ZooChat Big Year 2020

On the Moonlit wetlands (greatly expanded with the rain)

290. Black swan Cygnus atratus
 
Is Black Swan unusual for your site?
Black swans are common around Western Port and I often hear them flying overhead. However I think our wetland is a bit small for wild swans to feel secure especially when people are around so birds landing are rare. Likewise pelicans, and again I saw one on the wetland last week.
 
Perfect conditions for migration today! Note that the last bird on the list was seen in my yard, the most exiting yard sighting to date:

Birds
146. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
147. Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos
148. Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus
149. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
150. Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
151. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
152. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
153. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
154. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
155. Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
156. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
157. Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
158. Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens
159. Northern Parula Setophaga americana
160. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
161. Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
162. American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
163. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
164. Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata
165. Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius
Birds
166. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
167. Green Heron Butorides virescens
168. Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
 
Although I have no new additions for the year list while I have been in quarantine, recent rains have brought out three species I have never seen in the backyard or even the whole street which includes a park.

Mainly swarms of house sparrows with the occasional Tree Sparrow with it's brown capped head but the real highlight are a pair of New Holland Honeyeaters!

All three of these birds do eat invertebrates (theres been a lot flying around) which makes sense in their abundance due to the rain.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MRJ
had a wonderful day last saturday
two lifers and the only scond time i have sean the tern
218 european golden plover
219 jack snipe

220 wood sandpiper
221 black tern
222 eurasian whryneck
223 willow wabler
224 eurasian blackcap
225 whinchat
226 western yellow wagtaill
227 tree pitpit

+heard only savis warbler
 
Last edited:
Haven't kept track of any animal this year, and haven't tried the challenges on ZooChat, so I suppose it's time to give it a go :).

Mammals:

1. Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Birds:

1. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
2. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
 
Since everyone was talking about the thing I decided to go and get Cetti's Warbler too^^

Urdenbacher Kämpe

Birds
90. Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
91. Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti)
92. Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

93. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
94. Common Swift (Apus apus)
95. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
96. Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
97. Red Kite (Milvus milvus)

Mammals
14. Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)
 
First additions of May:

Birds:
151: Common Swift - Apus apus

Fishes:
3. European Perch - Perca fluviatilis

:)
 
In nearby saltmarsh today

Birds

292. Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops
293. Orange-bellied parrot Neophema chrysogaster

OK I know I watched the OBP's being released 2 weeks ago so knew they would be around. But still a wonderful experience.

Invertebrates

23. Banded garden-spider Argiope trifasciata
 
About 5km north of here, feeding on the side of the road.

294. Long-billed corella Cacatua tenuirostris
 
I've been out surveying for Giant Burrowing Frog tadpoles in east Gippsland, and have been successful! :)

BIRDS

221 - Brown-headed Honeyeater (Melithreptus brevirostris)

REPTILES
13 - Black Rock Skink (Egernia saxatilis)

14 - Delicate Skink (Lampropholis delicata)

AMPHIBIANS
11 - Giant Burrowing Frog (Heleioporus australiacus)
 
Back
Top