Zoochat Big Year 2023

[CMP]

The California coast is a magical place, especially for its marine mammal diversity and numbers. Unfortunately, 3 days is really not much at all to do much intensive mammal-watching, (Or fishing or herping), so no whale-watching boats or the like. That being said, I'm very grateful for what I did end up seeing, including a nice endemic chipmunk!

Mammals
Friday, February 3rd
Lounging around at Moss Landing, Monterey Co.

6. Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina) (Lifer)​

One hopped away in the scrub at Moss Landing

7. Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani) (Lifer)​

I saw some from the road at Moss Landing, but there were better views of a large group of them in the kelp from the Monterey Bay Aquarium

8. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris) (Lifer)​

Saturday, February 4th
Besides the road at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland, Alameda co.

8. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi) (Lifer)
​

A group on the side of the road in Marin county, a little while past the Golden Gate Bridge

9. Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) (Lifer)
​

At Muir Woods national monument. I was hesitant to visit Muir Woods initially, as I didn't expect the wildlife viewing to be very good, but the east bay where I planned to visit the Oakland redwoods originally had lots of rain in the forecast and I decided to visit the more renowned (and scenic) redwood forest instead. While scouring the undergrowth for ensatinas and other salamanders, I was happily surprised by an endemic chipmunk that briefly poped-out from behind some ferns beside a small stream

10. Sonoma Chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae) (Lifer)
​

After missing sea lions in Monterey (Where I thought they should be abundant in the harbor and along the coast this time of year), I decided to spend too much money at the fisherman's wharf, enjoying some chowder and watching, but mostly listening (It was dark by then) to the boisterous and famous sea lions of Pier 39. It was a good way to end the trip, I thought to myself, on the flight back.

11. California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) (Lifer)​

Fish
Caught off the outer pier of Monterey Harbor

1. Yellowtail rockfish (Sebastes flavidus) (Lifer)​

Insects/inverts
San Francisco Botanical Garden

11. Alaska yellowjacket (Vespula alascensis)
12. Black-tailed bumble bee (Bombus melanopygus) (Lifer)
13. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)​

Seen off the deck of Monterey bay aquarium

14. California mussel (Mystilus californianus) (Lifer)
15. Giant green anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) (Lifer)​

Seen in the rockpools in Monterey harbor. A surprise, because I hadn't realized Monterey harbor had rockpools, I assumed they were all farther down the Monterey peninsula, like at Point Pinos, which I had wanted to visit but I had to cut out due to being pressed for time.

16. Sunburst anemone (Anthopleura sola) (Lifer)
17. Black tegula (Tegula funebralis) (Lifer)
18. Rough limpet (Lottia scabra) (Lifer)
19. Blueband hermit crab (Pagurus samuelis) (Lifer)
20. Grainy hermit crab (Pagurus granosimanus) (Lifer)​

Seen on the rocks off the outer pier of Monterey Harbor

21. Striped shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes) (Lifer)
22. Ochre sea star (Pisaster ochraceus) (Lifer)
23. Owl limpet (Lottia gigantea) (Lifer)
24. Pacific purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) (Lifer)​

Many lady beetles on logs and wood-posts, and very cool, very large banana slugs seen in the Muir woods

25. Convergent lady beetle (Hippodamia convergens) (Lifer)
26. Button’s banana slug (Ariolimax buttoni) (Lifer)​

I've been pretty busy with schoolwork and other obligations for the past two months, so I haven´t had much time to go out looking for wildlife. I've been a bit of a lazy birder, missing both continuing woodcocks and saw-whets. Spring has arrived in Central Illinois, and it turns out I didn't 'cannibalize' my bird list too bad in California, because still have some nice new early spring birds.

Mammals

13. Groundhog (Marmota monax)
14. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)​

Birds
I'm pretty sure I saw these back in California as well, but I decided not to count them then because they would be a bit early and I only had fleeting views.

129. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
​

Also almost certainly saw these in SF, but decided not to count them because they were females and the tricolored blackbird is technically possible there

130. Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
​

At Colbert park in February, finally! I'm checking off most of the ducks in NA, apart from the scoters and eiders

131. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) (Lifer)
132. Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
​

Busey woods, Troglodytes wrens are some of the best birds

133. Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
​

April birds, multiple locations

134. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
135. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)​

Weaver park

136. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
137. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
​

Busey woods

138. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
139. Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
140. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
141. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
​

Around the country roads of Champaign co.

142. Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
143. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
144. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)​

Also, a rather frustrating heard-only eastern screech owl outside my window, I couldn't visually locate it. I should've just gone outside with a flashlight, despite it being 2am. I also had a heard-only barred owl from the woods earlier this year.

Herptiles

1. Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
2. Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) (Lister)
Reptiles​

I finally found this garter snake species at the engineering quad of the UIUC campus, where it is supposed to be very common, but I've somehow failed to find these past couple attempts

1. Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) (Lister)
Amphibians​

Busey woods

1. Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)​

Also heard-only boreal chorus frogs, despite many attempts to visually locate them!

Insects/inverts

27. Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)
28. Sweet click beetle (Aeolus mellillus)
29. Eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
30. Stink bug (Hymenarcys nervosa) (Lifer)
31. Nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum)
32. Spring fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis) (Lifer)
33. Iroquois vallonia (Vallonia excentrica) (Lifer)
34. Glossy pillar (Cochlicopa lubrica) (Lifer)
35. Pennsylvania ponerine ant (Ponera pennsylvanica) (Lifer)
36. California lady beetle (Coccinella californica) (Lifer)
37. Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata)
38. Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
39. Common green darner (Anax junius)
40. Black-shouldered drone fly (Eristalis dimidiata)
41. Narrow headed marsh fly (Helophilus fasciatus)
42. Oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)
43. Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)
44. Ground beetle (Perigona nigriceps) (Lifer)​

With my first butterfly, dragonfly, and hoverfly species of the year, spring is finally here!

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
123. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
124. Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Birds
125. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors

 

[Chlidonias]

75) Australian Little Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae

My best bird of the year so far, because it was the first one I've seen in New Zealand.


We have four species of grebes here: the rare Great Crested Grebe which is found only in the South Island; the endemic NZ Dabchick which is found only in the North Island (with rare exceptions); and two self-introduced Australian species, the Australian Little Grebe and the Hoary-headed Grebe.

Of the latter two, the Hoary-headed Grebe is a rare vagrant and occasional breeder (currently there is one pair breeding on a lake in the South Island). The Australian Little Grebe has established localised populations in the upper North Island, but it is not normally found in the lower North Island or in the South Island.

I have seen both the Hoary-headed and Australian Little Grebes in Australia, so neither would be lifers for me, but I haven't seen either in New Zealand.

On Thursday an Australian Little Grebe was spotted at the Pharazyn Reserve just north of the Waikanae Estuary (which is north of Wellington, and where I had just been two days before to see a Little Egret). Of course I went back up there the following day. It's about a three hour trip on two buses and a train and some walking, so I was hoping it wouldn't be a wasted day! I met a couple of other birders there who were also looking, and they had a scope which was handy, and so we wandered around the ponds until we found the grebe. Fortunately it was quite close to shore and the sun was in a good position so it could be seen clearly with binoculars. Actually even with the naked eye it stood out amongst the NZ Dabchicks quite markedly, being noticeably smaller and paler.

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

A little bit of everything this time. The weather so far this spring has been dreadful so there have been very few opportunities to find anything cold-blooded and even the spring birds are only arriving very gradually and slowly. No redstarts or ring ouzels or flycatchers yet for me since Spain!.

Despite all of this I still got a few good additions to note. With lots of hard work and effort I managed to find six reptiles so far in the Netherlands: two grass snakes, two sand lizards and two slow worms (the latter representing my first sightings of that species since 2017!). Despite the mediocre succes in finding reptiles, one of those searched yielded an unexpected sighting of a wild boar. In terms of birds the bluethroats are probably the best addition, with multiple great sightings in a single day. I also finally found a identifiable moth - my moth trap required some modification so I wasted my only two nights available so far with above-zero temperature and no rain with a dysfunctional trap. It should be fixed now, but the nights have been rainy again so I haven't been able to use it.

Birds
164. Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
165. Marsh Tit, Poecile palustris
166. Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus
167. Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis

Reptiles
12. Barred Grass Snake, Natrix helvetica
13. Sand Lizard, Lacerta agilis
14. Slow Worm, Anguis fragilis

Mammals
15. Wild Boar, Sus scrofa

Moths
1. Black-spot Chestnut, Conistra rubiginosa

 

[birdsandbats]

Mammals
13. Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus

Mammals
14. Eastern Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
125. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors

Birds
126. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula

Herps
1. Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus
2. Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis

 

[Kakapo]

Just about a coulpe of minutes ago, coming back to my home, I saw in the glass of the door of the neighbour house block. New insect for the year and a very nice one.

INVERTEBRATES:

119. Agapanthia cardui

Today I had a nice day gardening a bit, with a new jumping spider and two new moths for the year, besides carpenter bees busy pollinating the jasmine, a hummingbird hawk moth, a blackbird, wood pigeons and some other usual species. Later, I went for a walk along the river shore, passing by the cattle egret roosting place, I saw three rabbits in the same urban rotonda where I saw the last one, saw mallards, little egrets, night herons, yellow-legged gulls, and the best, swifts finally arrived to the city and are interested in checking their usual nesting areas under a stone bridge.

BIRDS:

49. Common swift (Apus apus)
50. Blue tit (Parus caeruleus)

INVERTEBRATES:

120. Icius hamatus
121. Chrysodeixis chalcites
122. Noctua pronuba
123. Synema globosum

 

[Lota lota]

First time I got out,as school and other stuff has been in my way.First warm ( +10°C) day in Stockholm this year.Got out a bit too late and didn't see much new species but there were definitely signs of spring.Highlight of the day was the first reptile for the year,a viviparous lizard!

81 Willow tit (Poecile montanus)

Birds:
82 Common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
83 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
84 Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope)

Reptiles:
1 Viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara)

 

[CMP]

I've been pretty busy with schoolwork and other obligations for the past two months, so I haven´t had much time to go out looking for wildlife. I've been a bit of a lazy birder, missing both continuing woodcocks and saw-whets. Spring has arrived in Central Illinois, and it turns out I didn't 'cannibalize' my bird list too bad in California, because still have some nice new early spring birds.

Mammals

13. Groundhog (Marmota monax)
14. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)​

Birds
I'm pretty sure I saw these back in California as well, but I decided not to count them then because they would be a bit early and I only had fleeting views.

129. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
​

Also almost certainly saw these in SF, but decided not to count them because they were females and the tricolored blackbird is technically possible there

130. Red Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
​

At Colbert park in February, finally! I'm checking off most of the ducks in NA, apart from the scoters and eiders

131. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) (Lifer)
132. Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
​

Busey woods, Troglodytes wrens are some of the best birds

133. Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
​

April birds, multiple locations

134. Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
135. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)​

Weaver park

136. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
137. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
​

Busey woods

138. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
139. Yellow Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
140. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)
141. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
​

Around the country roads of Champaign co.

142. Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
143. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
144. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)​

Also, a rather frustrating heard-only eastern screech owl outside my window, I couldn't visually locate it. I should've just gone outside with a flashlight, despite it being 2am. I also had a heard-only barred owl from the woods earlier this year.

Herptiles

1. Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)
2. Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) (Lister)
Reptiles​

I finally found this garter snake species at the engineering quad of the UIUC campus, where it is supposed to be very common, but I've somehow failed to find these past couple attempts

1. Plains garter snake (Thamnophis radix) (Lister)
Amphibians​

Busey woods

1. Small-mouthed Salamander (Ambystoma texanum)​

Also heard-only boreal chorus frogs, despite many attempts to visually locate them!

Insects/inverts

27. Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)
28. Sweet click beetle (Aeolus mellillus)
29. Eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
30. Stink bug (Hymenarcys nervosa) (Lifer)
31. Nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum)
32. Spring fishfly (Chauliodes rastricornis) (Lifer)
33. Iroquois vallonia (Vallonia excentrica) (Lifer)
34. Glossy pillar (Cochlicopa lubrica) (Lifer)
35. Pennsylvania ponerine ant (Ponera pennsylvanica) (Lifer)
36. California lady beetle (Coccinella californica) (Lifer)
37. Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata)
38. Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
39. Common green darner (Anax junius)
40. Black-shouldered drone fly (Eristalis dimidiata)
41. Narrow headed marsh fly (Helophilus fasciatus)
42. Oblique streaktail (Allograpta obliqua)
43. Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)
44. Ground beetle (Perigona nigriceps) (Lifer)​

With my first butterfly, dragonfly, and hoverfly species of the year, spring is finally here!

Today I went out in the early morning and drove around the country roads, looking out into the cornfields of Champaign County. I found two nice lifers, although unfortunately two longspur species evaded me. The horned lark in particular had been a long time coming.

Birds

145. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
146. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (Lifer)
147. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) (Lifer)​

 

[Najade]

05.04. - Pedernales, Cabo Rojo + ponds, Alcoa Road, spotlighting

Birds (non-passerines)
79. White-cheeked Pintail (Anas bahamensis)
80. Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
81. Common Ground Dove (Columbina passerina)
82. White-collared Swift (Streptoprocne zonaris)
83. Sora (Porzana carolina)
84. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
85. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
86. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
87. Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus)
88. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
89. White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus)
90. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
91. Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) [white phase]
92. American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)
93. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Birds (passerines)
94. Hispaniolan Palm Crow (Corvus palmarum)
95. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)
96. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
97. Hispaniolan Crossbill (Loxia megaplaga)
98. Antillean Siskin (Spinus dominicensis)
99. Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
100. Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Reptiles
11. Barahona Limestone Geckolet (Sphaerodactylus thompsoni)
12. Baoruco Stout Anole (Anolis strahmi)

06.04. - largely a driving day again: Pedernales via Jaragua NP & Los Patos caves back to Villa Barrancoli

Mammals
05. Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus waterhousii)

Birds (non-passerines)
101. Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis)

Birds (passerines)
102. Flat-billed Vireo (Vireo nanus)

Reptiles
13. Orange-bellied Curlytail (Leiocephalus barahonensis)
14. Hispaniolan Giant Gecko (Aristelliger lar)
15. Large-headed Anole (Anolis cybotes)
16. Axillary Spotted Anole (Anolis aliniger)

Amphibians
03. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
04. Southern Crested Toad (Peltophryne guentheri)

+ at least three more bat species (waiting for confirmation on ID)

 

[Najade]

06.04. - largely a driving day again: Pedernales via Jaragua NP & Los Patos caves back to Villa Barrancoli

Mammals
05. Waterhouse’s Leaf-nosed Bat (Macrotus waterhousii)

Birds (non-passerines)
101. Northern Potoo (Nyctibius jamaicensis)

Birds (passerines)
102. Flat-billed Vireo (Vireo nanus)

Reptiles
13. Orange-bellied Curlytail (Leiocephalus barahonensis)
14. Hispaniolan Giant Gecko (Aristelliger lar)
15. Large-headed Anole (Anolis cybotes)
16. Axillary Spotted Anole (Anolis aliniger)

Amphibians
03. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
04. Southern Crested Toad (Peltophryne guentheri)

+ at least three more bat species (waiting for confirmation on ID)

07.04. - North & south shore of Lago Enriquillo and Lake Azuei

Birds (non-passerines)
103. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
104. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
105. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
106. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
107. Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)
108. American Coot (Fulica americana)
109. Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
110. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
111. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
112. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
113. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
114. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
115. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
116. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
117. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
118. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Birds (passerines)
119. Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis)

Reptiles
17. Red-sided Curlytail (Leiocephalus schreibersii)
18. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
19. Common Ameiva (Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus)
20. Ricord’s Rock Iguana (Cyclura ricordi)
21. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

 

[Najade]

07.04. - North & south shore of Lago Enriquillo and Lake Azuei

Birds (non-passerines)
103. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
104. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
105. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
106. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica)
107. Mangrove Cuckoo (Coccyzus minor)
108. American Coot (Fulica americana)
109. Wilson’s Plover (Charadrius wilsonia)
110. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
111. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
112. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
113. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
114. Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
115. Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
116. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
117. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
118. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Birds (passerines)
119. Caribbean Martin (Progne dominicensis)

Reptiles
17. Red-sided Curlytail (Leiocephalus schreibersii)
18. Rhinoceros Iguana (Cyclura cornuta)
19. Common Ameiva (Pholidoscelis chrysolaemus)
20. Ricord’s Rock Iguana (Cyclura ricordi)
21. Asian House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

08.04. - Cortico area, Villa Barrancoli to reservoir & Rabo de Gato

Mammals
06. Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus)

Birds (non-passerines)
120. Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii)

Birds (passerines)
121. Eastern Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus)
122. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Reptiles
22. Bark Anole (Anolis distichus)
23. Haitian Giant Anole (Anolis ricordii)
24. Hispaniolan Boa (Chilabothrus striatus)
25. Haitian Dwarf Boa (Tropidophis haetianus)

Amphibians
05. Abbott’s Robber Frog (Eleutherodactylus abbotti)

 

[Giant Eland]

Congratulations on becoming a wildlife guide! Is this a new full-time occupation or a once off or occasional event? And which company were you working for?

Thank you so much! Occasional event is the hope. I do have my second tour lead coming up for Royle Safaris in June for their Javan Rhino (one space still available btw!). The company for South Africa was Pictus Safaris.

Indeed; If you are leading another Golden mole trip in the future, and you want a fellow zoochatter on board....

The Golden Mole was my own separate excursion before the Pictus tour began. I do have a contact at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden for the Golden Mole & Mole Rat, so if anyone's interested, email me at Alexander.f.meyer@gmail.com.

I'm also planning my own trip to Madagascar in late Oct/early Nov which I hope to add travel partners to. If anyone's curious for more details on that you can try that same email.

 

[Platypusboy]

I just came back from a short vacation in Barcelona and got a few birds just by walking around the city every day. I also saw some bats at one point, which were most likely Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) but I don't know for sure.

Birds

30. Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis 7/4/23
31. Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus 7/4/23
32. Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis 7/4/23
33. Eurasian collared dove, Streptopelia decaocto 8/4/23
34. Common swift, Apus apus 8/4/23
35. European starling, Strunus vulgaris 8/4/23

 

[Bisonblake]

Birds:
14. Turkey vulture Cathartes aura
15. Red-winged blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
16. Sandhill crane Grus canadensis

Total Species: 21
Birds: 16
Mammals: 5

Haven't updated this in while. I was in the Dallas/Fort Worth area a little more than a month ago. While I didn't do any wildlife searching, I was able to add one lifer to my list of birds.

Birds:
3/5/23
17. Great-tailed grackle Quiscalus mexicanus
18. Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis
3/7/23
19. Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto
20. Blue jay Cyanocitta cristata
3/8/23
21. European starling Sturnus vulgaris
3/15/23
22. Mourning dove Zenaida macroura
4/5/23
23. Eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe
4/6/23
24. Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula
4/9/23
25. Wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo

Mammals:
3/13/23
6. Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus
4/9/23
7. Eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Reptiles:
3/6/23
1. Painted turtle Chrysemys picta

Total Species: 33
Birds: 25
Mammals: 7
Reptiles: 1

 

[Maguari]

A couple from an evening on the riverside at Ossett to twitch a UK-first heron for me.

Birds:
148. Black-crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax

FIshes:
1. European Minnow - Phoxinus phoxinus

 

[birdsandbats]

Birds
126. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula

Herps
1. Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus
2. Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis

Herps
3. Spring Peeper Pseudacris crucifer

 

[red river hog]

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

Mammals:

7. Raccoon (Procyon lotor)
8. Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)

Birds:

59. Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
60. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
61. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
62. Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis)
63. Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)
64. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
65. Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)
66. Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
67. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
68. Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)
69. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
70. Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)
71. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
72. Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata)
73. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
74. Ring-necked Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
75. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
76. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
77. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
78. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
79. Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla)
80. Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)
81. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
82. Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)
83. American Coot (Fulica americana)
84. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)

Herptiles:

6. Florida Red-bellied Cooter (Pseudemys nelsoni)
7. Florida Softshell Turtle (Apalone ferox)
8. North American Racer (Coluber constrictor)
9. Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vitattus)

Fishes:

11. European Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
12. Mayan Cichlid (Mayaheros urophthalmus)
13. Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus)
14. Hardhead Catfish (Ariopsis felis)

Invertebrates:

11. Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)
12. Halloween Pennant (Celithemis eponina)
13. Zebra Longwing (Heliconius charithonia)
14. Monarch (Danaus plexippus)
15. Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
16. Mangrove Tree Crab (Aranus pisonii)
17. Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
18. Atala (Eumaeus atala)
19. Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
19. Eastern Lubber Grasshopper (Romalea microptera)
20. Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae)
21. Regal Darner (Coryphaeschna ingens)
22. Barred Yellow (Eurema daira)
23. Eastern Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides cresphontes)
24. Needham's Skimmer (Libellula needhami)
25. Atlantic Black Seahare (Aplysia morio)
26. Great Black Wasp (Sphex pennsylvanicus)
27. Chestnut Carpenter Ant (Camponotus castaneus)

Mammals: 8
Birds: 84
Herptiles: 9
Fishes: 14
Invertebrates: 27
Total: 142

 

[Najade]

08.04. - Cortico area, Villa Barrancoli to reservoir & Rabo de Gato

Mammals
06. Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus)

Birds (non-passerines)
120. Antillean Nighthawk (Chordeiles gundlachii)

Birds (passerines)
121. Eastern Chat-tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus)
122. Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Reptiles
22. Bark Anole (Anolis distichus)
23. Haitian Giant Anole (Anolis ricordii)
24. Hispaniolan Boa (Chilabothrus striatus)
25. Haitian Dwarf Boa (Tropidophis haetianus)

Amphibians
05. Abbott’s Robber Frog (Eleutherodactylus abbotti)

09.04 - morning birding (road between Villa Barrancoli and reservoir), herping road to Angostura, wetlands birding

Mammals
07. Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata)

Birds (non-passerines)
123. Spotted Rail (Pardirallus maculatus)
124. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Birds (passerines)
125. Black-faced Grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor)
126. Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
127. Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)

Reptiles
26. Pygmy Blue-tailed Ameiva (Pholidoscelis lineolatus)
27. Blunt-headed Hispaniolan Vinesnake (Uromacer catesbyi)

—————————
Just realised that
113. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
should have also been in bold as it’s a lifer.

 

[Najade]

09.04 - morning birding (road between Villa Barrancoli and reservoir), herping road to Angostura, wetlands birding

Mammals
07. Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata)

Birds (non-passerines)
123. Spotted Rail (Pardirallus maculatus)
124. Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Birds (passerines)
125. Black-faced Grassquit (Melanospiza bicolor)
126. Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
127. Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)

Reptiles
26. Pygmy Blue-tailed Ameiva (Pholidoscelis lineolatus)
27. Blunt-headed Hispaniolan Vinesnake (Uromacer catesbyi)

—————————
Just realised that
113. Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
should have also been in bold as it’s a lifer.

10.04. - back to Pedernales via Los Patos caves, Oviedo lake and ponds at Cabo Rojo + spotlighting

Mammals
08. Hispaniolan Solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus)

Birds (non-passerines)
128. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
129. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
130. Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
131. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
132. Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)
133. Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
134. Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

Birds (passerines)
135. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)

Reptiles
28. Jaragua Forest Lizard (Guarocuyus jaraguanus)
29. Barahona Stout Anole (Anolis longitibialis)

——————
Guarocuyus was only discovered last year. Nice looking critter.