Zoochat Big Year 2024

Hix said:
Just back from a trip around Tasmania, with a visit to Serendip Sanctuary in Victoria on the day I left. PIcked up 18 Lifers while I was away, 5 of them on the first day.

Birds
75. Emu
76. Magpie Goose
77. Cape Barren Goose
78. Black Swan
79. Chestnut Teal
80. Pied Stilt
81. White-faced Heron
82. Straw-necked Ibis
83. Yellow-billed Spoonbill
84. Collared Sparrowhawk
85. Eastern Rosella
86. Eastern Shrike-tit
87. Dusky Woodswallow
88. Little Raven
89. Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon)
90. Silver Gull
91. Pied Cormorant
92. Nankeen Kestrel
93. Tasmanian Native Hen
94. Sooty Oystercatcher
95. Little Penguin
96. Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
97. Yellow-rumped Thornbill
98. Forest Raven
99. Australian Pied Oystercatcher
100. Pacific Gull
101. Australian Shelduck
102. Musk Duck
103. Hoary-headed Grebe
104. Green Rosella
105. Tasmanian Scrubwren
106. Tasmanian Thornbill
107. Grey Currawong
108. Bassian Thrush
109. Crested Tern
110. Great Cormorant
111. Common Bronzewing
112. Brush Bronzewing
113. Black-faced Cormorant
114. Galah
115. European Goldfinch
116. Scarlet Robin
117. Kelp Gull
118. Yellow-throated Honeyeater
119. Scrubtit
120. Black Currawong
121. Short-tailed Shearwater
122. Crescent Honeyeater
123. Strong-billed Honeyeater
124. Black-headed Honeyeater
125. Yellow Wattlebird
126. Australian Pelican
127. Dusky Robin
128. Lewin's Rail
129. Brown Quail
130. Musk Lorikeet
131. Pink Robin
132. Tree Martin
133. Royal Penguin
134. Hooded Plover
135. White-bellied Sea-Eagle
136. Brown Falcon
137. Australasian Shoveler
138. Great Egret
139. Wedge-tailed Eagle
140. Forty-spotted Pardalote
141. Flame Robin
142. Eastern Curlew
143. White-fronted Chat
144. Striated Fieldwren

Did well with the mammals too.

Mammals
4. Eastern Grey Kangaroo
5. Red-necked (Bennett's) Wallaby
6. Tasmanian Pademelon
7. Wombat
8. Tasmanian Devil
9. Eastern Barred Bandicoot
10. Brushtail Possum
11. Eastern Ringtail Possum
12. Short-beaked Echidna
13. Platypus
14. Common Dolphin
15. New Zealand Fur Seal
16. Australian Fur Seal

Reptiles
2. Tasmanian Tree Skink

Inverts
2. European Wasp

:p

Hix
Click to expand...

Birds
145. Pink-eared Duck
146. Black Kite
147. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
148. Singing Honeyeater
149. White-breasted Woodswallow
150. Greater Bluebonnet
151. Yellow-throated Miner
152. Blue-faced Honeyeater
153. Yellow Thornbill
154. Apostlebird
155. Brown Treecreeper
156. Southern Whiteface
157. Red-capped Robin
158. Jacky Winter
159. Australian Darter
160. White-necked Heron
161. Cockatiel
162. Peaceful Dove
163. Bar-shouldered Dove
164. Spotted Bowerbird
165. Purple-backed Fairy Wren
166. Yellow-plumed Honeyeater
167. Grey-fronted Honeyeater
168. Striped Honeyeater
169. Speckled Warbler
170. Chestnut-rumped Thornbill
171. White-browed Babbler
172. Mistletoebird
173. Zebra Finch
174. Little Friarbird
175. Superb Parrot
176. Mallee Ringneck
177. Pied Butcherbird

Mammals
17. Red Fox
18. Feral Cat
19. Feral Pig
20. Feral Goat

Reptiles
3. Shingleback Skink
4. Central Bearded Dragon
5. Lace Monitor

Inverts
3. Red-and-Black Spider (Novodamus nodatus)

:p

Hix
 
Bisonblake said:
I decided to stop by a nature center recommended by someone I met when I found the woodcocks a couple weeks ago. I didn't have time to explore the whole area, but I had a great time. Even though there wasn't anything new, there was a lot of activity. I have exactly one month until I graduate, so depending on how busy I am, I'll have to make another visit there.

3/27/24
Birds:
114. Wood duck Aix sponsa
115. Golden-crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa
116. Ruby-crowned kinglet Corthylio calendula
117. Brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum

Total Species: 148
Birds: 117
Mammals: 9
Reptiles: 5
Fish: 17
Click to expand...
3/31/24
Birds:
118. Fox sparrow Passerella iliaca
119. Eastern meadowlark Sturnella magna

Total Species: 150
Birds: 119
Mammals: 9
Reptiles: 5
Fish: 17
 
Pamama

Only Graeme saw the Azure hooded jay, Cyanolyca cucullata, I didn't. So I am back to 400.
 
Birds:

89 Purple Martin Progne subis
90 Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
91 Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
92 Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors
93 Osprey Pandion haliaetus
94 Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
95 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
96 Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
97 Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
 
red river hog said:
Birds:

29. Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
30. Tree swallow (Tachycineata bicolor)

Mammals: 7
Birds: 30
Herptiles: 0
Fishes: 0
Invertebrates: 0
Total: 37
Click to expand...
Mammals:

8. Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
9. Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
10. Round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
11. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
12. Cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis)
13. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
14. Horse (Equus caballus)
15. Elk (Cervus canandensis)

Birds:

31. Abert's towhee (Melozone aberti)
32. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
33. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrhynchos)
34. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna)
35. Common ground-dove (Columba passerina)
36. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)
37. Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
39. Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
40. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
41. Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
42. Gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
43. Neotropical cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
44. Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
45. American coot (Fulica americana)
46. Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
47. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
48. Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostra)
49. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
50. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
51. Green heron (Butorides virescens)
52. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
53. Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
54. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
55. Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
56. Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya)
57. Common raven (Corvus corax)
58. Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
59. Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
60. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
61. Mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
62. Zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
63. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
64. Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
65. Black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
66. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
67. Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Herptiles:
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
2. Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
3. Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus tristichus)
4. Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister)
5. Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Fishes:

1. Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)

Invertebrates:

1. Common house fly (Musca domestica)
2. Common checkered skipper (Burnsius communis)
3. Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
4. Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
5. Formica perpilosa
6. Litocala moth (Litocala sexsignata)
7. Meridian duskywing (Erynnis meridianus)
8. Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
9. Small white (Pieris rapae)
10. Variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
11. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
12. Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
13. Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
 
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red river hog said:
Mammals:

8. Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
9. Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
10. Round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
11. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
12. Cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis)
13. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
14. Horse (Equus caballus)
15. Elk (Cervus canandensis)

Birds:

31. Abert's towhee (Melozone aberti)
32. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
33. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrhynchos)
34. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna)
35. Common ground-dove (Columba passerina)
36. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)
37. Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
39. Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
40. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
41. Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
42. Gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
43. Neotropical cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
44. Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
45. American coot (Fulica americana)
46. Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
47. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
48. Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostra)
49. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
50. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
51. Green heron (Butorides virescens)
52. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
53. Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
54. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
55. Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
56. Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya)
57. Common raven (Corvus corax)
58. Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
59. Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
60. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
61. Mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
62. Zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
63. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
64. Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
65. Black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
66. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

Herptiles:
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
2. Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
3. Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus tristichus)
4. Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister)
5. Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Fishes:
Click to expand...
Sounds like someone is having fun in the Southwest. :)
 
red river hog said:
Mammals:

8. Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
9. Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
10. Round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
11. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
12. Cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis)
13. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
14. Horse (Equus caballus)
15. Elk (Cervus canandensis)

Birds:

31. Abert's towhee (Melozone aberti)
32. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
33. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrhynchos)
34. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna)
35. Common ground-dove (Columba passerina)
36. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)
37. Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
39. Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
40. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
41. Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
42. Gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
43. Neotropical cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
44. Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
45. American coot (Fulica americana)
46. Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
47. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
48. Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostra)
49. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
50. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
51. Green heron (Butorides virescens)
52. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
53. Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
54. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
55. Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
56. Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya)
57. Common raven (Corvus corax)
58. Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
59. Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
60. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
61. Mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
62. Zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
63. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
64. Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
65. Black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
66. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
67. Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Herptiles:
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
2. Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
3. Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus tristichus)
4. Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister)
5. Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Fishes:

1. Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)

Invertebrates:

1. Common house fly (Musca domestica)
2. Common checkered skipper (Burnsius communis)
3. Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
4. Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
5. Formica perpilosa
6. Litocala moth (Litocala sexsignata)
7. Meridian duskywing (Erynnis meridianus)
8. Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
9. Small white (Pieris rapae)
10. Variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
11. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
12. Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
13. Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
Click to expand...
Great list. Whereabouts were you?
 
red river hog said:
Mammals:

8. Rock squirrel (Otospermophilus variegatus)
9. Desert cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)
10. Round-tailed ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus)
11. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
12. Cliff chipmunk (Neotamias dorsalis)
13. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus)
14. Horse (Equus caballus)
15. Elk (Cervus canandensis)

Birds:

31. Abert's towhee (Melozone aberti)
32. Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
33. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrhynchos)
34. Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna)
35. Common ground-dove (Columba passerina)
36. Gambel's quail (Callipepla gambelii)
37. Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
38. House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
39. Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
40. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
41. Greater roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)
42. Gilded flicker (Colaptes chrysoides)
43. Neotropical cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum)
44. Common gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
45. American coot (Fulica americana)
46. Pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)
47. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
48. Curve-billed thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostra)
49. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
50. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
51. Green heron (Butorides virescens)
52. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
53. Acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus)
54. White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
55. Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)
56. Say's phoebe (Sayornis saya)
57. Common raven (Corvus corax)
58. Cliff swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)
59. Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus ridgwayi)
60. Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
61. Mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
62. Zone-tailed hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
63. American kestrel (Falco sparverius)
64. Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
65. Black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata)
66. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
67. Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus)

Herptiles:
1. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
2. Ornate tree lizard (Urosaurus ornatus)
3. Plateau fence lizard (Sceloporus tristichus)
4. Desert spiny lizard (Sceloporus magister)
5. Common side-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)

Fishes:

1. Speckled dace (Rhinichthys osculus)

Invertebrates:

1. Common house fly (Musca domestica)
2. Common checkered skipper (Burnsius communis)
3. Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
4. Fiery skipper (Hylephila phyleus)
5. Formica perpilosa
6. Litocala moth (Litocala sexsignata)
7. Meridian duskywing (Erynnis meridianus)
8. Odorous house ant (Tapinoma sessile)
9. Small white (Pieris rapae)
10. Variegated fritillary (Euptoieta claudia)
11. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
12. Painted lady (Vanessa cardui)
13. Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
Click to expand...
I really wish I was into birding when I went out west last year, there are so many cool birds that I likely never noticed that were all around me (although I did see a dozen or so California Condor which I’ll remember for years!)
 
KevinB said:
Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
2) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3) Brown rat/Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Birds
1) Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
2) Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
3) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
4) Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6) Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
7) House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
8) Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
9) Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
10) European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
11) Great tit (Parus major)
12) Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
13) European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
14) Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
15) Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
16) Western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
17) Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
18) Feral pigeon (Columba livia)
19) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)
20) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
21) Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
22) Common starling/European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
23) European white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
24) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
25) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
26) Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
27) Great egret (Ardea alba)
28) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
29) Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
30) Greylag goose (Anser anser)
31) Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
32) Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
33) Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
34) Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Invertebrates
1) Seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
2) Common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
3) Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
4) Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
5) Small cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
6) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
7) Common house mosquito (Culex pipiens)
Click to expand...

Mammals
1) Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
2) Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
3) Brown rat/Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
4) Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus)

Birds
1) Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
2) Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
3) Common buzzard (Buteo buteo)
4) Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
5) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6) Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
7) House sparrow (Passer domesticus)
8) Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus)
9) Common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
10) European robin (Erithacus rubecula)
11) Great tit (Parus major)
12) Black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
13) European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
14) Eurasian magpie (Pica pica)
15) Great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)
16) Western jackdaw (Coloeus monedula)
17) Eurasian kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
18) Feral pigeon (Columba livia)
19) Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)
20) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
21) Rook (Corvus frugilegus)
22) Common starling/European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
23) European white stork (Ciconia ciconia)
24) Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)
25) Eurasian coot (Fulica atra)
26) Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
27) Great egret (Ardea alba)
28) Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
29) Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
30) Greylag goose (Anser anser)
31) Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
32) Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
33) Eurasian wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
34) Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

Invertebrates
1) Seven-spot ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata)
2) Common brimstone butterfly (Gonepteryx rhamni)
3) Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus)
4) Common earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)
5) Small cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae)
6) Common carder bee (Bombus pascuorum)
7) Common house mosquito (Culex pipiens)
8) Housefly (Musca domestica)
 
MRJ said:
Great list. Whereabouts were you?
Click to expand...
Thanks! Took a trip around Arizona this past week.
KiwiBirb said:
I really wish I was into birding when I went out west last year, there are so many cool birds that I likely never noticed that were all around me (although I did see a dozen or so California Condor which I’ll remember for years!)
Click to expand...
Ugh, I’m jealous! I was looking for them at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon but couldn’t find any.
 
Will probably just keep try and track of vertebrates here, though that will probably just consist of birds and mammals

Birds
1. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
2. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
3. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
4. Ring-Billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
5. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
7. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
8. Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
9. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Mammals
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
 
An afternoon meet-up with some friends from college brought me to Wageningen last week. We decided to explore a local meadow-bird hotspot, resulting in many sightings of fantastic birds, including my first marsh sandpiper in the Netherlands, lots of garganeys, and a ridiculously good-looking bluethroat.

Birds
158. Garganey, Spatula querquedula
159. Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis
160. Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
161. Bluethroat, Luscinia svecica
 
CarnotaurusSastrei said:
Will probably just keep try and track of vertebrates here, though that will probably just consist of birds and mammals

Birds
1. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
2. Feral Pigeon (Columba livia)
3. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
4. Ring-Billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
5. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
6. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
7. American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
8. Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
9. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Mammals
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
Click to expand...

Update: I missed a couple species
Birds
10. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
11. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
 
I spent two weeks in the middle of March in the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats. It wasn’t my first time in the Western Ghats, but it was the first time with enough knowledge to identify and appreciate much of what I saw there. I can’t really call it a ‘trip’, because I stayed at basically one place for the whole time, with a mixed focus on plants as well as birding and keeping an eye out for any other wildlife.
Despite not being a big fan of plants, it was honestly quite incredible to see and learn about both the wild and the cultivated (I was staying at a botanical garden) species around me there. The local trees forming the forests there were sometimes similar but sometimes radically different species, including several Strangler-figs. Among the ornamental plants I for the first time appreciated the diversity of Araceae, Zingiberales (including the surreal-looking Traveller’s Palm), Begonias and Impatiens. For the first time I saw many of the species that graced the illustrations of my favourite palaeontology books, such as Araucaria, Psilotum, many new species of cycads, and tree ferns (Cyathea and Angiopteris).
Birding was honestly not that enjoyable in comparison. From reading all the reports of people travelling to rainforests and seeing dozens of species I assumed rainforest birding was at least as easy as normal birding, but I couldn’t be more wrong. The thick foliage allowed even the large and spectacular to disappear magically, and every bird looks just enough like the swaying and falling leaves to confuse you. To drive home my point, once I returned to Bangalore and more open woodland I saw several rare species like a pitta and my third ever Buttonquail in a week of casual birding - no days of waiting, or extensive stalking. The bee-eaters in particular I remember seeing in the Ghats and regretting that I didn’t have binocs, thinking I wouldn’t see them again that year. I saw them again, from much closer, back in Bangalore.
Nonetheless, armed with two things I didn’t have when younger - personal binoculars and more knowledge from obsessively reading field guides - I managed to see nearly 15 new species as well as get reacquainted with some other forest-dwelling ones. Without a doubt, some of these birds are the most spectacular I have seen in my life. I genuinely can’t think of any bird in south India that compares to the breathtaking Fairy-bluebird, and few birds have been as high on my wishlist of birds to see as the Malabar Trogon. Even the babblers and bulbuls and mynas were more impressive.
Other wildlife was more hit-or-miss. They had some nice ponds and aquariums of native fish but my point-and-shoot camera couldn’t focus on them, so no photos to ID from. Mammals were mainly monkeys and squirrels, but what spectacular ones! Travelling through the wildlife tourist trap that is Nagarahole National Park on the way there also allowed me to see large mammals surprisingly casually, from a public bus. With herptiles many are still awaiting ID but it was nice to see Gliding Lizards again after many years. Invertebrates were rife, including a saucer-sized spider that lived in my room with me, but I couldn’t ID any confidently, so I have only mentioned a few highlights.
Birds
73. White-browed Wagtail Motacilla maderaspatensis
- Sri Lanka Frogmouth Batrachostomus moniliger (Heard Only)
74. Orange-headed Ground-thrush Geokichla citrina (cyanota)
75. Greater Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
76. Crimson-backed Sunbird Leptocoma minima
77. Yellow-browed Bulbul Acritillas indica
78. Brown-breasted Flycatcher Muscicapa muttui
79. Flame-throated Bulbul Rubigula gularis
80. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch Sitta frontalis
81. Orange Minivet Pericrocotus flammeus
82. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike Hemipus picatus
83. Speckled Piculet Picumnus innominatus
84. Southern Hill Myna Gracula indica
85. Square-tailed Bulbul Hypsipetes ganeesa
86. Indian Blackbird Turdus simillimus
87. Nilgiri Flowerpecker Dicaeum concolor
88. Asian Fairy Bluebird Irena puella
89. Indian Blue Robin Larvivora brunnea
90. Rufous Babbler Argya subrufa
91. Dark-fronted Babbler Dumetia atriceps
92. Malabar Trogon Harpactes fasciatus
93. Grey-fronted Green-pigeon Treron affinis
94. Asian Openbill Anastomus oscitans
95. Indian Golden Oriole Oriolus kundoo
96. Lesser Goldenback Dinopium benghalense
97. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
98. Indian Peafowl Pavo cristatus
99. Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
100. Yellow-billed Babbler Argya affinis
101. White-bellied Drongo Dicrurus caerulescens
Mammals
7. Spotted Deer Axis axis (10th, 22nd March)
8. Asian Elephant Elephas maximus (10th March)
- Black-footed/Tufted Grey Langurs Semnopithecus hypoleucos/priam (10th, 22nd March)
9. Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica (13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd)
10. Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii (17th, 20th, 21st?)
Invertebrates
- “Red-bodied Land Snail” (Indrella ampulla? Recent paper says individuals in this area are orange or yellow)
- Malabar Tree-nymph Idea malabarica
- Rustic Cupha erymanthis
 
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