Zoochat Big Year 2023

[Kakapo]

I went today to a walk with my boyfriend in the very good weather we are having (24º C) through a park and pine plantations. These zones are usually devoided of life except the most versatile ones. However I saw some nice species including some new for this year. In the pine plantation there was a flock of goldfinches, and I heard the first serin of the year, but didn't saw it. At the giant reeds of the river I saw a male blackcap and first heard, and after seen, a Cetti's warbler moving and drinking water. Mallards were found both in the river and in park fountains. Magpies, jackdaws, the three usual pigeon/dove species, sparrows, feral cats and feral muscovy ducks. I saw two male and one female black redstarts, one of the males pursued/followed by a chiffchaff. The best of the day was a grey wagtail, much rarer than the ever-present white wagtails. Also first mistletoe thrush of the year, from very close, these birds always looks like mechanic animatronics to me due to their long pauses in movement and tameness. Pollinator insects are increasing also, a hummingbird hawk moth was sucking some urban flower beds and I saw two carpenter bees, one flying throug an oleander bush and another pollinating rosemary, also first honeybee and two more bee species, one of them a male Eucera that sadly I cannot identify as it was not photographed (however, due to being big and bulky, the habitat, the very early flight season and the colours, it's quite possible to be Eucera nigrilabris) that was pollinating field marigolds. I lifted the scarce and small stones of the zone and found an ant nest, some snails, two baby centipedes (impossible to ID even as adults), and under a bark flock of a plane tree, a pseudoscorpion. Also, in the border of the pine forest I was happy to discover a plenty population of wild daffodils in full bloom, Narcissus assoanus.

BIRDS:
27. Common serin (Serinus serinus)
28. Mistletoe thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
29. Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
30. Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata)

INVERTEBRATES;
25. Xylocopa violacea
26. Crematogaster auberti
27. Chelifer cancroides
28. Apis mellifera
29. Osmia cornuta

Today I saw no less than four white storks soaring over me in the city in different moments of the day. A couple of them I saw thanks to a magpie that was very loudly showing its disgust for seeing a large bird flying over it. A very black male blackbird visited my garden. But the highlight is seeing the first two V of cranes migrating high in the sky over the city, as every year. I absolutely love the sound.

BIRDS:
31. Common crane (Grus grus)

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
79. Pine Siskin Spinus pinus
80. Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia

Birds
81. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
82. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
83. Northern Pintail Anas acuta
84. Mute Swan Cygnus olor
85. Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius

 

[MRJ]

Kisoro and Mgahinga National Park, Uganda

On route

492. Variable sunbird Cinnyris venustus

Kisoro

493. White-collared oliveback Nesocharis ansorgeel
494. Grey-capped warbler Eminia lepida

Mgahinga National Park

Mammals

77. Golden monkey Cercopithecus kandti

Birds

495. Rwenzori double-collared sunbird Cinnyris stuhlmanni
496. Red-faced woodland warbler Phylloscopus laetus
497. White-starred robin Pogonocichla stellata

Reptiles

11. Rwenzori three-horned chameleon Trioceros johnstoni

 

[Giant Eland]

Ruhiga, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Uganda

Mammals

74. Carruthers mountain squirrel Funisciurus carruthersi
75. Geoffroy's horseshoe bat Rhinolophus clivosus
76. Ruwenzori horseshoe bat Rhinolophus ruwenzorii

Wow, quite the mammal haul from Uganda!! Well done!

Our guides had originally told us all the squirrels we saw in Ruhiga were Carruthers, but after agonizing over the photos back home I realized they were all Ruwenzori sun squirrels (which seems like would also be new for you?) Did you manage any photos I could look at?

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
81. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
82. Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
83. Northern Pintail Anas acuta
84. Mute Swan Cygnus olor
85. Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius

Birds
86. Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
87. Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris

 

[ThylacineAlive]

Short update, catching up on some birds seen over the past week or so, including one long-awaited lifer:

126) Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus
127) Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor

I also went properly birding today as well, taking my spotting scope out for a second spin at my usual coastal spot, Hammonasset Beach State Park. An unexpected heavy fog rolled in, which made seabird watching more or less impossible at one point. Despite this, as the fog cleared up in the afternoon I managed to get excellent views of roughly a dozen Horned Grebes and a proper look at my second wild Razorbill! I was hoping to mop up some of the winter residents I missed last time as well, but it does seem as though the longspurs and buntings have moved on for the season. The vagrant Townsend's Solitaire that first turned up back in November/December continues to be spotted occasionally, but on a much less frequent basis. I have had no luck since the start of the New Year with the bird. I did manage to finally spot the resident bittern at least.

128) American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus

~Thylo

A small blizzard blew through yesterday, which means all bets are off for what may show up! I had heard about a mixed flock of geese in the southwest corner of the State with some white geese mixed in. While there, another birder tipped me off about a rare gull nearby. While there, three other birders had just come from a nearby seawall where a couple other gull species had been seen. It was on my way home, so I stopped by when I was ready. Unfortunately, by that point the Glaucous Gull that had been present had disappeared, however the Iceland Gulls were still around.

129) Ross's Goose Anser rossii
130) Snow Goose Anser caerulescens
131) Gadwall Mareca strepera
132) Common (Kamchatka) Gull Larus canus kamtschatschensis
133) Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides

Following my adventures near the shoreline, I made an impromptu stop at a state park I used to frequent. Managed to pick up a few woodland birds I'd been lacking.

134) Hairy Woodpecker Leuconotopicus villosus
135) Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
136) White-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis

~Thylo

 

[ifesbob]

(black vulture and frigate bird were 35 and 36)
January 11th, 2023
37. Lesser violetear Colibri cyanotus
38. Green-crowned brilliant Heliodoxa jacula
39. Stripe-tailed hummingbird Eupherusa eximia
40. Purple-throated mountaingem Lampornis calolaemus
41. Magenta-throated woodstar Philodice bryantae

(coppery-headed emerald and violet saberwing was also there but I'd already counted it)

Southern Wisconsin, USA

February 26th, 2023
42. Downy woodpecker Dryobates pubescens

February 27th, 2023
43. Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

 

[Junklekitteb]

Seen Birds
84. Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
85. Grey Francolin Francolinus pondicerianus
86. Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica

Mammals
6. Indian Hare Lepus nigricollis

My heard-only bird count is down to 2.
Scouted out a Palasha, but didn’t see anything interesting.

Birds
87. Indian Scops Owl Otus bakkamoena
88. Lesser Goldenback Dinopium benghalense

 

[Platypusboy]

Birds

21. Coal tit, Periparus ater 28/2/23

 

[Coelacanth18]

Birds
126. Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
127. California Gull (Larus californicus)
128. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
129. Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
130. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
131. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
132. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

End of February update. Just a couple incidental sightings to add:

133. Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli)
134. Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)

Frustratingly I've heard Cedar Waxwings a couple more times since my New Year's outing, but still have yet to lay eyes on them. Also seen a couple of lizards already this year, but they ducked into brush too fast for me to get an ID.

 

[Kakapo]

Today I saw no less than four white storks soaring over me in the city in different moments of the day. A couple of them I saw thanks to a magpie that was very loudly showing its disgust for seeing a large bird flying over it. A very black male blackbird visited my garden. But the highlight is seeing the first two V of cranes migrating high in the sky over the city, as every year. I absolutely love the sound.

BIRDS:
31. Common crane (Grus grus)

Today coming back to work a silhouette passed close over me with long tail, very ponted wings and very quick wing beats. First kestrel of the year!

BIRDS:
32. Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)

 

[boof]

2/3/2023
160. Splendid fairywren

 

[MRJ]

Wow, quite the mammal haul from Uganda!! Well done!

Our guides had originally told us all the squirrels we saw in Ruhiga were Carruthers, but after agonizing over the photos back home I realized they were all Ruwenzori sun squirrels (which seems like would also be new for you?) Did you manage any photos I could look at?

It didn't look like the sun squirrels we had seen. However, it was ID'd by Gordon the local bird guide, and Sam had left us by then. I think I have photos but I have not looked at my camera photos yet at all. So if I do I'll go back and check them. Thanks.

 

[MRJ]

Lake Mburo National Park; Uganda

On route

497. White-backed duck Thalassornis leuconotus
498. Black coucal Centropus grillii
499. Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata
500. Least honeyguide Indicator exilis
501. European bee-eater Merops apiaster
502. Lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus
503. Doherty's bush shrike Telophorus dohertyi
504. White-naped raven Corvus albicollis
505. Cinnamon bracket warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus
506. Mountain yellow warbler Iduna similis
507. Abyssinian ground-thrush Geokichla plaggiae

Lake Mburo National Park

Mammals

78. Leopard Panthera pardus
79. Dwarf mongoose Helogale parvula
80. Impala Aepyceros melampus

Birds

508. African finfoot Podica senegalensis
509. Bare-faced go-away bird Crinifer personatus
510. Rufous heron Ardeola rufiventris
511. Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
512. Crowned lapwing Vanellus coronatus
513. Verreaux's eagle-owl Bubo lacteus
514. Brubru Nilaus afer
515, Isabelline shrike Lanius isabellinus
516, Southern red bishop Euplectes orix
517. Green-winged pytilia Pytilia melba
518. White-winged tit Melaniparus leucomelas
519. Tabora cisticola Cisticola angusticauda
520. Trilling cisticola Cisticola woosnami
521. Mosque swallow Cecropis senegalensis
522. Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Reptiles

12. Black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis
13. Central African rock python Python sebae

 

[MRJ]

Ugandan bird roundup.

Seen on road back to Entebbe

523. Hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monarchus

First seen at Moroto

524. Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
525. Rattling cisticola Cisticola chiniana

First seen at Murchison Falls National Park

526. African pygmy kingfisher Ispidina picta
527. Angolan swallow Hirundo angolensis

First seen at Queen Elizabeth National Park

528, Yellow-billed stork Mycteria ibis
529, Western great egret Ardea alba

Still co come, some invertebrates.

 

[Hix]

Birds
87. Spotted Dove
88. Pacific Koel
89. Dollarbird
90. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
91. Musk Lorikeet
92. Satin Bowerbird
93. Superb Fairy Wren
94. Bell Miner
95. New Holland Honeyeater
96. Yellow Thornbill
97. Dusky Woodswallow
98. Red-whiskered Bulbul
99. Silvereye
100. Red-browed Finch
101. European Goldfinch
102. Brown Thornbill
103. Wonga Pigeon
104. Australasian Darter
105. Little Black Cormorant
106. Royal Spoonbill
107. Shining Bronze Cuckoo
108. Fan-tailed Cuckoo
109. Painted Button-quail
110. Crimson Rosella
111. White-throated Treecreeper
112. Variegated Fairy-wren
113. Eastern Spinebill
114. Little Wattlebird
115. White-eared Honeyeater
116. Noisy Friarbird
117. Spotted Pardalote
118. Eastern Whipbird
119. Golden Whistler
120. Grey Fantail
121. Eastern Yellow Robin
122. Chestnut Teal
123. Golden-headed Cisticola

Reptiles
1. Red-bellied Black Snake
2. Lace Monitor



Hix

Birds
124. Kagu
125. Horned Parrot
126. New Caledonian Parakeet
127. New Caledonian (Goliath) Imperial Pigeon
128. Streaked Fantail
129. Fan-tailed Gerygone
130. New Caledonian Whistler
131. New Caledonian Ccrow
132. Long-tailed Triller
133. Barred Honeyeater
134. Dark-Brown Honeyeater
135. Red-faced Parrotfinch
136. Yellow-bellied Flyrobin
137. New Caledonian Myzomela
138. Melanesian Flycatcher
139. New Caledonian Goshawk
140. Green-back White-eye
141. Small Lifou White-eye
142. Lesser Frigatebird
143. Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Reptiles
3. Green Turtle



Hix

 

[MRJ]

Birds
124. Kagu
125. Horned Parrot
126. New Caledonian Parakeet
127. New Caledonian (Goliath) Imperial Pigeon
128. Streaked Fantail
129. Fan-tailed Gerygone
130. New Caledonian Whistler
131. New Caledonian Ccrow
132. Long-tailed Triller
133. Barred Honeyeater
134. Dark-Brown Honeyeater
135. Red-faced Parrotfinch
136. Yellow-bellied Flyrobin
137. New Caledonian Myzomela
138. Melanesian Flycatcher
139. New Caledonian Goshawk
140. Green-back White-eye
141. Small Lifou White-eye
142. Lesser Frigatebird
143. Wedge-tailed Shearwater

Reptiles
3. Green Turtle



Hix

Wow, New Caledonia! Tell more, where did you stay, how did you get around, how hard/easy was it?

 

[MRJ]

Ugandan bird roundup.

Seen on road back to Entebbe

523. Hooded vulture Necrosyrtes monarchus

First seen at Moroto

524. Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
525. Rattling cisticola Cisticola chiniana

First seen at Murchison Falls National Park

526. African pygmy kingfisher Ispidina picta
527. Angolan swallow Hirundo angolensis

First seen at Queen Elizabeth National Park

528, Yellow-billed stork Mycteria ibis
529, Western great egret Ardea alba

Still co come, some invertebrates.

Seen at Queen Elizabeth National Park

530. Kittlitz's plover Charadrius pecuarius

 

[MRJ]

Lake Mburo National Park; Uganda

On route

497. White-backed duck Thalassornis leuconotus
498. Black coucal Centropus grillii
499. Red-knobbed coot Fulica cristata
500. Least honeyguide Indicator exilis
501. European bee-eater Merops apiaster
502. Lilac-breasted roller Coracias caudatus
503. Doherty's bush shrike Telophorus dohertyi
504. White-naped raven Corvus albicollis
505. Cinnamon bracket warbler Bradypterus cinnamomeus
506. Mountain yellow warbler Iduna similis
507. Abyssinian ground-thrush Geokichla plaggiae

Lake Mburo National Park

Mammals

78. Leopard Panthera pardus
79. Dwarf mongoose Helogale parvula
80. Impala Aepyceros melampus

Birds

508. African finfoot Podica senegalensis
509. Bare-faced go-away bird Crinifer personatus
510. Rufous heron Ardeola rufiventris
511. Glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus
512. Crowned lapwing Vanellus coronatus
513. Verreaux's eagle-owl Bubo lacteus
514. Brubru Nilaus afer
515, Isabelline shrike Lanius isabellinus
516, Southern red bishop Euplectes orix
517. Green-winged pytilia Pytilia melba
518. White-winged tit Melaniparus leucomelas
519. Tabora cisticola Cisticola angusticauda
520. Trilling cisticola Cisticola woosnami
521. Mosque swallow Cecropis senegalensis
522. Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata

Reptiles

12. Black mamba Dendroaspis polylepis
13. Central African rock python Python sebae

531. Red-faced barbet Lybius rubrifacies
532. Black-collard barbet Lybis torquatus

 

[MRJ]

On road to Kidepo Valley NP

533, White-crested helmet-shrike Prionops plumatus