Zoochat Big Year 2024

[Lota lota]

First bird of the year was a very early tick, a flyover magpie at 00:02.I also saw a roedeer before I went to bed at 04:30.

Stockholm welcomed the first day of the year with icy, cold winds and overcast skies. The snow cover that blessed us with a white Christmas largley thawed away, which added to the overall depressing gloominess this day. I only got out at about 14:30, which left me with about 30 minutes of daylight to bird. The harsh conditions led to the birdlife being very quiet, and very common species like nuthatch, fieldfare, and greater-spotted woodpecker slipped under my radar.
1 Eurasian magpie (PIca pica)
2 Common blackbird (Turdus merula)
3 Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
4 Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
5 Great tit (Parus major)
6 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
7 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
8 Eurasian siskin (Spinus spinus)
9 Hooded crow (Corvus cornix)
10 Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

1 Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)
2 Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

 

[Great Argus]

Similar to Chlidonias and Mr Zootycoon, new year's birding was a low key affair while coming off of being under the weather. The weather was surprisingly sunny and nice given it rained yesterday and is supposed to rain tomorrow, and wandering around my yard and the nearby neighborhood area for a couple hours proved pleasantly fruitful.

Mammals:

1. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)

Birds:

1. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
2. Gadwall (Anas strepera)
3. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
4. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)
5. California Quail (Callipepla californica)
6. Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
7. Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
8. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte annae)
9. American Coot (Fulica americana)
10. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
11. Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritus)
12. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
13. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
14. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
15. Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
16. Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
17. Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)
18. Acorn Woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
19. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
20. Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)
21. California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)
22. Common Raven (Corvus corax)
23. Oak Titmouse (Baelophus inornatus)
24. Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
25. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
26. Bewick’s Wren (Thyromanes bewickii)
27. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
28. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
29. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
30. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
31. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
32. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
33. House Finch (Haemohorus mexicana)
34. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
35. Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
36. White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
37. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
38. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
39. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
40. Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)
41. Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoenicius)
-- Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)

Reptiles:

1. Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata)

Amphibians:

1. Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)

Invertebrates:

1. Bordered Plant Bug (Largus succintus)
2. European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

 

[boof]

2/1/2024
97. White-winged Chough

 

[Osedax]

Birds
1. Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
2. Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala)
3. Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina)
4. Grey Butcherbird (Cracticus torquatus)
5. Noisy Friarbird (Philemon corniculatus)
6. Common Mynah (Acridotheres tristis)
7. Welcome Swallow (Hirundo neoxena)
8. Crested Pigeon (Ocyphaps lophotes)
9. Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
10. Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)
11. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo (Zanda funerea)
12. Australian King Parrot (Alisterus scapularis)
13. Satin Bowerbird (Ptilinorhynchus violaceus)
14. Eastern Spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)
15. Magpie-lark (Grallina cyanoleuca)

Went for a short bushwalk today and somehow managed two lifers!

Birds
16. Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
17. Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla)
18. Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata)
19. Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)
20. Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
21. Brown Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia phasianella)

Reptiles
1. Common Garden Sunskink (Lampropholis guichenoti)

 

[MRJ]

Summer is our busiest time at Moonlit Sanctuary, so I don't ever go far during the holiday period. Yesterday (New Years Day) I spent most of the morning in the back room on the computer, with a good view out to our yard. Generally we have a pretty good array of birds going backwards and forwards, but yesterday I only saw two species.

1. Red wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
2. Common mynah Acridotheres tristis (introduced)

Afterwards I did a couple of walks through the Sanctuary picking up some species I would normally expect to find there.

3. Chestnut teal Anas castanea
4. Grey teal Anas gracilis
5. Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa
6. Cape Barren goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
7. Maned duck Chenonetta jubata
8. Australasian grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
9. Crested pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
10. Common bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
11. Spotted turtle-dove Spilopelia chinensis
12. Eurasian coot Fulica atra
13. Dusky moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
14. Australasian swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
15. Eastern rosella Platycercus eximius
16. Noisy miner Manorina melanocephala
17. Black-faced cuckooshrike Coracina novaehollandiae
18. Magpie lark Grallina cyanoleuca

Late afternoon headed to the bottom of the Peninsula, and walked a track from Main Creek Picnic Ground and then walked out to the lookout at Cape Schanck.

19. Australasian gannet Morus serrator
20. Silver gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
21, Black-shouldered kite Elanus axillaris
22. Sulphur-crested cockatoo Cacatua galerita
23, Superb fairywren Malurus cyaneus
24, Striated thornbill Acanthiza katherina
25, Australian magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
26, Grey fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
27. Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
28. European starling Sturnus vulgaris (introduced)
29. European blackbird Turdus merula

Today, I drove across to Werribee and toured the central part of the Western Treatment Plant birdwatching area.

Mammals
1. European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus EN (introdjuced0

Birds
30. Hardhead Aythya australis
31. Musk duck Biziura lobata
32. Black swan Cygnus atratus
33. Pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus membranaceus
34. Australian shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
35. Hoary-headed grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
36. Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
37. White-faced heron Egretta novaehollandiae
38. Australian white ibis Threskiornis molucca
39. Little pied cormorant Microcarbo melanoleucos
40. Little black cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
41. Australian pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
42. Pied stilt Himantopus leucocephalus
43 .Red-necked avocet Recurvirostra novaehollandiae
44. Black shouldered lapwing Vanellus novaehollandiae
45. Red-necked stint Calidris ruficollis
46. Whiskered tern Chlidonias hybrida
47. Greater crested tern Thalasseus bergii
48. Swamp harrier Circus approximans
49. Black kite Milvus migrans
50. White-browed scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
51. Golden-headed cisticola Cisticola exilis
52. Little grassbird Poodytes gramineus
53. Australian reed warbler Acrocephalus australis
54. Welcome swallow Hirundo neoxena

 

[Prochilodus246]

A very quick bird around my campus got me the following:

Weather has been utterly dire but all the flooded finds will give me opportunities for waders, fingers crossed.

22) Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
23) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
24) Stock dove (Columbia oenas)
25) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)
26) Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
27) Redwing (Turdus iliacus)

 

[Bactrian Deer]

This year better be fun, as now I have the full year to birdwatch instead of half of the year, and I will be traveling to Italy and Greece and hopefully I will find some lifers!
Somehow haven’t left my house once and I have seen seven species from my window
Mammals:

1. Fox Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis 1-1-2023

Birds:

1. Brown Creeper, Certhia americana 1-1-2023
   
   
2. Carolina Chickadee, Poecile Carolinensis 1-1-2023
   
   
3. American Crow, Crovus Brachyrhynchos 1-1-2023
   
   
4. Canada Goose, Branta Canadensis 1-1-2023
   
   
5. Mallard, Anus Platyrhynchos, 1-1-2023
   
   
6. Dark-Eyed Junco, Junco Hyemalis, 1-2-2023
   

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Fingers crossed I can stay on top of the list this year; missed a whole bunch from Korea and Singapore, as well as U.K. stuff last year. Anyway-
Birds
1/1
Within my street
1 Herring Gull Larus argentatus
2 Feral Pigeon Columba livia
3 Carrion Crow Corvus corone
4 Magpie Pica pica
5 Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
Crosby Marine Lake
6 Blue Tit Cyanidtes caeruleus
7 Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
8 Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
9 Little Egret Egreta garzetta
10 Mute Swan Cygnus olor
11 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
12 Canada Goose Branta canadensis
13 Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
14 Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
15 Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica
This immature was the reason for the trip; great to see one only 10m or so away.
Seen in transit
16 Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto
17 Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus
18 Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
19 Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Lunt Nature Reserve
20 Goosander Mergus merganser
21 Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
22 Eurasian Teal Anas crecca
23 Shoveler Anas clypeata
24 Wigeon Anas penelope
25 Tufted Duck Anas fuligula
26 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
27 Greylag Goose Anser anser
28 Gadwall Anas strepera
29 Coot Fulica atra
30 Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
31 Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
32 Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
33 Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii
These were the targets here; both found with their closest relatives, but neither being inspirational. The teal was totally static, and the goose only visible while looking through a bush!
34 Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
35 Redshank Tringa totanus
36 Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
37 Robin Erithacus rubecula
38 Stock Dove Columba oenas
In transit
39 Blackbird Turdus merula
40 Common Gull Larus canus
41 Jackdaw Corvus monedula
42 Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
Martin Mere
43 Pintail Anas acuta
44 Pochard Aythya ferina
45 Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
46 Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
(Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis
An individual of unknown origin, but although undeniably wild birds of other species were in the same feeding scrum, I don’t think it’s chances of being a wild bird are as high as 1%!)
47 Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
48 Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
Mammals
1 Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis locally
2 Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus at Martin Mere

2/1
A much worse day for weather!
Burton Mere
49 Ruff Philomachus pugnax
50 Great Tit Parus major
51 Great White Egret Casmerodias albus
52 Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
53 Jay Garrulus glandarius
New Brighton
54 Starling Sternus vulgaris
55 Turnstone Arenaria interpres
56 Sanderling Calidris alba
57 Dunlin Calidris alpina
58 Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima
easiest to find at their high tide roost on a pontoon in the Marine Lake.
Missed from Lunt yesterday
59 Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

 

[KiwiBirb]

Deciding to give this game a go this year. While not an experienced birder, I hope doing this can improve my skills.
First this morning I watched my feeders for a good 30 minutes, unfortunately it didn’t even attract many birds today.

Mammals
1) Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

Birds
1) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
2) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
3) Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
4) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

I then went over to the Bergen County Zoo where I saw a pair of Mallards swimming through the creek. I unfortunately didn’t have time to go through the rest of the park today, but I hope to go somewhere this weekend.

Birds
5) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

My second day of the challenge! I was back to the work grind today causing me to only find 4 new species, although I did hear my local pair of Great-Horned Owls this evening.

Birds
6) American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
7) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
8) Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
9) Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Additional Heard Only Species
1) Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

 

[BerdNerd]

1/2/23


Birds:

1. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
2. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
3. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
4. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)


Invertebrates:

1. American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)


Total:

Birds: 4
Invertebrates: 1

 

[Platypusboy]

So a few months ago, right after I found out we were headed to Florida for the winter, I went and pitched an idea to my dad. I knew I couldn’t occupy parts of every day with my birding activities, so my proposal to him was to just occupy one entire day with nothing but birding. To my slight surprise, he agreed.

So as the day came, the two of us woke up at 6 am, hopped in a rented car and spent the next 10 hours continuously birding around Fort Myers. My original plan included three different locations: Harns Marsh, J. N. Ding Darling NWR and Bunche Beach Preserve, but we ended up also going to the Six Mile Cypress Slough preserve, as we had more time on our hands than I originally thought.

In total I saw 66 species of birds, 51 of which were new and 25 of which were lifers! This is definitely a record amount of birds for me (in one day) . Some highlights include seeing Sandhill cranes hopping on the ground real up close, spotting a dolphin from the Sanibel causeway, Roseate spoonbills at Ding Darling NWR, wading through the low tide among hundreds of sandpipers at Bunche Beach and last but not least, seeing a tiny screech owl hidden in a hollow cypress tree.

Harns Marsh

16. Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula 2/1/24
17. Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus 2/1/24
18. Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis 2/1/24
19. Black vulture, Coragyps atratus 2/1/24
20. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus 2/1/24
21. Limpkin, Aramus guarauna 2/1/24
22. Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata 2/1/24
23. American coot, Fulica americana 2/1/24
24. Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor 2/1/24
25. Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
26. Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps 2/1/24
27. Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus 2/1/24
28. Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila careulea 2/1/24
29. Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus 2/1/24
30. Snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis 2/1/24
31. Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus 2/1/24
32. Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus 2/1/24
33. Wilson’s snipe, Gallinago delicata 2/1/24
34. Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor 2/1/24
35. Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors 2/1/24
36. Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis 2/1/24
37. Great blue heron, Ardea herodias 2/1/24
38. Wood stork, Mycteria americana 2/1/24
39. Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum 2/1/24
40. Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata 2/1/24
41. Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

While driving

42. Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris 2/1/24

1. Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus 2/1/24

J. N. Ding Darling NWR

43. Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis 2/1/24
44. Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola 2/1/24
45. Greater yellowlegs, Trimga melanoleuca 2/1/24
46. Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis 2/1/24
47. American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 2/1/24
48. Willet, Tringa semipalmata 2/1/24
49. Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea 2/1/24
50. Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus 2/1/24
51. Western sandpiper, Calidiris mauri 2/1/24
52. Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja 2/1/24

2. Raccoon, Procyon lotor 2/1/24

Bunche Beach Preserve

53. Sanderling, Calidris alba 2/1/24
54. Royal tern, Thallaseus maxima 2/1/24
55. Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus 2/1/24
56. Piping plover, Charadrius melodus 2/1/24
57. Wilson’s plover, Charadrius wilsonia 2/1/24
58. Dunlin, Calidris alpina 2/1/24
59. Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres 2/1/24
60. Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla 2/1/24
61. Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus 2/1/24
62. Black skimmer, Rhynchops niger 2/1/24

While driving

63. Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis 2/1/24

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

64. Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax 2/1/24
65. Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio 2/1/24
66. Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius 2/1/24

3. Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis 2/1/24

3. American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis 2/1/24
4. Peninsula cooter, Pseudemys peninsularis 2/1/24

Goal: 66/200

 

[MRJ]

So a few months ago, right after I found out we were headed to Florida for the winter, I went and pitched an idea to my dad. I knew I couldn’t occupy parts of every day with my birding activities, so my proposal to him was to just occupy one entire day with nothing but birding. To my slight surprise, he agreed.

So as the day came, the two of us woke up at 6 am, hopped in a rented car and spent the next 10 hours continuously birding around Fort Myers. My original plan included three different locations: Harns Marsh, J. N. Ding Darling NWR and Bunche Beach Preserve, but we ended up also going to the Six Mile Cypress Slough preserve, as we had more time on our hands than I originally thought.

In total I saw 66 species of birds, 51 of which were new and 25 of which were lifers! This is definitely a record amount of birds for me (in one day) . Some highlights include seeing Sandhill cranes hopping on the ground real up close, spotting a dolphin from the Sanibel causeway, Roseate spoonbills at Ding Darling NWR, wading through the low tide among hundreds of sandpipers at Bunche Beach and last but not least, seeing a tiny screech owl hidden in a hollow cypress tree.

Harns Marsh

16. Mottled duck, Anas fulvigula 2/1/24
17. Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus 2/1/24
18. Sandhill crane, Grus canadensis 2/1/24
19. Black vulture, Coragyps atratus 2/1/24
20. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus 2/1/24
21. Limpkin, Aramus guarauna 2/1/24
22. Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata 2/1/24
23. American coot, Fulica americana 2/1/24
24. Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor 2/1/24
25. Eastern phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
26. Pied-billed grebe, Podilymbus podiceps 2/1/24
27. Gray-headed swamphen, Porphyrio poliocephalus 2/1/24
28. Blue-gray gnatcatcher, Polioptila careulea 2/1/24
29. Pileated woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus 2/1/24
30. Snail kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis 2/1/24
31. Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus 2/1/24
32. Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus 2/1/24
33. Wilson’s snipe, Gallinago delicata 2/1/24
34. Tree swallow, Tachycineta bicolor 2/1/24
35. Blue-winged teal, Spatula discors 2/1/24
36. Savannah sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis 2/1/24
37. Great blue heron, Ardea herodias 2/1/24
38. Wood stork, Mycteria americana 2/1/24
39. Double-crested cormorant, Nannopterum auritum 2/1/24
40. Blue jay, Cyanocitta cristata 2/1/24
41. Belted kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon

While driving

42. Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris 2/1/24

1. Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus 2/1/24

J. N. Ding Darling NWR

43. Brown pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis 2/1/24
44. Black-bellied plover, Pluvialis squatarola 2/1/24
45. Greater yellowlegs, Trimga melanoleuca 2/1/24
46. Ring-billed gull, Larus delawarensis 2/1/24
47. American white pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 2/1/24
48. Willet, Tringa semipalmata 2/1/24
49. Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea 2/1/24
50. Red-bellied woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus 2/1/24
51. Western sandpiper, Calidiris mauri 2/1/24
52. Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja 2/1/24

2. Raccoon, Procyon lotor 2/1/24

Bunche Beach Preserve

53. Sanderling, Calidris alba 2/1/24
54. Royal tern, Thallaseus maxima 2/1/24
55. Semipalmated plover, Charadrius semipalmatus 2/1/24
56. Piping plover, Charadrius melodus 2/1/24
57. Wilson’s plover, Charadrius wilsonia 2/1/24
58. Dunlin, Calidris alpina 2/1/24
59. Ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres 2/1/24
60. Laughing gull, Leucophaeus atricilla 2/1/24
61. Short-billed dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus 2/1/24
62. Black skimmer, Rhynchops niger 2/1/24

While driving

63. Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis 2/1/24

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

64. Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax 2/1/24
65. Eastern screech-owl, Megascops asio 2/1/24
66. Blue-headed vireo, Vireo solitarius 2/1/24

3. Eastern gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis 2/1/24

3. American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis 2/1/24
4. Peninsula cooter, Pseudemys peninsularis 2/1/24

Goal: 66/200

Good on your dad.

 

[WhistlingKite24]

Happy New Year everyone! The first two days of the year involved torrential rains so I was limited in my options – I did pick up a damselfly lifer however – a multi-coloured Pygmy Wisp – undoubtedly brought into the area by strong winds. Today I headed to my usual spots with Enogerra Reservoir and Maiala. They weren’t as productive as usual but still successful outings in muddy conditions. Surprised I didn’t come across a single whipbird at either site but it was great to tick off catbirds and antechinus early in the year.

Mammals:
01) Red-legged Pademelon Thylogale stigmatica
02) Subtropical Antechinus Antechinus subtropicus

Birds:
01) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
02) Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
03) Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
04) Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
05) Torresian Crow Corvus orru
06) Feral Pigeon Columba livia
07) Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
08) Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
09) Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
10) Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
11) Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
12) Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
13) Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
14) Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
15) Australian Ibis Threskiornis moluccus
16) Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
17) Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
18) Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami
19) Blue-faced Honeyeater Entomyzon cyanotis
20) Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
21) Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike Coracina novaehollandiae
22) Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles
23) Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
24) Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
25) Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
26) Pacific Black Duck Anas superciliosa
27) Hardhead Aythya australis
28) Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
29) Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
30) Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
31) Large-billed Scrubwren Sericornis magnirostra
32) Variegated Fairywren Malurus lamberti
33) Grey Shrikethrush Colluricincla harmonica
34) Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
35) Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops
36) Red-browed Finch Neochmia temporalis
37) Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
38) Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
39) Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
40) Lewin’s Honeyeater Meliphaga lewinii
41) Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
42) Green Catbird Ailuroedus crassirostris
43) Brown Gerygone Gerygone mouki
44) Russett-tailed Thrush Zoothera heinei
45) Yellow-throated Scrubwren Sericornis citreogularis
46) Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
47) Australian King Parrot Alisterus scapularis

Herptiles:
01) Delicate Garden Skink Lampropholis delicata
02) Macquarie Turtle Emydura macquarii
03) Cane Toad Rhinella marina

Inverts:
01) Plumbago Blue Leptotes plinius
02) Yellow Crazy Ant Anoplolepis gracilipes
03) Dome Web Spider Cyrtophora moluccensis
04) Variable Ladybird Coelophora inaequalis
05) Common Grass-Blue Zizina labradus
06) Blue-banded Bee Amegilla cingulata
07) Pygmy Wisp Agriocnemis pygmaea
08) Transverse Ladybird Beetle Coccinella transversalis
09) Scarlet Percher Diplacodes haematodes
10) Cabbage White Pieris rapae
11) Evening Brown Melanitis leda
12) Blue Triangle Graphium sarpedon
13) Yellow-striped Flutterer Rhyothemis phyllis
14) Lemon Migrant Catopsilia pomona
15) Macleay’s Swallowtail Graphium macleayanus
16) Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius
17) White-spotted Swift Spider Nyssus albopunctatus
18) Tiger Spider Trichonephila plumipes
19) Southern Pearl-White Elodina angulipennis
20) Brown Ringlet Hypocysta metirius
21) Leptomyrmex rufipes [spider ant]
22) Leptomyrmex tibialis [spider ant]
23) Papyrius nitidus [odorous ant]
24) Sumpigaster fasciata [bristle fly]

 

[Chlidonias]

So a few months ago, right after I found out we were headed to Florida for the winter, I went and pitched an idea to my dad. I knew I couldn’t occupy parts of every day with my birding activities, so my proposal to him was to just occupy one entire day with nothing but birding. To my slight surprise, he agreed.

Good on your dad.

You should buy him a sandwich.

 

[Osedax]

I was at Taronga today, and saw several wild species both in the zoo itself and from the train and ferry on the way to and from the zoo.

Mammals
1. Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) - this individual has lived in Taronga’s binturong exhibit for around a year now

Went for a short bushwalk today and somehow managed two lifers!

Birds
16. Musk Lorikeet (Glossopsitta concinna)
17. Little Lorikeet (Glossopsitta pusilla)
18. Striated Thornbill (Acanthiza lineata)
19. Black-faced Cuckoo Shrike (Coracina novaehollandiae)
20. Grey Shrikethrush (Colluricincla harmonica)
21. Brown Cuckoo Dove (Macropygia phasianella)

Birds
Seen at home before leaving:
22. Eastern Whipbird (Psephodes olivaceus)
Seen on the train:
23. Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
24. Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus)
25. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
26. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
27. Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
28. Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae)
Seen on the ferry:
29. Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
Seen at Taronga:
30. Australian Brush Turkey (Alecturus lathami)
31. Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
32. Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
33. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Seen on the ferry back:
34. Little Black Cormorant (Phalocrocorax sulcirostris)

Reptiles
1. Common Garden Sunskink (Lampropholis guichenoti)

Reptiles
Seen at Taronga:
2. Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama leseurii)

 

[Osedax]

Birds
Seen at home before leaving:
22. Eastern Whipbird (Psephodes olivaceus)
Seen on the train:
23. Australian Magpie (Cracticus tibicen)
24. Australian White Ibis (Threskiornis moluccus)
25. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
26. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
27. Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides)
28. Silver Gull (Larus novaehollandiae)
Seen on the ferry:
29. Little Pied Cormorant (Microcarbo melanoleucos)
Seen at Taronga:
30. Australian Brush Turkey (Alecturus lathami)
31. Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
32. Dusky Moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa)
33. Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Seen on the ferry back:
34. Little Black Cormorant (Phalocrocorax sulcirostris)

Spoke too soon!

Birds
35. Scaly-breasted Lorikeet (Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus) - interestingly in the same flock as the Musk and Little Lorikeets from yesterday
36. Little Wattlebird (Anthocaera chrysoptera)

I can hear a koel nearby as I write this, but my chances of actually finding and seeing it are next to nothing. Let's just hope it doesn't keep calling all night...

 

[MRJ]

I only started my list in 2018, and most animals listed have been added since then. However I do add records from prior to that when I have written or photographic records, or I can remember beyond doubt where and about when I saw them. Today I added my oldest ever record. 50 years ago as a teenager I went on a school trip to central Australia. As one did in those days, we climbed Uluru or as it was called then, Ayres Rock. It had recently rained (a rare event) and a number of holes in the top of the rock contained water. In these I observed "fish" swimming. I had cause to remember this today and so checked what exactly I was looking at. It turns out they were Australian Tadpole Shrimp Triops australiensis. They are widely distributed in temporary water bodies across arid Australia. They are not Crustations, but belong to the Branchiopods Class. So I not only got a new species, but also a new Family, Order and Class.

 

[DesertRhino150]

Not had the best start to my list - although I went out on the first, it was for a family meal out that involved driving along dual carriageways, which isn't conducive to birdwatching. Also, we have had huge problems with flooding on the roads, so I cannot easily walk or drive anywhere locally. That being said, I did manage fourteen birds and a mammal on day one:

1. European robin, Erithacus rubecula
2. Black-headed gull, Chroicocephalus ridibundus
3. House sparrow, Passer domesticus
4. Eurasian blue tit, Cyanistes caeruleus
5. Common woodpigeon, Columba palumbus
6. Carrion crow, Corvus corone
7. Common starling, Sturnus vulgaris
8. European herring gull, Larus argentatus
9. European blackbird, Turdus merula
10. Western jackdaw, Coloeus monedula
11. Eurasian magpie, Pica pica
12. Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris
13. Eurasian jay, Garrulus glandarius
14. Grey heron, Ardea cinerea

1. Reeve's muntjac, Muntiacus reevesi

I also went out briefly on the second of January, but again there was very little seen as the weather was a combination of siling rain and gale-force winds. Even so, I managed another three birds and a second non-native species of mammal:

15. Great tit, Parus major
16. Common buzzard, Buteo buteo
17. Great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major

2. Eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis

Not expecting great things from the garden this year, unfortunately - someone nearby has decided that two free-roaming cats are the one thing they need more than anything else, and they seem to have chosen our garden as their regular haunt.

It is a bit of a shame that the birds around from the week before the New Year aren't still in evidence - there had been a little egret on the flooded meadow behind our garden every day of the week, moorhens had been in evidence along the flooded country lanes and there were also regular views of large flocks of rooks plus a sighting of a marsh harrier, both very rare sights in my specific locality.

 

[Platypusboy]

Good on your dad.

You should buy him a sandwich.

I probably should have phrased my original post better, because he was actually very enthusiastic about the trip once I told him my plan and he ended up having a lot of fun that day. Although maybe I should still get him something (perhaps a sandwich), as a token of my appreciation.

 

[oflory]

Happy New Year all!

Not a terrible start to the year bird-wise - but not my best! Mostly from a lunchtime walk around Regent's Park. Pleased by the nuthatch, which I think is the first I have seen there.

Mammals

1. Grey squirrel

Birds

1. Song thrush
2. Common starling
3. Eurasian nuthatch
4. Eurasian blackcap
5. Great tit
6. Eurasian blue tit
7. Coal tit
8. Eurasian jay
9. Grey heron
10. Great cormorant
11. Lesser black-backed gull
12. Black-headed gull
13. Eurasian coot
14. Common moorhen
15. Great crested grebe
16. Tufted duck
17. Common pochard
18. Mallard
19. Northern shoveler
20. Egyptian goose
21. Mute swan
22. Canada goose
23. Greylag goose
24. European robin
25. Eurasian blackbird
26. Goldfinch
27. Carrion crow
28. Ring-necked parakeet
29. Herring gull
30. Feral pigeon
31. Common magpie