Zoochat Big Year 2023

Forgot one:

INVERTEBRATES:
142. Nomophila noctuella


Today I had two new insects for the year.

INVERTEBRATES:
143. Thymelicus acteon. In flight and didn't stopped, but in that place it can't be any other mistakable skipper. The other two Iberian species of the genus doesn't appear in this locality/habitat.
144. Brachynema germarii. A quite interesting one! I saw this beautiful shield bug only twice in my life previous to that, and never in my work place!
 
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Today I had two new insects for the year.

INVERTEBRATES:
143. Thymelicus acteon. In flight and didn't stopped, but in that place it can't be any other mistakable skipper. The other two Iberian species of the genus doesn't appear in this locality/habitat.
144. Brachynema germarii. A quite interesting one! I saw this beautiful shield bug only twice in my life previous to that, and never in my work place!


Today I started good the day with a kestrel flying over my parent's garden. There are less birds and less insects in it, but today while watering the plants I molested two geometrid moths that resulted to be new for the year;

INVERTEBRATES:

145. Camptogramma bilineata (a very yellow specimen)
146. Idaea laevigata
 
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BIRDS:
364 - Carrion crow, Corvus corone
365 - Redwing, Turdus iliacus
366 - Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
367 - European herring gull, Larus argentatus
368 - Mute swan, Cygnus olor
369 - Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus
370 - Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus
371 - European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
372 - Dunnock, Prunella modularis
373 - Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
374 - Eurasian wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
375 - Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
376 - Great tit, Parus major
377 - Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
378 - Northern lapwing, Vanellus vanellus
379 - Canada goose, Branta canadensis
380 - Little grebe, Tachybaptus ruficollis
381 - Rook, Corvus frugilegus
382 - Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
383 - Common pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
384 - Western black-eared wheatear, Oenanthe hispanica
385 - Willow warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
386 - Spectacled warbler, Curruca conspicillata
387 - Fulvous babbler, Argya fulva
388 - Common redstart, Phoenicurus phoenicurus
389 - Iberian chiffchaff, Phylloscopus ibericus
390 - Barbary partridge, Alectoris barbara
391 - Rufous-tailed scrub robin, Cercotrichas galactotes
392 - Corn bunting, Emberiza calandra
393 - Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
394 - Woodchat shrike, Lanius senator
395 - European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur
400 - Cirl bunting, Emberiza cirlus
401 - Great egret, Ardea alba
402 - Western orphean warbler, Curruca hortensis
403 - Red-rumped swallow, Cecropis daurica
404 - Western subalpine warbler, Curruca iberiae
405 - Ruff, Calidris pugnax
406 - Red knot, Calidris canutus
407 - Little ringed plover, Charadrius dubius
408 - Common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula
409 - Cetti's warbler, Cettia cetti
410 - Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli
411 - Sand martin, Riparia riparia
412 - Common moorhen, Gallinula chloropus
413 - Black kite, Milvus migrans
414 - Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
415 - Common nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos

MAMMALS:
24 - Eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis
25 - Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus

Back from a great trip to the High Atlas!

BIRDS:
24/04/2023
(Au Rocher, Morocco)
416 - Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major
417 - Garden warbler, Sylvia borin
418 - Eurasian sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus
419 - Maghreb owl, Strix mauritanica
---
25/04/2023 (Asni [#420], Champs semi-desertiques de Oulad Mansour [#421-422], Au Rocher [#423-426], Morocco)
420 - Levaillant's woodpecker, Picus vaillantii
421 - Northern wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe
422 - Thekla's lark, Galerida theklae
423 - Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
424 - Common firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla
425 - Coal tit, Periparus ater
426 - Red crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
---
26/04/2023 (Oualmas [#427], Ourika [#428], Jardin Bio-Aromatique de l'Ourika [#429], Vallée de l'Ourika [#430], Morocco)
427 - Eurasian chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs
428 - Booted eagle, Hieraaetus pennatus
429 - Eurasian golden oriole, Oriolus oriolus
430 - Long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus
---
27/04/2023 (Igunane [#431], Vallée de l'Oukaïmeden [#432-443], Au Rocher [#444], Morocco)
431 - Rock bunting, Emberiza cia
432 - Rock sparrow, Petronia petronia
433 - Red-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax (MOROCCAN LIFER)
434 - Yellow-billed chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus
435 - Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros
436 - Atlas wheatear, Oenanthe seebohmi
437 - Common whitethroat, Curruca communis
438 - African crimson-winged finch, Rhodopechys alienus
439 - Horned lark, Eremophila alpestris
440 - Wood lark, Lullula arborea

441 - Blue rock thrush, Monticola solitarius
442 - Trumpeter finch, Bucanetes githagineus
443 - White-throated dipper, Cinclus cinclus (MOROCCAN LIFER)
444 - Eurasian siskin, Spinus spinus
---
28/04/2023 (Vallée d'Imlil, Morocco)
445 - Eurasian roller, Coracias garrulus
446 - Short-toed treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla

 
Hadn't planned going out today but a combination of two very busy days at work and then waking up to far, far, better weather than forecast this morning changed my mind. I headed over to one of my regular haunts at Idle Valley NR and then up for a quick look at Idle Washlands a little further north, in the hope of picking up some summer migrants in the sun. And indeed I did - a great day for warblers as well as a bonus second Green-winged Teal of the year, and my first Grey Partridges at this site. Hobbies are always a joy and while trying to locate one cuckoo from its call another flew in over my head and perched on a fence in full view to spare me the bother. :)

Birds:
155. Sedge Warbler - Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
156. Eurasian Hobby - Falco subbuteo
157. Common Whitethroat - Curruca communis
158. Grey Partridge - Perdix perdix
159. Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus
160. Eurasian Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla
161. Garden Warbler - Sylvia borin
162. Eurasian Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Invertebrates:
15. Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines
16. Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus
17. Red-tailed Bumblebee - Bombus lapidarius
18. Green Tiger Beetle - Cicindela campestris

:)
 
I embarked on my second birdwatching trip of the year so far, this time to Banner Elk, a small mountain town located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in western North Carolina. This mountain range is a major pitstop for migrating songbirds, such as several species of warblers, finches, and vireos. It also hosts an array of salamanders and other amphibians that thrive in the region, some of which are endemic only to this specific area. The entirety of my trip lasted two days, including two-full days of birdwatching, as well as a night trip in search for the salamanders. Highlights of my trip include a Blackburnian Warbler, a beautiful species I have long been desiring to see, as well as Chestnut-Sided Warblers, a Sharp-Shinned Hawk, and a few native salamander species. It’s also worth mentioning that I have reached over 100 species of bird species seen in one Big Year, an accomplishment I am very proud of achieving, as I have never been able to do it in the past.


4/15/23

9. Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)


Mammals:

4/28/23

10. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
11. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)


4/29/23

12. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)


4/21/23

87. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)


Birds:

4/28/23

88. Golden-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
89. Blue-Headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)

90. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
91. Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
92. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
93. Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
94. American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)


4/29/23

95. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
96. Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
97. Chestnut-Sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)

98. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
99. Northern Rough-Winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
100. Black-And-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
101. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
102. Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
103. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
104. Black-Throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
105. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
106. Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
107. Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
108. Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula discors)
109. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)



I’m not counting them on the list, but I believe it is at least worth mentioning that I heard but (not saw) the following species:

Black-Throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
Red-Eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)


3/4/23

3. Red-Eared Slider (Trachemys scripta elegans)
4. River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna)
5. Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)


Reptiles:

4/28/23

6. Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)
7. Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)


4/6/23

Amphibians:

1. Squirrel Tree Frog (Dryophytes squirellus)




Amphibians:

4/28/23

2. Blue Ridge Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus orestes)
3. Blue Ridge Two-Lined Salamander (Eurycea wilderae)
4. Northern Gray-Cheeked Salamander (Plethodon montanus)
5. Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)
6. Spring Salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus)


Total:

Mammals: 12
Birds: 109
Reptiles: 7
Amphibians: 6
Invertebrates: 5
 
Birds
144. Satin Swiftlet
145. New Caledonian Cuckooshrike

146. Great Frigatebird
147. Common Waxbill
148. Australia Pied Oystercatcher
149. Double-banded Plover
150. Eastern Curlew
151. Bartailed Godwit
152. Caspian Tern
153. Crested Tern
154. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
155. Pied Currawong
156. White-browed Scrubwren
157. Fairy Martin

Mammals
4. Grey-headed Fruit Bat
5. Swamp Wallaby

Inverts
1. Rock-boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)

Fish
1. Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)
2. Honeycomb Grouper (Epinephelus merra)
3. Six-lined Soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus)
4. Ringtailed Cardinalfish (Ostorhinchus aureus)
5. Paddletail Snapper (Lutjanus gibbus)
6. Bluestriped Snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)
7. Bigtail Fusilier (Pterocaesio marri)
8. Goldrumped Emperor (Gnathodentex aureolineatus)
9. Redfin Emperor (Monotaxis heterodon)
10. Yellowstripe Goatfish (Mulloidichthys flavolineatus)
11. Dot-and-Dash Goatfish (Parupeneus barberinus)
12. Goldsaddle Goatfish (Parupeneus cyclostomus)
13. Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multfasciatus)
14. Thicklipped Goatfish (Parupeneus crassilabris)
15. Baroness Butterflyfish (Chaetodon baronessa)
16. Citron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon citronellus)
17. Saddled Butteflyfish (Chaetodon ephippium)
18. Yellowsnout Butterflyfish (Cheatodon flavirostris)
19. Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)
20. Blackback Butterflyfish (Chaetodon melannotus)
21. Bluestreak Butterflyfish (Chaetodon plebeius)
22. Lattice Buterflyfish (Chaetodon rafflesii)
23. Ovalspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon speculum)
24. Chevron Butterflyfish (Chaetodon trifascialis)
25. Teardrop Butterflyfish (Chaetodon unimaculatus)
26. Bicolor Angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
27. Lemonpeel Angelfish (Centropyge flavissima)
28. Spotted Hawkfish (Cirrhitichthys oxycephalus)
29. Freckled Hawkfish (Paracirrhites forsteri)
30. Scissortail Sergeant (Abudefduf sexfasciatus)
31. Indo-pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
32. Dusky Clownfish (Amphiprion melanotus)
33. Blue-green Chromis (Chromis viridis)
34. South Seas Devil (Chrysiptera taupou)
35. Humbug (Dascyllus aruensis)
36. Threespot Humbug (Dascyllus trimaculatus)
37. Dick's Damselfish (Plectroglyphididon dickii)
38. Whiteband Damelfish (Plectroglyphididon leucozonus)
39. Neon Damsel (Pomacentrus coelestis)
40. Lemon Damsel (Pomacentrus moluccensis)
41. Blue Damsel (Pomacentrus pavo)
42. Birdnose Wrasse (Gomphosus varius)
43. Checkerboard Wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus)
44. Threespot Wrasse (Halichoeres trimaculatus)
45. Redshouldered Wrasse (Stethojulis bandanensis)
46. Sixbar Wrasse (Thalassoma hardwicke)
47. Blackbar Wrasse (Thalassoma nigrofasciatum)
48. Whitespot Parrotfish (Scarus forsteni)
49. Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)
50. Convict Surgeonfish (Acanthurus triostegus)
51. Striped Bristletooth (Ctenochaetus striatus)
52. Brushtail Tang (Zebrasoma scopus)
53. Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma veliferum)
54. Lagoon Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)
55. Scythe Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa)
56. Blackspotted Puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus)
57. Yellowtail Emperor (Lethrinus atkinsoni)
58. Speckled Damselfish (Pomacentrus bankanensis)
59. Longnosed Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris)
60. Weedy Surge Wrasse (Halichoeres margaritaceus)

:p

Hix

Birds
158. Yellow-faced Honeyeater
159. White-naped Honeyeater
160. Brown-headed Honeyeater
161. Grey Currawong
162. Gang-Gang Cockatoo
163. Red Wattlebird
164. Scarlet Robin
165. Wedgetail Eagle
166. Australian Hobby
167. Diamond Firetail
168. Double-barred Finch
169. Yellow-billed Spoonbill
170. Horsfield's Bronze Cuckoo
171. Blue-faced Honeyeater
172. Little Raven
173. Black-shouldered Kite
174. Whistling Kite
175. Brown Honeyeater
176. Common Blackbird
177. Australian Owlet-Nightjar
178. Barn Owl
179. Zebra Finch
180. Common Bronzewing
181. Cattle Egret

Mammals
6. Platypus
7. Australian Water Rat
8. Red-necked Wallaby
9. Red Fox

Reptiles
4. Central Bearded Dragon

:p

Hix
 
Mammals
January
1. Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
2. Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)
3. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
4. Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
5. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
April
6. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
7. Groundhog (Marmota monax)

Birds
January
1. Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
2. Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
3. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
4. Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus)
5. Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
6. Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)
7. Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
8. European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
9. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
10. Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
11. Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
12. Eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
13. Red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
14. American tree sparrow (Spizelloides arborea)
15. Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
16. American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
17. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
18. Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
19. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
20. Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
21. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
22. Hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
23. Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
24. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
25. Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis)
26. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
27. Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
28. Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
29. American robin (Turdus migratorius)
30. Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
31. Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
32. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
33. Barred owl (Strix varia)
February
34. Common merganser (Mergus merganser)
35. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
36. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
37. Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
38. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
39. Red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
40. Green-winged teal (Anas crecca)
41. Rock dove (Columba livia)
42. Snow goose (Anser caerulescens)
43. Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
44. White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
45. Harris’s sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
46. Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)
47. Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)
48. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
49. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
50. Redhead (Aythya americana)
51. Herring gull (Larus argentatus)
52. Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
53. Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
54. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
55. Double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
56. Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
57. Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius)
58. Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
59. Greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
60. Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus)
61. Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
62. American pipit (Anthus rubescens)
63. Common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
March
64. Northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
65. American coot (Fulica americana)
66. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
67. Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
68. Common loon (Gavia immer)
69. Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
70. Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
71. Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
72. Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
73. Ross’s goose (Anser rossii)
74. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
75. Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
76. American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
77. White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
78. Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
79. Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
April
80. Baird’s sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
81. Bonaparte’s gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
82. Blue-winged teal (Spatula discors)
83. Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
84. Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
85. Lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
86. Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
87. Great egret (Ardea alba)
88. Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)
89. Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata)
90. Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
91. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
92. Northern parula (Setophaga americana)
93. Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
94. American avocet (Recurvirostra americana)
95. Ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
96. Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronata)
97. Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
98. Forster’s tern (Sterna forsteri)
99. Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
100. Blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
101. Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
102. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
103. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Invertebrates
January
1. Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)
2. Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
February
3. Western honeybee (Apis mellifera)
4. American winter ant (Prenolepis imparis)
5. Zora pumila
March
6. Garden ghost spider (Hibana gracilis)
April
7. Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)
8. American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
9. Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)
10. Pondmussel (Sagittunio subrostratus)
11. Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
12. Cabbage white (Pieris rapae)
13. Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
14. Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
15. Zebra swallowtail (Eurytides marcellus)
16. Two-lined leatherwing (Atalantycha bilineata)
17. Enoclerus nigripes

Herps
March
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
2. Boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)
3. Spring peeper (Pseudacris crucifer)
April
4. Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)
5. Eastern racer (Coluber constrictor)
6. Eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
7. Dekay’s brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
8. Common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
9. American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
10. Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi)
11. American toad (Anaxyrus americana)

Fish
March
1. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)
April
2. Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)
3. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)
4. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Birds
104. Least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
105. Semipalmated sandpiper (Calidris pusilla)
106. Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula)
107. Warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus)
108. Common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
109. Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea)
110. Summer tanager (Piranga rubra)

Invertebrates
18. Silver-spotted skipper (Epargyreus clarus)
19. Tennessee thread-waisted ant (Aphaenogaster tennesseensis)
20. Eastern comma (Polygonia comma)
21. Narrow-headed marsh fly (Helophilus fasciatus)

Herps
12. Plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi)
13. Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
14. Common box turtle (Terrapene carolina)
 
Today I started good the day with a kestrel flying over my parent's garden. There are less birds and less insects in it, but today while watering the plants I molested two geometrid moths that resulted to be new for the year;

INVERTEBRATES:

145. Camptogramma bilineata (a very yellow specimen)
146. Idaea laevigata


Two more insects from yesterday in my parents garden:

INVERTEBRATES:

147. Thaumatomyia notata
148. Sceliphron curvatum
 
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As the weather cools here, the changes in season has brought in more birds especially - lots of the smaller bush birds from the southern states and even several birds from out west as it dries gradually. My first Noisy Pitta [My First Wild Pitta! - ZooChat], Red-necked Avocets [Red-necked Avocet - ZooChat] and a pair of Red-capped Robins [Red-capped Robin - ZooChat] that are local celebrities among Brisbane birders now have been the absolute highlights. I tried a few times (not covered in my wildlife thread) for Australian Crake at the wetlands near the airport but didn't get lucky and I was meant to chase Musk Duck at another nearby site today but the weather had other ideas. Also, the migratory waders seem to be delaying their departure to the north allowing me to play catchup with several species. It had been an embarrassingly long time since I had seen a wild Green Tree Frog but fortunately there is a 'frog hotel' at Boondall Wetland's entrance that I've since learnt reliably has at least a few of them tucked inside. Inverts are gradually getting quieter as the butterfly populations die down but there have been been a few nice odds and ends.

Mammals
09) Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Macropus giganteus
10) Common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus

Birds
114) Bar-tailed Godwit, Limosa lapponica
115) Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
116) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, Calidris acuminata

117) Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus
118) Pied Stilt, Himantopus leucocephalus
119) Royal Spoonbill, Platalea regia
120) Eastern Osprey, Pandion cristatus
121) White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Haliaeetus leucogaster
122) Pheasant Coucal, Centropus phasianinus
123) Hardhead, Aythya australis
124) Australasian Darter, Anhinga novaehollandiae
125) Pale-vented Bush-hen, Amaurornis moluccana
126) Scarlet Honeyeater, Myzomela sanguinolenta
127) White-headed Pigeon, Columba leucomela
128) Topknot Pigeon, Lopholaimus antarcticus
129) Noisy Pitta, Pitta versicolor
130) Varied Triller, Lalage leucomela
131) Red-capped Robin, Petroica goodenovii
132) Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra
133) Brown Goshawk, Accipiter fasciatus
134) Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Lonchura castaneothorax
135) Brahminy Kite, Haliastur indus
136) Comb-crested Jacana, Irediparra gallinacea
137) Grey-crowned Babbler, Pomatostomus temporalis
138) Red-necked Stint, Calidris ruficollis
139) Red-kneed Dotterel, Erythrogonys cinctus
140) Red-necked Avocet, Recurvirostra novaehollandiae

141) Chestnut Teal, Anas castanea
142) Tawny Frogmouth, Podargus strigoides
143) Varied Sittella, Daphoenositta chrysoptera
144) Yellow-faced Honeyeater, Lichenostomus chrysops
145) Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo, Zanda funerea

Herptiles
17) Green Tree Frog, Litoria caerulea

Fish
07) River Garfish, Hyporhamphus regularis

08) Banded Toadfish, Marilyna pleurosticta

Invertebrates
157) Yellow-headed Flower Wasp, Scolia verticalis

158) Scarlet Tree-spined Mangrove Crab, Neosarmatium trispinosum
159) Red-thighed Polyrhachis, Polyrhachis rufifemur
160) Haswell's Crab, Helograpsus haswellianus

161) Brown Flower Beetle, Glycyphana stolata
162) Striped Ladybird, Micraspis frenata
163) Green and Black Planthopper, Desudaba psittacus
164) Red and Blue Beetle, Dicranolaius bellulus
165) Small Round Orbweaver, Araneus rotundulus
Another update from me. 2023 is shaping up to be my most productive year with wildlife so far with a few trips in the works. I’ve picked up a few bird lifers; the cuckoo-shrike was long overdue and the harrier [Spotted Harrier - ZooChat] and grassbird reflective of the strong shift in seasonal movements locally. A welcome frog lifer as well with an assortment of invertebrates as it quiets down for winter with a few of the last skippers and blues. I was also very happy that my ‘Titan Stick-Insect’ which I had left off the list earlier in the year was confirmed to be a very large Margin-winged Stick-Insect by the Queensland Museum.

Birds
146) Azure Kingfisher Alcedo azurea
147) White-bellied Cuckoo-shrike Coracina papuensis
148) White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus
149) Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
150) Australian Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus australis
151) Spotted Harrier Circus assimilis
152) Painted Buttonquail Turnix varius
153) Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
154) Australian Pipit Anthus novaeseelandiae
155) Golden-headed Cisticola Cisticola exilis
156) Fan-tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis flabelliformis
157) Black-fronted Dotterel Elseyornis melanops
158) Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
159) Rose Robin Petroica rosea
160) Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
161) Mistletoebird Dicaeum hirundinaceum
162) Little Grassbird Poodytes gramineus

Herptiles
18) Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog Litoria fallax
19) Red-bellied Black Snake Pseudechis porphyriacus
20) Striped Marsh Frog Limnodynastes peronii

Fish
09) Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki

Invertebrates
166) Speckled Line-Blue, Catopyrops florinda
167) Donovan's Day Moth, Cruria donowani
168) Plumbago Blue Leptotes plinius
169) Black-banded Hoverfly Episyrphus viridaureus
170) Plague Solider Beetle Chauliognathus lugubris
171) Native Drone Fly Eristalinus punctulatus
172) Poppiocapsidea biseratense [plant bug]
173) Short-tailed Line-Blue Prosotas felderi
174) Red-shouldered Leaf Beetle Monolepta australis
175) Pale-orange Darter Telicota colon

176) Australian Grapevine Moth Phalaenoides glycinae
177) Lebia brisbanensis [ground beetle]
178) Margin-winged Stick Insect Ctenomorpha marginipennis
 
Since getting back from the trip, the birding here in Wichita has been pretty good.

128 Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica
129 Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa
130 Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
131 American Pipit Anthus rubescens
132 Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
133 Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
134 Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
135 Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus
136 Willet Tringa semipalmata
137 Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri
138 Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
139 Piping Plover Charadrius melodus
140 Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
141 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
142 Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

143 Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
144 Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus
145 Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
146 House Wren Troglodytes aedon
147 Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
148 Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus
149 Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata
150 Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
151 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
152 Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus
153 Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla
154 Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor
155 Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
156 Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
157 Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
158 Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
159 Great Egret Ardea alba
 
Birds
154. Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
155. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
156. Common Tern Sterna hirundo
157. Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
158. Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Insane vagrant seen in Milwaukee yesterday!!!!!!!!!:

Birds
159. Flame-colored Tanager Piranga bidentata


This is a Central American species with only a handful of US records - all previous records were from far southern Arizona and Texas. And now one from Wisconsin! Crazy!
 
4/27/23
Birds:
46. Yellow-rumped warbler Setophaga coronata

Mammals:
9. Groundhog Marmota monax

Herptiles:
4. Common snapping turtle Chelydra serpentina
5. Garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis

Total Species: 60
Birds: 46
Mammals: 9
Herptiles: 5
Haven't been able to go birding the past few days due to finals this week but I still managed to add one bird to the list. There's a good chance I've already seen them multiple times but I'm still learning my sparrows.

4/30/23
Birds:
47. Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina

Total Species: 61
Birds: 47
Mammals: 9
Herptiles: 5
 
4/29/23

95. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
96. Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
97. Chestnut-Sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica)

98. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
99. Northern Rough-Winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
100. Black-And-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
101. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
102. Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis)
103. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
104. Black-Throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)
105. Sharp-Shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)
106. Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)
107. Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
108. Blue-Winged Teal (Spatula discors)
109. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)


5/1/23


110. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)


Total:

Mammals: 12
Birds: 110
Reptiles: 7
Amphibians: 6
Invertebrates: 5
 
Didn't really birdwatch anything this weekend,but I still saw some birds.

100 Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
101 Willow warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
Had a nice day at my local patch and new birds are popping upp each day.The target species for me and my friend were the Savi's warbler that had been reported.Unfortunately we didn't get to se the bird,but we heard the classic "BRRRRRRR" in the reeds.Dipping the warbler was not that big of a letdown since we had several other nice observations.Highligths of the day was a pair of Spotted redshank's,and a fox carrying a cracass of a female goshawk,which I assume was killed by a powerline accident.
102 Spotted redshank (Tringa erythropus)
103 Wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
104 Northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
105 Common redshank (Tringa totanus)
106 European pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
107 Eurasian blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
 
169. Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
3. Common Side-blotched Lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Another weekend desert trip, this time to Nevada. With the temps going up into the 90's F, I more than doubled my reptile count for the year - all of which were lifers I believe. 2 lifers among the 7 birds I picked up; unfortunately Crissal Thrasher eluded me yet again...

Birds
170. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
171. Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
172. Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)
173. Lucy's Warbler (Leiothlypis lucyiae)
174. Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura)
175. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
176. Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

Reptiles
4. Long-nosed Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii)
5. Western Whiptail (Aspidoscelis tigris)
6. Yellow-backed Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus uniformis)
7. Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)


Other highlights included the year's first good look at a Great Horned Owl; more Burrowing Owls; and a surprising number of Belted Kingfishers.
Misses: A frog - probably a Bullfrog - by a fraction of a second, and heard Yellow-breasted Chats but was unable to find them. Plenty of grackles though! So many grackles...
 
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