2. Common garter snake
1. Northern leopard frog'
Unidentified raptor and Butterfly as well.
10. Common water strider
1. Northern leopard frog'
Unidentified raptor and Butterfly as well.
10. Common water strider
ZooChat Big Year 2021
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
Been a while, got a decent update (all species come from the past week).
Birds:
35) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
36) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
37) European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
38) Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
39) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
40) Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
41) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
42) Gadwall, Mareca strepera
43) Northern pintail, Anas acuta
44) Black swan, Cygnus atratus
45) White stork, Ciconia ciconia
46) European herring gull, Larus argentatus
47) Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
48) Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
49) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
50) Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
51) Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
55) Common pochard, Aythya ferina
56) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
57) Common red
52) White wagtail, Motacilla alba
53) Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
54) Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
55) Common redshankshank, Tringa totanus
56) Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
57) Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
58) White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicillaa
59) Raven, Corvus corax
60) Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
61) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
62) Canada goose, Branta canadensis
63) Common merganser, Mergus merganser
64) Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
65) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
66) Willow tit, Poecile montanus
67) Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
68) Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
69) Buzzard, Buteo buteo
+ 7 heard only species.
Invertebrates:
5) Zebra jumping spider Salticus scenicus
6) Green shield bug, Palomena prasina
7) European orchard bee, Osmia cornuta
8) German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica
9) Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta
10) Common brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni
11) Cabbage white, Pieris rapae
12) Corpse snail, Arianta arbustorum
Mammals:
2) Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
3) Red deer, Cervus elaphus
Fish:
1) Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
Birds:
35) Eurasian wigeon, Mareca penelope
36) Ring-necked pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
37) European stonechat, Saxicola rubicola
38) Reed bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
39) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
40) Eurasian teal, Anas crecca
41) Pied avocet, Recurvirostra avosetta
42) Gadwall, Mareca strepera
43) Northern pintail, Anas acuta
44) Black swan, Cygnus atratus
45) White stork, Ciconia ciconia
46) European herring gull, Larus argentatus
47) Common chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
48) Water rail, Rallus aquaticus
49) Northern shoveler, Spatula clypeata
50) Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
51) Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
55) Common pochard, Aythya ferina
56) Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
57) Common red
52) White wagtail, Motacilla alba
53) Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
54) Yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
55) Common redshankshank, Tringa totanus
56) Ruff, Philomachus pugnax
57) Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus
58) White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicillaa
59) Raven, Corvus corax
60) Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus
61) Eared grebe, Podiceps nigricollis
62) Canada goose, Branta canadensis
63) Common merganser, Mergus merganser
64) Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
65) Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
66) Willow tit, Poecile montanus
67) Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
68) Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
69) Buzzard, Buteo buteo
+ 7 heard only species.
Invertebrates:
5) Zebra jumping spider Salticus scenicus
6) Green shield bug, Palomena prasina
7) European orchard bee, Osmia cornuta
8) German yellowjacket, Vespula germanica
9) Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta
10) Common brimstone, Gonepteryx rhamni
11) Cabbage white, Pieris rapae
12) Corpse snail, Arianta arbustorum
Mammals:
2) Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
3) Red deer, Cervus elaphus
Fish:
1) Common carp, Cyprinus carpio
........
I find it a bit amusing I've seen this species before you did, despite not having left the North American continent.
Belated biweekly update. I finally nabbed three target species that had been eluding me, along with a highland lifer from last year that I half-expected not to repeat this year.
Birds
60. Canada Jay (Perisomeus canadensis)
61. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
62. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
63. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Birds
60. Canada Jay (Perisomeus canadensis)
61. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
62. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
63. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
Well today was awesome! I went to Aghorimze this morning to catch up on some spring migrants and indeed the Oued Massa river banks as well as the fields circling it were full of birds, both individuals and species as I got a total of 46 species there of which some were not so bad...
04/04/2021 (Champs d'Aghorimze, Morocco)
BIRDS:
132 - Western orphean warbler, (Curruca hortensis)
133 - Common quail, (Coturnix coturnix)
134 - Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis (MOROCCAN BIRD #200)
135 - Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
INVERTS:
13 - Speckled wood, Pararge aegeria
With the additions of two species to my Moroccan list this morning, I finally got to see my 200th Moroccan bird species! That was a milestone that has been looming since last year and took quite a while to reach this year because of a slow winter. Really nice for it to be a male summer plumage Black-necked grebe, a species that although isn't particularly rare isn't easy to see either and one which I had only seen once previously, in Spain.
The day also started amazingly with a lifer Western orphean warbler. Very stark looking with that white eye, they're one of the harder Sylviidae to get here so I'm happy I got that off the way (and it was an unexpected sighting at that!): I only need 4 Sylviidae to complete the Moroccan basket now.
Seeing not one, not two, not three but four Common quails fly at once was also a very special sighting. Common quails aren't rare at all here in spring but I think I overlooked them because before this year I hadn't bothered looking up their song/call and now that I have I heard at least 14 of them in the fields this morning.
A Northern wheatear on the road was an expected spring addition (but always nice to see) and a few other species like European bee-eater, Black-winged kite, Brown-throated martin, Little grebe and Common nightingale as well as many others were also great to see
Has anyone (British birders especially) got any advice on how to spot coastal birds and ground-dwelling birds like partridges and quails? I've tried to look for these species especially without much success.
11. Western honeybee.
IDENTIFIED: 33. Red-shouldered hawk.
Also advice on how to find butterflies? I saw one on my state park walk today and I think it was a Mourning cloak but I didn't get a photo so I can't say for sure, there some of my favorite insects and I usually find them at a specific place near me, but I haven't seen one yet despite seeing bees and wasps.
IDENTIFIED: 33. Red-shouldered hawk.
Also advice on how to find butterflies? I saw one on my state park walk today and I think it was a Mourning cloak but I didn't get a photo so I can't say for sure, there some of my favorite insects and I usually find them at a specific place near me, but I haven't seen one yet despite seeing bees and wasps.
I usually see a fair few while in the woodlands, particularly where it is bordering an open area. Perhaps try somewhere with a mix of both vegetation and plain grass.
Little early for most butterflies yet, especially at your latitude. Numbers should start picking up here soon and make them easier to find. Open areas near patchy woodland often have a fair few butterflies, especially if it's near water.
Okay I think I have a place In mind then.
My 100th species for the year! 
Invertebrates:
9. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum)
Mammals: 7
Birds: 73
Herptiles: 7
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 9
Invertebrates:
9. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharinum)
Mammals: 7
Birds: 73
Herptiles: 7
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 9
A few more tough birds from the Ardennes! The Black grouse is very likely the last remaining Belgian male (and one of the last males of the Western European population in general) - Swedish birds have been reintroduced in the area but apparently tend to stay away from the lek that the Belgian birds have used for centuries, where I saw a single displaying male yesterday. A black stork on the same field was a nice year tick, also!
BIRDS:
170) Northern raven, Corvus corax
171) Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula
172) Tree pipit, Anthus trivialis
173) Willow tit, Poecile montanus
174) Black grouse, Lyrurus tetrix
175) Black stork, Ciconia nigra
(+6 heard only)
Heard only:
0) Eurasian treecreeper, Certhia familiaris
0) Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
INVERTS:
9) Morning-glory plume moth, Emmelina monodactyla
Just got back from an amazing trip to Arizona!:
Birds
96. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
97. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
98. Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis
99. Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
100. Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
101. Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
102. Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
103. Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
104. Gambel's Quail Callipepla gambelii
105. Abert's Towhee Melozone aberti
106. Verdin Auriparus flaviceps
107. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
108. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
109. Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
110. Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera
111. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
112. Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri
113. Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
114. Great Egret Ardea alba
115. Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria
116. Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
117. Snowy Egret Egretta thula
118. Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri
119. Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens
120. Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata
121. American Avocet Recurvirostra americana
122. Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans
123. Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
124. Wilson's Snipe Gallinago delicata
125. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
126. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
127. White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
128. Northern Jacana Jacana spinosa
129. Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
130. Lucy's Warbler Leiothlypis luciae
131. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
132. Ladder-backed Woodpecker Dryobates scalaris
133. Green Heron Butorides virescens
134. Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
135. American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
136. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
137. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
138. Vermillion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus obscurus
139. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis
140. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
141. Mexican Duck Anas diazi
142. Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens
143. Sora Porzana carolina
144. Harris's Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
145. House Wren Troglodytes aedon
146. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura
147. Yellow-eyed Junco Junco phaeonotus
148. Rivoli's Hummingbird Eugenes fulgens
149. Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
150. Broad-billed Hummingbird Cynanthus latirostris
151. Mexican Jay Aphelocoma wollweberi
152. Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
153. Bridled Titmouse Baeolophus wollweberi
154. Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina
155. Arizona Woodpecker Leuconotopicus arizonae
156. Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
157. Painted Redstart Myioborus pictus
158. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
159. Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya
160. Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata
161. Cassin's Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans
162. Hepatic Tanager Piranga flava
163. Cassin's Finch Haemorhous cassinii
164. Townsend's Warbler Setophaga townsendi
165. Pyrrhuloxia Cardinalis sinuatus
166. Rufous-winged Sparrow Peucaea carpalis
167. Canyon Towhee Melozone fusca
168. Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre
169. Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae
170. Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides
171. Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus
172. Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
173. Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus
174. Violet-crowned Hummingbird Leucolia violiceps
175. Cassin's Vireo Vireo cassinii
176. Black-throated Gray Warbler Setophaga nigrescens
177. Wilson's Warbler Cardellina pusilla
178. Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
179. Hutton's Vireo Vireo huttoni
180. Gray Hawk Buteo plagiatus
181. Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
182. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
183. Brewer's Sparrow Spizella breweri
184. Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
185. Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius
186. Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
187. Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea
188. Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana
189. Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus
190. Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra
191. Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma woodhouseii
192. Mountain Chickadee Aphelocoma woodhouseii
193. White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis
194. Juniper Titmouse Baeolophus ridgwayi
195. American Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
196. Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus
197. Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
198. Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis
199. Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
200. Ruddy Ground Dove Columbina talpacoti
201. Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
202. Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
203. Inca Dove Columbina inca
Mammals
10. Rock Squirrel Otospermophilus variegatus
11. Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii
12. Feral Cat Felis catus
13. Bobcat Lynx rufus
14. Round-tailed Ground Squirrel Xerospermophilus tereticaudus
15. White-nosed Coati Nasua narica
16. Hooded Skunk Mephitis macroura
17. Arizona Gray Squirrel Sciurus arizonensis
18. White-throated Woodrat (Arizona Packrat) Neotoma albigula
19. Harris's Antelope Squirrel Ammospermophilus harrisii
20. Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus
21. Pronghorn Antilocapra americana
22. American Elk (Wapiti) Cervus canadensis
23. Botta's Pocket Gopher Thomomys bottae
24. Cliff Chipmunk Neotamias dorsalis
25. Collared Peccary (Javelina) Pecari tajacu
26. Feral Horse Equus ferus
Herps
1. Pond Slider Trachemys scripta
2. Clark's Spiny Lizard Sceloporus clarkii
3. Ornate Tree Lizard Urosaurus ornatus
-Sonoran x San Esteban Island Spiny-tailed Iguana Ctenosaura hemilopha x macrolopha
4. Desert Spiny Lizard Sceloporus magister
5. Sonoran Spotted Whiptail Aspidoscelis sonorae
6. Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta
7. American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
8. Tiger Whiptail Aspidoscelis tigris
Fish
1. Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
-unidentified tilapia
And one more after I arrived in Wisconsin:
Herps
9. Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus
How long were you there? Over a hundred species of bird alone, that's pretty impressive.
It can't have been for long. There's something screwed up with his dates though because in the USA Challenge thread he's just listed an ASDM visit as being on the 20th March.
Presumably the reintroduced Swedish birds don't have the same connection to the ancestral lek used by many generations of the home-bred ones. This is a species we still have in the UK in some upland areas, though they are failing here too, and much scarcer/localised than they used to be.
No Black Woodpecker from this visit?
Indeed, that is my hypothesis also. I do think Swedish and Belgian birds have bred with each other though, so perhaps there is a bit of mixing around there. Definitely sad to see a single male where half a century ago there would still have been a large group, though... I hope the Swedish birds manage to properly establish and thrive!
Not this time, though they'll definitely be in both locations I visited (the forests near Wanne/Logbiermé and the High Fens). On the way back I revisited the Baikal teal that I saw a few weeks ago as well, though, and heard a Black woodpecker calling in the distance there (Visbeekvallei Lille).
I'm not going to speak about partridges because we only get Barbary partridges here which are I think quite different ecology-wise to the UK Grey partridges but quails are the same everywhere.
First of all, for quails, you'll need to listen to their song/call (which you can find on xeno-canto, for example here: https://www.xeno-canto.org/explore?query=common quail) because you'll almost always hear them before you see them (if you see them at all).
They're very shy birds that hide in fields, (here most often alfalfa, wheat, corn or tumble mustard fields but it will be different in each country depending on which plants you get) and often the only way to see them is to flush them (i.e get inside of the field until they fly away). I'd recommend only doing this sparsely and cautiously though because flushing them bothers the birds: the more they fly the more they lose energy. Sometimes you don't even need to do it intentionally, if you're lucky: my sighting yesterday for example was just me walking by path near an alfalfa field until four quails flew out of it unexpectedly (I didn't know they were there until they flew away).
Plants.
Butterflies and most insects live around important plants for them, whether is if for food, shelter or breeding.
One thing you can do is google the host plants for butterflies and the months they're out flying. Track down locations near you with these plants on sites like iNaturalist and go out searching during those months.
Getting seriously involved with searching invertebrates, especially butterflies, does require you to dip a little bit into the plant world to discover which plants go with what bugs.