're referring to that species without including other taxa that may usually be associated with it.

In that case I'm pointing out that that listing is true Ashy Bulbul rather than the split Southern form or Bornean form, both of which I've also listed. (HBW splits them both, and most (all?) lists split at least the southern Cinereous but e.g. my field guide still refers to it all as Ashy)
 
987) Wire-tailed Swallow
988) Plain-backed Sparrow
989) Ashy Bulbul (sensu stricto)
990) Asian Barred Owlet
991) Black-throated Tit
992) Chestnut Bellied Nuthatch

993) Flavescent Bulbul
994) Mountain Bulbul
995) Mrs Gould’s Sunbird
996) White-browed Fantail
997) Himalayan Shortwinig
998) Ashy-throated Warbler
999) Indochinese Fulvetta
1000) Grey-bellied Tesia
1001) Short-tailed Scimitar-babbler
1002) Dalat Shrike-babbler
1003) White-cheeked Laughingthrush
1004) Green Cochoa
1005) Grey-cheeked Warbler
1006) Spot-throated Babbler

1007) Asian House Martin
1008) Yellow-cheeked Tit
1009) Collared Laughingthrush
1010) Pin-tailed Green-pigeon


Mammals:
190) Eastern Striped Squirrel

1011) Black-collared Starling
1012) Scaly Thrush
1013) Indochinese Cuckooshrike
1014) Brown-throated Treecrepeer
1015) Kloss' Leaf-warbler
1016) Rufous-capped Babbler
1017) Rufous-throated Partridge
1018) Black-headed Sibia

Mammal:
191) Black Giant Squirrel
 
1011) Black-collared Starling
1012) Scaly Thrush
1013) Indochinese Cuckooshrike
1014) Brown-throated Treecrepeer
1015) Kloss' Leaf-warbler
1016) Rufous-capped Babbler
1017) Rufous-throated Partridge
1018) Black-headed Sibia


Mammal:
191) Black Giant Squirrel


New birds:
1019) Brown Prinia
1020) Rain Quail
1021) Vietnamese Cutia
2022) Annam Barbet
1023) Grey Bushchat
1024) Yellow-browed Tit
1025) Grey-crowned Crocias
1026) Yellow-billed Nuthatch
1027) Orange-breasted Laughingthrush
1028) Besra
1029) Maroon Oriole
1030) Slender-billed Oriole
1031) Black-chinned Yuhina
1032) Burmese Shrike (missed off)
1033) Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
1034) Black-capped Parrotbill
1035) Rufous-winged Fulvetta
1036) White-bellied Erpornis (should already be on the list from Bukit Fraser but appears missed off)
1037) Long-tailed Minivet
1038) Rufous-bellied Woodpecker

Mammal
192) Yellow-throated Marten
 
New birds:
1019) Brown Prinia
1020) Rain Quail
1021) Vietnamese Cutia
2022) Annam Barbet
1023) Grey Bushchat
1024) Yellow-browed Tit
1025) Grey-crowned Crocias
1026) Yellow-billed Nuthatch
1027) Orange-breasted Laughingthrush

1028) Besra
1029) Maroon Oriole
1030) Slender-billed Oriole
1031) Black-chinned Yuhina
1032) Burmese Shrike (missed off)
1033) Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker
1034) Black-capped Parrotbill
1035) Rufous-winged Fulvetta
1036) White-bellied Erpornis (should already be on the list from Bukit Fraser but appears missed off)
1037) Long-tailed Minivet
1038) Rufous-bellied Woodpecker


Mammal
192) Yellow-throated Marten

New birds:
1039) Barred Buttonquail
1040) Hill Prinia
1041) Rufous-backed Sibia
1042) Spotted Forktail

1043) White-browed Scimitar-babbler
1044) Necklaced Barbet
 
MAMMALS
9. Bank Vole (Myodes glareolus)

BIRDS

166. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

And the following species officially depicting my return to the United Kingdom.
167. Little Owl (Athene noctua)
168. Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
169. Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa)
Continuing the ''England trend'', and also tried to list some inverts again.
MAMMALS
10. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
11. Reeves's Muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

INVERTS
47. Hemlock Moth (Agonopterix alstromeriana)
48. Southern Wainscot (Mythimna straminea)
49. Straw Underwing (Thalpophila matura)
50. European Hornet (Vespa crabro)
51. Common Wainscot (Mythimna pallens)
52. Common Plume (Emmelina monodactyla)
53. Angle Shades (Phlogophora meticulosa)
 
Had an amazing day of birding (and, unexpectedly, herping!) today, with a lot of species I don't regularly see, and most excitingly a species I've been wanting to see forever!

BIRDS:
304) Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla


HERPS:
20) Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris
21) European viper, Vipera berus
 
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Had an amazing day of birding (and, unexpectedly, herping!) today, with a lot of species I don't regularly see, and most excitingly a species I've been wanting to see forever!

BIRDS:
304) Eurasian wryneck, Jynx torquilla
Were you surprised how small it was? The first ones I saw I was expecting something a lot more "woodpecker-sized".
 
Were you surprised how small it was? The first ones I saw I was expecting something a lot more "woodpecker-sized".

Indeed! I was there with two other birders and the first time we only saw it flushing from the grass right beside us. Had the other two birders not been there I would never have guessed that that was the bird I was looking for! I was definitely thinking more along the lines of Dendrocopos or perhaps even Picus, size-wise... I suppose the illusion comes from the best pictures of them often being of animals held in someone's hand, when they stretch out their necks and spread the feathers on their head, thus appear much larger?
Luckily we did go back to that spot later and saw it sitting on the ground close to where we flushed it the first time... They are still truly fascinating animals, so I'm glad I got more than just the initial glimpse.
 
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Birds

Starting at 280 because of list editing, here are several odds and ends that I have seen in the last few weeks:

At the Chesapeake Bay:

280. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
281. Common Tern, Sterna hirundo

Then in North Carolina:

282. White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis

Then from Oklahoma to Arizona:

283. Great-tailed Grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus
284. Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis
285. Cooper’s Hawk, Accipiter cooperii
286. Common Raven, Corvus corax

Then since being back in California:

287. California Scrub Jay, Aphelocoma californica
288. Red-crowned Parrot, Amazona viridigenalis

Mammals

Only 2 new ones to add:

49. Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
50. Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana

My plan to see wild American bison was foiled by a Biblical-level storm at Homolovi State Park where I was trying to spot them, in addition to pronghorn, mule deer and prairie dogs. Might be able to get some more mammals in during school breaks before year's end. A trip to the beach should nab me sea lions and dolphins, at least.

Birds
289. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
290. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
291. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
292. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
293. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
294. California Gull (Larus californicus)
295. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
296. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)

Getting close to that 300...
 
Another streak of luck today brought me a twitchable white-winged tern nearby, and upon arriving it turned out a pectoral sandpiper was just found as well! The terns (one white-winged, eight black and one common) flew up soon after I arrived and were very visible. The sandpiper was slightly further away but thankfully I got lucky with a telescope-having birder (the one who discovered both rarities) who was just leaving as I arrived. Great way to celebrate my birthday! :D

BIRDS:
305) White-winged tern, Chlidonias leucopterus
306) Pectoral sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
 
A week down in the Dorset/Hampshire border areas has allowed me to get six new birds, two new mammals and my first two amphibians. The lone invertebrate I saw at home before leaving:

107. Eurasian siskin Spinus spinus
108. Marsh tit Poecile palustris
109. European nuthatch Sitta europaea
110. Common reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
111. Sandwich tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
112. Sand martin Riparia riparia

12. Common fallow deer Dama dama
13. Western roe deer Capreolus capreolus

1. Smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris
2. European brown common frog Rana temporaria

72. Red underwing moth Catocala nupta

Added another mammal which ran through the back garden yesterday. The new insects on the list were, with the exception of the dragonfly, all found on a large bunch of flowering ivy in the garden together with species I have already seen (such as European hornet) and probably several dozen species of wasp and fly that remain unidentified.

14. Least weasel Mustela nivalis

73. Migrant hawker dragonfly Aeshna mixta
74. Ivy bee Colletes hederae
75. Hornet hoverfly Volucella zonaria
76. Flesh fly Sarcophaga carnaria
77. Field digger wasp Mellinus arvensis
 
New birds:
1039) Barred Buttonquail
1040) Hill Prinia
1041) Rufous-backed Sibia
1042) Spotted Forktail

1043) White-browed Scimitar-babbler
1044) Necklaced Barbet

Been going through some sightings:

In Singapore I saw some Rainbow Lorikeets near Bukit Timah which I briefly mentioned in my blog as presumed escapees. Upon review, these are actually part of an established breeding population of:

1045) Coconut Lorikeet

Missed off from Cat Tien:

1046) Black-browed Fulvetta
 
In Singapore I saw some Rainbow Lorikeets near Bukit Timah which I briefly mentioned in my blog as presumed escapees. Upon review, these are actually part of an established breeding population of:

1045) Coconut Lorikeet
If this is interesting for some people, the 2018 Annual Parrot Count in Singapore yielded 1770 individuals of nine species, with the Bukit Brown Cemetery having the greatest diversity (six species).
8th Annual Parrot Count 2018
 
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