Zoochat Big Year 2022

[birdsandbats]

Mammals
21. Black-tailed Prairie Dog Cynomys ludovicianus

Mammals
22. House Mouse Mus musculus

 

[Mehdi]

A few species from my zoo trip in Europe. All of them from Germany except the sparrowhawk (seen at the Agadir airport before departing):

BIRDS:
157 - European sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
158 - Carrion crow, Corvus corone
159 - Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
160 - European starling, Sturnus vulgaris
161 - Greylag goose, Anser anser
162 - Mute swan, Cygnus olor
163 - Mandarin duck, Aix galericulata
164 - Egyptian goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus
165 - Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
166 - Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
167 - Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
168 - Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
169 - Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
170 - Alexandrine parakeet, Psittacula eupatria

MAMMALS:
5 - House mouse, Mus musculus
6 - Greater white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula

On the road to Marrakesh!

29/06/2022 (Route P2006, Moulay-Lahsene [#171], Autouroute A3, Sidi Zouine [#172])
BIRDS:
171 - European roller, Coracias garrulus
172 - Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus

Very happy with the roller

 

[MRJ]

Kirkland, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. Mostly in Juanita Bay Park

Mammals
13. Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Birds
156. American robin Turdus migratorius
157. Bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
158. Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus
159. Canada goose Branta canadensis
160. Chestnut-backed chickadee Poecile rufescens
161. Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritus
162. Great blue heron Ardea herodias
163. Green-winged teal Anas carolinensis
164. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
165. Northern flicker Colaptes auratus
166. American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
167. Pied-billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps
168. American coot Fulica americana
169. Steller's jay Cyanocitta stelleri
170. Western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
171. White-crowned sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
172. American wood duck Aix sponsa

Invertebrates
31. Eight-spotted skimmer Libellula forensis
32. Cardinal meadowhawk Sympetrum illotum
33. Blue dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
34. Yellow-faced bumble bee Bombus vosnesenskii

Two-year new species targets
Mammals 4/100
Birds 20/1000
Bonus ectotherms 36

 

[red river hog]

Fishes:

11. Atlantic Menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus)
12. American Eel (Anguilla rostrata)

Invertebrates:

28. Greenhead Horse Fly (Tabanus nigrovittatus)
29. Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus)

Invertebrates:

30. Atlantic Sand Crab (Emerita talpoida)
31. Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)

Mammals: 12
Birds: 125
Herptiles : 16
Fishes: 12
Invertebrates: 31
Total: 196

 

[oflory]

Back to UK birding with the (now) long staying Turkestan shrike near Bempton Cliffs. A really beautiful bird, happily feeding and performing to a group of admiring twitchers. No sign of the albatross at Bempton (though I saw him last year, so not too upsetting).

Mammals

19. European hare

Birds

234. Turkestan shrike
235. Yellowhammer
236. Northern fulmar
237. Black-legged kittiwake
238. Atlantic puffin
239. Razorbill
240. Common guillemot

A slightly Mediterranean flavour to my trip to the RSPB bee-eater viewpoint in Trimingham today. Bone dry fields, hot sun, and two appropriate species of bird.

241. European bee-eater
242. Red-legged partridge

 

[MRJ]

Stayed last night in Foster City, just south of San Francisco airport on the bay. Did an early morning walk down along the bay.

Mammals
14. Black-tailed jackrabbit Lepus califoricus

Birds
173 Rock pigeon Columba livia
174. Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
175. Snowy egret Egretta thula
176. Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius
177. Hudsonian whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus
178. Willet Tringa semipalmata
179. California gull Larus californicus
180. House finch Haemorhous mexicanus
181. Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater

 

[MRJ]

Stayed last night in Foster City, just south of San Francisco airport on the bay. Did an early morning walk down along the bay.

Mammals
14. Black-tailed jackrabbit Lepus califoricus

Birds
173 Rock pigeon Columba livia
174. Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
175. Snowy egret Egretta thula
176. Spotted sandpiper Actitis macularius
177. Hudsonian whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus
178. Willet Tringa semipalmata
179. California gull Larus californicus
180. House finch Haemorhous mexicanus
181. Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater

Just confirmed this bird
182. Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina

 

[HungarianBison]

Camping in the Vértes Mountains
51. Merops apiaster (first sighting ever!)
52. Haliaeetus albicilla
53. Sitta europaea
Mammals:
4. Rhinolophus euryale!
5. Nyctalus noctula
6. Sus scrofa
7. Lepus europaeus
Herps:
3. Bufo bufo
4. Pelobates fuscus
5. Rana dalmatina

Family holiday nearby Szarvas
Birds:
54. Ardea purpurea (first sighting ever)
55. Nycticorax nycticorax
56. Ardeola ralloides
57. Oriolus oriolus
58. Aegithalos caudatus
59. Larus canus
60. Phylloscopus sybilatrix
61. Lanius collurio

 

[MRJ]

San Diego today. No opportunities to visit anywhere interesting, however I did see the following from our venue which was on San Diego Bay. Interestingly, aircraft come in really low into San Diego airport and I got great aerial views of San Diego Zoo from the left hand side of the plane. Took the train to Santa Ana this afternoon and got great views of coastal wetlands and beaches. Plenty of birds seen, but of course could not be identified from the train.

Birds
183. Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis

Fish
7. Topsmelt silverside Atherinops affinis (new Order and Family)

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

The last two weeks I had a bit of time for some wildlife-ing. The first major session was mostly butterfly related. Together with a friend I went to the Moerputten, famously the only place in the Netherlands to find scarce large blue, a gorgeous and very interesting species. I saw one last year, when I visited at the very end of the season, but this time there were dozens of them, and several males came quite close. Later that day, we went to the Kampina to search for white admiral and purple emperor, along with a few dragonflies. We did not found any of the target butterflies but there was plenty to see and hear, including loads of map butterflies, plenty of dragonflies and even a few fish!

Last week I had planned to go the Veluwe, but instead I joined a few friends on a crazy quest to see two vagrant waders in the north of the country. It was absolute insanity to try it, but we managed to find both the Wilson's phalarope and the greater sand plover, along with a good number of other birds (most notably, a Caspian tern). The huge numbers of waders, terns and other birds that collect at our cost from summer onward is a sight to see, and I was happy to have at least seen the Wadden Sea in all her glory this year.

Birds
262. Grey Wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
263. Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena
264. Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor
265. Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
266. Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
267. Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus
268. European Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria

Herptiles
21. Common Frog, Rana temporaria

Butterflies
34. Green-veined White, Pieris napi
35. Essex Skipper, Thymelicus lineola
36. Large White, Pieris brassicae
37. Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus
38. Southern Small White, Pieris mannii
39. Purple Hairstreak, Favonius quercus
40. Scare Large Blue, Phengaris teleius

Dragonflies
22. Small Spreadwing, Lestes virens
23. Western Willow Spreadwing, Chalcolestes viridis
24. Vagrant Darter, Sympetrum vulgatum
25. Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis
26. Beautiful demoiselle, Calopteryx virgo
27. Lesser Emperor, Anax parthenope
28. Banded Darter, Sympetrum pedemontanum
29. Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum

Mammals
19. Wood Mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus

Fish
2. Common Perch, Perca fluvialitis
3. Common Chub, Squalius cephalus

 

[MRJ]

I have a couple of free days before getting back to business next Sunday. Finishing at 3pm yesterday, I picked up a car and checked into a nearby hotel that is less expensive than the soulless, overpriced business hotel that I had spent the day at. My new hotel is within walking distance of the Upper Newport Bay Nature Reserve so I headed off there. The walking tracks have excellent views of the Upper Newport Bay estuary wetlands but the distances were too great to identify many of the birds thereon, at least with binoculars. A scope would have been ideal. The surrounding land was covered with low dry scrub, which seemed to have fewer birds than I might have expected. Watching a skimmer feed was a highlight.

Birds
184. Barn swallow Hirundo rustica
185. Cliff swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
186. Dark-eyed junco Junco hyemalis
187. Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
188. Black skimmer Rynchops niger
189. Great egret Ardea alba
190. American mourning dove Zenaida macroura

 

[CMP]

Had a good day of birding with 3 lifers at two spots less than 15 minutes from home, otherwise, it's just been a lot of inverts, some from another quick trip to the suburbs (Cool ones at that, however). My invert list finally passed my birds one, probably because I got better at birds.

Birds:
At Moorman swine pond
157. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) (Lifer)

Both heard first, then spotted at the Legacy Ave. Ponds
158. Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) (Lifer)
159. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) (Lifer)

Insects/Invertebrates:
147. Virginia giant hover fly (Milesia virginiensis) (Lifer)
148. Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)
149. Humped trashline orbweaver (Cyclosa turbinata) (Lifer)
150. Halloween pennant (Celithemis eponina)
151. Citrine forktail (Ischnura hastata) (Lifer)
152. Peppered jumping spider (Pelegrina galathea) (Lifer)
153. Twice-stabbed stink bug (Cosmopepla lintneriana)
154. Two-spotted longhorn bee (Melissodes bimaculatus)
155. Common green june beetle (Cotinis nitida) (Lifer)
156. Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) (Lister)
157. Hackberry emperor (Asterocampa celtis)
158. Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
159. Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
160. Red-spotted admiral (Limenitis arthemis) Ssp. Red-spotted purple (L.a. astyanax)
161. American snout (Libytheana carinenta)
162. Dark paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus)
163. Bald-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata)
164. Four-toothed mason wasp (Monobia quadridens)
165. Great golden digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
166. Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus) (Lifer)
167. Carolina mantis (Stagmomantis carolina) (Lister)

Had some interesting finds at Allerton park last weekend, and some other inverts I've seen.

Bird:
Heard, then after a while seen and photographed in the prairie at Allerton. Pretty elusive.
160. Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) (Lifer)

Reptile:
Finally a snapping turtle after missing them all last year
11. Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) (Lister)
Herpitile:
18. Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) (Lister)

Fish:
This one was cool because it may represent a previously unknown population
20. Northern starhead topminnow (Fundulus dispar) (Lifer)

Insects/Invertebrates:
168. Oleander aphid (Aphis nerii) (Lifer)
169. Fraternal potter wasp (Eumenes fraternus)
170. Prince baskettail (Epitheca princeps) (Lifer)
171. Eastern cicada-killer wasp (Sphecius speciosus) (Lifer)
172. Giant robber fly (Promachus hinei)
173. Assassin bug (Apiomerus crassipes) (Lifer)
174. Eastern tawny-horned spider wasp (Entypus unifasciatus) (Lifer)

 

[MRJ]

I started today with an early morning visit to Crystal Cove State Park. I followed the No Dogs trail up the canyon ridge. It became evident the higher I climbed the fewer birds I saw. In fact the greatest density of birds were found in a tree outside the ranger station at the trailhead. Frustrating number of unidentified LBJ's, also a hummingbird that never stopped in one spot long enough to be identified. Highlight bird was the charismatic California quail which were seen in abundance.

Mammals
15. Californian ground squirrel Otospermophilus beecheyi
16. Desert cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii

Birds
191. California quail Callipepla californica (new Family)
192. Lesser goldfinch Spinus psaltria
193. California towhee Melozone crissalis
194. Song sparrow Melospiza melodia
195. Brewer's blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus
196. Berwick's wren Thryomanes bewickii (new Family)
197. Western kingbird Tyrannus verticalis

 

[Hix]

Birds
183. Wedgetail Eagle
184. Nankeen Kestrel
185. Crescent Honeyeater
186. Caspian Tern
187. Pacific Gull
188. Red-capped Plover
189. Tawny Frogmouth

Mammals
6. Wallaroo



Hix

Doing some travelling at present.

Birds
Cattai Wetlands
190. Torresian Crow
191. Varied Sitella
192. Comb-crested Jacana

Jerseyville
193. Black-shouldered Kite

Hathead National Park
194. Glossy Black Cockatoo
195. White-headed Pigeon

Gladstone, NSW
196. Buff-banded Rail

Victoria Park Nature Reserve
197. Noisy Pitta

O'Reilly's, Lamington National Park
198. Australian Logrunner
199. Bassian Thrush
200. Yellow-throated Scrubwren
201. Regent Bowerbird
202. Green Catbird
203. Bush Stone-curlew
204. Wonga Pigeon

I also heard an Albert's Lyrebird, and briefly glimpsed a Red-backed Fairy Wren from a distance.

Mammals
7. Whiptail Wallaby



Hix

 

[MRJ]

I returned to Crystal Cove State Park this afternoon (I had to pay $15 for an all day parking pass so thought I better use it) and this time concentrated on the Canyon Trail that followed the floor of Moro Canyon. It has a watercourse (dry at the moment) and water means vegetation, which means habitat for birds and there were plenty of birds to be seen. If coming again I would concentrate on the Canyon Trail and the first 100 metres or so of the No Dog Trail.

Birds
198. American bushtit Psaltriparus minimus
199. Californian scrub-jay Aphelocoma californica
200. Nuttall's woodpecker Dryobates nuttallii
201. Oak titmouse Baeolophus inornatus
202. Spotted towhee Pipilo maculatus

Invertebrates
35. Steindachner's Ebony Tarantula Aphonopelma steindachneri (new Family)
36. sp. desert sting beetle Eleodes acuticauda

 

[MRJ]

This morning I went to San Joaquin Marsh, a delightful reserve run by the local water department. Five what must have been old settling ponds are maintained with various levels of water creating a variety of habitats. Birdwatchers have access to the top of the divider walls, making for easy birdwatching. Reminiscent of Werribee. This will be the last report for a few days as I have other work to get to.

Birds
203. American avocet Recurvirostra americana
204. Black-necked stilt Himantopus mexicanus
205. American white pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
206. White-faced ibis Plegadis chihi
207. Red-necked phalarope Phalaropus lobatus
208. Anna's hummingbird Calypte anna
209. California thrasher Toxostoma redivivum (new Family)
210. Common yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas

Invertebrates
37. Common green darner Anax junius (new Family)

 

[Maguari]

Catchup post for the last few weeks - it's been a busy time but I've managed to fit in a bit of sandpiper-heavy birding round the edges - the birds are two each from Potteric Carr on 10th July, Lound on 31st July, and Rutland Water and Eyebrook Reservoir today. The stilts are a breeding pair and young - a rare sight in the UK - that have now dispersed. The other star is the White-rumped Sandpiper - my only previous view was of the bird flying off as soon as I sat in the hide so a chance to actually watch one was rather welcome!

Birds:
196. Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
197. Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
198. Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
199. Bearded Reedling - Panurus biarmicus
200. Western Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
201. Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleuca
202. Sanderling - Calidris alba
203. White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis

(UK: 176)

Invertebrates:
45. Gatekeeper - Puronia tithonus
46. Ringlet - Aphantopus hyperantus
47. Six-spot Burnet - Zygaena filipendulae
48. Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans
49. Brown-lipped Banded Snail - Cepaea nemoralis
50. Ruddy Darter - Sympetrum sanguineum
51. Painted Lady - Vanessa cardui
52. Large White - Pieris brassicae
53. Small Skipper - Thymelicus sylvestris

 

[Najade]

Just realized that I counted Stripe-crowned Spinetail (Cranioleuca pyrrhophia) (182 & 249) and White-crested Tyrannulet (Serpophaga subcristata) (141 & 219) twice.

So I'll have to replace them with:
219. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
249. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Also seen in various places in Paraguay.

Bemelerberg, Netherlands

Mammals
60. Garden Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus)

3-5 seen. Also a Eurasian Harvest Mouse, a European Hare, two Western House Mice, three European Badgers, a couple of Apodemus sp. and a vole.

 

[amur leopard]

Went to Hamerton today so along with the plentiful additions to other challenges are a few bird sightings. Aside from these sightings, I must have seen 20 or so Red kites at various points throughout the day - to the extent that I'd challenge anyone to stay the day in Hamerton without seeing one! I also had a lovely sighting of a pair of Western marsh harriers on an abandoned barn roof from the train.

101. Rook, Corvus frugilegus
102. Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
103. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella

Just saw a lifer out of a window on a train -

5. Roe deer, Capreolus capreolus

Hopefully will get a few bird additions in the next few days…

 

[red river hog]

Invertebrates:

30. Atlantic Sand Crab (Emerita talpoida)
31. Great Spangled Fritillary (Speyeria cybele)

Mammals: 12
Birds: 125
Herptiles : 16
Fishes: 12
Invertebrates: 31
Total: 196

Mammals:

13. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
14. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemonius)
15. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
16. Botta’s Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae)
17. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
18. Domestic Cow (Bos taurus)
19. Plains Zebra (Equus quagga)
20. Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris)
21. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
22. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)
23. Sonoma Chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae)
24. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

Birds:

126. Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
127. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
128. Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)
129. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
130. Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
131. Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
132. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
133. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
134. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
135. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)
136. Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
137. Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
138. Brandt’s Cormorant (Urile pencillatus)
139. Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
140. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
141. Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
142. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
143. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
144. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
145. Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni)
146. Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
147. Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus)
148. Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens)
149. California Gull (Larus californicus)
150. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
151. Mountain Quail (Oreortyx pictus)
152. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
153. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
154. Red-masked Parakeet (Psittacara erythrogenys)
155. Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
156. Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba)

Herptiles:

17. Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis)

Fishes:

13. Topsmelt Silverside (Atherinops affinis)
14. Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
15. Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
16. Brown Rockfish (Sebastes auriculatus)

Invertebrates:

32. Flame Skimmer (Libelulla saturata)
33. Vivid Dancer (Argia vivida)
34. Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rugutus)
35. Figeater Beetle (Cotinis mutabilis)
36. Pacific Sand Crab (Emerita analoga)
37. Striped Shore Crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes)
38. California Mussel (Mytilus californianus)
39. Variable Checkerspot (Euphydryas chalcedona)
40. Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon)
41. Western Yellowjacket (Vespula pennsylvanica)
42. Signal Crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus)
43. Commom Water Strider (Aquarius remigis)
44. Yellow-faced Bumblebee (Bombus vosnesenskii)
45. Margined Leatherwing Beetle (Chauliognathus marginatus)

Mammals: 24
Birds: 156
Herptiles: 17
Fishes: 16
Invertebrates: 45
Total: 253