Zoochat Big Year 2024

birdsandbats said:
After missing this species on a quest to specifically find it in Wisconsin (this species is a rare but annual breeder at a handful of well-known sites in Wisconsin), I finally get this species as a lifer in Costa Rica. Honestly a little disappointing.
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I felt the same way getting lifer Louisiana Waterthrush in AZ - although it is a much rarer bird down there
 
Pleistohorse said:
Mammals:
1. Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus)
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Spent the last week back down in south-central Alaska in the Anchorage and MatSu areas of the state. Flying into Anchorage and passing over Kincaid Park I spotted a Moose laying down near the Coastal Trail. Over the next few days observed five more Moose (most on the Palmer Hay Flats) and seven of the 10 most likely to be spotted in winter bird species. I did not spot the Bohemian Waxwing, the Common Redpoll, or the Red-breasted Nuthatch...the species I did spot are listed below:

Birds:
1. Common Raven (Corvas corax)
2. Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia)
3. Rock Dove (Columba livia)
4. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
5. Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile Atricapillus)
6. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
7. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Mammals:
2. Moose, Alaska-Yukon ssp. (Alces Alces Gigas)
 
birdsandbats said:
January 10

Birds
255. Bay Wren Cantorchilus nigricapillus
256. White-whiskered Puffbird Malacoptila panamensis
257. Northern Barred-Woodcreeper Dendrocolaptes sanctithomae
258. Plain-colored Tanager Tangara inornata

Mammals
27. Feral Cat Felis catus

Herps
41. Central American Boa Boa imperator
42. Bransford’s Litter Frog Craugastor bransfordii
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January 11

Birds
259. Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor
260. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus
261. Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
262. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
263. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
264. Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi
265. Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
266. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
267. American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Herps
43. Terciopelo Bothrops asper
44. Brilliant Forest Frog Lithobates warszewitschii
 
birdsandbats said:
January 11

Birds
259. Black-crowned Tityra Tityra inquisitor
260. Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus
261. Yellow-faced Grassquit Tiaris olivaceus
262. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
263. Slate-throated Redstart Myioborus miniatus
264. Tropical Parula Setophaga pitiayumi
265. Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni
266. White-collared Swift Streptoprocne zonaris
267. American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Herps
43. Terciopelo Bothrops asper
44. Brilliant Forest Frog Lithobates warszewitschii
Click to expand...
January 12

Birds
268. Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor
269. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
270. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans

January 13

Birds
271. Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis
272. Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster
273. Middle American Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus
274. Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha
275. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Dryobates fumigatus
276. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila
277. Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga
278. Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
279. Prong-billed Barbet Semnornis frantzii
280. Black-bellied Hummingbird Eupherusa nigriventris
281. Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus
282. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
283. Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii
284. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas

And that's the end of my Costa Rica trip! This was my first time outside of the US and I'd say it went well! As I mentioned at the beginning the primary purpose of this trip was not wildlife but I ended up having way more spare time on this trip than I expected, which means I was free o go after birds! I got well over 300 species in total and 232 lifer birds (including 13 new families for me, I'm especially happy about the toucans and cotingas), which obviously cannot be considered anything but a success. That being said, I missed nearly all of the species I specifically targeted (most disappointingly, Resplendent Quetzal). But it really does fell like I got nearly everything I wasn't looking for (including some honestly pretty rare and unexpected stuff! Yellow-winged Tanager is only an occasional vagrant to CR and this was not a known bird, what a way to end the trip!).

My herp and mammal totals were also great, with some cool rare stuff mixed in. A friend of mine who's a very serious herper came along with me on this trip, hence contributing to my high herp total. The highlight herps were definitely Ocellated Bromeliad Lizard, Red-legged Webfoot Salamander, and the yellow-phase Eyelash Viper. As for mammals, I'm just so happy I've seen wild primates now, even though encountering capuchins in the forest isn't a very fun experience (the other species are better).
 
birdsandbats said:
January 12

Birds
268. Bicolored Hawk Accipiter bicolor
269. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
270. Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans

January 13

Birds
271. Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis
272. Black-faced Grosbeak Caryothraustes poliogaster
273. Middle American Leaftosser Sclerurus mexicanus
274. Chestnut-capped Brushfinch Arremon brunneinucha
275. Smoky-brown Woodpecker Dryobates fumigatus
276. Chestnut-collared Swift Streptoprocne rutila
277. Great Black Hawk Buteogallus urubitinga
278. Northern Emerald-Toucanet Aulacorhynchus prasinus
279. Prong-billed Barbet Semnornis frantzii
280. Black-bellied Hummingbird Eupherusa nigriventris
281. Common Chlorospingus Chlorospingus flavopectus
282. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus
283. Red-headed Barbet Eubucco bourcierii
284. Yellow-winged Tanager Thraupis abbas

And that's the end of my Costa Rica trip! This was my first time outside of the US and I'd say it went well! As I mentioned at the beginning the primary purpose of this trip was not wildlife but I ended up having way more spare time on this trip than I expected, which means I was free o go after birds! I got well over 300 species in total and 232 lifer birds (including 13 new families for me, I'm especially happy about the toucans and cotingas), which obviously cannot be considered anything but a success. That being said, I missed nearly all of the species I specifically targeted (most disappointingly, Resplendent Quetzal). But it really does fell like I got nearly everything I wasn't looking for (including some honestly pretty rare and unexpected stuff! Yellow-winged Tanager is only an occasional vagrant to CR and this was not a known bird, what a way to end the trip!).

My herp and mammal totals were also great, with some cool rare stuff mixed in. A friend of mine who's a very serious herper came along with me on this trip, hence contributing to my high herp total. The highlight herps were definitely Ocellated Bromeliad Lizard, Red-legged Webfoot Salamander, and the yellow-phase Eyelash Viper. As for mammals, I'm just so happy I've seen wild primates now, even though encountering capuchins in the forest isn't a very fun experience (the other species are better).
Click to expand...
Tocumen International Airport, Panama

Birds
285. Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
286. White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus

Since returning to the US
287. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
288. American Robin Turdus migratorius
289. Canada Goose Branta canadensis
290. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
291. Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
292. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
293. Common Merganser Mergus merganser
294. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
295. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
296. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
297. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
298. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
299. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
300. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
301. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
302. Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
303. Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
304. Brown Creeper Certhia americana
305. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
306. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
307. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
308. American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
309. Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
310. Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum

Mammals
28. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
 
Since my last post:

Birds:
21. Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
22. Great tit (Parus major)
23. Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
24. Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
25. Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
26. Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
27. European kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
28. Short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)

Total: 30
 
birdsandbats said:
Tocumen International Airport, Panama

Birds
285. Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
286. White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus

Since returning to the US
287. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
288. American Robin Turdus migratorius
289. Canada Goose Branta canadensis
290. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
291. Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
292. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
293. Common Merganser Mergus merganser
294. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
295. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
296. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
297. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
298. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
299. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
300. Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
301. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
302. Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
303. Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
304. Brown Creeper Certhia americana
305. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
306. House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
307. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
308. American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
309. Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus
310. Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum

Mammals
28. White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
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Birds
311. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Mammals
29. Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
 
Bisonblake said:
1/16/24
Birds:
71. American robin Turdus migratorius
72. European starling Sturnus vulgaris


Total Species: 98
Birds: 72
Mammals: 4
Reptiles: 5
Fish: 17
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The recent below-freezing temps and snow have discouraged me from birding recently. I've only been able to see animals walking to and from classes. It's supposed to be more comfortable over the next week, so hopefully I can see a nice selection of birds (Maybe reach 100 birds by the end of the month, which would be pretty cool).

1/18/24
Mammals:
5. American red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus

Total Species: 99
Birds: 72
Mammals: 5
Reptiles: 5
Fish: 17
 
Mr. Zootycoon said:
Unexpectedly absent were smew and bean goose, which are usually present there this time of year - though smew has become ever scarcer as winters become milder.
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Perhaps I spoke a little too soon. Bean goose is still lacking from my list but the very next day after posting my last update, I saw six smews! No stunning black-and-white adult drakes unfortunately, but I shouldn't complain. There were also some other odds and ends, including a kingfisher that will undoubtedly be dismayed by the sudden cold spell we're experiencing.

Today I went for a stroll in the local woods, covered in a layer of fresh snow. The weather was nonetheless sunny and calm. There are unexpected signs of a spring to come in the snowy landscape: woodpeckers are drumming, blue tits are singing and magpies have started renovating their nests. The main prizes of the stroll were a woodcock flying up from a frozen ditch and a goshawk watching over her territory from a dead tree.

Birds
097. Smew, Mergellus albellus
098. Common Kingfisher, Alcedo atthis
099. European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis
100. Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita
101. Redwing, Turdus illiacus
102. Long-tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus
103. White Wagtail, Motacilla alba
104. Eurasian Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola
105. Eurasian Nuthatch, Sitta europaea
106. Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes
 
birdsandbats said:
Birds
311. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis

Mammals
29. Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
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Birds
312. American Black Duck Anas rubripes
313. Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
314. Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
315. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
316. White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys

Plus a mammal from Costa Rica I forgot to count:

Mammals
30. Central American Pygmy Squirrel Microsciurus alfari
 
Bactrian Deer said:
Saw a few more birds from my window, managed to see a krestel try to hunt some junco by my house which was pretty neat. Also saw an anseriforme at the pond near my house, couldn’t identify it sadly, but it had an orangish chest
8) House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus, 1-6-2023
9) House Sparrow, Passer Domesticus, 1-6-2023
10) Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus Bicolor, 1-6-2023
11) American Kestrel, Falco sparverius, 1-14-2023
12) Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii, 1-14-2023
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Silly me accidentally putting all the dates as 2023 :p
13 American Robin, Turdus Migratorius, 1-15-2024
14 Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia, 1-19-2024
15 Eurasian Starling, Sturnus vulgaris, 1-19-2024
Total 16
Birds 15
Mammals 1
 
Today I went on a guided tour to a large bay area in Helsinki, to seek out some rarities that have been hanging around in the area. Highlights include a sleepy Long-eared owl and a wintering Marsh tit that I had unsuccessfully tried to find back in October of last year.

Birds

88. Eurasian tree sparrow, Passer montanus 20/1/24
89. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella 20/1/24
90. European goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis 20/1/24
91. Long-eared owl, Asio otus 20/1/24
92. Marsh tit, Poecile palustris 20/1/24
93. Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis 20/1/24
94. Black woodpecker, Dryocopus martious 20/1/24

Goal: 94/200
 
Went for a short walk near my local lake today,

January 20th

Birds
61. Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
62. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)

Total Species: 68
Birds: 62
Mammals: 3
Amphibians: 1
Invertebrates: 2
 
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