ZooChat Big Year 2021

I added a few more birds over the past several days, the main highlight being Smith's Longspurs which I have been hoping to find within Texas for a very long time. It is also always nice to see Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, and Cave Swallows since all of those tend to be rather uncommon in my area.

Birds

149. Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva
150. Great Horned Owl - Bubo virginianus
151. Smith's Longspur - Calcarius pictus
152. Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus

I also found my first deer of the year on the side of the road.

Mammals

8. White-tailed Deer- Odocoileus virginianus

I went just a bit overboard with a day trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley yesterday, but it certainly yielded me with a ton of birds. Highlights include significant US vagrants such as Blue Bunting, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Ruddy Ground Dove, and Golden-crowned Warbler. Highlights also included very significant Texas birds such as Elegant Trogon (the 8th state record) and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Birds

153. Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas
154. Purple Martin - Progne subis
155. Redhead - Aythya americana
156. Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons
157. Harris's Hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus
158. White-tailed Hawk - Geranoaetus albicaudatus
159. Wilson's Warbler - Cardellina pusilla
160. Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens
161. Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia
162. Olive Sparrow - Arremonops rufivirgatus
163. Long-billed Thrasher - Toxostoma longirostre
164. Black-crested Titmouse - Baeolophus atricristatus
165. Green Jay - Cyanocorax yncas
166. Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius
167. Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus
168. Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus
169. Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans
170. Common Black Hawk - Buteogallus anthracinus
171. Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
172. Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria
173. Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus
174. Golden-crowned Warbler - Basileuterus culicivorus
175. Black-throated Gray Warbler - Setophaga nigrescens
176. Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi
177. White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus
178. Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
179. Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata
180. Fulvous Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor
181. Blue Bunting - Cyanocompsa parellina
182. Altamira Oriole - Icterus gularis
183. Curve-billed Thrasher - Toxostoma curvirostre
184. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea
185. Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
186. Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Dryobates scalaris
187. Gray Hawk - Buteo plagiatus
188. Buff-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia yucatanensis
189. White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi
190. Ruddy Ground Dove - Columbina talpacoti
191. Common Ground Dove - Columbina passerina
192. Plain Chachalaca - Ortalis vetula
193. Lesser Goldfinch - Spinus psaltria
194. Green Parakeet - Psittacara holochlorus
195. Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens
196. Crimson-collared Grosbeak - Rhodothraupis celaeno
197. Elegant Trogon - Trogon elegans
198. White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi
199. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea
200. Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus
201. American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
202. Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis
203. Inca Dove - Columbina inca
204. Least Grebe - Tachybaptus dominicus
205. Mexican Duck - Anas diazi
206. Cinnamon Teal - Spatula cyanoptera
207. Red-crowned Parrot - Amazona viridigenalis

Mammals:
9. Virginia Opossum- Didelphis virginiana
10. Lined Skunk- Mephitis mephitis

2. Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta

Reptiles:
3. Spiny Softshell Turtle- Apalone spinifera
4. Brown Anole- Anolis sagrei
5. Rose-bellied Lizard- Sceloporus variabilis
 
Cairns Qld

Birds
60. Rock pigeon Columba livia
61. Peaceful dove Geopelia placida
62. Eastern reef heron Egretta sacra
63. Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
64. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
65. Brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
66. Olive-backed oriole Oriolus sagittatus
67. Metallic starling Aplonis metallica
68. Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena
 
A bit of birding from Reef Island (212-216), the treatment plant (217) and Gippsland (218-222) got some nice species... The Hudsonian Godwit is possibly not countable as there is still some debate about its identity due to weird plumage and structure. I suspect that it is probably a hybrid Blackwit x Hudwit, which would be a first to my knowledge. I'll leave it on the list until I know more.

BIRDS

212 - Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
213 - Grey-tailed Tattler (Tringa brevipes)
214 - Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
215 - Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
216 - Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
217* - Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica)
218 - Baillon's Crake (Porzana pusilla)

219 - Flame Robin (Petroica phoenica)
220 - Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor)
221 - Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus)
--- Painted Buttonquail (Turnix varius) [heard]
222 - White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus)

MAMMALS
15 - Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
16 - Red-necked Wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus)

AMPHIBIANS
3 - Spotted Marsh Frog (Limnodynastes tasmaniensis)
Took the Hudwit off my list as I think it's most likely a hybrid at this stage...

BIRDS

222 - Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)
223 - Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)
224 - Sanderling (Calidris alba)
225 - Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)
226 - Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis)
227 - Australian Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa)
228 - Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)
229 - Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides)
230 - Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula)
231 - Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
232 - Arctic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

MAMMALS
17 - Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)
 
Took the Hudwit off my list as I think it's most likely a hybrid at this stage...

BIRDS

222 - Collared Sparrowhawk (Accipiter cirrocephalus)
223 - Black-faced Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscescens)
224 - Sanderling (Calidris alba)
225 - Sooty Oystercatcher (Haematopus fuliginosus)
226 - Fairy Tern (Sternula nereis)
227 - Australian Tern (Gelochelidon macrotarsa)
228 - Azure Kingfisher (Ceyx azureus)
229 - Buff-rumped Thornbill (Acanthiza reguloides)
230 - Leaden Flycatcher (Myiagra rubecula)
231 - Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang)
232 - Arctic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)

MAMMALS
17 - Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus)
BIRDS
233 - Crescent Honeyeater (Phylidonyris pyrrhopterus)
234 - Large-billed Scrubwren (Sericornis magnirostra)
235 - Rose Robin (Petroica rosea)
 
Go to the coastline yesterday and see these:
13. Great egret (Ardea alba)
14. Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
15. Little egret (Egretta garzetta)
16. Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
17. Crested myna (Acridotheres cristatellus)
18. Long tailed shrike (Lanius schach)
Went to a nice site, seen a few nice species.

Birds:
19. Pied avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
20. Common greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
21. Northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
22. Black winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
23. Black kite (Milvus migrans)
24. Gray heron (Ardea cinerea)
25. Red-flanked bluetail (Tarsiger cyanurus)
26. Olive-backed pipit (Anthus hodgsoni)

Fish
Great blue spotted mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris)

 
I went just a bit overboard with a day trip to the Lower Rio Grande Valley yesterday, but it certainly yielded me with a ton of birds. Highlights include significant US vagrants such as Blue Bunting, Crimson-collared Grosbeak, Ruddy Ground Dove, and Golden-crowned Warbler. Highlights also included very significant Texas birds such as Elegant Trogon (the 8th state record) and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Birds

153. Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas
154. Purple Martin - Progne subis
155. Redhead - Aythya americana
156. Golden-fronted Woodpecker - Melanerpes aurifrons
157. Harris's Hawk - Parabuteo unicinctus
158. White-tailed Hawk - Geranoaetus albicaudatus
159. Wilson's Warbler - Cardellina pusilla
160. Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens
161. Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia
162. Olive Sparrow - Arremonops rufivirgatus
163. Long-billed Thrasher - Toxostoma longirostre
164. Black-crested Titmouse - Baeolophus atricristatus
165. Green Jay - Cyanocorax yncas
166. Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius
167. Tropical Kingbird - Tyrannus melancholicus
168. Vermilion Flycatcher - Pyrocephalus rubinus
169. Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans
170. Common Black Hawk - Buteogallus anthracinus
171. Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
172. Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria
173. Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus
174. Golden-crowned Warbler - Basileuterus culicivorus
175. Black-throated Gray Warbler - Setophaga nigrescens
176. Clay-colored Thrush - Turdus grayi
177. White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus
178. Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
179. Common Gallinule - Gallinula galeata
180. Fulvous Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor
181. Blue Bunting - Cyanocompsa parellina
182. Altamira Oriole - Icterus gularis
183. Curve-billed Thrasher - Toxostoma curvirostre
184. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Polioptila caerulea
185. Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
186. Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Dryobates scalaris
187. Gray Hawk - Buteo plagiatus
188. Buff-bellied Hummingbird - Amazilia yucatanensis
189. White-tipped Dove - Leptotila verreauxi
190. Ruddy Ground Dove - Columbina talpacoti
191. Common Ground Dove - Columbina passerina
192. Plain Chachalaca - Ortalis vetula
193. Lesser Goldfinch - Spinus psaltria
194. Green Parakeet - Psittacara holochlorus
195. Black-throated Blue Warbler - Setophaga caerulescens
196. Crimson-collared Grosbeak - Rhodothraupis celaeno
197. Elegant Trogon - Trogon elegans
198. White-faced Ibis - Plegadis chihi
199. Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea
200. Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus
201. American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
202. Common Pauraque - Nyctidromus albicollis
203. Inca Dove - Columbina inca
204. Least Grebe - Tachybaptus dominicus
205. Mexican Duck - Anas diazi
206. Cinnamon Teal - Spatula cyanoptera
207. Red-crowned Parrot - Amazona viridigenalis

Mammals:
9. Virginia Opossum- Didelphis virginiana
10. Lined Skunk- Mephitis mephitis



Reptiles:
3. Spiny Softshell Turtle- Apalone spinifera
4. Brown Anole- Anolis sagrei
5. Rose-bellied Lizard- Sceloporus variabilis
There's no such thing as overboard birding, especially when you get a list as great as that! :eek:
 
Cairns Qld

Birds
60. Rock pigeon Columba livia
61. Peaceful dove Geopelia placida
62. Eastern reef heron Egretta sacra
63. Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
64. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
65. Brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
66. Olive-backed oriole Oriolus sagittatus
67. Metallic starling Aplonis metallica
68. Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena

Looking forward to some nice FNQ lists :)
How long are you gonna be up there for?
And what are your targets?
 
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Cairns Qld

Birds
60. Rock pigeon Columba livia
61. Peaceful dove Geopelia placida
62. Eastern reef heron Egretta sacra
63. Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
64. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa limosa
65. Brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
66. Olive-backed oriole Oriolus sagittatus
67. Metallic starling Aplonis metallica
68. Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena
Nordmanns Greenshank?????
 
Update on the list from January:

BIRDS:

13/1/2021

29) Common finch, Fringilla coelebs
30) Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
20/1/2021
31) Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis
32) Great crested grebe, Podiceps cristatus
00) Rose-ringed parakeet, Psittacula krameri * Heard only

29/1/2021
33) Eurasian wren, Nannus troglodytes

Totals:
Birds: 33
Mammals: 1
Invertebrates: 1
 
Nordmanns Greenshank?????
I think you are referring to the Bar-tailed godwit, for which I entered the wrong scientific name, it should be Limosa lapponica. So thank you for the correction. But Limosa limosa can be found in the area so I'm not sure what all the questionmarks are about.
 
Looking forward to some nice FNQ lists :)
How long are you gonna be up there for?
And what are your targets?
We are here for nine non-travel days, based at Mission Beach with friends, so not 100% animal watching. As always my aim is to see as many animals in the wild as possible, however I will be trying to spotlight many of the endemic mammals. My first attempt up on the tablelands two nights ago was a washout, literally, though I did end up with a tame tree kangaroo on my shoulder.
 
I think you are referring to the Bar-tailed godwit, for which I entered the wrong scientific name, it should be Limosa lapponica. So thank you for the correction. But Limosa limosa can be found in the area so I'm not sure what all the questionmarks are about.
I reckon that might have been their way of checking if you were aware of the Nordmann’s Greenshank that’s been hanging out in Cairns atm and whether or not you looked for it?
 
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We are here for nine non-travel days, based at Mission Beach with friends, so not 100% animal watching. As always my aim is to see as many animals in the wild as possible, however I will be trying to spotlight many of the endemic mammals. My first attempt up on the tablelands two nights ago was a washout, literally, though I did end up with a tame tree kangaroo on my shoulder.
Did you stay at Lumholtz Lodge for the Tk encounter?

(If you need any advice for specific targets feel free to shoot me a PM. Though the area is probably so well documented that you won’t need the help.;))
 
BIRDS:
119) European greenfinch, Chloris chloris
120) Short-eared owl, Asio flammea
121) European rock pipit, Anthus petrosus
122) Eurasian skylark, Alauda arvensis
123) Lapland longspur, Calcarius lapponicus
124) Common merganser, Mergus merganser
125) Common linnet, Linaria cannabina
126) Twite, Linaria flavirostris
127) Peregrine falcon, Falco peregrinus
128) Richard's pipit, Anthus richardi
129) Jack snipe, Lymnocryptes minimus
130) Spotted redshank, Tringa erythropus
131) Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
132) White stork, Ciconia ciconia
133) Common crane, Grus grus

(+4 heard only)

MAMMALS:
3) European hare, Lepus europaeus
A bit more from the past 3 days! On monday evening news of Belgium's 5th (or perhaps 3rd) Spotted sandpiper broke in a super weird inland location (on a lake in the middle of the Wallonian forests, with no other waders at all), so I made my way down there as fast as possible and got great looks, which I combined with a lot of birding in the area (dipped Wallcreeper & Baikal teal), but ended off with a very nice eagle-owl. Yesterday and today were spent at the coast near Belgium's last crested lark stronghold.

BIRDS:
134) Spotted sandpiper, Actitis macularius

135) Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
136) Lesser redpoll, Acanthis cabaret
137) Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
138) Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
139) White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus
140) Eurasian eagle-owl, Bubo bubo
141) European serin, Serinus serinus
142) Crested lark, Galerida cristata
143) Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis

(+9 heard only)

Heard only:
0) Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
0) Marsh tit, Poecile palustris
0) Willow tit, Poecile montanus
0) Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
0) White wagtail, Motacilla alba

MAMMALS:
4) Eurasian red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris

INVERTS:
3) Asian ladybug, Harmonia axyridis
 
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