Zoochat Big Year 2024

Panama
401. Little cuckoo Coccycua minuta
 
Over the past couple weeks I've been short on time to go birding, but yesterday I managed to visit the Auburn Lakes Road Fisheries Ponds as well as some other surrounding ponds. This was at around 4 to 5, and wind was strong, so unfortunately I didn't manage to see much at my starting location - except, interestingly, a small group of 3 American Bitterns in flight. I hardly ever see Bitterns, partly because I don't visit their favorite marshy habitats often, and partly because of their infamous camouflage abilities. I thought they were the more common Green Herons at first (juveniles, based on color), but after watching videos of both species in flight they were positively identified as bitterns. What an interesting sight to see 3 of them together! Other usuals included Red-Winged Blackbirds and Northern Rough-Winged Swallows as well as the first Eastern Kingbird this year.

As I was right along a busy road, there wasn't much there so I eventually moved to another location - the main fishery ponds themselves. These were overall much more productive, though midges were already amassing. Here I saw a large group of omnipresent Canada Goose, but, skulking in the grass on one of the embankments was a Greater Yellowlegs. Not a super common species here and a nice one to see. I also saw 2 Great Blue Herons, one of my favorite local birds to see. My first Bald Eagle of the year also soared above the fish ponds, and as well as a Black Vulture (the dusk lighting made it difficult to distinguish until it turned around and I could see its grey head).
Other recent observations include my first (positively-ID'ed) reptile of the year (a Green Anole of course), a Red Admiral, and Barn Swallows.

Birds:
52. Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) – 4/02/24
53. American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) – 4/04/24
54. Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) – 4/04/24
55. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – 4/04/24
56. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – 4/04/24
57. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – 4/04/24
58. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – 4/04/24

Reptiles:
1. Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) – 3/31/24

Invertebrates:
22. Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) – 3/31/24
23. Potato Leafhopper (Empoasca fabae) – 4/04/24

Butterflies/Moths:
3. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) – 3/31/24
 
Crotalus said:
interestingly, a small group of 3 American Bitterns in flight. I hardly ever see Bitterns, partly because I don't visit their favorite marshy habitats often, and partly because of their infamous camouflage abilities. I thought they were the more common Green Herons at first (juveniles, based on color), but after watching videos of both species in flight they were positively identified as bitterns. What an interesting sight to see 3 of them together!
Click to expand...
Just as a word of caution, American Bitterns are considerably larger than Green Herons.
 
Chlidonias said:
Just as a word of caution, American Bitterns are considerably larger than Green Herons.
Click to expand...

In that case they were most definitely bitterns - they were just barely smaller than the Canada Geese I later saw. The last time I saw Green Herons was in Costa Rica several years ago so I haven't had a good reference for a while :p
 
DesertTortoise said:
Birds
Roadside - Jan 3
37. Rock pigeon (Columba livia)
Kansas City Zoo - Jan 3
38. American goldfinch (Spinus tristis)
39. Downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)
40. Belted kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon)
41. Tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Camp Branch Marina - Jan 4
42. Ross’s goose (Anser rossii)
43. Herring gull (Larus argentatus)
44. Hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)
Crows Creek Campground - Jan 4
45. Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Jerry Smith Park - Jan 5
46. Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes townsendi)
McGee Family Conservation Area - Jan 6
47. Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
48. Northern harrier (Circus hudsonius)
Crows Creek Picnic Area - Jan 6
49. Eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - Jan 7
50. Merlin (Falco columbarius)
Crows Creek Picnic Area - Jan 7
51. Northern shoveler (Spatula clypeata)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge - Jan 10
52. Trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator)
53. Tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus)
54. Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
55. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
56. American coot (Fulica americana)
57. Northern pintail (Anas acuta)
Kansas City Zoo - Jan 21
58. Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - Jan 30
59. Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Backyard - Jan 31
60. House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
Little Platte Recreation Area - Jan 31
61. Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Roadside - Jan 31
62. Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
Little Platte Recreation Area - Feb 4
63. Lesser scaup (Aythya affinis)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - Feb 6 to 8
64. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)
65. Redhead (Aythya americana)
66. Long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis)
67. Red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator)
Smith’s Fork Park - Feb 9
68. Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - Feb 9
69. Double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)
70. American wigeon (Mareca americana)
Bilby Ranch Conservation Area - Feb 11
71. Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
72. Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris)
73. Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
Smithville Lake Dam - Feb 11
74. Greater scaup (Aythya marila)

Mammals
Trimble Wildlife Management Area - Jan 6
4. Fox squirrel (Sciurus niger)

Fish
Second Creek - Jan 31
1. Suckermouth minnow (Phenacobius mirabilis)

Invertebrates
2. Nosy pill woodlouse (Armadillidium nasatum)
3. Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)
4. Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea)
5. Western honey bee (Apis mellifera)
Click to expand...
Birds
Eagles View Trailhead - February 17
75. American white pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
Lamoni, Iowa - February 25
76. Greater prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus cupido)
Backyard - March 1
77. Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
78. American woodcock (Scolopax minor)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - March 7
79. Horned grebe (Podiceps auritus)
Roadside - March 8
80. Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma - March 11
81. Red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
82. Eastern phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
83. Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - March 13
84. Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Little Platte Recreation Area - March 13
85. Blue-winged teal (Spatula discors)
Eagles View Trailhead - March 15
86. Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)
Camp Branch Marina - March 20
87. Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
Backyard - March 20 to 29
88. Harris’s sparrow (Zonotrichia querula)
89. Eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - March 30
90. Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)
91. Brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Little Platte Recreation Area - March 30
92. Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)
93. American pipit (Anthus rubescens)
Backyard - April 2 to 3
94. Ruby-crowned kinglet (Corthylio calendula)
95. Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
Cooley Lake Conservation Area - April 3
96. American golden-plover (Pluvialis dominica)
97. Ring-necked duck (Aythya collaris)
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - April 3
98. Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)
Backyard - April 4
99. Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Cutoff Lake - April 4
100. Cinnamon teal (Spatula cyanoptera)
101. Pectoral sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
102. Lesser yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)
103. Northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge - April 5
104. Wood duck (Aix sponsa)
105. Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata)
106. Long-billed dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

Mammals
Backyard - March 12
5. Common raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Eagle Ridge Drive - April 4
6. Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Reptiles
Jerry Litton Visitor Center - February 13
1. Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Tulsa Zoo, Oklahoma - March 11
2. Pond slider (Trachemys scripta)
Backyard March 29 to 30
3. Dekay’s brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)
4. Common five-lined skink (Plestiodon fasciatus)
5. Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge - April 5
6. Painted turtle (Chrysemys picta)

Amphibians
Second Creek - February 27
1. Blanchard’s cricket frog (Acris blanchardi)
Little Platte Recreation Area - March 13
2. Boreal chorus frog (Pseudacris maculata)

Fish
Second Creek - February 27 to March 12
2. Red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis)
3. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus)
4. Central stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum)
5. Bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus)
6. Sand shiner (Notropis stramineus)
7. Yellow bullhead (Ameiurus natalis)
8. Western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis)
Smith’s Fork Park - April 1
9. Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

Invertebrates
6. Pondmussel (Sagittunio subrostratus)
7. Eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus)
8. Ridged carrion beetle (Oiceoptoma inaequale)
9. Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)
10. Banded fishing spider (Dolomedes vittatus)
11. Hairy rove beetle (Creophilus maxillosus)
12. House centipede (Scutigera coleoptrata)
13. Bold jumping spider (Phidippus audax)
14. Lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum)
 
A small number of year ticks obtained recently:

Birds:
95) Rock pipit Anthus petrosus
96) Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Invertebrates:
24) Hawthorn fly Bibio marci

I still have a number of species awaiting identification on those, so hopefully get them to species level.
 
KevinB said:
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)
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)
35) Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
36) Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
37) Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula)

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)
9) Great grey slug/Leopard slug (Limax maximus)
 
KiwiBirb said:
Another long overdue species while on a bike ride tonight

Birds
86) Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

Progress:
Mammals- 14
Birds- 86
Herptiles- 4
Total- 104
Heard-only Species- 4
Click to expand...
Some Grebes from Liberty SP today

Birds
87) Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
88) Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Heard-Only Species
5) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Progress:
Mammals- 14
Birds- 88
Herptiles- 4
Total- 106
Heard-only Species- 5
 
Bisonblake said:
One more from today that I had to identify later on.

120. Chipping sparrow Spizella passerina
Click to expand...
One mammal I forgot to mention last week...

4/1/24
Mammals:
10. Groundhog Marmota monax

I returned to the nature center I checked a couple weeks ago, this time with a friend. A few more species I was targeting this year, plus my first warbler sighting in Michigan in 2024 (Yellow-rumped warbler).

4/7/24
Birds:
121. Eastern phoebe Sayornis phoebe
123. Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater
123. Belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Reptiles:
8. Garter snake Thamnophis sirtalis

Total Species: 158
Birds: 123
Mammals: 10
Reptiles: 8
Fish: 17
 
KiwiBirb said:
Some Grebes from Liberty SP today

Birds
87) Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
88) Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Heard-Only Species
5) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Progress:
Mammals- 14
Birds- 88
Herptiles- 4
Total- 106
Heard-only Species- 5
Click to expand...
My final night looking for woodcocks, unfortunately no luck but I did pick up 2 aquatic rodents.

Mammals
15) North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)
16) Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Progress:
Mammals- 16
Birds- 88
Herptiles- 4
Total- 108
Heard-only Species- 5
 
Osedax said:
I just got home.
Didn’t pick up as many new birds as I expected on the Dubbo trip, but still got 3 bird lifers and my first two mammal lifers of the year!

Anyway, first things first:

29/3/24
Seen on the drive:

Birds
127. Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)

I spent the afternoon looking for Superb Parrots at my cousin's house in Cumnock (about halfway between Orange and Dubbo). I heard them a few times but was unsuccessful in spotting them. Disappointing, but I did see a small flock fleetingly at the zoo the next day.

30/3/24
Had to leave early (5:45am) to get to the zoo in time for the Early Morning Walk. Driving in the dark on country roads means two things: roos and rabbits. Didn't hit anything (thank god), but had several near misses with animals standing right in the middle of the road. I was expecting the rabbits and Est Grey roos, but I was certainly not expecting:

Mammals
10. Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus)
11. Swamp Wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) - also saw one later on, wild in zoo grounds
12. Eurasian Wild Boar — Feral Pig (Sus scrofa)

Got to the zoo luckily without any harm done to wildlife or the car, and picked up 9 new birds throughout the day, including 2 lifers.

Birds
128. White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
129. Superb Parrot (Polytelis swainsonii)
130. Apostlebird (Struthidea cinerea)
131. White-winged Chough (Corcorax melanorhamphus)
132. Purple-backed Fairy Wren (Malurus assimilis)
133. Little Friarbird (Philemon citreogularis)
134. Striped Honeyeater (Plectorhyncha lanceolata)
135. Yellow-throated Miner (Manorina flavigula)
136. Grey-crowned Babbler (Pomatostomus temporalis)

As well as one reptile:

Reptiles
6. Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii)

Later, back at Cumnock, I got my second honeyeater lifer of the day!

Birds
137. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater (Acanthogenys rufogularis)

31/3/24
On the drive home this afternoon, saw what I’ve hoped to see for ages; a feral goat on Victoria Pass!

Mammals
13. Feral Goat (Capra hircus)
Click to expand...
Birds
138. Bar-shouldered Dove (Geopelia humeralis)

I have never seen this species in NSW before, and there they were, three of them, just sitting on a power line!

And...

Reptiles
7. Eastern Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)

All the rain we have had lately drew this little fellow out into the open!
 
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