Zoochat Big Year 2023
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
Lota lota
Well-Known Member
I visited Egypt for the 2nd time back at the end of October and got a few new birds.The hotel I stayed at the first time was teeming with birds—nice species like hoopoes, bluethroats, red-backed pipits, and Sardinian warblers—in the hotel gardens and lawns. And a wide array of gulls, terns, and waders on the hotel beach and in the tidal mudflat.
The first time I visited Egypt I wasn't a serious birder and didn't record the sightings. But since the memories from the birds I just noticed effortlessly were so pleasant, I thought I was in for something real good. Unfortunately, there were barely any birds in the hotel, probably because there was barely any habitat for them, the beach was very developed, there was little room for birds, and there was no big tidal area. The hotel gardens and lawns were also small and lacked cover for the birds. The main reason for the lack of birds was probably because the hotel was close to the city, as compared to the previous hotel, which was like 40 minutes away from town with nothing but desert and a few scattered hotels.
150 White-eyed gull (Larus leocophthalmus)
151 Sooty gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
152 Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
153 Brown booby (Sula leucogaster)
154 Desert wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
155 Brown-necked raven (Corvus rufficolis)
156 Greater sand-plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)
The first time I visited Egypt I wasn't a serious birder and didn't record the sightings. But since the memories from the birds I just noticed effortlessly were so pleasant, I thought I was in for something real good. Unfortunately, there were barely any birds in the hotel, probably because there was barely any habitat for them, the beach was very developed, there was little room for birds, and there was no big tidal area. The hotel gardens and lawns were also small and lacked cover for the birds. The main reason for the lack of birds was probably because the hotel was close to the city, as compared to the previous hotel, which was like 40 minutes away from town with nothing but desert and a few scattered hotels.
149 House crow (Corvus splendens)
150 White-eyed gull (Larus leocophthalmus)
151 Sooty gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii)
152 Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)
153 Brown booby (Sula leucogaster)
154 Desert wheatear (Oenanthe deserti)
155 Brown-necked raven (Corvus rufficolis)
156 Greater sand-plover (Anarhynchus leschenaultii)
Bactrian Deer
Well-Known Member
Here is my total list to avoid confusion…
Mammals:
1. Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
2. Coyote Canis latrans
3. Gray Bat Myotis grisescens
4. Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
5. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus
6. American Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
7. Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus
8. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
9. White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
10. House Mouse Mus musculus
11. Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus
12. Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus
13. Swamp Rabbit Sylvilagus aquaticus
14. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
15. Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
16. Indiana Myotis Myotis Sodalis
17. Bobcat Lynx Rufus
Birds:
1. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
2. Canada Goose Branta canadensis
3. Red-Winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
4. Red-Bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
5. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis
6. American Robin Turdus migratorius
7. Yellow-Throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons
8. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
9. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
10. Rock Pigeon Columba livia
11. White-Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
12. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
13. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinali
14. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
15. Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos
16. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
17. Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
18. Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
19. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
20. Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
21. Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla
22. Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
23. Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis
24. Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
25. Wilson’s Plover Charadrius wilsonia
26. Least Tern Sternula antillarum
27. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
28. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
29. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
30. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
31. White-Throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
32. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
33. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
34. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
35. House Wren Troglodytes aedon
36. Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
37. Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
38. Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
39. Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
40. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
41. Sora Porzana carolina
42. American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
43. Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
44. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
45. Eastern Screech Owl Megascops asio
46. White-Breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
Amphibians:
1. American Bullfrog Lithobates catesbeianus
2. Eastern American Toad Anaxyrus americanus
Reptiles:
1. Brown Anole Anolis sagrei
2. Pond Slider Trachemys scripta
3. Eastern Box Turtle Terrapene carolina
4. Spiny Softshell Apalone Spinfera
Invertebrates:
1. Northern Paper Wasp Polistes Fuscatus
2. Black Carpenter Ant Camponotus Pennsylvanicus
3. Maize Calligrapher Toxomerus Politus
4. House Fly Musca Domestica
5. Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes
6. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus
7. Checkered White Pontia protodice
8. Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme
9. Little Yellow Eurema lisa
10. Harvester Feniseca tarquinius
11. American Copper Lycaena phlaeas
12. Swamp Metalmark Calephelis muticum
13. Viceroy Limenitis archippus
14. Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider Argiope Aurantia
15. Dark Fishing Spider Dolomedes Tenebrosus
16. Hogna Baltimoriana
17. Brown Recluse Loxosceles Reclusa
18. Common House Spider Parasteatoda Tepidariorum
19. Tan Jumping Spider Platycryptus Undatus
20. Tiger Wolf Spider Tigrosa Aspersa
21. Tigrosa Helluo
22. Banded Pennant Celithemis fasciata
23. Twelve-Spotted Skimmer Libellula pulchella
Fish:
1. Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus
2. Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu
3. Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris
4. Blacktip Reef Shark Carcharhinus melanopterus
Last edited by a moderator:
The year's end is near and I am quite sure there will be no additions to the list anymore. A few corrections are needed however. During the final checks of my year list, I found a few errors.
For birds: Red Knot is listed twice, so I should be at 231 species.
For moths: Rose-flounched Tabby is listed twice, but Winter Moth was omitted. The total therefore remains at 86.
As for a summary of my year list:
For birds, 2023 was the worst year in terms of number of species since I started keeping lists, bar my first try which started halfway through spring in 2017. In total I saw 231 species, of which six were lifers (~3%). Marbled Teal (in Spain) and Red Phalarope were especially good to see. I am inclined to blame the lack of a bird-oriented trip abroad for the lower number of bird species this year (the three-day winter trip to Texel was too little too late), but honestly I am much less of a species-hunter these days, so that will definitely have contributed.
In contrast to the birds, mammals had their best year ever with 26 species seen, of which 5 were lifers (~19%). Best mammal sighting of the year was probably an actively hunting Stoat which I could observe for over 20 minutes as it caught and transported several Water Voles. Greater White-toothed Shrew was, because how ubiquitous it is in my country, a long-awaited addition as well.
This year I split up the amphibians and reptiles into their own categories, in previous lists they were all under the herptile banner. Funny thing: last year I saw 21 herptiles, which was my best year yet, and this year I saw 22 amphibians (of which 11 or 50% were lifers!) alone! Fire Salamander is an obvious highlight, even among the fantastic amphibians of the Sierra Norte, though seeing the exceedingly rare Yellow-bellied Toad in my own country was great as well. Of the 16 reptiles, 7 were lifers (~44%). All lifers where highlights, but completing my set of European pond turtles with Spanish Terrapin was great. Viperine Snake was a very long-awaited species and Common Chameleon does not even need an explanation I think! Though my first Dutch Common Wall Lizards, from the only actual native population, deserve to be mentioned as well.
Fish are a species group I am not that invested in and to counter this I participated in an educative monitoring weekend this year. It is therefore no surprise that the total of 22 species, of which 13 were lifers (59%), is the highest number so far. Burbot was by far the rarest and most spectacular sighting, but I was quite partial to the Spined Loach too.
Invertebrates suffered from a very busy summer, but a Lepidoptera-focused two-day trip to Limburg did wonders for the butterfly list. I saw 34 species in total, which is rather average. All 5 lifers (~15%), except the Spanish Festoon, were seen on the Limburg trip. Dragonflies had with 26 species a rather short list this year, but the two lifers (~8%), White-faced Darter and Dainty Bluet were good to see. Bees (12 species) and Moths (86 species) represent a solid foundation for a life list to build upon in further years.
As I am typing this, a Common Blackbird is foraging in the garden. The very first species I saw this year will therefore also be one of the last, as daylight is starting to fade. This year has brought innumerable wildlife adventures and I hope next year will too. I've got a few neat plans, but how of it will become reality I can only guess.
Finally, I wish everyone here a very good and wildlife-filled 2024!
For birds: Red Knot is listed twice, so I should be at 231 species.
For moths: Rose-flounched Tabby is listed twice, but Winter Moth was omitted. The total therefore remains at 86.
As for a summary of my year list:
For birds, 2023 was the worst year in terms of number of species since I started keeping lists, bar my first try which started halfway through spring in 2017. In total I saw 231 species, of which six were lifers (~3%). Marbled Teal (in Spain) and Red Phalarope were especially good to see. I am inclined to blame the lack of a bird-oriented trip abroad for the lower number of bird species this year (the three-day winter trip to Texel was too little too late), but honestly I am much less of a species-hunter these days, so that will definitely have contributed.
In contrast to the birds, mammals had their best year ever with 26 species seen, of which 5 were lifers (~19%). Best mammal sighting of the year was probably an actively hunting Stoat which I could observe for over 20 minutes as it caught and transported several Water Voles. Greater White-toothed Shrew was, because how ubiquitous it is in my country, a long-awaited addition as well.
This year I split up the amphibians and reptiles into their own categories, in previous lists they were all under the herptile banner. Funny thing: last year I saw 21 herptiles, which was my best year yet, and this year I saw 22 amphibians (of which 11 or 50% were lifers!) alone! Fire Salamander is an obvious highlight, even among the fantastic amphibians of the Sierra Norte, though seeing the exceedingly rare Yellow-bellied Toad in my own country was great as well. Of the 16 reptiles, 7 were lifers (~44%). All lifers where highlights, but completing my set of European pond turtles with Spanish Terrapin was great. Viperine Snake was a very long-awaited species and Common Chameleon does not even need an explanation I think! Though my first Dutch Common Wall Lizards, from the only actual native population, deserve to be mentioned as well.
Fish are a species group I am not that invested in and to counter this I participated in an educative monitoring weekend this year. It is therefore no surprise that the total of 22 species, of which 13 were lifers (59%), is the highest number so far. Burbot was by far the rarest and most spectacular sighting, but I was quite partial to the Spined Loach too.
Invertebrates suffered from a very busy summer, but a Lepidoptera-focused two-day trip to Limburg did wonders for the butterfly list. I saw 34 species in total, which is rather average. All 5 lifers (~15%), except the Spanish Festoon, were seen on the Limburg trip. Dragonflies had with 26 species a rather short list this year, but the two lifers (~8%), White-faced Darter and Dainty Bluet were good to see. Bees (12 species) and Moths (86 species) represent a solid foundation for a life list to build upon in further years.
As I am typing this, a Common Blackbird is foraging in the garden. The very first species I saw this year will therefore also be one of the last, as daylight is starting to fade. This year has brought innumerable wildlife adventures and I hope next year will too. I've got a few neat plans, but how of it will become reality I can only guess.
Finally, I wish everyone here a very good and wildlife-filled 2024!
Well - I tried to twitch a Ferruginous Duck to end the year on a high today, but in keeping with a slightly lacklustre year in terms of numbers, entirely failed. 
Five nice bird lifers (Surf Scoter, Shorelark, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Balearic Shearwater, and Lesser Yellowlegs) the stars of the 2023 list, but although I achieved exactly zero mammal lifers, I did get my second ever sightings of two really good mammals (Eurasian Beaver and Common Minke Whale) so far from a washout. The less said about the other groups the better..!
So, a good year but not a standout one - maybe I'll have to come up with something to improve that lifer rate next year...
Five nice bird lifers (Surf Scoter, Shorelark, Broad-billed Sandpiper, Balearic Shearwater, and Lesser Yellowlegs) the stars of the 2023 list, but although I achieved exactly zero mammal lifers, I did get my second ever sightings of two really good mammals (Eurasian Beaver and Common Minke Whale) so far from a washout. The less said about the other groups the better..!
So, a good year but not a standout one - maybe I'll have to come up with something to improve that lifer rate next year...
The Kentucky trip was very eventful - a short hike at Natural Bridge State Park, a trip to the Kentucky Reptile Zoo, and cave kayaking in an abandoned mine at Red River Gorge. Seeing animals was never going to be a guarantee at this time of year, so I took what I could get. The usual Mourning Doves, White-Tailed Deer, Turkey Vultures, Red-Tailed Hawks, crows and starlings made their appearances on the car rides up and down. No birds were seen on the hike, though I heard titmice and cardinals. I was hoping to see an owl considering how remote the location was, but no luck. The Reptile Zoo was one of my highlights - I highly recommend it and will be posting a species list in the next few days.
As for animals, I technically saw 3 that I considered adding but I settled on only counting 2. This is because of the Rainbow Trout within Red River Gorge. These fish are stocked in the caves, which wouldn't normally discount them for me; however, they have fish lights to prevent the trout from losing their eyesight as an adaptation to the darkness of the caves, and, most importantly, they feed them. Since these trout do not live in what I would consider a "natural state", I didn't count them on the list. Fortunately, the bats are a different story!
Mammals:
23. Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) – 12/28/23
Invertebrates:
70. Gray Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) – 12/29/23
Finishing the year with:
- Mammals: 23 (9 lifers)
- Birds: 119 (52 lifers)
- Reptiles: 7 (5 lifers)
- Amphibians: 4 (4 lifers)
- Fish: 9 (6 lifers)
- Invertebrates: 70 (most of them lifers)
Happy New Year everyone!
As for animals, I technically saw 3 that I considered adding but I settled on only counting 2. This is because of the Rainbow Trout within Red River Gorge. These fish are stocked in the caves, which wouldn't normally discount them for me; however, they have fish lights to prevent the trout from losing their eyesight as an adaptation to the darkness of the caves, and, most importantly, they feed them. Since these trout do not live in what I would consider a "natural state", I didn't count them on the list. Fortunately, the bats are a different story!
Mammals:
23. Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) – 12/28/23
Invertebrates:
70. Gray Field Slug (Deroceras reticulatum) – 12/29/23
Finishing the year with:
- Mammals: 23 (9 lifers)
- Birds: 119 (52 lifers)
- Reptiles: 7 (5 lifers)
- Amphibians: 4 (4 lifers)
- Fish: 9 (6 lifers)
- Invertebrates: 70 (most of them lifers)
Happy New Year everyone!
DesertTortoise
Well-Known Member
Birds
December
184. Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus)
185. Northern shrike (Lanius borealis)
186. Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
187. Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
188. Brown creeper (Certhia americana)
189. Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
190. Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
Invertebrates
112. Cross-striped cabbageworm moth (Evergestis rimosalis)
2023 Total
Mammals - 13
Birds - 190
Reptiles - 14
Amphibians - 8
Fish - 17
Invertebrates - 112
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Day 5 of Florida has now passed and with that comes my last report of 2023. Once again my family and I went out on a wildlife watching tour, this time out to sea for a dolphin tour in Estero bay. We saw a ton of dolphins and it was genuinely one of the best wildlife experiences I’ve had this hole year, perhaps even in my lifetime. I hope everyone had a lot of fun seeing animals this year and I hope everyone has even more fun next year.
Mammals
12. Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus 31/12/23
Birds
163. Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis 31/12/23
164. Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus 31/12/23
165. Willet, Tringa semipalmata 31/12/23
166. Forester’s tern, Sterna forsteri 31/12/23
167. Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon 31/12/23
Mammals
12. Common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus 31/12/23
Birds
163. Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis 31/12/23
164. Royal tern, Thalasseus maximus 31/12/23
165. Willet, Tringa semipalmata 31/12/23
166. Forester’s tern, Sterna forsteri 31/12/23
167. Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon 31/12/23
I've got you on 17 mammals.
You might want to check your numbers given that your previous post already had you on 294:
As per usual I won't be providing final tallies until quite a bit into 2024 to allow everybody to get their totals in. I know at least @WalkingAgnatha and @WhistlingKite24 still have quite a few to finish up with.
However, top spots are currently these fine people:
Birds: @MRJ with 887
Mammals: @Giant Eland with 260
Reptiles: @Najade with 49
Amphibians: @Mr. Zootycoon with 22
Fish: @Hix with 60
Invertebrates: @CMP with 301
However, top spots are currently these fine people:
Birds: @MRJ with 887
Mammals: @Giant Eland with 260
Reptiles: @Najade with 49
Amphibians: @Mr. Zootycoon with 22
Fish: @Hix with 60
Invertebrates: @CMP with 301
Yeah that’s my mistake. I usually copy+paste those numbers at the bottom of my posts, so I must’ve forgot to edit when I saw #17.
Birds
312. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
313. Fiery-throated Hummingbird Streptoprocne zonaris
314. Black-cheeked Warbler Basileuterus melanogenys
315. Gray-breasted Wood-Wren Henicorhina leucophrys
316. Mountain Thrush Turdus plebejus
317. Spotted Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus erythropygius
318. Spot-crowned Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes affinis
319. Large-footed Finch Pezopetes capitalis
320. Slaty Flowerpeircer Diglossa plumbea
321. Sulphur-winged Parakeet Pyrrhura hoffmanni
322. Bat Falcon Falco rufigularis
323. Black-and-yellow Silky-Flycatcher Phainoptila melanoxantha
323. Yellow-thighed Brushfinch Atlapetes tibialis
324. Collared Redstart Myioborus torquatus
325. Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata
326. Ochraceous Wren Troglodytes ochraceus
327. Olive-streaked Flycatcher Mionectes olivaceus
328. Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanes phaeocercus
329. Volcano Hummingbird Selasphorus flammula
330. Mistletoe Tyrannulet Zimmerius parvus
331. Red-faced Spinetail Cranioleuca erythrops
332. Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
333. Volcano Hummingbird Junco vulcani
334. Talamanca Hummingbird Eugenes spectabilis
Mammals
32. Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis
Herps
16. Emerald Swift Sceloporus malachiticus
17. Red-legged Webfoot Salamander Bolitoglossa pesrubra
18. Montane Alligator Lizard Abronia monticola
I didn’t do a lot of birding for my second day for Florida. I only saw one last species for the year, but I’m purposely holding most of my birding to 2024. I want to start off the new year with a bang! I won’t post those totals in the new thread until I get home, because it’s not easy typing these out on my phone. Anyways, here’s my last species of 2023.
12/31/23
Birds:
162. Black-and-white warbler Mniotilta varia
Total Species: 194
Birds: 162
Mammals: 17
Herptiles: 13
Fish: 2
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Coincidentally I have almost the exact same plan (and even in almost the same place)! I won’t spoil much, but let’s just say that on the 2nd I won’t be doing much else than birding.
Currently in Gambia, where I've done a fair bit of birding these last few days with some dream Sudano-Sahellian specialties and all around amazing birds, wildlife and culture. All additions are from Gambia or Senegal (except for the two mammals I forgot to list):
BIRDS:
23/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#833-839], Madina Ba [#840], Abuko NR [#841-849], Lamin Lodge [#850-856], Lamin rice fields [#857-860], Gambia)
833 - Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
834 - Mourning collared dove, Streptopelia decipiens
835 - Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
836 - Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
837 - Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis
838 - Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
839 - Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
840 - Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
841 - Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
842 - Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
843 - Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
844 - Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
845 - Orange-breasted bushshrike, Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
846 - Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
847 - Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
848 - African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
849 - Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
850 - Western reef heron, Egretta gularis
851 - Grey-headed gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
852 - Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
853 - Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
854 - Black-winged red bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
855 - Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
856 - Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens
857 - Yellow-billed egret, Ardea brachyrhyncha
858 - Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
859 - African wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
860 - Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala
---
24/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#861; #872-877], Kuloro scrub [#862-865], Farasuto savanna [#866 - 867], Farasuto forest [#868-869], Pirang-Bonto forest [#870-871], Gambia)
861 - Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
862 - Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
863 - African darter, Anhinga rufa
864 - Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
865 - Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
866 - Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
867 - Cardinal woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens
868 - Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
869 - White-backed night heron, Calherodius leuconotus
870 - Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
871 - Fanti saw-wing, Psalidoprocne obscura
872 - White-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
873 - Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
874 - Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca
875 - Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
876 - Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
---
25/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#877], Brufut Woods [#878-879], Tanji beach [#880-883], Kotu creek [#884-886], Busumbala [#887], Gambia)
877 - Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima
878 - Verreaux's eagle-owl, Ketupa lactea
879 - Vitelline masked weaver, Ploceus vitellinus
880 - Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
881 - Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
882 - West African crested tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis
883 - Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus
884 - Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
885 - Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
886 - Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus
887 - Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
---
26/12/2023 (Bonto Kunta fields [#888], Berending woods [#889], Gambia)
888 - Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
889 - Western banded snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
---
27/12/2023 (Kartong wetlands [#890-894], Kartong beach [#895])
890 - African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
891 - Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
892 - Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
893 - Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
894 - Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis
895 - White-fronted plover, Anarhynchus marginatus
---
28/12/2023 (Tanbi Wetland NP [#896], Cape Point [#897], Gambia)
896 - Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
897 - Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
---
29/12/2023 (Bunyai [#898], North Bank road[#899-900; #903; #906; #908], Farafenni Wetlands [#901-902], Duta Bulu fields [#904-905]Gambia; Delta du Siné-Saloum [#908-909], Senegal)
898 - Bruce's green pigeon, Treron waalia
899 - Brown snake eagle, Circaetus cinereus
900 - African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
901 - Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus
902 - Beaudouin's snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini
903 - Anteater chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
904 - Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
905 - West African swallow, Cecropis domicella
906 - Dark chanting goshawk, Melierax metabates
907 - African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
908 - Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
909 - Mangrove sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
---
30/12/2023 (Ndiaffate [#910], Ndiaffate fields [#911-913], Salines de Kaolack [#914], Route N1 Kaolack - Kaffrine [#915-916], Senegal)
910 - Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
911 - White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia
912 - Cut-throat finch, Amadina fasciata
913 - Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei
914 - Black stork, Ciconia nigra
915 - Sahel paradise whydah, Vidua orientalis
916 - Black scrub robin, Cercotrichas podobe
917 - Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
---
31/12/2023 (Delta du Siné-Saloum [#918], Senegal; Farafenni wetlands [#919-920], N'jauri reservoir [#921-922], Janjanbureh [#923], Gambia)
918 - Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
919 - Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
920 - Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina
921 - Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius
922 - African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
923 - Swamp flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
MAMMALS:
First two I omitted to list (from Malaysia and Morocco respectively)
56 - Lesser short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus brachyotis
81 - House mouse, Mus musculus
And then the trip additions:
23/12/2023 (Abuko NR [#82-83], Gambia)
82 - Upper Guinea red colobus, Piliocolobus badius
83 - Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus
---
24/12/2023 (Farasuto forest [#84], Sotokoi [#85], Gambia)
84 - Common patas, Erythrocebus patas
85 - Yellow-winged bat, Lavia frons
---
25/12/2023 (Sandicoly [#86], Senegal)
86 - Guinea baboon, Papio papio
---
26/12/2023 (N'jauri reservoir [#87], Gambia)
87 - Gambian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus gambianus
BIRDS:
23/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#833-839], Madina Ba [#840], Abuko NR [#841-849], Lamin Lodge [#850-856], Lamin rice fields [#857-860], Gambia)
833 - Blue-breasted kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica
834 - Mourning collared dove, Streptopelia decipiens
835 - Purple starling, Lamprotornis purpureus
836 - Western red-billed hornbill, Tockus kempi
837 - Brown-necked parrot, Poicephalus fuscicollis
838 - Fine-spotted woodpecker, Campethera punctuligera
839 - Wahlberg's eagle, Hieraaetus wahlbergi
840 - Pied-winged swallow, Hirundo leucosoma
841 - Snowy-crowned robin-chat, Cossypha niveicapilla
842 - Western bluebill, Spermophaga haematina
843 - Broad-billed roller, Eurystomus glaucurus
844 - Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides
845 - Orange-breasted bushshrike, Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
846 - Blue-cheeked bee-eater, Merops persicus
847 - Blackcap babbler, Turdoides reinwardtii
848 - African pygmy kingfisher, Ispidina picta
849 - Lesser honeyguide, Indicator minor
850 - Western reef heron, Egretta gularis
851 - Grey-headed gull, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
852 - Pied kingfisher, Ceryle rudis
853 - Orange-cheeked waxbill, Estrilda melpoda
854 - Black-winged red bishop, Euplectes hordeaceus
855 - Yellow-crowned bishop, Euplectes afer
856 - Pink-backed pelican, Pelecanus rufescens
857 - Yellow-billed egret, Ardea brachyrhyncha
858 - Black crake, Zapornia flavirostra
859 - African wattled lapwing, Vanellus senegallus
860 - Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala
---
24/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#861; #872-877], Kuloro scrub [#862-865], Farasuto savanna [#866 - 867], Farasuto forest [#868-869], Pirang-Bonto forest [#870-871], Gambia)
861 - Marsh sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
862 - Namaqua dove, Oena capensis
863 - African darter, Anhinga rufa
864 - Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse, Pterocles exustus
865 - Black-headed lapwing, Vanellus tectus
866 - Red-winged prinia, Prinia erythroptera
867 - Cardinal woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens
868 - Green-headed sunbird, Cyanomitra verticalis
869 - White-backed night heron, Calherodius leuconotus
870 - Green crombec, Sylvietta virens
871 - Fanti saw-wing, Psalidoprocne obscura
872 - White-billed buffalo-weaver, Bubalornis albirostris
873 - Long-crested eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis
874 - Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca
875 - Four-banded sandgrouse, Pterocles quadricinctus
876 - Pearl-spotted owlet, Glaucidium perlatum
---
25/12/2023 (Sotokoi [#877], Brufut Woods [#878-879], Tanji beach [#880-883], Kotu creek [#884-886], Busumbala [#887], Gambia)
877 - Giant kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima
878 - Verreaux's eagle-owl, Ketupa lactea
879 - Vitelline masked weaver, Ploceus vitellinus
880 - Caspian tern, Hydroprogne caspia
881 - Great white pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus
882 - West African crested tern, Thalasseus albididorsalis
883 - Kelp gull, Larus dominicanus
884 - Greater painted-snipe, Rostratula benghalensis
885 - Greater blue-eared starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus
886 - Bronze-tailed starling, Lamprotornis chalcurus
887 - Red-necked falcon, Falco chicquera
---
26/12/2023 (Bonto Kunta fields [#888], Berending woods [#889], Gambia)
888 - Chestnut-bellied starling, Lamprotornis pulcher
889 - Western banded snake-eagle, Circaetus cinerascens
---
27/12/2023 (Kartong wetlands [#890-894], Kartong beach [#895])
890 - African swamphen, Porphyrio madagascariensis
891 - Spur-winged goose, Plectropterus gambensis
892 - Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis
893 - Plain-backed pipit, Anthus leucophrys
894 - Yellow-billed stork, Mycteria ibis
895 - White-fronted plover, Anarhynchus marginatus
---
28/12/2023 (Tanbi Wetland NP [#896], Cape Point [#897], Gambia)
896 - Mosque swallow, Cecropis senegalensis
897 - Black-casqued hornbill, Ceratogymna atrata
---
29/12/2023 (Bunyai [#898], North Bank road[#899-900; #903; #906; #908], Farafenni Wetlands [#901-902], Duta Bulu fields [#904-905]Gambia; Delta du Siné-Saloum [#908-909], Senegal)
898 - Bruce's green pigeon, Treron waalia
899 - Brown snake eagle, Circaetus cinereus
900 - African hawk-eagle, Aquila spilogaster
901 - Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus
902 - Beaudouin's snake-eagle, Circaetus beaudouini
903 - Anteater chat, Myrmecocichla aethiops
904 - Temminck's courser, Cursorius temminckii
905 - West African swallow, Cecropis domicella
906 - Dark chanting goshawk, Melierax metabates
907 - African sacred ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus
908 - Goliath heron, Ardea goliath
909 - Mangrove sunbird, Anthreptes gabonicus
---
30/12/2023 (Ndiaffate [#910], Ndiaffate fields [#911-913], Salines de Kaolack [#914], Route N1 Kaolack - Kaffrine [#915-916], Senegal)
910 - Scissor-tailed kite, Chelictinia riocourii
911 - White-rumped seedeater, Crithagra leucopygia
912 - Cut-throat finch, Amadina fasciata
913 - Savile's bustard, Lophotis savilei
914 - Black stork, Ciconia nigra
915 - Sahel paradise whydah, Vidua orientalis
916 - Black scrub robin, Cercotrichas podobe
917 - Blue-naped mousebird, Urocolius macrourus
---
31/12/2023 (Delta du Siné-Saloum [#918], Senegal; Farafenni wetlands [#919-920], N'jauri reservoir [#921-922], Janjanbureh [#923], Gambia)
918 - Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo
919 - Collared pratincole, Glareola pratincola
920 - Black crowned crane, Balearica pavonina
921 - Egyptian plover, Pluvianus aegyptius
922 - African green bee-eater, Merops viridissimus
923 - Swamp flycatcher, Muscicapa aquatica
MAMMALS:
First two I omitted to list (from Malaysia and Morocco respectively)
56 - Lesser short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus brachyotis
81 - House mouse, Mus musculus
And then the trip additions:
23/12/2023 (Abuko NR [#82-83], Gambia)
82 - Upper Guinea red colobus, Piliocolobus badius
83 - Gambian sun squirrel, Heliosciurus gambianus
---
24/12/2023 (Farasuto forest [#84], Sotokoi [#85], Gambia)
84 - Common patas, Erythrocebus patas
85 - Yellow-winged bat, Lavia frons
---
25/12/2023 (Sandicoly [#86], Senegal)
86 - Guinea baboon, Papio papio
---
26/12/2023 (N'jauri reservoir [#87], Gambia)
87 - Gambian epauletted fruit bat, Epomophorus gambianus
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You were on 78 mammals before, so I'm not sure what you should be on now. I'm guessing 86?
With the sun setting on the last day, a few last-ditch birding ventures this month only yielded two more new species:
Birds
213. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
214. Lilac-crowned Parrot (Amazona finschi)
With that my final total for the year is:
214 birds
25 mammals
17 reptiles
2 amphibians
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
The final numbers from my trips to Tasmania and Hawaii across the past two weeks. Travel threads will follow soon. For Tasmania, highlights included my first wild echidna (three separate sightings) and seeing many temperate species not found in my area. My first chitons were pretty cool as well around Hobart. In Honolulu, lots of non-native species fill the city but even from the centre, Waikiki Beach provided some fascinating reef fish and crustaceans – Moorish Idols in the wild were fantastic. White terns, day geckos and a new night heron species were additional memorable moments. My favourite invertebrates from Hawaii were the vivid orange Gulf Fritillaries and Emerald Cockroach Wasps. There will probably be a few additional inverts and fish from Hawaii as well once processed and identified.
Mammals
18) Red-bellied Pademelon Thylogale billardierii
19) Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
20) Brown Hare Lepus europaeus
21) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Birds
220) Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
221) Australian Painted-Snipe Rostratula australis
222) Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis
223) Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
224) Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus regina
225) Tasmanian Native-Hen Tribonyx mortierii
226) Forest Raven Corvus tasmanicus
227) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
228) White-fronted Chat Epthianura albifrons
229) Yellow Wattlebird Anthochaera paradoxa
230) Tasmanian Scrubwren Sericornis humilis
231) Beautiful Firetail Stagonopleura bella
232) Green Rosella Platycercus caledonicus
233) Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
234) Pallid Cuckoo Cacomantis pallidus
235) Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
236) Brown Falcon Falco berigora
237) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
238) Swamp Harrier Circus approximans
239) Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
240) Australasian Shoveler Spatula rhynchotis
241) Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
242) Zebra Dove Geopelia striata
243) White Tern Gygis alba
244) Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis [now split with coromandus found in Australia]
245) Red-crested Cardinal Paroaria coronata
246) Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
247) Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
248) Warbling White-eye Zosterops japonicus
249) White-rumped Shama Copsychus malabaricus
250) Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
251) House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
252) Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus
253) Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
254) Java Sparrow Lonchura oryzivora
255) Wandering Tattler Tringa incana
256) Brown Booby Sula leucogaster
Herptiles:
28) Gold-dust Day Gecko Phelsuma laticauda
29) Brown Anole Anolis sagrei
Fish:
11) Moorish Idol Zanclus cornutus
12) Wedgetail Triggerfish [Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa] Rhinecanthus rectangulus
13)Acute Halfbeak Hyporhamphus acutus
14) Indo-Pacific Sergeant Major Abudefduf vaigiensis
15) Saddle Wrasse Thalassoma duperrey
16) Seaweed Blenny Entomacrodus marmoratus
17) Hawaiian Islands Silverside Atherinomorus insularum
Inverts:
236) Leptomyrmex rufipes [spider ant]
237) Baehr's Cosmophasis Cosmophasis baehrae
238) Aedes vittiger [mosquito]
239) Tenodera blanchardi [mantis]
240) Phaneroptera gracilis [katydid]
241) Sumpigaster fasciata [bristle fly]
242) Yellow Paper Wasp Ropalidia romandi
243) Australian Leafwing Doleschallia bisaltide
244) Argentinian Scarab Cyclocephala signaticollis
245) Sapphire Rockmaster Diphlebia coerulescens
246) Orange Grass-Dart Ocybadistes ardea
247) Cruria synopla [day-flying moth]
248) Unicorn Hunter Austrogomphus cornutus
249) Polyrhachis erato [spiny ant]
250) Common Brown Heteronympha merope
251) Marbled Xenica Geitoneura klugii
252) Buff-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris
253) Yellow-striped Hunter Austrogomphus guerini
254) European Wasp Vespula germanica
255) Golden Twanger Diemeniana euronotiana
256) Metallic Shield Bug Scutiphora pedicellata
257) Inchman Ant Myrmecia forficate
258) Eastern Billabongfly Austroagrion watsoni
259) Blue Ringtail Austrolestes annulosus
260) Red and Blue Damsel Xanthagrion erythroneurum
261) Jack Jumper Ant Myrmecia pilosula
262) Lineated Cominella Cominella lineolata
263) Pacific Oyster Magallana gigas
264) Striped False Limpet Siphonaria diemenensis
265) Southeastern Austroicetes Austroicetes vulgaris
266) Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax
267) Thin-shelled Rock Crab Grapsus tenuicrustatus
268) Hawaiian Black Nerite Nerita picea
269) Valley Carpenter Bee Xylocopa sonorina
270) Gulf Fritillary Dione vanillae
271) Emerald Cockroach Wasp Ampulex compressa
272) Common Green Darner Anax junius
273) Large Orange Sulphur Phoebis agarithe
274) Vermilion Saddlebags Tramea abdominalis
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