Zoochat Big Year 2023

ThylacineAlive said:
My time in Kenya may be over, but I did still had one more day outside of the US. Completely by coincidence, my flight home included a 12-hour layover in Paris, France (though this then turned into an over 26-hour layover but that's a different story...). I took this opportunity to walk around the city a bit, visit the zoos, and, of course, pick up some extra birds.

663) Carrion Crow Corvus corone
664) European Robin Erithacus rubecula
665) Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
666) Eurasian Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
667) Black-Headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
668) Eurasian Magpie Pica pica
669) Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
670) Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
671) Ring-Necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri
672) Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea

This concludes my trip daily reports.

~Thylo
Click to expand...

I have a few additional mammals to add from Kenya.

149) Silvery Greater Galago Otolemur crassicaudatus/monteiri
150) Black-Tailed Gerbil Gerbilliscus nigricaudus
151) Grey-Bellied Pygmy Mouse Mus triton

The galago I saw in the Mara. I was incorrectly under the impression that the Mara population was still garnettii, however having now looked them up, Mara galagos are a subspecies of either Brown Greater Galago (crassicaudatus) or Silvery Greater Galago (monteiri) depending on one's taxonomy. The individual I saw was also melanistic, as a great deal of the Mara animals are.

The gerbil I saw in Ishaqbini and simply forgot to include on my daily report.

The Mus species I saw on the grounds of my lodge just outside Amboseli National Park and was only just identified by my guide this morning.

~Thylo
 
Bisonblake said:
8/13/23
Birds:
110. Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor

Total Species: 138
Birds: 110
Mammals: 16
Herptiles: 10
Fish: 2
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I was able to see the Detroit Zoo's wild black-crowned night heron rookery today. They aren't a new species to me, but it's one I only see at the Detroit Zoo. There were some other birds we saw throughout the day including warbling vireos, wood ducks, common nighthawks, and a green heron.

8/23/23
Birds:
111. Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Total Species: 139
Birds: 111
Mammals: 16
Herptiles: 10
Fish: 2
 
Not quite at the level of some of the trips being posted this year, but I have just been in Vanuatu for two weeks, a trip which had more than its share of downs and downs. I know the expression is supposed to be "ups and downs" but there weren't enough ups to warrant that usage.

First my check-in bag didn't arrive until the third day of the trip. Then the flight to the island I wanted to get to (Vanua Lava) was cancelled. Then the rescheduled flight to Vanua Lava was cancelled. Half the days of the trip were spent in town, mostly going back and forth to the airport to not get my bag or not get my flight. Pretty frustrating.

Still, I only missed five of the endemics or near-endemics which I was going to try to find (there were also some endemics which I wasn't going to look for, like the Mountain Starling, due to logistical difficulties), and I got ten bird lifers and one mammal lifer.

The birds did not like being photographed, so the photos I did get needed some pretty heavy cropping and they are far from spectacular. A selection can be seen here: https://www.zoochat.com/community/media/albums/vanuatu.80/



BIRDS

81) Common Mynah Acridotheres tristis
82) Dark-Brown Honeyeater Lichmera incana
83) Black-headed (Chestnut) Munia Lonchura atricapilla
84) Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
85) Satin Swiftlet Collocalia uropygialis
86) Coconut Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
87) New Caledonian (Melanesian) Flycatcher Myiagra caledonica
88) Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
89) Pacific Kingfisher Todiramphus sacer
90) White-breasted Woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
91) Cardinal Myzomela Myzomela cardinalis
92) Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
93) Vanuatu Streaked Fantail Rhipidura spilodera
**This is a split from the R. verreauxi complex - there is an array of opinions on the divisions, from there being just one species (R. verreauxi); three species (R. verreauxi in New Caledonia, R. spilodera in Vanuatu, and R. layardi in Fiji); or five species (with the three Fijian subspecies all split as full species - R. layardi, R. rufilateralis, and R. erythronota). I have actually seen all five taxa now, and have decided to split it three ways (i.e. retaining the Fijian taxa as subspecies of R. layardi). For the purposes of the year list it doesn't matter because I am only going to be seeing the Vanuatu one this year anyway.
94) Pacific Imperial Pigeon Ducula pacifica
95) Pacific Emerald Dove Chalcophaps longirostris
96) Melanesian Golden Whistler Pachycephala chlorura
97) Buff-bellied Monarch Neolalage banksiana
98) Vanuatu Megapode Megapodius layardi
99) Uniform Swiftlet Aerodramus vanikorensis
100) Polynesian Triller Lalage maculosa
101) Red-bellied Fruit Dove Ptilinopus greyi
102) Yellow-fronted White-eye Zosterops flavifrons
103) Long-tailed Triller Lalage leucopyga
104) MacKinlay's Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia mackinlayi
105) Island Thrush Turdus poliocephalus
106) South Melanesian Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina caledonica
107) Southern Shrikebill Clytorhynchus pachycephaloides
108) Tanna Fruit Dove Ptilinopus tannensis
109) Fan-tailed Gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis
110) White-throated (Metallic) Pigeon Columba vitiensis
111) Vanuatu Kingfisher Todiramphus farquhari
112) Banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
113) Spot-necked Dove Streptopelia chinensis (in Auckland, NZ)


MAMMALS

9) Pacific Flying Fox Pteropus tonganus
10) Polynesian Rat Rattus exulans
11) Vanuatu Flying Fox Pteropus anetianus
 
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Chlidonias said:
Not quite at the level of some of the trips being posted this year, but I have just been in Vanuatu for two weeks, a trip which had more than its share of downs and downs. I know the expression is supposed to be "ups and downs" but there weren't enough ups to warrant that usage.
Click to expand...
Do you plan on doing a write-up for it?
 
We decided to try for some dry country animals so drove to Chillagoe, an old mining town about a four and a half hour drive from Mission Beach. There are also a number of limestone caves there, and so we looked forward to some bats. While 12 species were possible we were only able to identify two, although I do have some photos which might help with other species.

Of course we traveled through the tablelands on the way, so recorded several species there. Most were from a stop at Hasties Swamp.

Tablelands Birds
810. Magpie goose Anseranas semipalmata
811. Wandering whistling duck Dendrocygna arcuata
812. Plumbed whistling duck Dendrocygna eytoni
813. Sarus crane Antigone antigone
814. White-necked heron Ardea pacifica
815. Nankeen night heron Nycticorax caledonicus
816. Australian darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
817. Brown gerygone Gerygone mouki
818. Spectacled monarch Symposiachrus trivirgatus

Chillagoe and on the road there and back,

Mammals
124. Mareeba rock-wallaby Petrogale mareeba
125. Diadem roundleaf bat Hipposideros diadema
126. Troughton's sheath-nosed bat Taphozous troughtoni
127. Dingo / feral dog Canis lupus (familiaris)

Birds
819. Indian peafowl Pavo cristatus (introduced)
820. Squatter pigeon Geophaps scripta
821. Brahminy kite Haliastur indus
822. Whistling kite Haliastur sphenurus
823. Black kite Milvus migrans
824. Nankeen kestrel Falco cenchroides
825. Red-winged parrot Aprosmictus erythropterus
826. Pale-headed rosella Platycercus adscitus
827. Great bowerbird Chlamydera nuchalis
828. Blue-faced honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
829. Brown honeyeater Lichmera indistincta
830. Yellow honeyeater Stomiopera flava
831. Barred cuckooshrike Coracina lineata
832. White-browed woodswallow Artamus superciliosus
833. Pied butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
834. Torresian crow Corvus orru
835. Double-barred finch Stizoptera bichenovii

Invertebrates
81. Tailed emperor Charaxes sempronius

Two-year new species targets
Mammals 110/100
Birds 782/1000
Bonus ectotherms 212
 
Coelacanth18 said:
Reptiles
13. Western Shovelnose Snake (Chionactis occipitalis)

Birds
190. Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Click to expand...

Another month of updates! This one is primarily bird progress (finally passed 200), with only one new reptile and no additional mammals.

I made a trip to a couple of coastal spots trying to pick up more shorebirds, and in the process saw some unexpected finds in a tidal lagoon - some small stingrays and my first wild sea turtle in California! Also got to see a Black Skimmer feeding, which is always fun to watch.

Birds
191. Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani)
192. Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)
193. Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
194. Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
195. Black Skimmer (Rhynchops niger)

Reptiles
14. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)

Fish*
0. Round Stingray (Urobatus halleri)
0. Sea Mullet (Mugil cephalus)

I've also made a couple short trips up to the mountains, looking primarily for warblers. I've only gotten two so far, but there will be more in September and I picked up several other species in the meantime.

Birds
196. Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)
197. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
198. Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)
199. Cassin's Vireo (Vireo cassinii)
200. Lawrence's Goldfinch (Spinus lawrencei)
201. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
202. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)

And then finally a surprise sighting of a Barn Owl in my local area, seen on a whim while I was walking around at dusk. Another incidental sighting involved a familiar arachnid with a red hourglass... this one not played by Scarlett Johansson (I think).

Birds
203. Barn Owl (Tyto alba/furcata)

Inverts*
0. Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus)

*not keeping counts of these, just adding for fun
 
ThylacineAlive said:
I have a few additional mammals to add from Kenya.

149) Silvery Greater Galago Otolemur crassicaudatus/monteiri
150) Black-Tailed Gerbil Gerbilliscus nigricaudus
151) Grey-Bellied Pygmy Mouse Mus triton

The galago I saw in the Mara. I was incorrectly under the impression that the Mara population was still garnettii, however having now looked them up, Mara galagos are a subspecies of either Brown Greater Galago (crassicaudatus) or Silvery Greater Galago (monteiri) depending on one's taxonomy. The individual I saw was also melanistic, as a great deal of the Mara animals are.

The gerbil I saw in Ishaqbini and simply forgot to include on my daily report.

The Mus species I saw on the grounds of my lodge just outside Amboseli National Park and was only just identified by my guide this morning.

~Thylo
Click to expand...

Migration has reached CT early this year, with various rare warblers and shorebirds being spotted across the state over the month of August. Most of the most interesting stuff for me (such an explosion of Red Crossbills) occurred during my last week in Kenya and were gone by the time I got home. Maybe for the better, as I've remained far too exhausted from my travels to do much of anything these past couple of weeks. When a migrant shorebird from the midwest appeared about 20 minutes from my apartment today, however, I couldn't resist running out for a few hours.

672) Buff-Breasted Sandpiper Calidris subruficollis
673) Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
674) Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus
675) Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos

I've also gone back one count as I've realized I counted Hunter's Cisticola twice.

~Thylo
 
Autumn migration is well on it's way now. During migration counts I saw, as expected, a tawny pipit and only heard, again as expected, a dotterel.

Most birds however are from a very good birding day at the Wadden Sea coast. We started in Westhoek, from the dyke there we had a good view on the enormous mudflats exposed by the low tide. Here, we found large flocks of both golden (500 birds) and grey (700) plovers, along with hundreds of avocets and godwits, and thousands of dunlins and shelducks. The shelducks especially were present in such large numbers, that their rafts almost formed a continuous line across the horizon. The reeds and shrubs that separated the dyke from the mudflats were home to bluethroats, reed buntings, and bearded reedlings. Harriers patrolled the edge of the marsh searching for prey. Soon we left Westhoek and continued along the coast until we reached the "Hoek van de Bant", another great viewing area. Given that the tide was still rather low, we stayed only a short time and decided to come back later. By this time we had also seen turnstone, little stint and curlew sandpiper, but mostly in low numbers.

We then spend some time at the Lauwersmeer, enjoying a birding community more comfortable in fresh water. There were still avocets and shelducks and a huge flock of golden plovers, but also large numbers of greylag geese, teal, shoveller, gadwall and ruff. Among the most spectacular sightings were the caspian terns with their bright orange bills, and a water rail skulking along the reeds. When we finally returned to the Hoek van de Bant, the mudflats had disappeared beneath the waves. Large numbers of waders and gulls were present on a tiny sand bank barely staying above the water, waiting for the water to recede again. The terns however seemed delighted to use their now increased fishing grounds, so we managed to see common, sandwich and black tern fishing in the Wadden Sea.

Just before heading home, we took one last look at another site at the Lauwersmeer, where a pectoral sandpiper was spotted earlier that day. We found a huge mixed flock consisting of over 200 Calidris sandpipers, half of which where little stints, and about a hundred ringed plovers, along with a wide variety of other waders and waterfowl. In the gorgeous early evening light we enjoyed the spectacle and searched for our target species. It did not take long to find the pectoral sandpiper, and it gave fantastic view. After that highlight it was finally time to leave the coast and return home.

Birds
212. Tawny Pipit, Anthus campestris
213. Bearded Reedling, Panurus biarmicus
214. Red Knot, Calidris canutus
215. Grey Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
216. Little Stint, Calidris minuta
217. Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
218. Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus
219. Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos
220. Temminck's Stint, Calidris temminckii

Butterflies
34. Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus

Dragonflies
24. Migrant Hawker, Aeshna mixta
 
Bisonblake said:
I was able to see the Detroit Zoo's wild black-crowned night heron rookery today. They aren't a new species to me, but it's one I only see at the Detroit Zoo. There were some other birds we saw throughout the day including warbling vireos, wood ducks, common nighthawks, and a green heron.

8/23/23
Birds:
111. Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax

Total Species: 139
Birds: 111
Mammals: 16
Herptiles: 10
Fish: 2
Click to expand...
I’m back at school for my final year of college. I decided to kill some time and go birding around campus. I was able to find two new warbler species within a few minutes of each other.

8/27/23
Birds:
112. Cape May warbler Setophaga tigrina
113. Magnolia warbler Setophaga magnolia


Total Species: 141
Birds: 113
Mammals: 16
Herptiles: 10
Fish: 2
 
Najade said:
15./16./17.07. - Mount Grace Priory, Bempton Cliffs, Winterbourne Downs, UK

also a mustelid and two shrews

Mammals
118. European Hare (Lepus europaeus)
119. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
120. European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Birds (non-passerines)
295. Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)
Click to expand...
26.08.23 - LWL Bat Seminar, Heiliges Meer, Recke, Germany

Mammals
121. Daubenton's Bat (Myotis daubentonii)
122. Common Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
123. Bechstein's Bat (Myotis bechsteinii)
 
Maguari said:
Forgot to post a small update from RSPB Blacktoft Sands last Sunday:

Birds:
187. Spotted Redshank - Tringa erythropus

(UK:182)

Invertebrates:
37. Meadow Brown - Maniola jurtina
38. Small Red-eyed Damselfly - Erythromma viridulum

:)
Click to expand...

I'm both a long way behind and yet also not that far behind on posting these as it's been a quite time, so a quick catchup post. Highlight is a lucky shrike from just up the road from Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

Birds:
188. Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
189. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
190. Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio
191. Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleuca

Fishes:
2. Gudgeon - Gobio gobio

Invertebrates:
39. Gatekeeper - Puronia tithonus
40. Brown Argus - Aricia aegestis
41. Blue-tailed Damselfly - Ischnura elegans
42. Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum
43. Ruddy Darter - Sympetrum sanguineum
44. Southern Hawker - Aeshna cyanea
45. Common Red Soldier Beetle - Rhagonycha fulva
46. Banded Demoiselle - Calopteryx splendens
47. Silver-washed Fritillary - Argynnis paphia
48. Black-tailed Skimmer - Orthetrum cancellatum

:)
 
Only a few more species to list before returning to Melbourne yesterday.

Birds
836. Dusky honeyeater Myzomela obscura
837. Bower's shrikethrush Colluricincla boweri
838. Rufous fantail Rhipidura rufifrons

Fish
27. Jungle perch .Kuhlia rupestris

Invertebrates
82. Chocolate argus Junonia hedonia
83. Asian magpie moth Nyctemera baulus (new Family)
84. Grass webworm moth Herpetogramma licarsisalis (new Family)
 
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