ZooChat Big Year 2021

ChunkyMunky pengopus said:
Over the span of today and yesterday, I've seen two of my most wanted birds, both from the windows of my home. Neither viewing was particularly exceptional but they were just enough to be sure of the ID. I spotted the Great Horned Owl at dusk as it flew away from a tree in a neighbor's yard, I have only ever seen an owl in the wild once before, and despite hearing many of different species this year, It feels good to have finally seen one. The sapsucker is also nice because it finally means I have seen all the woodpeckers present in my County and much of the eastern US.

Birds:
99. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
100. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Insect/Invertebrate:
210. Bluegrass billbug weevil (Sphenophorus parvulus)

I'm particularly happy about this small round of animals. The Bluegrass billbug weevil is probably one of my favorite insects I've seen this year, and only now have I finally ID it.
Click to expand...
I rearranged my Insect/Invertebrate list yet again, removing some IDs that I was not confident about. I have since added back some species that I made new observations for, but I'll add those at the end.

Insect/Invertebrate:
201. White-crossed seed bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis)
202. Damsel bug (Nabis roseipennis)
203. Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum)
204. One-spotted Stink Bug (Euschistus variolarius)
205. Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus)

  1. Wooly Bear Caterpillar (Pyrrharctia isabella) (Wild)
  2. SIlverfish (Lepisma saccharina) (Wild)
  3. Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis) (Wild)
  4. Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) (Wild)
  5. Milky slug (Deroceras reticulatum) (Wild)
  6. Silvanid flat bark beetle (Telephanus atricapillus) (Wild)
  7. False milkweed bug (Lygaeus turcicus) (Wild)
  8. Mourning cloak butterfly/ Spiny elm caterpillar (Nymphalis antiopa) (Wild)
  9. Woodlouse spider (Dysdera crocata) (Wild)
  10. Eastern comma butterfly (Polygonia comma) (Wild)
  11. Black slug (Arion ater) (Wild)
  12. Common pill woodlouse/ Roly-poly (Armadillidium vulgare) (Wild)
  13. Riparian woodlouse (Hyloniscus riparius) (Wild)
  14. Nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum) (Wild)
  15. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Wild)
  16. Chestnut carpenter ant (Camponotus castaneus) (Wild)
  17. Immigrant pavement ant (tetramorium immigrans) (Wild)
  18. Dark paper wasp/ Northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) (Wild)
  19. Snake millipede (Cylindroiulus caeruleocinctus) (Wild)
  20. Eastern parson spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) (Wild)
  21. Two lined leatherwing beetle(Atalantycha bilineata) (Wild)
  22. Two spotted bumble bee (Bombus bimaculatus) (Wild)
  23. Milky slug (Deroceras agreste) (Wild)
  24. Wandering broadhead planarian (Bipalium adventitium) (Wild)
  25. House centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata) (Wild)
  26. Yellow sac spider (Cheiracanthium inclusum) (Wild)
  27. Spotted lady beetle (Coleomegilla maculata) (Wild)
  28. Narrow headed marsh fly (Helophilus fasciatus) (Wild)
  29. Six-spotted green tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) (Wild)
  30. Eastern carpenter bee (Xylocopa virginica) (Wild)
  31. Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) (Wild)
  32. Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) (Wild)
  33. Asiastic wall jumping spider (Attulus fasciger) (Wild)
  34. American dog/wood tick (Dermacentor variabilis) (Wild)
  35. Zebra jumping spider (Salticus scenicus) (Wild)
  36. Four-spotted sap beetle (Glischrochilus quadrisignatus) (Wild)
  37. Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus) (Wild)
  38. American green crab spider (Misumessus oblongus) (Wild)
  39. Parenthesis lady beetle (Hippodamia parenthesis) (Wild)
  40. Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) (Wild)
  41. Common picture-winged fly (Delphinia picta) (Wild)
  42. Sweet click beetle (Aeolus mellillus) (Wild)
  43. Orchard orbweaver spider (Leucauge venusta) (Wild)
  44. Margined calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus) (Wild)
  45. White-margined burrower bug (Sehirus cinctus) (Wild)
  46. Eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) (Wild)
  47. Orange wing moth (Mellilla xanthometata) (Wild)
  48. Carolina saddlebags dragonfly (Tramea carolina) (Wild)
  49. Tawny-edged skipper (Polites themistocles) (Wild)
  50. Black firefly (Lucidota atra) (Wild)
  51. Fraternal potter wasp (Eumenes fraternus) (Wild)
  52. Common whitetail dragonfly (Plathemis lydia) (Wild)
  53. Peck’s skipper (Polites peckius) (Wild)
  54. European pine shoot moth (Rhyacionia buoliana) (Wild)
  55. Eastern forktail damselfly (Ischnura verticalis) (Wild)
  56. Common asparagus beetle (Crioceris asparagi) (Wild)
  57. Common white-cheeked jumping spider (Pelegrina proterva) (Wild)
  58. Black sided pygmy grasshopper (Tettigidea lateralis) (Wild)
  59. Stream bluet (Enallagma exsulans) (Wild)
  60. Four-lined plant bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus) (Wild)
  61. Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis) (Wild)
  62. North american tarnished plant bug (Lygus lineolaris) (Wild)
  63. Polished lady beetle (Cycloneda munda) (Wild)
  64. Ebony jewelwing damselfly (Calopteryx maculata) (Wild)
  65. Bumble bee mimic robber fly (Laphria thoracica) (Wild)
  66. Common blue mud-dauber wasp (Chalybion californicum) (Wild)
  67. Blue dasher dragonfly (Pachydiplax longipennis) (Wild)
  68. Blue-tipped dancer damselfly (Argia tibialis) (Wild)
  69. Summer azure (Celastrina neglecta) (Wild)
  70. Four-spotted clover leafhopper (Agallia quadripunctata) (Wild)
  71. Sclerosomatid harvestmen (Leiobunum verrucosum) (Wild)
  72. Brilliant jumping spider (Phidippus clarus) (Wild)
  73. Red goldenrod aphid (Uroleucon nigrotuberculatum) (WIld)
  74. Imported long-horned weevil (Calomycterus setarius) (Wild)
  75. Swamp milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) (Wild)
  76. Broad-nosed weevil (Aphrastus griseus) (Wild)
  77. Common european greenbottle fly (Lucilia sericata) (Wild)
  78. Margined leatherwing soldier beetle (Chauliognathus marginatus) (Wild)
  79. Cobra clubtail (Gomphurus vastus) (Wild)
  80. Hump-backed beewolf (Philanthus gibbosus) (Wild)
  81. Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis) (Wild)
  82. Powdered dancer (Argia moesta) (Wild)
  83. Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax) (Wild)
  84. Eastern eyed click beetle (Alaus oculatus) (Wild)
  85. Black-and-yellow lichen moth (Lycomorpha pholus) (Wild)
  86. Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) (Wild)
  87. Honeylocust treehopper (Micrutalis calva) (Wild)
  88. Widow skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) (Wild)
  89. Red-banded leafhopper (Graphocephala coccinea) (Wild)
  90. Metric paper wasp (Polistes metricus) (Wild)
  91. Beet petiole borer (Cosmobaris scolopacea) (Wild)
  92. Saddled leafhopper (Colladonus clitellarius) (Wild)
  93. Three-spotted fillip (Heterophleps triguttaria) (Wild)
  94. Double-banded grass-veneer (Crambus agitatellus) (Wild)
  95. Four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens) (Wild)
  96. Common eastern firefly (Photinus pyralis) (Wild)
  97. Wood soldier fly (Xylomya aterrima) (Wild)
  98. European paper wasp (Polistes dominula) (Wild)
  99. Blue-fronted dancer (Argia apicalis) (Wild)
  100. European drone fly (Eristalis arbustorum) (Wild)
  101. Bicolored striped sweat bee (Agapostemon virescens) (Wild)
  102. Oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua) (Wild)
  103. Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) (Wild)
  104. Brown wasp mantidfly (Climaciella brunnea) (Wild)
  105. Squash vine borer moth (Melittia cucurbitae) (Wild)
  106. Eastern calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus) (Wild)
  107. Garganus plant bug (Garganus fusiformis) (Wild)
  108. Orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme) (Wild)
  109. Carabid ground beetle (Lebia analis) (Wild)
  110. Helmeted squash bug (Euthochtha galeator) (Wild)
  111. Small honey ant (Prenolepis imparis) (Wild)
  112. Garden fleahopper (Mircrotechnites bractatus) (Wild)
  113. Common sootywing (Pholisora catullus) (Wild)
  114. Two-lined spittlebug (Prosapia bicincta) (Wild)
  115. Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera) (Wild)
  116. Ailanthus webworm moth (Atteva aurea) (Wild)
  117. Red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) (Wild)
  118. Two-spotted tree cricket (Neoxabea bipunctata) (Wild)
  119. Thick-legged hover fly (Syritta pipiens) (Wild)
  120. Citrus flatid planthopper (Metcalfa pruinosa) (Wild)
  121. Pyropyga firefly (Pyropyga decipiens) (Wild)
  122. Double-striped bluet (Enallagma basidens) (Wild)
  123. Red-spotted admiral (Limenitis arthemis) Ssp. Red-spotted purple (L.a. astyanax) (Wild)
  124. Least skipper (Ancyloxpha numitor) (Wild)
  125. Putnam’s jumping spider (Phidippus putnami) (Wild)
  126. Western lynx spider (Oxyopes scalaris) (Wild)
  127. Swift feather-legged fly (Trichopoda pennipes) (Wild)
  128. Conoderus click beetle (Conoderus lividus) (Wild)
  129. Metallic epauletted-sweat bee (Augochloropsis metallica) (Wild)
  130. Yellow-legged pleurolama (Pleuroloma flavipes) (Wild)
  131. Lucerne moth (Nomophila nearctica) (Wild)
  132. Transverse-banded flower fly (Eristalis transversa) (Wild)
  133. Versute sharpshooter (Graphocephala versuta) (Wild)
  134. Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina) (Wild)
  135. Eastern pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) (Wild)
  136. Woolly alder aphid (Prociphilus tessellatus) (Wild)
  137. Question mark (Polygonia interrogationis) (Wild)
  138. Keeled treehopper (Entylia carinata) (Wild)
  139. Soldier beetle (Trypherus frisoni) (Wild)
  140. American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus) (Wild)
  141. Chickweed geometer moth (Haematopis grataria) (Wild)
  142. Clemens grass tubeworm moth (Acrolophus popeanella) (Wild)
  143. Twice-stabbed stink bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana) (Wild)
  144. Common drone fly (Eristalis tenax) (Wild)
  145. Western corn rootworm beetle (Diabrotica virgifera) (Wild)
  146. Constricted leafhopper (Agallia constricta (Wild)
  147. Green cloverworm moth (Hypena scabra) (Wild)
  148. Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus) (Wild)
  149. Band-winged crane fly (Epiphragma fasciapenne) (Wild)
  150. Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus) (Wild)
  151. Spined micrathena (Micrathena gracilis) (Wild)
  152. Pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) (Wild)
  153. Viceroy butterfly (Limenitis archippus) (Wild)
  154. American snout (Libytheana carinenta) (Wild)
  155. Giant robber fly (Promachus hinei) (Wild)
  156. European earwig (Forficula auricularia) (Wild)
  157. Maize calligrapher (Toxomerus politus) (Wild)
  158. Eastern flower fly (Syrphus knabi) (Wild)
  159. Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) (Wild)
  160. Slaty skimmer (Libellula incesta) (Wild)
  161. Zabulon skipper (Lon zabulon) (Wild)
  162. Wedge shaped beetle (Macrosiagon limbata) (Wild)
  163. European wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum) (Wild)
  164. Gray-edged snout moth (Hypena madefactalis) (Wild)
  165. Yellow-striped armyworm moth (Spodoptera ornithogalli) (Wild)
  166. Big-eyed toad bug (Gelastocoris oculatus) (Wild)
  167. Autumn meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) (Wild)
  168. Japanese leafhopper (Orientus ishidae) (Wild)
  169. Fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda) (Wild)
  170. Coppery leafhopper (Jikradia olitoria) (Wild)
  171. Northern flatid planthopper (Flatormenis proxima) (Wild)
  172. Meadow spittlebug (Philaenus spumarius) (Wild)
  173. Spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata) (Wild)
  174. Wedgling moth (Galgula partita) (Wild)
  175. Cross-striped cabbageworm moth (Evergestis rimosalis) (Wild)
  176. Differential grasshopper (Melanoplus differentialis) (Wild)
  177. Wheel bug (Arilus cristatus) (Wild)
  178. Goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus) (Wild)
  179. Small milkweed bug (Lygaeus kalmii) (Wild)
  180. Spotted beet webworm moth (Hymenia perspectalis) (Wild)
  181. Typical green lacewing (Chrysopa oculata) (Wild)
  182. Great spreadwing (Archilestes grandis) (Wild)
  183. Sand wasp (Microbembex monodonta) (Wild)
  184. Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) (Wild)
  185. White-speck armyworm moth (Mythimna unipuncta) (Wild)
  186. Arabesque orbweaver (Neoscona arabesca) (Wild)
  187. Cicada-parasite beetle (Sandalus niger) (Wild)
  188. Japanese burrowing cricket (Velarifictorus micado) (Wild)
  189. Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina) (Wild)
  190. Planthopper (Anotia kirkaldyi) (Wild)
  191. Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus) (Wild)
  192. Typical leafhopper (Norvellina seminuda) (Wild)
  193. Rathke’s woodlouse (Trachelipus rathkii) (Wild)
  194. Wetland giant wolf spider (Tigrosa helluo) (Wild)
  195. Chinese mantis (Tenodera sinensis) (Wild)
  196. Leaf-footed bug (Leptoglossus oppositus) (Wild)
  197. Red-legged grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) (Wild)
  198. Diamondback spittlebug (Lepyronia quadrangularis) (Wild)
  199. Black-tailed red sheetweaver (Florinda coccinea) (Wild)
  200. Bluegrass billbug weevil (Sphenophorus parvulus) (Wild)
  201. White-crossed seed bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis) (Wild)
  202. Damsel bug (Nabis roseipennis) (Wild)
  203. Striped cucumber beetle (Acalymma vittatum) (Wild)
  204. One-spotted Stink Bug (Euschistus variolarius) (Wild)
  205. Brown Stink Bug (Euschistus servus) (Wild)
 
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WhistlingKite24 said:
A few very satisfying finds; the Short-eared Brushtail Possum and Topknot Pigeon have been recent highlights. I saw the White-eared Monarch today at the Enoggera Reservoir and was thrilled to finally find such a striking yet seemingly elusive bird. With the Dusky Honeyeater, I didn't realised their was a second Myzomela honeyeater that occurred in the area as I'd assume they would be far more common up north being at their southernly limit here. A few nice inverts as well but the swift spider was particularly great to find.

Mammals
10) House Mouse, Mus musculus
11) European Hare, Lepus europaeus
12) Short-eared Brushtail Possum, Trichosurus caninus

Birds
168) Azure Kingfisher, Ceyx azureus
169) Russet-tailed Thrush, Zoothera heinei
170) Dusky Honeyeater, Myzomela obscura
171) Topknot Pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus
172) White-eared Monarch, Carterornis leucotis

Invertebrates
61) White-spotted Swift Spider, Nyssus albopunctatus
62) Granny Cloak’s Moth, Speiredonia spectans
63) Asian Magpie Moth, Nyctemera baulus
64) Blue Riverdamsel, Pseudagrion microcephalum
65) Blue and Red Damsel, Xanthagrion erythroneurum
66) Common Grass-Blue, Zizina labradus
67) Common Flatwing, Austroargiolestes icteromelas
68) Rounded Sixline Blue, Nacaduba Berenice
69) Clanger, Psaltoda claripennis
70) Splendid Ochre, Trapezites symmomus
Click to expand...
My last update for the year most likely. Like for everyone, COVID impacted travel plans. This was around the time I was meant to be going on my long-awaited international trip for both zoos and wildlife. I then settled on an interstate trip, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be so I then organised a weekend to Bundaberg. I only saw three new species (the two species of bird and the striking dragonfly listed below) but I still enjoyed myself especially touring the two zoos I visited.

To conclude, I’ve seen 175 bird species for 2021 with 45 lifers with the vast majority being found in Brisbane - an unprecedented figure for me. My first few ventures into rainforest birding are slowly paying off with so many distinctive species being found there and I will continue to explore these areas next year. Waders will be another new frontier to continue exploring for 2022 hopefully which I am sure will bulk up my list further. I have had some really memorable encounters with species I’d never dream of seeing a few years ago this year. Well I am already mapping out next year's locations so bring on 2022! I'm hooked!

Birds
173) Little Wattlebird Anthochaera chrysoptera
174) Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
175) Fairy Gerygone Gerygone palpebrosa

Invertebrates
71) Blue Eyes Lacewing Nymphes myrmeleonoides
72) Common Albatross Appias albina
73) Spur-throated Locust Austracris guttulosa
74) Australian Emerald Hemicordulia australiae
75) Tesselated Stick Insect Anchiale austrotessulata
76) Lyraphora obliquata
77) Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia
78) Small Dusky-Blue Erina erina
79) Australian Tiger Ictinogomphus australis

full

Australian Tiger
 
DesertRhino150 said:
Just realised that I haven't actually updated this thread since June (odd, I don't seem to get notifications on this thread anymore). Over that time I have added ten new birds (including a lifer offshore at Titchwell in Norfolk), two mammals, my first amphibian and nine invertebrates, including a lifer found living in my windowframe:

79. Eurasian hobby Falco subbuteo
80. Pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus
81. Common teal Anas crecca
82. Northern shoveler Spatula clypeata
83. Dark-bellied brent goose Branta bernicla
84. Dunlin Calidris alpina
85. Common redshank Tringa totanus
86. Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
87. Black-throated diver Gavia arctica
88. Sanderling Calidris alba

9. West European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
10. Brown rat Rattus norvegicus

1. European common toad Bufo bufo

27. European hornet Vespa crabro
28. Blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura elegans
29. Essex skipper Thymelicus lineola
30. Comma Polygonia c-album
31. Ringlet Aphantopus hyperantus
32. Meadow brown Maniola jurtina
33. White-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album
34. Silver-washed fritillary Argynnis paphia
35. Noble false widow spider Steatoda nobilis
Click to expand...

I have, over the past couple of weeks, added another bird and a new mammal to my list. The bird was seen in the car park of Colchester Zoo, which is one of the most reliable sites for it in my area, while the mammal was seen crossing a road late at night:

89. Common gull Larus canus

11. European fallow deer Dama dama
 
red river hog said:
Birds:

116. Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 116
Herptiles: 17
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 34
Total: 182
Click to expand...
Birds:

117. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
118. Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 118
Herptiles: 17
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 34
Total: 184
 
Having just returned from a very successful trip to Panama and Chile, I'm ready to give my final mammal total for Big Year 2021.

Note: There are a few rodent species I need to work out the identification on that I'll add in the coming days.

Mammal Big Year 2021: (Wild Lifers = Bold / Overall Lifers = "L")
  1. Tantalus monkey 1.21
  2. Mantled Guereza
  3. Ethiopian Epauletted Bat 1.22 L
  4. Olive Baboon
  5. Uganda Kob
  6. Patas monkey
  7. Rothchild’s Giraffe
  8. African Bush Elephant
  9. Common Warthog
  10. Banded mongoose
  11. Bunyoro rabbit L
  12. Cape Hare
  13. Waterbuck
  14. Oribi
  15. Jackson’s Hartebeest
  16. Cape buffalo
  17. Spotted hyena
  18. White-tailed mongoose
  19. Rusty-spotted genet
  20. Side-striped Jackal L
  21. Yellow-winged bat L
  22. Noack’s Dormouse 1.23 L
  23. Senegal Bushbaby
  24. African Lion
  25. River Hippo
  26. Striped ground squirrel L
  27. African Leopard
  28. Noack’s Roundleaf bat L
  29. Mauritian tomb bat L
  30. Kemp's Gerbil L
  31. African Savannah Hare
  32. Sundevall's Roundleaf Bat 1.24
  33. Schmidt's Red-tailed guenon 1.25
  34. Stuhlmann's Blue monkey
  35. Debrazza’s monkey
  36. Johnston's Mangabey L
  37. Semliki red colobus L
  38. Red-legged sun squirrel
  39. Bohem’s bush squirrel L
  40. Dent’s monkey L
  41. Alexander’s dwarf squirrel L
  42. Benito roundleaf bat L
  43. Franquet's Epauletted Fruit Bat L
  44. Lesser Spectacled galago L
  45. Lord derby’s anomalure L
  46. Hammer-headed bat
  47. Link rat 1.26 L
  48. Angolan Rousette L
  49. Ugandan Mangabey L
  50. Ashy red colobus L
  51. L’host’s Monkey
  52. African palm civet
  53. Demidoff’s galago L
  54. Common Chimpanzee 1.27
  55. Weyn’s duiker (thermal only) L
  56. Spotted necked Otter
  57. Marsh mongoose
  58. Bushbuck 1.28
  59. Giant forest hog
  60. Egyptian fruit bat 1.29
  61. Angolan free-tailed bat L
  62. Gray Climbing mouse L
  63. Egyptian mongoose 1.30
  64. Topi
  65. Typical Striped Grass mouse
  66. Ruwenzori Sun squirrel L
  67. Mountain Gorilla 1.31
  68. Northeast African Mole-rat L
  69. African Civet
  70. Thomas’ bushbaby L
  71. Silver Monkey L
  72. Black-fronted duiker L
  73. Ruwenzori Horseshoe bat L
  74. Plains Zebra 2.3
  75. Common Impala
  76. Common Eland
  77. Vervet
  78. White-bearded wildebeest 2.4
  79. Thompson’s gazelle
  80. Coke’s Hartebeest
  81. White Rhino
  82. Hinde's dik-dik L
  83. African wildcat
  84. Serval
  85. Emin’s tateril L
  86. Nairobi grass rat L
  87. east african gerbil L
  88. Bush hyrax 2.5
  89. Yellow baboon
  90. Black backed jackal
  91. Gerenuk
  92. Peter’s Gazelle L
  93. Desert Warthog L
  94. Fringe-eared oryx
  95. Wahlberg’s Epauletted fruit bat L
  96. Little free-tailed bat L
  97. Bat eared fox
  98. Dwarf mongoose 2.6
  99. Hirola!!!! L
  100. Lesser kudu
  101. Unstriped Ground squirrel
  102. Golden-rumped elephant shrew L
  103. Zanj sun squirrel L
  104. Kenya Coast galago L
  105. Northern Greater galago
  106. Four-toed elephant shrew
  107. Coastal Suni
  108. Sykes Monkey 2.7
  109. Red bush squirrel
  110. Four-toed hedgehog
  111. Harvey’s red duiker 2.8 L
  112. Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin L
  113. Indian Ocean Bottle-nosed Dolphin
  114. heart-nosed bat L
  115. African shealth-tailed bat L
  116. least long-fingered bat L
  117. striped leaf-nosed bat L
  118. African trident bat L
  119. Hildegarde's tomb bat L
  120. Lander’s horseshoe bat L
  121. Slit-faced bat sp. 2.9
  122. Tana River Red Colobus L
  123. Tana River Mangaby L
  124. Ruwenzori thicket rat 2.10 L
  125. Eastern Tree Hyrax L
  126. Mountain Suni
  127. Slender mongoose 2.11
  128. Ochre bush squirrel 2.12 L
  129. Southern Pouched rat 2.13 L
  130. Desert Cottontail 3.11
  131. Arizona cotton rat L
  132. Rock squirrel
  133. Racoon
  134. Harris’ antelope ground squirrel
  135. Coue’s white-tailed deer
  136. Ringtail!
  137. Western harvest mouse 3.12 L
  138. Arizona Gray Squirrel L
  139. Black-tailed Jackrabbit
  140. Striped skunk
  141. Pocket mouse sp.
  142. Kit fox
  143. Mule deer 3.13
  144. White-throated woodrat 3.14
  145. Cactus mouse
  146. Desert rat kangaroo
  147. Merriam’s rat kangaroo
  148. Round-tailed ground squirrel
  149. Eastern Gray squirrel 4.30
  150. Eastern chipmunk
  151. Masked shrew
  152. Woodland vole L
  153. Sei Whale 5.1 L
  154. Northern Right Whale L
  155. Gray Seal
  156. Humpback Whale
  157. Atlantic White-sided dolphin
  158. Harbor Porpoise
  159. Coyote 5.2
  160. Red tailed squirrel- 5.30
  161. Ecuadorian Mantled Howler
  162. Nine-banded armadillo
  163. Brown-headed spider monkey 5.31
  164. Andean white-eared opossum
  165. Olinguito
  166. Tube-lipped tailless bat
  167. Ecuadorian small-eared Shrew 6.1 L
  168. Central American Agouti
  169. Andean cottontail L
  170. Stump-tailed porcupine L
  171. Takazouski’s climbing mouse L
  172. Montane Myotis 6.2 L
  173. Black Agouti
  174. Lemurine Night Monkey L
  175. Venezuelan Red howler 6.4
  176. White-fronted Capuchin
  177. Rhipidomys Climbing Mouse sp. (likely Rhipidomys leucodactylus) L
  178. Ecuadorian squirrel monkey L
  179. White-tailed titi
  180. Proboscis Bat
  181. Lowland paca
  182. Kinkajou
  183. Greater Spear-nosed bat
  184. Golden-mantled Tamarin 6.5 L
  185. Common woolly monkey
  186. White-bellied spider monkey
  187. Huffman’s two-toed sloth
  188. Giant Otter
  189. Tayra
  190. Seba's short-tailed bat
  191. Fringe-lipped bat L
  192. Pallas's Long-tongued bat
  193. Lesser fishing bat L
  194. Greater fishing bat
  195. Napo Saki 6.6 L
  196. Andean Fox 6.8
  197. Big-eared Opossum 6.10
  198. Silky short-tailed bat 6.11 L
  199. Maned Sloth L
  200. Masked titi L
  201. Buffy-headed marmoset 6.13 L
  202. Northern muriqui L
  203. Paraguayan Hairy Dwarf Porcupine
  204. Black capuchin 6.14
  205. Brown Howler
  206. Atlantic Forest Arboreal Rice Rat L
  207. Guyana Squirrel 6.15 L
  208. Gray brocket deer
  209. Little yellow-shouldered bat L
  210. Maned wolf
  211. Gray slender opossum L
  212. Bare-tailed woolly opossum
  213. Guyana dolphin 6.16
  214. Weid’s marmoset
  215. Little big-eared bat
  216. 6-banded armadillo
  217. Golden-headed Lion Tamarin 6.17
  218. Yellow-breasted capuchin
  219. Greater Sac-winged bat
  220. Bahia Porcupine L
  221. Coastal black-handed titi 6.18 L
  222. Capybara 6.19
  223. Marsh Deer
  224. South American coati
  225. Azara’s Capuchin L
  226. Red brocket
  227. Crab-eating fox
  228. Tapeti L
  229. Humid Chaco Arboreal Rice Rat L
  230. Azara’s agouti 6.20
  231. Big Bonneted bat L
  232. White-lined broad-nosed bat L
  233. Feral Water Buffalo
  234. Jaguar!
  235. Brazilian Cavy
  236. Ocelot
  237. Black and gold howler 6.21
  238. Neotropical river otter 6.22
  239. Giant Anteater 6.23
  240. Black-tailed marmoset
  241. Broad-eared Bat L
  242. Black-faced lion tamarin!!! 6.27 L
  243. Lami tuco-tuco!!!! 6.29 L
  244. Pygmy Rice Rat sp. (likely Oligoryzomys nigripes) L
  245. Derby's Woolly Opossum
  246. Orange Nectar Bat L
  247. Armored Rat L
  248. Red-tailed Squirrel
  249. Geoffrey's Tamarin
  250. Jamaican fruit bat
  251. Spectral bat L
  252. Western Lowland Olingo L
  253. Panamanian Night Monkey L
  254. Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo L
  255. Great Fruit-eating Bat
  256. Tent-making Bat
  257. Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth
  258. Rothschild's Porcupine L
  259. Common Opossum
  260. Forest Rabbit L
  261. Collared Peccary
  262. Central American Agouti
  263. White-nosed Coati
  264. European Hare
  265. Guanaco
  266. South American Sea Lion
  267. Commerson's Dolphin
  268. South American Gray Fox
  269. Puma
  270. Geoffrey's Cat
  271. Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk
  272. Monito del Monte L
  273. Kodkod L
  274. Peale's Dolphin
  275. Norway Rat
  276. Chilean Pudu
  277. Chilean Dolphin L
  278. Nutria
  279. Vicuña
  280. Mountain Viscacha L
  281. Bolivian Big-eared Mouse L
  282. Molina's Hog-nosed Skunk
  283. Highland Tuco-tuco L
  284. Burmeister's Porpoise L
  285. Marine Otter
 
Hix said:
After being stuck in lockdown for three months and unable to travel more than 5 kms from home, I took the opportunity this weekend to travel up the coast to increase my year list, and my NSW list. Over three days I was quite successful with 23 species, and picked up 4 lifers to boot!

Birds
Stockton Sandspit
223. Brown Honeyeater
224. Brahminy Kite
225. Whimbrel
226. Common Tern
227. Gull-billed Tern
228. Red Knot
229. Beach Stone-curlew

Hunter Wetlands
230. Wandering Whistle-Duck
231. Intermediate Egret
232. Radjah Shelduck

Boyters Lane, Jerseyville
233. Tawny Grassbird
234. Spangled Drongo
235. Regent Bowerbird
236. Black-necked Stork
237. White-throated Needle-tail
238. Pheasant Coucal
239. Rose-crowned Fruit-dove

Port Macquarie
240. White-headed Pigeon
241. Spectacled Monarch

Cattai Wetlands
242. Crested Shrike-tit
243. White-cheeked Honeyeater
244. Comb-crested Jacana
245. Brown Cuckoo-dove


Mammals
14. Red Necked Wallaby

Reptiles
5. Macquarie Short-necked Turtle



:p

Hix
Click to expand...

A weekend in Lake Cargelligo/Round Hill and another on my brothers farm gave me a few extras, and will probably be the last ones for this year for me.

Birds
246. Crimson Chat
247. Jacky Winter
248. Diamond Firetail
249. Wonga Pigeon
250. Grey Currawong
251. Latham's Snipe

Reptiles
6. Tree Skink
7. Eastern Blue-tongued Skink

Invertebrates
10. Fiddler Beetle (Eupoecila australasiae)
11. Common Shining Cockroach (Drymaplaneta communis)

Fish
1. Common Carp

:p

Hix
 
red river hog said:
Birds:

117. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
118. Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 118
Herptiles: 17
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 34
Total: 184
Click to expand...
Birds:

119. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

Invertebrates:

35. Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 17
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 35
Total: 186
 
Mehdi said:
14/11/2021 (Estuaire de l'Asif n'Srou, Morocco)
BIRDS:
190 - European robin, Erithacus rubecula
Click to expand...

For the holidays, my family and I pondered going to the Middle Atlas, a particularly scenic and bird-filled region to end the year. This was very good news for me as it seemed reaching my goal of seeing 200 species this year was getting increasingly hard if I were to stay in Souss-Massa and also because the Middle Atlas has many birds that I've wanted to see in Morocco for a while now and that are much harder where I live.

I think it went pretty well...

28/11/2021 (Mares d'El Jouaber, Morocco)
BIRDS:
*190 - Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

---
18/12/2021 (Daya de Ain Guedid, Morocco)
BIRDS:
191 - European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria
192 - Song thrush, Turdus philomelos

(Daya de Dar Bouazza, Morocco)
193 - Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
194 - Gadwall, Mareca strepera
195 - Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
196 - Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
---

19/12/2021 (Ifrane, Morocco)
BIRDS:
197 - Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
198 - Coal tit, Parus ater
199 - Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea
200 - Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris ( :D )
---

20/12/2021 (Ifrane, Morocco)
201 - Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
202 - Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus

(Dayet Ifrah, Morocco)
203 - Levaillant's woodpecker, Picus vaillantii
204 - White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
205 - Common pochard, Aythya ferina

(Lac Zerouka, Morocco)
206 - Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
207 - Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
208 - Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
209 - Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla
---

21/12/2021 (Décharge d'Azrou, Morocco)
210 - Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
211 - Red kite, Milvus milvus

* This is the only species that wasn't see on this trip out of the additions, I just forgot to post about it. Moreover I noticed that I skipped a number on my list so European robin (previous post) should be #189 and thus lapwing is #190.

In total, 21 additions to the year list, 16 Moroccan lifers and 8 lifers as well as my first year reaching 200 species (ironically being Common starling of all species), all in Morocco nonetheless!

The first day was spent in Casablanca on the Atlantic coast where I met with my birder friend that lives there. My main objective was to get a few additions that I could potentially miss in the Atlas (mainly ducks and song thrush) as well as a few other species that aren't found there nor back at home. It turned out to be a success, which meant I could focus on White-headed duck and Common pochard (the other duck targets) in the Atlas.

Birding in the Atlas was amazing and all the places visited were very scenic (except for two lakes that were very unfortunately dry, even the snowy mountain tops weren't sparred by the recent drought occuring in the country...) and I got nearly all the targets I wanted on the first day! These include two of my most wanted species in Morocco: a nice group of White-headed duck at Dayet Ifrah and a Levaillant's woodpecker on the side of the road!

Having all the targets in my bag meant I had no idea where to bird the day after. I decided I could maybe try for Red kite, a very rare wintering species (and scarce overall species) in Morocco that is only known to winter in the Middle Atlas. They were seen at a local dump two years ago and when I went there at least two Red kites were found circling above the dump with a group of Black kites. Certainly one of my best observations in Morocco!

All-in-all, a perfect trip to conclude my best year birding yet (and possibly my last year fully birding in Morocco for a while). Another thing I noticed in the Atlas is that birds (and other animals :D )are much less weary than they are back home which meant photographic opportunities were numerous:

Red-knobbed coot - (Lac Zerouka)

Red-knobbed coot - (Lac Zerouka)

  • Media owner Mehdi
  • Date added

Barbary macaque - (Cèdreraie d'Azrou)

Barbary macaque - (Cèdreraie d'Azrou)

  • Media owner Mehdi
  • Date added
 
the racoon has spoken said:
Welp, I was meant to get this update posted around October, but I kinda forgot to write a prose, and it's been far too long, so I'll replace it with an update for a trip to Mangere that I took nearly a week back. (Nothing really happened with the first update anyways, just got unsatisfactory viewing of grey gerygone which I'm still trying to get a better sighting of).
So off to Mangere I headed taking the bus, with newfound confidence finally having usable data as to check the bus timetables. Which 'stopped working', whilst I was on Tik Tok at a bus station, thinking nothing of it as the location tracking on the AT app was still functioning I carried on, (this comes to bite me in the ass later on). Arriving in Mangere, I realised I had entirely scuffed up the tide time schedule, (having been checking East Auckland tides, instead of Mangere tides), resulting in me having to squint at the distant blurs of colour that just so happened to be birdlike, although I feel like having binocs would've been a major help, so I guess I'll try and scrounge myself up a pair, before I try birding here again. I think I may have seen a grey teal, but even if it was I'd rather not count such a poor viewing. So I quickly scurried on to the lagoon, which happened to be crudely fenced off, so after scrabbling up and down some rocks managed to get on the walkway. Although it was low tide, so I was just trying to make my way down to the waterworks as fast as possible, but I seemed to have to disturbed the flocks of pied stilts there, or maybe it was the gulls not really sure. What I did see however, was maybe around 4 to 5 of them circling me, actually flying really close to me, enabling fantastic views and even a decent picture!:eek:(Impressive considering the fact that all I have is a shoddy iPhone 6 camera which seems to never be able to focus on any moving lifeform more than a metre away). I hope I wasn't disturbing them whilst they were nesting, but from my perspective, I had an hour here until the sun set, so I was making sure I at least had something to add on my year count. Arriving at the waterworks, I could barely see any of the birds, which makes me really wish I had binocs, and the only birds I got good viewings on were flocks of mallards/grey duck hybrids (saw no green heads, but did see orange feet), the occasional welcome swallow and the black swans. Which I was hesitant to put on my list, but after some consideration on that it wouldn't be any different from seeing them in a park in their homeland of Aus, and after seeing a pair of cygnets, I'm placing them on my list. I also saw what were possibly shovelers, probably a dabchick and maybe a scaup, viewings which I was entirely dissatisfied of so I exclude them from my list. After leaving the waterworks and finally realising that my phone had no more data (apparently 5 minutes of Tik Tok makes 20 dollars go down the drain!!!), terrified of being stranded in a location far from home at night, I flagged down a passing car asking to use their hotspot as to find an AT route home. Shockinglly they were ok with it! And super friendly during the entire thing! An hour during my route home although, my bus dropped me off just in a highway and shoddy signage led me to believe there was no more buses going my way. Leading me to walk 2 hours home during the night, as I watched not one but TWO! Of the buses I needed to catch speed pass me.
Was me going here worth it, considering how poor the majority of the sightings I had were and the painful trek I took home at the end ? No, absolutely not. But at least I got two lifers from it and I was planning on putting an update to this thread one way or another, so at least I have that.


Birds
32. Grey Gerygone (Gerygone igata)
33. European Greenfinch (Chloris chloris)
34. Pied Stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus)
35. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)

Invertebrates
12. Bronze Hopper (Helpis minitabunda)

(I really hope I don't end this year with only 35 birds, but that's probably how it'll pan out, but considering how I surpassed my original granted very pessimistic goal and 7 lifers I'd say this year was still quite good, especially being my first foray into birding and all).

(Stilt photo to be added).
Click to expand...
Turns out I was proven wrong, with a trip to Ti Point Reptile Park (review and species list to come), netting me what's almost definitely my last bird/lifer for the year, kereru! A bird which just like the warbler I've been trying to find all year. At first all I managed to see was a white bellied large shape on a powerline which I thought would be my only sighting, but actually going inside the Reptile Park they seem to be quite common, getting great looks at an individual in flight, their weird way of twisting and turning and their really unique looking wings being quite charming. Also the call being a plaintive "woop-woop" sound was really interesting to listen to.

Birds
36. Kereru (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae)
 
Last edited:
Mehdi said:
For the holidays, my family and I pondered going to the Middle Atlas, a particularly scenic and bird-filled region to end the year. This was very good news for me as it seemed reaching my goal of seeing 200 species this year was getting increasingly hard if I were to stay in Souss-Massa and also because the Middle Atlas has many birds that I've wanted to see in Morocco for a while now and that are much harder where I live.

I think it went pretty well...

28/11/2021 (Mares d'El Jouaber, Morocco)
BIRDS:
*190 - Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus

---
18/12/2021 (Daya de Ain Guedid, Morocco)
BIRDS:
191 - European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria
192 - Song thrush, Turdus philomelos

(Daya de Dar Bouazza, Morocco)
193 - Red-crested pochard, Netta rufina
194 - Gadwall, Mareca strepera
195 - Tufted duck, Aythya fuligula
196 - Western swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
---

19/12/2021 (Ifrane, Morocco)
BIRDS:
197 - Eurasian jackdaw, Corvus monedula
198 - Coal tit, Parus ater
199 - Eurasian nuthatch, Sitta europaea
200 - Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris ( :D )
---

20/12/2021 (Ifrane, Morocco)
201 - Lesser kestrel, Falco naumanni
202 - Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus

(Dayet Ifrah, Morocco)
203 - Levaillant's woodpecker, Picus vaillantii
204 - White-headed duck, Oxyura leucocephala
205 - Common pochard, Aythya ferina

(Lac Zerouka, Morocco)
206 - Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
207 - Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
208 - Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
209 - Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla
---

21/12/2021 (Décharge d'Azrou, Morocco)
210 - Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
211 - Red kite, Milvus milvus

* This is the only species that wasn't see on this trip out of the additions, I just forgot to post about it. Moreover I noticed that I skipped a number on my list so European robin (previous post) should be #189 and thus lapwing is #190.

In total, 21 additions to the year list, 16 Moroccan lifers and 8 lifers as well as my first year reaching 200 species (ironically being Common starling of all species), all in Morocco nonetheless!

The first day was spent in Casablanca on the Atlantic coast where I met with my birder friend that lives there. My main objective was to get a few additions that I could potentially miss in the Atlas (mainly ducks and song thrush) as well as a few other species that aren't found there nor back at home. It turned out to be a success, which meant I could focus on White-headed duck and Common pochard (the other duck targets) in the Atlas.

Birding in the Atlas was amazing and all the places visited were very scenic (except for two lakes that were very unfortunately dry, even the snowy mountain tops weren't sparred by the recent drought occuring in the country...) and I got nearly all the targets I wanted on the first day! These include two of my most wanted species in Morocco: a nice group of White-headed duck at Dayet Ifrah and a Levaillant's woodpecker on the side of the road!

Having all the targets in my bag meant I had no idea where to bird the day after. I decided I could maybe try for Red kite, a very rare wintering species (and scarce overall species) in Morocco that is only known to winter in the Middle Atlas. They were seen at a local dump two years ago and when I went there at least two Red kites were found circling above the dump with a group of Black kites. Certainly one of my best observations in Morocco!

All-in-all, a perfect trip to conclude my best year birding yet (and possibly my last year fully birding in Morocco for a while). Another thing I noticed in the Atlas is that birds (and other animals :D )are much less weary than they are back home which meant photographic opportunities were numerous:

Red-knobbed coot - (Lac Zerouka)

Red-knobbed coot - (Lac Zerouka)

  • Media owner Mehdi
  • Date added

Barbary macaque - (Cèdreraie d'Azrou)

Barbary macaque - (Cèdreraie d'Azrou)

  • Media owner Mehdi
  • Date added
Click to expand...

Seems like on the spreadsheet that contains my year list, I didn't skip number 13 but just outright deleted what it contained (Grey heron). So I was actually right the first time, which means I'm sitting on 212 species of birds for the year, not 211.
 
red river hog said:
Birds:

119. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)

Invertebrates:

35. Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 17
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 35
Total: 186
Click to expand...
Herptiles:

18. Northern Spiny-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 18
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 35
Total: 187
 
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Najade said:
Die Haard (St. Johannes), Oer-Erkenschwick

Birds
72. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

Let's see if I can push it to 75 before the year is over. :fingerscrossed:
Click to expand...
Kemnader See, Witten

Birds
73. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
 
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The end of the year is near and traditionally for me that means a winter excursion to the Oostvaardersplassen, which is always a delight and a great way to get the final additions to the year list. As expected the day was filled with great sightings of many White-tailed Eagles, we saw several foxes and waterfowl, especially Whooper Swans, were out in abundance. We also spied a Water Rail foraging between the reeds and bushes, which is always good because while they're easy enough to hear they can be tricky to see. However, this sighting was particularly fine as we could observe the rail well for several minutes. At the end of the afternoon we left the Oostvaardersplassen behind to twitch a tiny songbird in the middle of the city, an activity I've quite lost my appetite for but for this particular species I was willing to make an exception. It took a while to find it but we ended up with great views of a teeny tiny Pallas' Leaf Warbler, undoubtedly one of the best looking songbirds in the world! We ended at the Pampushaven where, in the last light at dusk, we managed to find several Scaups in between the large rafts of Tufted Ducks. A worthy end of the birding year!

Birds
256. Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus
257. Pallas' Leaf Warbler, Phylloscopus proregulus
258. Greater Scaup, Aythya marila

---------------------

With those three birds my year list is finished.

For birds this was my second best year, only 2018 was better with 260 species. It was a terrible year of seabirds for me (not a single skua, only one single individual diver), but most other groups did very well indeed. In total, I got 258 species and of those 22 were lifers (9%). A period of fieldwork in Spain was very productive in terms of lifers with 17 of the 22 seen there, including fantastic species like Black Wheatear, Iberian Shrike, Trumpeter Finch, Bonelli's Eagle, Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Iberian Magpie. Best new species of the year though is undoubtedly the White-headed Duck, a species I've been dreaming about for years! Most of the year was of course spend in the Netherlands and there was no shortage of memorable encounters there. A vagrant Eurasian Thick-Knee in my local patch comes to mind as a particularly fine sighting, but this year was also by far the best for me for meadowbirds, eagles, herons and shrikes.

For herptiles 2021 was a rough year in the Netherlands, and most of my searches were plagued by unfavorable weather. I did not managed to get my most wanted Dutch species, Adder, though I did find my first Palmate Newts. My time in Spain helped to get a sort of reasonable list of 6 amphibians and 5 reptiles, giving a total of 11 species (of which 5 lifers, 45%). The most exciting species was probably the adult Horseshoe Whip Snake. I only identified one species of fish, which was not a lifer, but then again I don't ever go out specifically to look for fish.

The mammal list is not particularly long (18 species, of which 2 are lifers, 11%) and there are several major gaps in there (I didn't see single hedgehog this year, for example!). The two lifers were both from Spain. Spanish Ibex is without a doubt the best mammal of the year for me. Algerian Mouse though is a very nice oddity and I'm glad to have seen it. I've also seen more foxes than in previous years, but unfortunately not a single mustelid.

In terms of invertebrates I decided at the start of the year to list dragonflies and butterflies separately because I care more about those than about other inverts. It was a good choice that I will continue next year. In total, I managed to see 32 species of butterflies (5 lifers, 16%) and 38 dragonfly species (13 lifers, 34%). Best butterflies were Scarce Large Blue, by far the rarest species I've seen so far, and Desert Orange Tip, a lovely surprise from Spain. Best dragonflies were probably Yellow-spotted Emerald and Western Clubtail. I also identified 91 species of other invertebrates, though I still have to figure out how many of those are lifers. Best sighting was probably a large female Chrysochraon dispar (called "Golden Grasshopper" in Dutch), a large grasshopper of which the females can be bright yellow.

For next year, I've set some optimistic goals for myself. I'm going to try for 300 bird species, 25 herptiles, 40 butterflies and 40 dragonflies. For mammals I'm just going to try for at least two lifers, the length of the list is of lesser concern. This should be possible, though not easy, unless covid destroys even my relatively modest travel plans (far from modest for me as a house sparrow, to be honest, but I'll stay in Europe at least).
 
red river hog said:
Herptiles:

18. Northern Spiny-tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 18
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 35
Total: 187
Click to expand...
Herptiles:

19. Florida Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni)

Mammals: 13
Birds: 119
Herptiles: 19
Fish: 4
Invertebrates: 35
Total: 188
 
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