Zoochat Big Year 2024

My second moth trap of the year was set last night. This is what I found come this morning:

107) Common marbled carpet Dysstroma truncata
108) Sandy carpet Perizoma flavofasciata
109) Clouded border Lomaspilis marginata
110) Flame shoulder Ochropleura plecta
111) Common swift Korscheltellus lupulina
112) Dark strawberry tortrix Syricoris lacunana
113) Yellow-faced bell Notocelia cynosbatella
114) White ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda
115) Pale tussock Calliteara pudibunda
116) Black burying beetle Nicrophorus humator
117) Common cockchafer Melolontha melolontha
118) Tipula varipennis
 
CMP said:
Some very nice lifers from this batch in April

Mammals
17. Groundhog (Marmota monax)
April 9, seen on campus while walking home after class​
18. Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) (Lifer)

I've long wanted to see a landed and identifiable bat species. I've seen plenty in flight during summer evenings, but those are often only IDed to family level. I was pleasantly surprised on my walk home, when I passed some flowering trees that I glanced at to admire the flowers. On the tree was an odd fuzzy fruit. Interesting, I thought, and almost continued on my way, until it registered, and I did a double take. An eastern red bat! I snapped a couple photos with my phone, wishing I had my camera to take shots of the amazing and well posed creature, but happy to have found it nonetheless.

Birds
April 4, I surveyed the country roads looking for Smith's longspurs, one of the best annually occurring birds in my area. I tried once unsuccessfully last year and was determined to find one this year. Found many Vesper sparrows in the country and the swallow at Riverbend forest preserve along the way. The male smiths in breeding plumage are really strikingly beautiful.​
161. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
162. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
163. Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) (Lifer)

Went with some friends to refind the smiths for them and also check out the 'county line floodle' where we had a large flock of one of my highly wanted species, one of the more common ones I'd been missing.​
164. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
165. American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (Lifer)

April 10, my backyard​
166. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

April 12, one of my other most wanted IL birds was especially showy among the reeds at dusk at Weaver Park​
167. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) (Lifer)

April 13, A nice pair of thrashers at McKee Marsh in Dupage Co, no county 1st or one of less than 10 state records or anything :p​
168. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
169. Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) (Wild)

If someone told me I'd have Sage Thrasher this year, I'd believe them but only because I was in northern Arizona in January. Got pretty lucky with this bird as I was in the area and showed up to the spot right as it perched beautifully and then hid until the next day. Did miss out on a well-seen Burrowing Owl at Montrose, however I'll take the thrasher over the owl.


Reptiles
At McKee marsh April 13
3. Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Fish
April 8, at Sam Parr state park in Jasper Co, where I went after watching the eclipse. No new species while watching the eclipse but I saw a lot of interesting behavior from Tree Swallows and even heard and saw Soras vocalizing.
3. Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

Inverts
14. Greater bee fly (Bombylius major) (Lifer)
Also at Sam Parr, bee flies and other mimic flies are always really cool to find
Click to expand...
CMP said:
Some very nice lifers from this batch in April

Mammals
17. Groundhog (Marmota monax)
April 9, seen on campus while walking home after class​
18. Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis) (Lifer)

I've long wanted to see a landed and identifiable bat species. I've seen plenty in flight during summer evenings, but those are often only IDed to family level. I was pleasantly surprised on my walk home, when I passed some flowering trees that I glanced at to admire the flowers. On the tree was an odd fuzzy fruit. Interesting, I thought, and almost continued on my way, until it registered, and I did a double take. An eastern red bat! I snapped a couple photos with my phone, wishing I had my camera to take shots of the amazing and well posed creature, but happy to have found it nonetheless.

Birds
April 4, I surveyed the country roads looking for Smith's longspurs, one of the best annually occurring birds in my area. I tried once unsuccessfully last year and was determined to find one this year. Found many Vesper sparrows in the country and the swallow at Riverbend forest preserve along the way. The male smiths in breeding plumage are really strikingly beautiful.​
161. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
162. Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
163. Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) (Lifer)

Went with some friends to refind the smiths for them and also check out the 'county line floodle' where we had a large flock of one of my highly wanted species, one of the more common ones I'd been missing.​
164. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
165. American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (Lifer)

April 10, my backyard​
166. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

April 12, one of my other most wanted IL birds was especially showy among the reeds at dusk at Weaver Park​
167. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) (Lifer)

April 13, A nice pair of thrashers at McKee Marsh in Dupage Co, no county 1st or one of less than 10 state records or anything :p​
168. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
169. Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) (Wild)

If someone told me I'd have Sage Thrasher this year, I'd believe them but only because I was in northern Arizona in January. Got pretty lucky with this bird as I was in the area and showed up to the spot right as it perched beautifully and then hid until the next day. Did miss out on a well-seen Burrowing Owl at Montrose, however I'll take the thrasher over the owl.


Reptiles
At McKee marsh April 13
3. Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Fish
April 8, at Sam Parr state park in Jasper Co, where I went after watching the eclipse. No new species while watching the eclipse but I saw a lot of interesting behavior from Tree Swallows and even heard and saw Soras vocalizing.
3. Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)

Inverts
14. Greater bee fly (Bombylius major) (Lifer)
Also at Sam Parr, bee flies and other mimic flies are always really cool to find
Click to expand...
Catching up with migration here

Birds
April 15, Moorman Swine ponds​
170. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
171. House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
172. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
173. Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)

April 20, Busey Woods, really odd place for this lifer, as a result got spectacular views!​
174. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) (Lifer)
175. Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Finally got a trio of lost whistling ducks. They're in the area for about a day almost every year, but I missed them in the past. April 27 Target parking lot retention pond.​
176. Black-bellied Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna atumnalis) (Lifer)

April 28, Middlefork River Forest Preserve, finally got the Cranes in Champaign Co.​
177. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
178. Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis)
179. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
180. Swainson’s Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)
181. Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus)
182. Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum)

Busey Woods, looking (unsuccessfully) for a Worm-eating Warbler. The falcon was really nice for the county, though, and I'd never seen one in Illinois.​
183. Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)
184. Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)
185. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
186. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

April 29, I returned to Busey woods for migration​
187. Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)
188. Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
189. Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)
190. Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)
191. Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla)
192. Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)
193. Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)
194. Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)
195. Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)
196. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
197. Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
198. Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
199. Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)
200. Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)
201. Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)
202. Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
203. Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)
204. Prothonotary Warbler (Prothonotaria citrea)
205. Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
206. Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
207. Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa)
208. Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) (Lifer)
Whippoorwill was a previously heard only species I finally saw after someone flushed it in Busey woods and it landed in a tree. It made up for the Chuck-will's-widow in town that I missed (Would have been heard only though)
209. Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) (Lifer)
A second previously heard only lifer I saw in the night while trying to refind the Chuck

April 30, on the north quad of my campus, surprisingly cooperative warbler spent the day there and gave spectacular views, in sharp contrast to the sulky one I missed at Busey earlier​
210. Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) (Lifer)
I then saw a family of owls in Urbana after class​
211. Barred Owl (Strix varia)

A solid April, putting me over 200. Accidentally included repeat Black-and-white warbler initially because I completely forgot I saw a vagrant one in AZ in Jan.

Inverts
15. Silverfish (Lepisma saccharina)
16. American dog/wood tick (Dermacentor variabilis)
17. Bluegrass billbug weevil (Sphenophorus parvulus)
18. Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
19. American lady (Vanessa virginiensis) (Wild)
20. Six-spotted green tiger beetle (Cicindela sexguttata)
 
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Crotalus said:
I was struck by the small, almost sparrow-like size of this species - I had been expecting it to be grackle or mockingbird sized.
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I'm surprised you had this impression, they're actually the size of robins. Size is an easy thing to confuse especially if the bird in question is distant.

Congratulations on discovering grassland birding!
 
Crotalus said:
With a new set of binoculars and about two weeks break between spring and summer classes, I've been eager to get out and bird, though even with a small gap, most time was taken up with moving and buying supplies. Of the time I was able to spend out in nature, there were 3 main trips I took over the past several days, all with somewhat specific goals. The first was to see the Northern Lights, which, despite driving 45 minutes North, was sadly fruitless. The Northern Lights have been visible as far south as Alabama, but it always seems that people who drive specifically to look for it miss out :p I'll have other chances to see it farther North though. I did see plenty of rats taking out the trash that night.

As for the second journey, I walked along Vulcan Trail, a forested ridge overlooking the city. A couple of neat birds had been reported here - Scarlet Tanager, Swainson's Warbler, and Bay-Breasted Warbler, to name a few - but the only new bird here was a yearly Great Crested Flycatcher. I flipped rocks along the trail hoping to find some herps, and while there were many Southeastern Five-Lined Skinks sunning, no snakes.

The final trip was to a small birding hotspot near the Birmingham Airport - "Zion Prairie." A network of several large, grassy, prairie-like meadows and rolling hills, this area is truly a goldmine for grassland birds. I went in with low expectations - after not seeing the aurora or any new birds despite some being reported just days prior, I tried not to get too excited. Still, I went in with a goal bird in mind - the Eastern Meadowlark. Once I got there, there was trash strewn about on the road and several couches laying around. I didn't let this discourage me and walked on, and while nothing appeared at first save for omnipresent mockingbirds and a lone Indigo Bunting, birds eventually came out of the woodwork, starting with a bathing Field Sparrow, my first lifer of the day. Before long, an Eastern Meadowlark flew up to a powerline and began to sing. I was struck by the small, almost sparrow-like size of this species - I had been expecting it to be grackle or mockingbird sized. I saw several more that day, but the highlight was a huge flock of around 35 Bobolink that fluttered low above the grass before disappearing among the stems. This is an extremely rare bird in the Birmingham area and, as I learned, was very localized. What an amazing day of birding!

Mammals:
7. Black Rat (Rattus rattus) - 5/11/24


Birds:
76. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) - 5/12/24
77. Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) – 5/13/24
78. Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – 5/13/24
79. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) – 5/13/24
80. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) – 5/13/24


Invertebrates:
50. Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) – 5/12/24
51. Eastern Tawny-Horned Spider Wasp (Entypus unifasciatus) – 5/13/24


Butterflies/Moths:
9. Silver-Spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus) – 5/12/24
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CMP said:
I'm surprised you had this impression, they're actually the size of robins. Size is an easy thing to confuse especially if the bird in question is distant.

Congratulations on discovering grassland birding!
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Yeah come to think of it are you sure it was a meadowlark? They're way bigger than any sparrow. Maybe try looking at Dickcissel?
 
Bisonblake said:
Just had my last Michigan birding trip for a while today. I went to Lake St. Clair Metropark (known by locals as Metrobeach) with @Azamat Shackleford and another one of my close friends. It was a fruitful day with 43 species and a few chicks. We found a red-tailed hawk and a chick in a nest which was probably my favorite sighting from today. While they are one of the most common raptors I see, I've never seen a raptor chick in person. The park has also had a pair of neotropic cormorants for the fourth straight year, but we didn't have any luck finding them. I did see a couple reported sightings from today, but it's nearly impossible to distinguish them from the 300+ double-crested cormorants. Apart from birds, I did see a northern shorted-tailed shrew crawling through the reeds in one area.

5/3/24
Birds:
150. Chimney swift Chaetura pelagica
151. Eastern kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus
152. Yellow warbler Setophaga petechia

5/4/24
Birds:
153. Forster's tern Sterna forsteri
154. Great-horned owl Bubo virginianus
155. Warbling vireo Vireo gilvus
156. Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus

Mammals:
11. Northern short-tailed shrew Blarina brevicauda

Total Species: 186
Birds: 156
Mammals: 11
Reptiles: 9
Amphibians: 1
Fish: 17
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I will now be living in Indiana for the foreseeable future. I've been busy the past couple of weeks finding a place to live and starting my new job, so I haven't been able to update my totals. I was able to surpass my bird total from last year and find my 200th lifer! Anyway, here is my recap of the past two weeks.

5/5/24
I walked around my parent's neighborhood for one last time before I left the next day. I know I'll be back eventually, but it may be a while. I don't normally see predation, but a coyote chased down the resident sandhill cranes, though it was unsuccessful.

Birds:
157. Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina

Mammals:
12. Coyote Canis latrans

5/8/24
I've now been staying in Fort Wayne for a couple days and decided to check out my favorite birding spot. I went here almost every weekend last summer and couldn't wait to revisit. I always see a variety of all kinds of animals. I managed to pick up new reptilian lifers right on top of each other. A spiny softshell turtle was basking on a fallen branch when a spotted turtle swam up and climbed onto its shell.

Birds:
158. Sedge wren Cistothorus stellaris

Reptiles:
10. Spiny softshell turtle Apalone spinifera
11. Spotted turtle Clemmys guttata

Fish:
18. Brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis

5/13/24
Driving into work a common nighthawk flew across the street into a forested area. I think I've seen a couple around the area before then, but that was my best view at one.

Birds:
159. Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor

5/16/24
I went to the park next to the zoo to explore for warblers. I struggled to find anything when I went birding here last summer, but maybe more experience would help me. I took a different route than I usually do, and found the old gravel road to have the most activity.

Birds:
160. Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris
161. Carolina chickadee Poecile carolinensis
162. Swainson's thrush Catharus ustulatus
163. Magnolia warbler Setophaga magnolia
164. Bay-breasted warbler Setophaga castanea (200th lifer!)

Total Species: 186
Birds: 164
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 11
Amphibians: 1
Fish: 18
 
A nice morning at the lowland heathland acquired me some lovely species. Hopefully the list from this morning only continues to grow:

119) Broad-bodied chaser dragonfly Libellula
depressa
120) Grey sailor beetle Cantharis nigricans
121) Rustic sailor beetle Cantharis rustica
122) Common heath moth Ematurga atomaria
123) Brown silver-line moth Petrophora chlorosata
124) Downlooker snipefly Rhagio scolopaceus
125) Bracken planthopper Ditropis pteridis
 
I’ve been back down in south-central for nearly two weeks and some casual hiking and checking the usual spots has gotten me a few more birds and mammals…so to recap the first half of the year (nearly):

Birds:
1. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens)
2. Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons)
3. Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii)
4. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
5. Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)
6. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
7. American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
8. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
9. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
10. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
11. Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)
12. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)
13. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
14. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
15. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
16. Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica)
17. Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)
18. Willow Ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus)
19. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
20. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)
21. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis)
22. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
23. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
24. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
25. Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus)
26. Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
27. Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
28. Common Loon (Gavia immer)
29. Northern Harrier (Circus hudonius)
30. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
31. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
32. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubeacens)
33. Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus)
34. Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
35. Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
36. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
37. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
38. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
39. Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
40. Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
41. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
42. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
43. Varied Thrush (Icoreus naevius)
44. Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea)
45. White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera)
46. Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus)
47. Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
48. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
49. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
50. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
51. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)
52. Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis)
53. Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)

Mammals:
1. Moose
2. Caribou
3. Dall Sheep
4. Arctic Fox
5. Red Fox
6. North American River Otter
7. American Black Bear
8. North American Brown/Berengian Lemming
9. House Mouse
10. Muskrat
11. North American Porcupine
12. Hoary Marmot
13. American Red Squirrel
14. Snowshoe Hare
 
Last night I set up the moth trap at home for the 3rd annual trapping. It was a bit quiet which is expected at this time of year but I managed three lifers:

126) Herald moth Scoliopteryx libatrix
127) Maiden's blush Cyclophora punctaria
128) May highflyer Hydriomena impluviata
 
red river hog said:
Birds:
84. Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
85. Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
86. Laughing gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
87. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
88. Boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major)
89. Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
90. Semipalmated plover (Charadrius semipalmata)
91. Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
92. Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubrus)
93. Common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

Fishes:
3. Amur carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus)

Invertebrates:
19. Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)
20. Eastern tent caterpillar (Malacosoma americana)
21. Leopard slug (Limax maximus)
22. Eastern boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata)

Mammals: 16
Birds: 93
Herptiles: 8
Fishes: 3
Invertebrates: 22
Total: 142
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Birds:

94. Carolina wren (Thrythorus ludovicianus)
95. Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)
96. Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Herptiles:

9. American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)
10. Green frog (Lithobates clamitans)
11. Northern dusky salamander (Desmognathus fuscus)

Invertebrates:

23. Metric paper wasp (Polistes metricus)
24. Slender amber snail (Oxyloma elegans)
25. Eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons)
26. Eastern black carpenter ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus)
27. European paper wasp (Polistes dominula)
28. Tan jumping spider (Platycryptus undatus)
29. Common spitting spider (Scytodes thoracica)
30. Eastern amberwing (Perithemis tenera)
31. Margined calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus)
32. Striped horse fly (Tabanus lineola)

Mammals: 16
Birds: 96
Herptiles: 11
Fishes: 3
Invertebrates: 32
Total: 158
 
Platypusboy said:
Spring has arrived to Finland and it definitely shows! Thousands of water birds, birds of prey and passerines are making their way across the Baltic sea right now. So I thought now was the perfect time to go on a real migration watching trip. The best place to do that here is a small cliff at the very end of the Porkkala peninsula called Pampskatan. It's so far out in the outer archipelago, that it is one of the first places migratory birds can be seen in the spring. So armed with my gear and some snacks I arrived at the cliff at six in the morning

I had a great time watching the migration and chatting with the other birders there. To be honest, I probably would not have been able to see or identify many of the birds with out them:p. In total I spent 4 hours watching birds go by on that cliff and afterwards I spent some time in the surrounding forests looking for Crested tits.

All in all, I added 21 new species to my list, of which 5 were lifers! Definitely one of the most successful trips of my life! :D

(Just a disclaimer, but the order in which I saw all the birds may not be entirely correct, as it was hard to keep track due to the sheer amount that were constantly going by).

123. Mistle thrush, Turdus viscivorus 28/3/24
124. European herring gull, Larus argentatus 28/3/24
125. Common eider, Somateria mollissima 28/3/24
126. Long-tailed duck, Clangula hyemalis 28/3/24
127. Common goldeneye, Blucephala clangula 28/3/24
128. Arctic loon, Gavia arctica 28/3/24
129. Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator 28/3/24
130. Great cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo 28/3/24
131. White-tailed eagle, Haliaeetus albicilla 28/3/24
132. Eurasian oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus 28/3/24
133. Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus 28/3/24
134. Redwing, Turdus iliacus 28/3/24
135. Velvet scoter, Melanitta fusca 28/3/24
136. Lesser black-backed gull, Larus fuscus 28/3/24
137. Grey heron, Ardea cinerea 28/3/24
138. Gadwall, Mareca strepera 28/3/24
139. Barnacle goose, Branta leucopsis 28/3/24
140. Smew, Mergellus albellus 28/3/24
141. European golden plover, Pluvialis apricaria 28/3/24
142. Common chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs 28/3/24
143. Crested tit, Lophophanes cristatus 28/3/24
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Nearly two months later, it was finally time for me to return to Pampskatan. With thousands of waders, waterfowl and other arctic breeders returning to their breeding grounds in the Siberian tundra right now, I just had to go witness their journey. :D

This time, instead of driving there really early in the morning, I got to stay with my godparents at their cabin that's very close to the peninsula. I headed out to the cabin yesterday, where I spent some time with my godparents, before going to be quite early. The next morning I woke up bright and early (3:40 am :rolleyes:), quietly snuck out of the cabin and walked for around half an hour to the peninsula. Once there, I set up my gear and settled in for a long morning of birding.

Unfortunately, the first 3-4 hours were rather uneventful and my hopes of finding rarities slowly started to dwindle. But right after the four hour mark, things started to change. Suddenly I was successfully finding all my target species, while also being surrounded by loads of beautiful honey buzzards, a species I never realized I could see there. Seven hours and eight lifers later it was time to call it a day, but what a day it had been! :D

While I was walking back to the cabin, I knelt down a bit of the trail for a second to tie my undone shoelaces. As I raise my knee, I look to my right, only to see THE MOST MASSIVE adder I have ever seen in my life about a meter away from me. Thankfully it was quite docile, as it did not immediately lunge for my ankles, and I was able to back away safely. A rather frightening encounter with a species I haven't seen in at least six years! :confused:

Mammals

10. White-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus 17/5/24

Birds

195. Greater scaup, Aythya marila 18/5/24
196. Brant, Branta bernicla 18/5/24
197. Common shelduck, Tadorna tadorna 18/5/24
198. Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata 18/5/24
199. European honey buzzard, Pernis apivorus 18/5/24
200. Parasitic jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus 18/5/24
201. Eurasian hobby, Falco subbuteo 18/5/24
202. Pallid harrier, Circus macrourus 18/5/24

Reptiles

9. Adder, Vipera berus 18/5/24
 
Platypusboy said:
Reptiles
8. Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara 14/5/24
Click to expand...
Platypusboy said:
9. Adder, Vipera berus 18/5/24
Click to expand...
Your numbering is all out of whack, but you're on 7 reptiles now, not 9.

birdsandbats said:
Mammals
45. Virginia Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Click to expand...
birdsandbats said:
Mammals
45. Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis
Click to expand...
You're on 46 mammals, not 45.

Prochilodus246 said:
126) Herald moth Scoliopteryx libatrix
127) Maiden's blush Cyclophora punctaria
128) May highflyer Hydriomena impluviata
Click to expand...
I stopped updating your invertebrate total several posts prior to this. You'll need to go through your list and find where-ever you started miscounting then provide an accurate final number.
 
Chlidonias said:
I stopped updating your invertebrate total several posts prior to this. You'll need to go through your list and find where-ever you started miscounting then provide an accurate final number.
Click to expand...

It appears as I only counted the no. 107 twice so I should be on 129. Thanks for raising this :)
 
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birdsandbats said:
Includes a very exciting (and beautiful!) first-state-record bird I chased today:

Birds
428. Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
429. Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina
430. Northern Parula Setophaga americana
431. Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca
432. Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera
433. Varied Bunting Passerina versicolor
434. Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia
435. Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Herps
52. Green Frog Lithobates clamitans
Click to expand...
birdsandbats said:
Birds
450. Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
451. Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
452. Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
453. Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
454. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Click to expand...
birdsandbats said:
Birds
450. Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens
451. Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii
452. Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata
453. Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus
454. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi
Click to expand...
Birds
455. Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
456. Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum

Herps
53. American Toad Anaxyrus americanus
 
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