ZooChat Big Year 2020

I was certain about the lesser black-backs and the little gulls. Almost sure about the greater black-backs and the others were more doubtful, although I did have a good look at their legs and beaks especially.

The doves were a surprise for me as well and I wasn't quite sure about it.

When I was researching after this, I did come across these pages and was wondering whether any of the introduced species would count. So thanks for clarifying. I gues that means the list is reduced to:

28. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis?
29. Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
30. Common pochard, Aythya ferina
31. Gadwall, Mareca strepera
32. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna
33. Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
34. Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
35. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
36. Red crested pochard, Netta rufina
37. Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
38. Little gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

Still a productive walk :)
I honestly can't put your total up to 38 on the basis of that list. Number 28 has a question mark on it which automatically means it doesn't count. Some of the ducks are most likely not wild birds as noted by @lintworm and @Maguari. Then there are ducks which you simply wouldn't know if they were genuine wild ones or captive ones (as also noted by Maguari). And you reckon you saw multiple Little Gulls which is just not likely.

Of the list above the only ones which you could say were certainly wild birds are the grebe and moorhen, and the lesser and greater black-back gulls are probably correct (although for the last one you say you are only "almost sure about...").
 
I honestly can't put your total up to 38 on the basis of that list. Number 28 has a question mark on it which automatically means it doesn't count. Some of the ducks are most likely not wild birds as noted by @lintworm and @Maguari. Then there are ducks which you simply wouldn't know if they were genuine wild ones or captive ones (as also noted by Maguari). And you reckon you saw multiple Little Gulls which is just not likely.

Of the list above the only ones which you could say were certainly wild birds are the grebe and moorhen, and the lesser and greater black-back gulls are probably correct (although for the last one you say you are only "almost sure about...").

I removed those that were certainly or maybe captive, and the question mark was only because the @Maguari said the Barnacle goose most likely but not certainly wild. @Maguari also said that the gadwalls, pochards tufted and shelducks were wild, so I removed all of the other ducks. I will remove the Little gull if you are all so persuaded it could not have possibly been a Little gull, so that takes it down to 37. However, I think I have acted by the rules for the others and followed @Maguari's advice and knowledge on the matter.
 
At Moonlit

33. Intermediate egret Ardea intermedia
34. White-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae
35. Grey butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
36. Little raven Corvus mellori

Hastings foreshore

37. Little corella Cacatua sanguinea
 
7/1/2020
58. Restless flycatcher
59. Brown honeyeater
8/1/2020
60. Australasian grebe
61. Little black cormorant
62. Eastern great egret
 
All stuff just seen around the house or on my new years trip to Mainz.
I think this years lists will stay rather short and boring.

Mammals
01. Eurasian Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)

Birds
01. Feral Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
02. Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
03. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
04. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
05. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
06. Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
07. Great Tit (Parus major)
08. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
09. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
10. Eurasian Nuthatch (Sitta europaea)
11. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
12. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
13. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
14. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
15. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
16. Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
17. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
18. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
19. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
20. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
 
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BIRDS
99 - White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
100 - Yellow-faced Honeyeater (Lichenostomus chrysops)
101 - Brown Thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla)
102 - White-browed Scrubwren (Sericornis frontalis)
103 - Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
-- Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae) [heard]
104 - Grey Fantail (Rhipidura albiscapa)
105 - White-naped Honeyeater (Melithreptus lunatus)
106 - Red-browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
107 - Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
108 - Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
109 - Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus)
110 - Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus)
111 - Australasian Darter (Anhinga novaehollandiae)
112 - Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)
113 - Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus)
114 - Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)
-- White-throated Treecreeper (Cormobates leucophaea) [heard]
115 - Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)

REPTILES
2 - Eastern Long-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

FISH
1 - Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)*
MAMMALS
4 - Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
5 - Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
6 - Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)*
7 - Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
8 - White-striped Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida australis)
 
Birds:
31. White Faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
32. Scared Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
33. Plumed Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)
34. Red Browed Finch (Neochmia temporalis)
35. White Headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela)
36. Sulpher Crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
37. Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

Mammals:
1. Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)

Reptiles:
2. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
Eastern Grey Kangaroo is actually number two as I had forgotten about grey headed flying fox.

Birds:
38. Rainbow Bee Eater (Merops ornatus)

Fish:
1. Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
 
I added another three bird species on a walk this morning:

39. Grey heron Ardea cinerea
40. Eurasian buzzard Buteo buteo
41. Grey wagtail Montacilla cinerea

Finally managed a walk at Heybridge Basin today for the first time this year which added seventeen new birds (the first bird on this list was seen in the garden yesterday) and my first invertebrate:

42. European goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
43. Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus
44. Northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus (NT)
45. Common redshank Tringa totanus
46. Black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa (NT)
47. Dunlin Calidris alpina
48. Brent goose Branta bernicla
49. Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope
50. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
51. Pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
52. Eurasian oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus (NT)
53. European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria
54. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
55. European stonechat Saxicola rubicola
56. Common reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
57. Common pochard Aythya farina (Vu)
58. Eurasian coot Fulica atra
59. Common shelduck Tadorna tadorna

1. Buff-tailed bumblebee Bombus terrestris
 
BIRDS:
57 Hairy Woodpecker - Dryobates villosus
58 Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor
59 White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis

Birded my local patch on my lunch hour and came up with another one.

BIRDS:
60 Winter Wren - Troglodytes hiemalis
 
Birds
51. White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
52. Noisy Friarbird Philemon corniculatus
After a brief visit to Walkabout Creek Discovery Centre yesterday, I had some time to kill and decided to briefly look around the surrounding forest. A five minute look-around quickly became an afternoon of delightful bird-watching along one of the nearby trails - the five kilometre Araucania Walk.
Despite being midday and a humid 30-degree plus day, the birds showed surprisingly-well and I saw seven bird lifers in a few hours! The Crested Shrike-tit was the absolute highlight (Crested Shrike-tit (Falcunculus frontatus) - ZooChat). The family of Variegated Fairy Wrens darting through the bush thicket was also a lovely find.
I also managed to see my first mammal of the year (which just so happened to be a lifer).

Mammals
1.Swamp Wallaby Wallabia bicolor

2. Black Flying Fox Pteropus alecto

Birds
53. Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
54. Olive-backed Oriole Oriolus sagittatus
55. Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
56. White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
57. Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
58. Crested Shrike-tit Falcunculus frontatus
59. Variegated Fairy Wren Malurus lamberti

60. Brown Cuckoo Dove Macropygia phasianella
61. Yellow-faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
62. Little Pied Cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
63. Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
64. Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis
65. Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
66. Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
67. Rufous Fantail Rhipidura rufifrons
68. Spectacled Monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus
69. Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
70. Little Shrike Thrush Colluricincla megarhyncha
71. Bush Stone Curlew Burhinus grallarius

Herptiles
6. Lace Monitor Varanus varius

Invertebrates
21. Graphic Flutterer Rhyothemis graphiptera
22. Clearwing Swallowtail (Big Greasy) Cressida cressida
23. Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia
24. Dead Leaf Grasshopper Goniaea australasiae
25. Wanderer (Monarch) Danaus plexippus
 
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Recordings from Banuyle Flats Reserve.

Mammals

2. European Rabbit

Birds.

31. Australian Shelduck
32. Hardhead
33. Pink Eared Duck
34. Grey Butcherbird
35. Little Pied Cormorant
36. Australasian Grebe
37. Eurasian Coot
38. Superb Fairy Wren
39. Crimson Rosella
40. Common Bronzewing
41. Australian Wood Duck (Maned Duck)
42. Pacific Black Duck
43. Grey Teal
44. Musk Lorikeet
45. Red Rumped Parrot
46. Hoary Headed Grebe
47. Crested Pigeon
48. Welcome Swallow

Herptiles

none yet unfortunately


Fish

(not seen at banyle flats)

1. Western Mosquitofish (G. Affinis)
 
Bit of a weird collection of species to start off the year. This is the first time in years I haven't done a full day of birding on the first few days of the year. I'm still missing a lot of common species but I did casually tick two long-staying rarities that were lifers last year, one a stones-throw away from my house and one at a station.

BIRDS
1. Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica)
2. Common Blackbird (Turdus merula)
3. Eurasian Jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
4. Eurasian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5. Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
6. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
7. Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
8. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
9. Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
10. Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra)
11. Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
12. Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus)
13. Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
14. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
15. Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
16. Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
17. Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
18. Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
19. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
20. Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
21. Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
22. Great Bustard (Otis tarda)
23. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
24. Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
25. Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
26. Bean Goose (Anser serrirostris)
27. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
28. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
29. Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis)
30. Great Tit (Parus major)
31. European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
32. Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
33. Eurasian Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
34. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
35. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
36. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
37. European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis)
38. Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
39. European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
40. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
41. Great White Egret (Ardea alba)
42. Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
43. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
44. Crested Lark (Galerida cristata)

MAMMALS
1. European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
2. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
 
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MAMMALS
4 - Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
5 - Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
6 - Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)*
7 - Common Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
8 - White-striped Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida australis)
MAMMALS
9 - Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)*

BIRDS
116 - Eastern Rosella (Platycercus eximius)
117 - Freckled Duck (Stictonetta naevosa)
118 - Golden-headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
119 - Little Grassbird (Megalurus gramineus)
120 - Tree Martin (Petrochelidon nigricans)
121 - Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
122 - Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)

REPTILES
3 - Common Garden Skink (Lampropholis guichenoti)
 
One correction
22. Oriental Darter Anhinga melanogaster

Other than that...
24. Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
25. Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
26. Southern Coucal Centropus parrotii
27. White-browed Bulbul Pycnonotus luteolus
28. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
29. Red-whiskered Bulbul Pycnonoyus jocosus
30. Purple-rumped Sunbird Leptocoma zeylonica
31. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
32. Pale-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum erythrorhynchos
Also other birds I couldn’t ID in time.
Another correction...
28. Small Minivet Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
Didn't see many species...
Birds
33. Jungle Mynah Acridotheres fuscus
34. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
35. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
 
Walkin' on the beach...

Birds

8. Little Egret - Egretta garzetta

Reptiles

1. European Wall Lizard - Podarcis muralis


I'm pretty sure I also saw a Robin but I'm going to wait until a new individual appears.
 
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