Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
24. Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus 29/3/23
24. Common wood-pigeon, Columba palumbus 29/3/23
Zoochat Big Year 2023
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
Normally by this time of year I'm watching butterflies and the first big wave of spring migrants arriving. However it continues to be one of the coldest and wettest winters in a long time, and this storm of the last two days triggered a fallout of waterbirds moving north and another small influx of mountain birds down to lower elevations. The result being watching the neighborhood pond gave a large addition of birds to the list, including several I was not expecting. Swallows remain the only spring migrants to be pushing forwards, along with a few Rufous hummers which I haven't seen yet. The wood-warblers, orioles, and flycatchers normally arriving by now are nowhere to be seen, instead I've got north-bound waterfowl forced down by storms and wandering mountain finches...
Mammals:
6. Beechy Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beechyi)
Birds:
80. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
81. Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata)
82. Cassin’s Finch (Haemohorus cassini)
83. Lewis’ Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
84. Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
85. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
86. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
87. Common Loon (Gavia immer)
88. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
89. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripinnis)
90. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
6-90-5-1-0-7
Impossible not to go and see a ring ouzel at Walthamstow Wetlands this afternoon at lunch, although very wet.
Birds
114. Ring ouzel
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Mammals
4. Red fox, Vulpes vulpes 30/3/23
4. Red fox, Vulpes vulpes 30/3/23
ifesbob
Well-Known Member
I have a handful of updates:
March 5th, 2023
44. Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis)
March 6th, 2023
45. sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis)
March 8th, 2023
46. Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
March 12th, 2023
Lincoln Park Zoo
47. mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
48. hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Mammals:
12. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
March 14th, 2023
Near Brookfield Zoo
49. American robin (Turdus migratorius)
March 18th, 2023
Smithsonian National Zoo
50. European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
March 19th, 2023
Just outside Beaver, Pennsylvania, running across the road.
13. American beaver (Castor canadensis)
March 26th, 2023
51. mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
March 29th, 2023
14. Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
15. Eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
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If I didn't specify location on the date, it's in southern Wisconsin, where I live.
Kakapo
Well-Known Member
I have nice sights today. In first place, inside my house I've found two thick larvae of Melyris oblonga, one in the wall and the other in my sofa. Went to my parents garden, saw active hummingbird hawk moth and carpenter bees. While watering the plants I've molested two moths and both resulted to be new for the year. Even better, one of my favourite hoverflies were in spring territorial mood, sunbathing on leaves and taking off every time another insect passed nearby, pursuing it briefly to return to sunbathing at another spot. A small Pemphredon wasp also molested the hoverfly so it had to take off. Finally a minuscle male of the same species was also spotted in the zone and for some instances the bigger one went mad, both hoverflies flying around each other in quick wriggles, but no "happy end" happened and each one went its way.
Arriving to work place a small weevil of a common species, but new for the year, was at the entry. Coming back to work place, at night, I spotted a wall gecko, a bat (lit by the street lights, otherwise I would have been unable to see) and the best: the scops owl that every year comes to the very same park and sings every night, have come here finally and I heard it as I will do from now every night if I work until night.
BIRDS:
44. Eurasian scops owl (Otus scops)
INVERTEBRATES:
69. Euchromius rayatellus
70. Hadula trifolii
71. Myathropa florea
72. Holotrichapion pisi
For the moths ID I'm only 97-99% sure of specific identification. There are many Euchromius species, but rayatellus is the only one I've found in my parents garden and I see it identical to the photo of today's individual. About Hadula, I found other species than trifolii have different appareance, but I don't know what other Iberian species have the genus.
Attachments
I'm staying at Mission Beach but last night went up to the Tablelands to chase two mammals I've missed on previous trips, the striped possum and Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo. I missed the tree-kangaroo but had great views of a striped possum.
We stayed overnight at Chambers Wildlife Lodge which is located in the patch of rainforest that surrounds Lake Eacham. They has a night wildlife viewing platform at which striped possums often make an appearance. I started watching about 6.45pm, but the honey that is smeared over a couple of trees was not applied till 7.20pm. A Kreft's glider appeared around 7.30pm, the first of four that arrived during the evening.
About 8.30pm the striped possum appeared and climbed down the tree to the honey. It was far larger than I thought it would be. I presumed it would be about the size of a Leadbeaters possum or sugar glider, but it was larger that a yellow-bellied glider, and stunningly marked. As it climbed down the tree it did something I had never seen a possum or glider do before, It stuck it's tail up vertically, much like a skunk, Then it twirled it's extended tail round in circles.
After it had been feeding for about five minutes, a long-nosed bandicoot appeared and scared it and it climbed about 6 metres up the tree. Waiting for the bandicoot to disappear it climbed down again. The bandicoot turned up again and again it climbed up the tree. This happened a third time after which it disappeared for good. Interesting behavior given the bandicoot was on the ground and can't climb, and the possum was two metres up the tree.
Following another appearance from a Kreft's glider and watching the bandicoot for a while, I went back to the cabin at about 9.30pm. Next morning I birded the grounds, seeing some very nice rainforest species, and picked up a few more birds on the way back to Mission Beach.
Mammals
88. Northern long-nosed bandicoot Perameles pallescens
89. Striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata
90. Kreft's glider Petaurus notatus
91. Red-legged pademelon Thylogale stigmatica
Birds
596. Hardhead Aythya australis
597. Australian brushturkey Alectura lathami
598. Wompoo pigeon Ptilinopus magnificus
599. Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
600. Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita
601. Spotted catbird Ailuroedus maculosus
602. Lewin's catbird Meliphaga lewinii
603. Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii
604. Eastern whipbird Psophodes olivaceus
605. Australasian figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
606. Spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
607. Northern fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
608. Satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca
609. Victoria's riflebird Lophorina victoriae
610. Grey-headed robin Heteromyias cinereifrons
We stayed overnight at Chambers Wildlife Lodge which is located in the patch of rainforest that surrounds Lake Eacham. They has a night wildlife viewing platform at which striped possums often make an appearance. I started watching about 6.45pm, but the honey that is smeared over a couple of trees was not applied till 7.20pm. A Kreft's glider appeared around 7.30pm, the first of four that arrived during the evening.
About 8.30pm the striped possum appeared and climbed down the tree to the honey. It was far larger than I thought it would be. I presumed it would be about the size of a Leadbeaters possum or sugar glider, but it was larger that a yellow-bellied glider, and stunningly marked. As it climbed down the tree it did something I had never seen a possum or glider do before, It stuck it's tail up vertically, much like a skunk, Then it twirled it's extended tail round in circles.
After it had been feeding for about five minutes, a long-nosed bandicoot appeared and scared it and it climbed about 6 metres up the tree. Waiting for the bandicoot to disappear it climbed down again. The bandicoot turned up again and again it climbed up the tree. This happened a third time after which it disappeared for good. Interesting behavior given the bandicoot was on the ground and can't climb, and the possum was two metres up the tree.
Following another appearance from a Kreft's glider and watching the bandicoot for a while, I went back to the cabin at about 9.30pm. Next morning I birded the grounds, seeing some very nice rainforest species, and picked up a few more birds on the way back to Mission Beach.
Mammals
88. Northern long-nosed bandicoot Perameles pallescens
89. Striped possum Dactylopsila trivirgata
90. Kreft's glider Petaurus notatus
91. Red-legged pademelon Thylogale stigmatica
Birds
596. Hardhead Aythya australis
597. Australian brushturkey Alectura lathami
598. Wompoo pigeon Ptilinopus magnificus
599. Masked lapwing Vanellus miles
600. Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita
601. Spotted catbird Ailuroedus maculosus
602. Lewin's catbird Meliphaga lewinii
603. Chowchilla Orthonyx spaldingii
604. Eastern whipbird Psophodes olivaceus
605. Australasian figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
606. Spangled drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
607. Northern fantail Rhipidura rufiventris
608. Satin flycatcher Myiagra cyanoleuca
609. Victoria's riflebird Lophorina victoriae
610. Grey-headed robin Heteromyias cinereifrons
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Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
25. Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs 31/3/23
A very unexpected early arrival, usually chaffinches don’t arrive in Finland until at least mid April.
25. Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs 31/3/23
A very unexpected early arrival, usually chaffinches don’t arrive in Finland until at least mid April.
Mammals:
5. Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
6. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Birds:
40. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
41. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
42. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
43. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
44. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
45. Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
46. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
47. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
48. Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
49. Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
50. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
51. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
52. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
53. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)
54. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
55. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
56. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
57. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
58. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Fishes:
10. Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)
Mammals: 6
Birds: 58
Herptiles: 5
Fishes: 10
Invertebrates: 10
Total: 89
Been very slow on the birding front since this last update. Between rainy weather and a busy schedule, I've not had much opportunity to get outdoors sadly. But still, I have a few birds to share!
I've recently learned that a small patch of the CT coast is a reliable summer spot for Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron, a species I always thought was nothing more than an occasional vagrant. With the first of the year reported this past week, I swung by a known roost after work. I did find a night-heron, though it was not the species I was aiming for. The following day, I visited a couple local park ponds to see if there were any waterfowl species passing through.
This weekend was a bit more of a bust, with rain making yesterday a washout. Today I ended up with a few hours later of a start than I wanted, arriving in the late morning to a forest in CT housing a not infrequently seen population of Ruffed Grouse. They seem to be most often encountered during their breeding season, which should be beginning around now. Whether it be my arriving too late or the birds just not being active yet, I failed to find one. A number of other birds new for me are known to inhabit the area, however I only encountered one new year bird. I almost definitely also saw an owl, but I did not get good enough eyes on it to feel totally confident in the ID before it disappeared.
Some highlights from the past week, however, include another woodcock sighting and some surprise cranes. The woodcock was seen at the same spot as the night-heron roost. Of course it takes me years to ever track one down and then two weeks later I see one in broad daylightUnfortunately, I didn't have my camera. The cranes were seen today, with a trio of Sandhills turning up on a private property along a road that transects the forest. Apparently these three spent the summer at this property last year as well.
146) Black-Crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
147) Monk Parakeet Myiopsitta monachus
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148) Ring-Necked Duck Aythya collaris
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149) American Brown Creeper Certhia americana
~Thylo
It's unlikely I will be getting out for any birding this weekend (which is unfortunate as I will be in Vermont), but I did spend about an hour and a half birding a small state park local to my office after work yesterday. I was surprised to find two Osprey hanging around the (small) fishing pond and ended up nabbing a couple more birds for the year, including another long sought after lifer!
Wharton Brook State Park
150) Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
151) Golden-Crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
~Thylo
Birds
111. Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
You missed the listings from Madrid. You'd be on 134 now.
I did indeed. Must have been on UKebird! Thank you
ifesbob
Well-Known Member
16. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
Mammals: 16
Birds: 51
Reptiles: 3
Amphibians: 6
Invertebrates: 1
Mammals:
5 Eastern Cottontail - Sylvilagus floridanus
Kakapo
Well-Known Member
Today some new species in my parents garden, all of them of the dipteran kind. Also, I cleaned the pond and a blackbird go bathing shortly after in the now clean water. I passed by its side while he was drying and shaking the plumage. He was absolutely tame and not even alert on me passing at a meter of distance.
INVERTEBRATES:
73. Eupeodes corollae (landed on me!)
74. Dasysyrphus albostriatus
75. Culiseta longiareolata
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
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)
Hix
Birds
112. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
113. Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
114. Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
115. Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
116. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
117. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
118. Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
119. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
