Zoochat Big Year 2022

oflory said:
A walk around Ashridge Estate today with a group from my church only provided one more bird (belated!) for the year, though many buzzards, red kites, and rooks were much appreciated.

101. Fieldfare
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A trip to Reigate this morning for the enormous brambling flock had added bonus ring-necked duck (long staying wintering female at Priory Pond) as well as a flock of siskin.

102. Brambling
103. Ring-necked duck
104. Siskin
 
Mr. Zootycoon said:
Later in the afternoon I decided on a whim to go look for Whooper Swans in the polders a bit further west. They too are rare this winter but I seen some in December so I tried to same place again, but no luck today. Then I tried to find a Hooded Crow that has been wintering in the area for a few years now but I couldn't find it either. I don't understand why I go looking for crows anyway. Honestly I felt a bit silly standing there with my spotting scope at the edge of a field scanning through the flocks of crows. I did spot a Peregrine falcon sitting in the grass like a goose, peering at the fields ahead. Perhaps she too was looking for hooded crows. After trying for a while to find the crow I gave up. Peregrine is a much better bird anyway.
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Mr. Zootycoon said:
Swans of three species (Mute, Bewick's, Whooper) winter in the polders relatively close to where I live. The latter two are generally scarce and getting scarcer, but usually there are a few places they are present throughout winter. Not this year. All three species are present but in (far) lower numbers than usual and they're also less faithful to their favourite foraging areas. But at least they're there now, and no-one knows what next winter will bring. Having set my mind on 300 birds It would be stupid to miss out on two species I generally think of as guaranteed, so after a failed attempt earlier I tried again today.

When I stepped outside there was quite some fog but the weather forecast said I would clear soon. First I went to the polders for swans, so I zigzagged around the countryside and inspected every flock of swans I saw. There were occasionally Mute Swans in pairs or small groups but most swans were seen in half a dozen flocks of between 20 and 40 individuals (sidenote: in some winters we have flocks of Bewick's this size and flocks of Mutes in the hundreds, so this is rather poor!). After the first four flocks which only had Mute Swans I finally found a flock with other swans and those delightfully turned out to be seven Bewick's Swans. I also spied a little party of Tree Sparrows while scanning one of the swan flocks so that was neat.
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Because of the wet and unusually dreary winter I don't think I have ever longed for spring so much. Most of the real winter birds never came here in full force, and the flew flocks of geese and swans are already leaving. All the more surprising that for some reason the polders here are filled with hundred of wigeons! I didn't go looking for swans again. Honest. There are almost none left anyway. But a friend of mine told me about the large numbers of ducks and gulls that hang out at the wettest meadows, so I went there last week with him and the birds did not disappoint. We even saw that wretched Hooded Crow I wrote about earlier.

The first signs of spring could also be seen, at least for those with an eye for such things. The first black-backed gulls are back, lapwings are moving through and oystercatchers are showing up far inland again. In the forest the tits and robins and thrushes have started to sing and today the Woodlarks joined them on the heaths. The song of the Woodlark, for me, is the first real sign of spring to come each year. The weather is still cold and dreary, but the woodlark's song warms my heart! I am ready for spring.

Birds
121. European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
122. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
123. Woodlark, Lullula arborea
 
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Dhole dude said:
A couple more species have been seen over the last two weeks. Still not much, but I hope to get more in later on this year :).

Mammals
2. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)

Birds
3. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
4. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
5. Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
6. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
7. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
8. Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

Mammals: 2
Birds: 8
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Two of these species were seen within the last two weeks, while the other species were seen today at the J.N "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Florida. Many of these are lifers for me, which is always exciting :). Pretty slow year so far, but again, I hope to start picking up more species as the year goes on.

Mammals
3. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) (Seen in last two weeks)

Birds
9. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
10. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
11. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
12. American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
13. Yellow-Crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
14. Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
15. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
16. Tri-Colored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
17. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
18. Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
19. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
20. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus)
21. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
22. Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens)
23. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
24. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura),
25. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
26. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
27. Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
28. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
29. Black-Bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
30. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
31. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
32. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
33. Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
34. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
35. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
36. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
37. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (Seen in last two weeks)
38. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
39. Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)
40. Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

Reptiles
1. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
2. Saltmarsh Snake (Nerodia clarkii)
3. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Invertebrates
1. Mangrove Tree Crab (Aratus pisonii)

Mammals: 3
Birds: 40
Reptiles: 3
Invertebrates: 1
 
Mehdi said:
Went to do some birding last Sunday that turned out to be very gull-focused with quite some ring reading (8 Lesser black-backed from Norway, 1 from the UK and 2 Audouin's gulls from Spain) but also a Common gull (scarce species here) and most importantly a Great black-backed gull while scanning a gull group at Aghroud beach!

Great black-backed gulls are a tough species to see in Morocco. There's a tiny breeding population at Khnifiss Lagoon where most people (including me) see them but there are also a few wintering individuals each year on the Atlantic coast, mostly juveniles (like this one). They're so scarce as a wintering species that they used to be a committee species until 2019 so I'm very happy I found one (and just in general, they're a terrific species, so huge compared to the other gulls here):


16/01/2022 (Estuaire du Tamri, Morocco [#81-82], Plage d'Aghroud [#83-84])
BIRDS:
81 - Common house martin, Delichon urbicum
82 - Eurasian crag-martin, Ptyonoprogne rupestris
83 - Northern gannet, Morus bassanus
84 - Great black-backed gull, Larus marinus
----
19/01/2022 (Agadir, Morocco)
BIRDS:
85 - Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros

I also forgot to list a few butterflies from the 2nd of January:

02/01/2022 (Champs d'Aghorimze, Morocco)
INVERTEBRATES:
1 - Common yellow swallowtail, Papilio machaon
2 - Clouded yellow, Colias croceus
3 - Red admiral, Vanessa atalanta
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Few casual additions:

08/01/2022 (Agadir, Morocco)
MAMMALS:
1 - Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus

27/01/2022 (Agadir, Morocco)
BIRDS:
86 - Pallid swift, Apus pallidus

And today while birding:

20/02/2022 (Sidi Bibi [#87], Mares d'El Jouaber [#88-91], Estuaire de l'Oued Massa [92-93], Morocco)
BIRDS:
87 - Little swift, Apus affinis
88 - Black-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles orientalis
89 - Western yellow wagtail, Motacilla flava
90 - Sedge warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
91 - Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
92 - Little owl, Athene noctua
93 - Marbled teal, Marmaronetta angustirostris

MAMMALS:
2 - Barbary ground squirrel, Atlantoxerus getulus

Sandgrouses, finally!
 
Picnic day at an urban park in upper Santiago:

Birds:
60. Yellow-winged blackbird, Agelasticus thilius
61. Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps

Fish:
1. Western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis

Invertebrates:
36. Golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata
 
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BerdNerd said:
2/13/22

25. American Herring Gull
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2/21/22

I went birdwatching for about two hours today, and managed to see a couple new species!

26. Common Grackle
27. Blue Jay
28. Northern Flicker
29. Northern Cardinal
30. Ring-Billed Gull
31. Lesser Scaup
32. Common Loon
33. Killdeer
34. House Sparrow
 
red river hog said:
Birds:

17. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
18. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

Mammals: 5
Birds: 18
Invertebrates: 2
Total: 23
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Birds:

19. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
20. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
21. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
22. White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
23. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
 
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Mr. Zootycoon said:
The song of the Woodlark, for me, is the first real sign of spring to come each year. The weather is still cold and dreary, but the woodlark's song warms my heart!

Birds
121. European Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis
122. Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix
123. Woodlark, Lullula arborea
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I love the song of Woodlark too. I only discovered these fascinating little birds a few years ago but now see/hear them quite frequently. Some people say their song is comparable to Nightingale, I do tend to agree.
 
Mammals:
1. Grey-headed Flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
2. Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
3. Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
4. Red-legged Pademelon (Thylogale stigmatica)
5.Common Ringtailed Possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus)
6. Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
7. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
8. Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Birds:
1. Pacific Black duck (Anas superciliosa)
2. Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
3. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
4. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
5. Indian Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
6. White-headed Pigeon (Columba leucomela)
7. Galah (Eolophus roseicapilla)
8. Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus)
9. Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
10. Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
11. Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)
12. Masked Plover (Vallenus miles)
13. Torresian Crow (Corvus orru)
14. Peewee (Grallina cyanoleuca)
15. Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
16. Blue-faced Honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis)
17. European House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
18. Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys)
19. White-breasted Woodswallow (Artamus leucorynchus)
20. Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti)
21. Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
22. Rainbow Bee-eater (Merops ornatus)
23. Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)
24. Brown Honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta)
25. Striated Heron (Butorides striata)
26. White-faced Heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)
27. Black Swan (Cygnus atratus)
28. Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
29. Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris)
30. Intermediate Egret (Ardea intermedia)
31. White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
32. Australian Bushturkey ( Alectura lathami)
33. Australian Pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus)
34. White-throated Needetail (Hirundapus caudacutus)
35. Sulpher-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
36. Black-faced Cuckooshrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)
37. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea)
38. Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
39. Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
40. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
41. Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)
42. Lewin’s Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)
43. Red-backed Fairywren (Malurus melanocephalus)
44. King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
45. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
46. Australian Logrunner (Orthonyx temminckii)
47. Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris)
48. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
49. Yellow-throated Scrub Wren (Sericornis citreogularis)
50. Brown Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia phasianella)
51. Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis)
52. Pheasant Coucal (Centropus phasianinus)
53. Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
54. Wedge-tailed Eagle (Aquila audax)
55. Australian Owlet Nightjar (Aegotheles cristatus)
56. Straw-necked Ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis)
57. Brahminy Kite (Haliastur indus)
58. Plumed-whistling Duck (Dendrocygna eytoni)

Reptiles:
1. Common Garden Skink (Lampropholis guichenoti)
2. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)
3. Eastern Water Skink (Eulamprus quoyii)
4. Elegant Snake-eyed Skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher)
5. Rough-scaled Snake (Tropidechis carinatus)
6. Eastern Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)
7. Carpet Python (Morelia spilota)

Amphibians:
1. Cane Toad (Rhinella marina)
2. Green Tree Frog (Litoria caerulea)!

Fish:
1. Cowtail Ray (Pastinachus sephen)
2. Yellow-fin Bream (Acanthopagrus australis)
3. Mangrove Jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus)
4. Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)
5. Indo-Pacific Sergeant Major (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
6. Stripey (Microcanthus strigatus)
7. Sawtail Surgeonfish (Prionurus microlepidotus)
8. Sand Whiting (Sillago ciliata)
 
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birdsandbats said:
Birds
78. Ross's Goose Anser rossii
79. Great Tit Parus major
80. Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
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Normally I see this species in the first week of any year, but for some reason it took me nearly two months this year!:

Birds
81. Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
 
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Birds
Finally got to see some more urban birds as I visited a denser spot!
30. Common Raven Corvus corax
31. Feral Pigeon Columba livia
 
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