Mammals
52. Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda
Zoochat Big Year 2024
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
52. Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda
night of 25.-26.07.24 - Randrup & drive back to Hurup, Thisted, Denmark
Mammals
23. Northern Birch Mouse (Sicista betulina)
24. European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
Very lucky to find it on the first try.
(A bit of a wonder that there’s any mice up here with the amount of cats running around. Felt like every 5m every corner I turned had another cat guarding it.)
But in any case I archived my main goal: to have a better Denmark list than @Giant Eland
Lol, well done! Happy to be of motivation for you. I'm still training my two year old to spot wild mammals, should be paying off soon haha.
Wow, family lifer for the Birch Mouse eh? At least for wild.
Birch mouse was a completely new family. Never seen one captive as far as I can remember.
Porpoise was a family lifer for the wild too.
Next stop USA.
Couple of additions from a dragonfly-focused trip to the Weerribben, a national park consisting mostly of wetlands. Perhaps most exciting was that a large portion of the route was traveled by canoe, my first time in one ever. Viewing dragonflies from inside the water is whole other experience and one I would definately recommend, even if we did not see that many species. It was mostly during a short walk afterwards that the good species were seen. Yellow-spotted emerald, spotted darter (both specialties of the Weerribben) and black darter (increasingly rare nationally and all but gone from my local area) were among the highlights. Besides dragonflies, a multitude of large golden grasshoppers and an excellent fly-by of a purple heron where among the most memorable sightings.
At a stop-over on the way back we were surprised by a black kite flying over, not exactly a common species in the Netherlands and my first one in quite a while.
Birds
216. Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Butterflies
43. Purple Hairstreak, Favonius quercus
44. Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus
Moths
100. Buff-tip, Phalera bucephala
101. Dingy Footman, Collita griseola
Dragonflies
35. Variable Bluet, Coenagrion pulchellum
36. Blue Hawker, Aeshna cyanea
37. Yellow-spotted Emerald, Somatochlora flavomaculata
38. Common Spreadwing, Lestes sponsa
39. Spotted Darter, Sympetrum depressiusculum
40. Black Darter, Sympetrum danae
41. Western Willow Spreadwing, Chalcolestes viridis
42. Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis
43. Green-eyed Hawker, Aeshna isoceles
Grasshoppers
16. Large Marsh Grasshopper, Stethophyma grossum
At a stop-over on the way back we were surprised by a black kite flying over, not exactly a common species in the Netherlands and my first one in quite a while.
Birds
216. Black Kite, Milvus migrans
Butterflies
43. Purple Hairstreak, Favonius quercus
44. Gatekeeper, Pyronia tithonus
Moths
100. Buff-tip, Phalera bucephala
101. Dingy Footman, Collita griseola
Dragonflies
35. Variable Bluet, Coenagrion pulchellum
36. Blue Hawker, Aeshna cyanea
37. Yellow-spotted Emerald, Somatochlora flavomaculata
38. Common Spreadwing, Lestes sponsa
39. Spotted Darter, Sympetrum depressiusculum
40. Black Darter, Sympetrum danae
41. Western Willow Spreadwing, Chalcolestes viridis
42. Brown Hawker, Aeshna grandis
43. Green-eyed Hawker, Aeshna isoceles
Grasshoppers
16. Large Marsh Grasshopper, Stethophyma grossum
Lafone
Well-Known Member
Echoing what Maguari said I've had some amazing trips out lately but it's not a mass of new things at this time of year. But with a group of 19 spoonbills in flight, young cranes and chicks for wetland birds of all shapes and sizes, my cup has been running over for sure!
The long days, even in the intense heat, have made for some great days out and while others head for the beach some of our wilder spaces are surprisingly uncrowded!
At Slimbridge, a bird that's evaded the camera so far this year perched outside the hide I was in watching the Egrets
83. Common whitethroat (Curruca communis) 26/07/2024 Slimbridge
On a lovely trip to Frampton there was an opportunity to photograph the back end of a weasel as it danced along the path in the sun. Not a fine shot but we will take it. Excellent to get another small mustelid in the mammals section.
11. Weasel (Mustela nivalis) 28/07/2024 Frampton Marsh
And then a great shot of a Red Admiral on private land while on an evening deer photo session. The light was amazing, that soft summer evening time when, in the middle of nowhere, you could be the only person on the planet. Lovely little butterfly joining the 'others'.
6. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 17/07/24 Estate
And enabling me to hit 100 things in the lens so far in 2024
Birds: 83
Mammals: 11
Other: 6
Total:
100
I must say I'd like a Glossy Ibis, it would be my first wild Ibis in the UK, so will check out where they might be!
The long days, even in the intense heat, have made for some great days out and while others head for the beach some of our wilder spaces are surprisingly uncrowded!
At Slimbridge, a bird that's evaded the camera so far this year perched outside the hide I was in watching the Egrets
83. Common whitethroat (Curruca communis) 26/07/2024 Slimbridge
On a lovely trip to Frampton there was an opportunity to photograph the back end of a weasel as it danced along the path in the sun. Not a fine shot but we will take it. Excellent to get another small mustelid in the mammals section.
11. Weasel (Mustela nivalis) 28/07/2024 Frampton Marsh
And then a great shot of a Red Admiral on private land while on an evening deer photo session. The light was amazing, that soft summer evening time when, in the middle of nowhere, you could be the only person on the planet. Lovely little butterfly joining the 'others'.
6. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 17/07/24 Estate
And enabling me to hit 100 things in the lens so far in 2024
Birds: 83
Mammals: 11
Other: 6
Total:
100
I must say I'd like a Glossy Ibis, it would be my first wild Ibis in the UK, so will check out where they might be!
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Moth trapping in the garden last night acquired me some lifers and year ticks:
250) Willow beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
251) Scalloped hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria
252) Yellow-barred brindle Acasis viretata
253) Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis
254) Riband wave Idaea aversata
255) Tawny grey Eudonia lacustrata
256) Large emerald Geometra papilionaria
257) Dotted clay Xestia baja
258) Grey dagger Acronicta psi
259) Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria
260) Gold spot Plusia festucae
261) Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
This morning and afternoon was spent at work up on the moors with the heat being very harsh. However, I did manage two odonata year ticks and an overdue mammal year tick:
262) Black darter Sympetrum danae
263) Common hawker Aeshna juncea
13) Mountain hare Lepus timidus
250) Willow beauty Peribatodes rhomboidaria
251) Scalloped hook-tip Falcaria lacertinaria
252) Yellow-barred brindle Acasis viretata
253) Mother of Pearl Pleuroptya ruralis
254) Riband wave Idaea aversata
255) Tawny grey Eudonia lacustrata
256) Large emerald Geometra papilionaria
257) Dotted clay Xestia baja
258) Grey dagger Acronicta psi
259) Oak hook-tip Watsonalla binaria
260) Gold spot Plusia festucae
261) Dun-bar Cosmia trapezina
This morning and afternoon was spent at work up on the moors with the heat being very harsh. However, I did manage two odonata year ticks and an overdue mammal year tick:
262) Black darter Sympetrum danae
263) Common hawker Aeshna juncea
13) Mountain hare Lepus timidus
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Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
232. Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio 1/8/24
233. Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa 1/8/24
232. Red-backed shrike, Lanius collurio 1/8/24
233. Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa 1/8/24
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Some inverts from work yesterday that I had forgotten:
264) Bilberry bumblebee Bombus monticola
265) Yellow-barred peat hoverfly Sericomyia silentis
264) Bilberry bumblebee Bombus monticola
265) Yellow-barred peat hoverfly Sericomyia silentis
Mammals
53. Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus
Osedax
Well-Known Member
I somehow forgot to count this one from ages ago.
Reptiles
18. Delicate Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Moth trapping again last night got me some more lifers and year ticks:
266) Small phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
267) Pearl veneer Agriphila straminella
268) Common rustic Mesapamea secalis
269) Oak lantern Carcina quercana
270) Marbled beauty Bryophila domestica
271) Water veneer Acentria ephemerella
272) Dusky pearl Udea prunalis
273) Dark neb Bryotropha affinis
274) Golden-brown tubic Crassa unitella
Today at work a butterfly and a rodent:
275) Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
14) Common shrew Sorex araneus
266) Small phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata
267) Pearl veneer Agriphila straminella
268) Common rustic Mesapamea secalis
269) Oak lantern Carcina quercana
270) Marbled beauty Bryophila domestica
271) Water veneer Acentria ephemerella
272) Dusky pearl Udea prunalis
273) Dark neb Bryotropha affinis
274) Golden-brown tubic Crassa unitella
Today at work a butterfly and a rodent:
275) Gatekeeper Pyronia tithonus
14) Common shrew Sorex araneus
Of course, shrews are not rodents. Great mothing however.
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
An early-evening stroll at Budby Heath today - this is my nightjar site in Sherwood Forest but I don't often go in 'proper' daylight. I went in vague hope of filling in a bogey species - either a late Tree Pipit, which is normally not tricky locally but has been giving me the runaround this year (despite others seeing them at at least of my sites - so they have been there!), or a Woodlark - probably the most bizarre and inexplicable gap in my British bird list (though I'd seen them no problem in Poland and Spain). Well - Tree Pipit was another dip, and I might be out of luck on those this year at this point, but I did finally encounter a pair of Woodlark. At last, that frustrating gap is filled.
Birds:
187. Woodlark - Lululla arborea
(UK: 184)
Birds:
187. Woodlark - Lululla arborea
(UK: 184)
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Had a great visit to Centennial Park today, with plenty of great views of species already on my yearlist (as well as Greylag Geese but I'm guessing I can't count those). However I did get a yeartick - Hardhead, which I have only seen wild three times previously. Two of those times I only saw a single bird, and the third time was a pair, so it was a very pleasant experience spotting eight today (among the many many Pacific Black Ducks and Eurasian Coots, Australian White Ibises, Black Swans and Australian Pelicans - someone was feeding them all)
Birds
190. Hardhead (Aythya australis)
As an aside, I also finally got my first UK Common Kingfisher of 2024 this evening, so the UK total is now 185. As I'd already seen one in Germany the main total is unaffected. The two species splitting the lists still are German sightings of Black Redstart and White Stork - neither impossible to see in the UK..! All being well that gap between the main and UK lists will open back up during November though...
Previous list was actually from the 27.07.24. Not sure what went wrong with my brain there.
Another addition from Stensnæs on the 27.07.24.
Birds
09. Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
-----------------------------------------------
28.07.24 - Borris Hede, Denmark
Birds
10. Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
11. Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus)
...and that's Denmark done for this trip.
03.08.24 - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Got into our accommodation quite late the day before after about 25h of flights, stop-overs, delays, etc.
So today was a quite day exploring the city and getting a sim-card and a sunburn.
Birds (non-passerines)
12. White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica asiatica)
13. Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita zenaida)
Birds (passerines)
14. Grey Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis dominicensis)
15. Pearly-eyed Thrasher (Margarops fuscatus fuscatus)
16. Eastern Red-legged Thrush (Turdus ardosiaceus ardosiaceus)
17. Greater Antillean Grackle (Quiscalus niger brachypterus)
18. Common Bananaquit (Coereba (flaveola) bartholemica)
Reptiles
01. Greater Puerto Rican Ameiva (Pholidoscelis exsul)
02. Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)
So only *technically* the US then.
CarnotaurusSastrei
Well-Known Member
Honestly wasn't expecting to see much on a recent visit to Wisconsin Dells, but managed to spot a couple birds to add to my list
135. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) - I'm pretty sure these are the first I've seen in almost 20 years
136. Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
137. American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)
The Dells and the surrounding area are actually pretty good for wildlife. Are you sure about the black duck though? This is really out of season for them in that area.