Zoochat Big Year 2024

WhistlingKite24 said:
I recently came back from a few days in South Australia with Kangaroo Island being a major focus for wildlife, ticking off three pinniped species in a day at Seal Bay Conservation Park for sea lions and Admiral Arch for both fur seals. Western Grey Kangaroos were everywhere both on the mainland and the island. Tammar Wallaby numbers haven’t recovered as well from the 2020 bushfires as the kangaroos have on Kangaroo Island and remain scarce so I didn’t get an opportunity around Flinders Chase National Park. 13 bird lifers from South Australia including some memorable ones like Black-faced Cormorant, White-winged Chough and Hoary-headed Grebe. I had to work very hard for Australian Ringneck but managed a clear flyover. Scarlet Robin is officially my nemesis bird missing it both in Tasmania and South Australia but I saw about eight Red-capped Robins at least. It was also a delightful moment when I saw a wild Shingleback as well. In other news, I already have the December trip booked to finish off a productive year.

Mammals
22) Western Grey Kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus
23) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
24) Australian Sea Lion Neophoca cinerea
25) Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus
26) Long-nosed Fur Seal Arctocephalus forsteri
27) Red Kangaroo Osphranter rufus
28) House Mouse Mus musculus

Birds
212) Grey Goshawk Accipiter novaehollandiae
213) Wompoo Fruit-Dove Ptilinopus magnificus
214) Little Raven Corvus mellori
215) Eastern Rosella Platycercus eximius
216) New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
217) Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
218) Common Blackbird Turdus merula
219) Common Bronzewing Phaps chalcoptera
220) Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
221) Singing Honeyeater Lichenostomus virescens
222) Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
223) White-plumed Honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus
224) Black-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax fuscescens
225) Pacific Gull Larus pacificus
226) Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
227) Cape Barren Goose Cereopsis novaehollandiae
228) Purple-gaped Honeyeater Lichenostomus cratitius
229) Tawny-crowned Honeyeater Gliciphila melanops
230) Brown-headed Honeyeater Melithreptus brevirostris
231) European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
232) Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
233) Red-capped Robin Petroica goodenovii
234) Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater Acanthagenys rufogularis
235) White-browed Babbler Pomatostomus superciliosus
236) Yellow Thornbill Acanthiza nana
237) Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
238) White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
239) Australian Ringneck Barnardius zonarius
240) Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
241) Australasian Shovelver Anas rhynchotis
242) Purple-backed Fairywren Malurus assimilis
243) Striated Thornbill Acanthiza lineata
244) Chestnut-rumped Thornbill Acanthiza uropygialis
245) Varied Sitella Daphoenositta chrysoptera
246) Tawny Grassbird Megalurus timoriensis
247) Striped Honeyeater Plectorhyncha lanceolata
248) Grey-crowned Babbler Pomatostomus temporalis
249) Brown Quail Coturnix ypsilophora

Herptiles:
22) Common Keelback Tropidonophis mairii
23) Scute-snouted Calyptotis Calyptotis scutirostrum
24) Shingleback Tiliqua rugosa

Invertebrates:
290) Glistening Line-Blue Sahulana scintillata
291) Long-tailed Pea-Blue Lampides boeticus
292) Amorbus atomarius [leaf-footed bug]
293) Brown Bean Bug Riptortus serripes
294) Southern Bubble Pond Snail Bullastra lessoni
295) Spodoptera umbraculata [moth]
296) Polyrhachis ornata [spiny ant]
297) Goryphus turneri [ichneumonid wasp]
298) Semaphore Crab Heloecius cordiformis
299) Iridescent Semi-Slug Ubiquitarion iridis
300) Rhagadolyra handlirschi [fly]
301) Australocricus perditus [millipede]
302) Baehr's Cosmophasis Cosmophasis baehrae
303) Yellow-shouldered Stout Hover Fly Simosyrphus grandicornis
304) Long-nosed Lycid Beetle Porrostoma rhipidium
305) White Rush Moth Tipanaea patulella
306) Australian Painted Lady Vanessa kershawi
307) Lispe cana [fly]
308) Saltbush Blue Theclinesthes serpentata
309) Scarlet Three-spined Mangrove Crab Neosarmatium trispinosum
310) Tenagogerris euphrosyne [water strider]
311) Bark-hugging Saint Andrew's Cross Spider Argiope ocyaloides
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An update from me. I really enjoyed my first time spotlighting locally and fortunately I was able to see five Greater Gliders within an hour or so, a proper Sugar Glider (following the split) feeding at near eye-level, three Powerful Owls, an echidna and a very nice cryptic snake species. There were far too many Cane Toads for anything productive for frogs unfortunately but there were large snails everywhere which were a lifer. Spring inverts have included my first Giant Water Spider, a new mantis species, a smattering of moths and a bit of rockpool action with a new chiton and periwinkles.

Mammals:
29) Common Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus
30) Greater Glider Petauroides volans
31) Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps
32) Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus

Birds:
250) Powerful Owl Ninox strenua

Reptiles:
25) Carpet Python Morelia spilota
26) Robust Ctenotus Ctenotus robustus
27) Eastern Small-eyed Snake Cryptophis nigrescens

Fish
36) Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki
37) Green Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii

Invertebrates:
312) Eastern Billabongfly Austroagrion watsoni
313) Eurrhyparodes tricoloralis [moth]
314) Thin Periwinkle Littoraria filose
315) Dolopus simulans [robber fly]
316) Little Blue Periwinkle
317) Pyramid Noddiwink Nodilittorina pyramidalis
318) Liolophura gaimardi [chiton]
319) Pseudoloxops woodwardia [plant bug]
320) Apple Looper Phrissogonus laticostata
321) Alucita phricodes [moth]
322) Nacoleia amphicedalis [moth]
323) Spotted Amber Ladybird Hippodamia variegata
324) Peacock Carpenter Bee Xylocopa bombylans
325) Spur-throated Locust Austracris guttulosa
326) Long Broad-headed Bug Mutusca brevicornis
327) White-brand Grass-Skipper Toxidia rietmanni
328) Common Assassin Bug, Pristhesancus plagipennis
329) Two-dots Gum Tree Shield Bug Poecilometis parilis
330) Polyrhachis brisbanensis [spiny ant]
331) Burying Mantis Sphodropoda tristis
332) Tessellated Stick Insect Anchiale austrotessulata
333) Tiger Longhorn Aridaeus thoracicus
334) Green and Gold Nomia Bee Nomia australica
335) Southern Meat Ant Iridomyrmex purpureus
336) Mesoponera australis [ant]
337) Punctate Flower Chafer Neorrhina punctatum
338) Fraser’s Banded Snail Sphaerospira fraseri
339) Neola semiaurata [moth]
340) Red Arrow Rhodothemis lieftincki
341) Aporocera speciosa [leaf beetle]
342) Giant Water Spider Megadolomedes trux
 
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First of a batch of updates as I'm back home after my first trip outside Europe in eight years.

Shouldn't be too tricky to spot what country I was in - and indeed the species below point fairly clearly at the specific region as well if you know your stuff. :D

Mammals:
24. Jungle Striped Squirrel - Funambulus tristriatus
25. Bonnet Macaque - Macaca radiata
26. Indian Flying Fox - Pteropus medius
27. Axis Deer (Chital) - Axis axis
28. Black-footed Grey Langur - Semnopithecus hypoleucos
29. Asian Elephant - Elephas maximus
30. Gaur - Bos gaurus
31. Leopard - Panthera pardus
32. Tiger - Panthera tigris
33. Wild Boar - Sus scrofa
34. Indian Grey Mongoose - Urva edwardsii
35. Stripe-necked Mongoose - Urva vitticolla
36. Malabar Red Muntjac - Muntiacus malabaricus
37. Sambar - Rusa unicolor
38. Ruddy Mongoose - Urva smithii
39. Smooth-coated Otter - Lutra perspicillata
40. Least Pipistrelle - Pipistrellus tenuis
41. Indian Giant Squirrel - Ratufa indica
42. Greater Short-nosed Fruit Bat - Cynopterus sphinx
43. Dhole - Cuon alpinus

Wasn't sure if I'd be able to ID any bats beyond the flying fox but some local knowledge plus bringing my bat detector did allow a couple more to be confirmed (I also picked up calls of Pipistrellus ceylonicus on the detector several times but frustratingly never got a visual on the bat at the same time, so not able to be listed - along with various other bats in flight with either no detectable call or a Myotis-type one that had no hope of separation, and a big rat silhouette that crossed our path one night :D ).

The two non-lifers among the mammals were both nevertheless subspecies ticks of course, my previous wild sightings being in Botswana and the UK/Poland respectively.

Birds and inverts will follow once I've had time to go through them but probably not today - I'll be back later today for herps though and will use that post for an overview of the trip as a whole. :)
 
As promised, some herps to add from (of course) India:

Reptiles:
4. Bengal Monitor - Varanus bengalensis
5. Indian Black Turtle - Melanochelys trijuga
6. Asian House Gecko - Hemidactylus frenatus
7. Mugger Crocodile - Crocodylus palustris
8. Keeled Grass Skink - Eutropis carinata
9. Oriental Ratsnake - Ptyas mucosa
10. Oriental Garden Lizard - Calotes versicolor

Amphibians:
6. Asian Black-spined Toad - Duttophrynus melanostictus

With thanks to our guide (who was a herper at heart, despite it being a mammal-orientated tour really) for some of the IDs.

We had eight days in Nagarahole National Park/Tiger Reserve in the south of Karnataka, staying at the nearby Kabini River Lodge and venturing into the park in mornings and evenings - plus a boat ride along the river, which produced the crocodiles above (which were on the south bank of the river, so technically in the neighbouring Bandipur National Park, rather than Nagarahole :D ).

We managed two sightings of Tiger, plus one each of Leopard and (a group of four) Dhole - elephants were seen almost every day and often in numbers. Strong numbers of Gaur, macaques and langurs as well. Axis Deer will be haunting my dreams for months we saw so many. :D

It was a great trip and the birds will take a little time to wrangle but I'll be back with them soon.
 
Maguari said:
As promised, some herps to add from (of course) India:

Reptiles:
4. Bengal Monitor - Varanus bengalensis
5. Indian Black Turtle - Melanochelys trijuga
6. Asian House Gecko - Hemidactylus frenatus
7. Mugger Crocodile - Crocodylus palustris
8. Keeled Grass Skink - Eutropis carinata
9. Oriental Ratsnake - Ptyas mucosa
10. Oriental Garden Lizard - Calotes versicolor

Amphibians:
6. Asian Black-spined Toad - Duttophrynus melanostictus

With thanks to our guide (who was a herper at heart, despite it being a mammal-orientated tour really) for some of the IDs.

We had eight days in Nagarahole National Park/Tiger Reserve in the south of Karnataka, staying at the nearby Kabini River Lodge and venturing into the park in mornings and evenings - plus a boat ride along the river, which produced the crocodiles above (which were on the south bank of the river, so technically in the neighbouring Bandipur National Park, rather than Nagarahole :D ).

We managed two sightings of Tiger, plus one each of Leopard and (a group of four) Dhole - elephants were seen almost every day and often in numbers. Strong numbers of Gaur, macaques and langurs as well. Axis Deer will be haunting my dreams for months we saw so many. :D

It was a great trip and the birds will take a little time to wrangle but I'll be back with them soon.
Click to expand...

That sounds fabulous! Look forward to the photos.
 
Chlidonias said:
If you want to follow another glider split, your local Greater Gliders would be P. armillatus.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately not, that split seems to have been rolled back into subspecies.
 
Maguari said:
We managed two sightings of Tiger, plus one each of Leopard and (a group of four) Dhole - elephants were seen almost every day and often in numbers. Strong numbers of Gaur, macaques and langurs as well. Axis Deer will be haunting my dreams for months we saw so many. :D
Click to expand...

I went to Nagarhole many years ago now. I remember the high number of Elephants and Gaur (and many Axis deer too). We failed with Tiger there ( I had two sightings subsequently in Kaziranga) but saw Leopard. Also Jackal. It reminded me a bit of the Forest of Dean...
 
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Yesterday while I was surveying areas around Lauttasaari for an upcoming birding competition, I came across something I'd previously only joked about finding: a Black-legged kittiwake! A young bird had landed very close to the island, probably tired from its migration. Shortly there after the bird swam of to somewhere else. Probably the best random sighting I've had so far!

Birds

252. Black-legged kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla 27/11/24
 
Species from Malaysia, almost all from Bukit Fraser apart for the first and last four birds. It’s not much of a list because most of the time up there was so drizzly and foggy that birds were either invisible or just silhouettes through the mist. Only part of the last afternoon was fully clear.

Now I'm in the airport again, due to fly out to China this evening.


BIRDS:

100) House Crow Corvus splendens
101) Crested Serpent-Eagle Spilornis cheela
102) White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
103) Zebra Dove Geopelia striata
104) Black-throated Sunbird Aethopyga saturata
105) Oriental Magpie-Robin Copsychus saularis
106) Long-tailed Sibia Heterophasia picaoides
107) Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
108) Mountain Fulvetta Alcippe peracensis
109) Mountain Tailorbird Phyllergates cucullatus
110) Chestnut-capped Laughing Thrush Garrulax mitratus
111) Golden Babbler Cyanoderma chrysaea
112) White-throated Fantail Rhipidura albicollis
113) Plume-toed Swiftlet Collocalia affinis
114) Malayan Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina larutensis
115) Streaked Spiderhunter Arachnothera magna
116) Fire-tufted Barbet Psilopogon pyrolophus
117) Greater Yellownape Picus flavinucha
118) Blue Nuthatch Sitta azurea
119) Large Niltava Niltava grandis
120) Black-browed Barbet Psilopogon oorti
121) Little Cuckoo-Dove Macropygia ruficeps
122) Blue-winged Minla Siva cyanouroptera
123) Streaked Wren-Babbler Gypsophila brevicaudata
124) Silver-eared Mesia Leiothrix argentauris
125) Mountain Imperial Pigeon Ducula badia
126) Asian Brown Flycatcher Muscicapa dauurica
127) Pacific Swallow Hirundo tahitica
128) Thick-billed Spiderhunter Arachnothera crassirostris
129) Stripe-throated Bulbul Pycnonotus finlaysoni
130) Black and Crimson Oriole Oriolus cruentus
131) Mountain Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus trivirgatus
132) Little Pied Flycatcher Ficedula westermanni
133) Buff-breasted Babbler Pellorneum tickelli
134) White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
135) Lesser Racquet-tailed Drongo Dicrurus remifer
136) Blue-winged Leafbird Chloropsis moluccensis
137) Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
138) Malayan Laughing Thrush Trochalopteron peninsulae
139) Chestnut-crowned Warbler Seicercus castaniceps
140) Yellow-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus goiavier
141) Hume’s White-eye Zosterops auriventer
142) Mountain Bulbul Hypsipetes mcclellandii
143) Grey-chinned Minivet Pericrocotus solaris
144) Fire-breasted Flowerpecker Dicaeum ignipectus
145) Black-bellied Malkoha Phoenicophaeus diardi
146) Sultan Tit Melanochlora sultanea
147) Red Junglefowl Gallus gallus
148) Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
149) Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
150) Javan Mynah Acridotheres javanicus
151) Red-wattled Lapwing Vanellus indicus

MAMMALS:

3) Himalayan Striped Squirrel Tamiops macclellandi
4) White-thighed Langur Presbytis siamensis
5) Crab-eating Macaque Macaca fascicularis
6) Grey-bellied Squirrel Callosciurus caniceps
7) Greater Tree Shrew Tupaia glis
8) Dusky Langur Trachypithecus obscurus
9) Red-bellied (Pallas’) Squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus
10) Siamang Symphalangus syndactylus
11) Southern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca nemestrina
 
oflory said:
Our trip to The Gambia was incredible. So many birds, lots of mammals, and even some cool herps! If anyone is considering going, I can thoroughly recommend Ebrima Sidibeh as a bird guide, he was fantastic and extremely knowledgeable, as well as being an all round lovely man. We also stayed in a wonderful hotel, when on the coast, called Bakotu, which I can also recommend (it has a bird-watching platform over Kotu Creek, which, in a small piece of personal news, is where I proposed to my now-fiancee!). A torch and a bat detector made me look a bit strange in the bar as it got dark, but ah well...

We also visited Fathala Game Reserve over the border in Senegal. I'm not sure how 'wild' the large hoofstock here are. As far as I can tell, they are mostly 're-introduced' from southern Africa and effectively live as wild populations in the fenced reserve during the wet season. During the dry season, they are fed and watered, though. As such, I'm not going to count them for the purposes of this list, but wanted to note how magical it was to see a herd of giant eland materialising out of the bush.

Mammals
21. Harnessed bushbuck
22. Green vervet
23. Western red colobus
24. Patas monkey
25. Guinea baboon
26. Pardine genet (particularly pleased by this one, in the garden of our hotel, nonetheless)
27. Gambian mongoose
28. Gambian sun squirrel
29. African striped ground squirrel
30. Gambian pouched rat
31. Gambian epauletted fruitbat
32. Peter's dwarf epauletted fruitbat
33. Gambian slit-faced bat
34. Mauritian tomb bat
35. Western greenish-yellow bat
36. Yellow-winged bat
37. Tiny serotine
38. Randall's serotine
39. Lander's horseshoe bat

Plus one further bat species to ID from photos. I will post in the gallery, if anyone would like to help.

Birds (the first two from Barcelona on the way back!)
281. Eurasian Crag Martin
282. Monk Parakeet
283. Greater Painted-Snipe
284. Kelp Gull
285. Pomarine Skua
286. Arctic Skua
287. African Green-Pigeon
288. Stone Partridge
289. White-crested Helmetshrike
290. Bronze-tailed Starling
291. Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
292. Quailfinch
293. Yellow-billed Oxpecker
294. Winding Cisticola
295. Swamp Flycatcher
296. Western Banded Snake-Eagle
297. Northern Carmine Bee-eater
298. Red-throated Bee-eater
299. Little Swift
300. Egyptian Plover
301. Mottled Spinetail
302. Gosling's Bunting
303. Exclamatory Paradise-Whydah
304. African Silverbill
305. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark
306. African Green Bee-eater
307. Grasshopper Buzzard
308. African Hawk-Eagle
309. Brown Snake-Eagle
310. Collared Pratincole
311. Orange-cheeked Waxbill
312. Rufous-tailed Scrub Robin
313. African Red-rumped Swallow
314. Four-banded Sandgrouse
315. Slender-billed Gull
316. Black-headed Lapwing
317. Northern Anteater-Chat
318. Sahel Paradise-Whydah
319. Green-winged Pytilia
320. Red-billed Quelea
321. Copper Sunbird
322. Greater Blue-eared Starling
323. Striped Kingfisher
324. Pygmy Sunbird
325. Senegal Eremomela
326. Northern Crombec
327. Mouse-brown Sunbird
328. Western Olivaceous Warbler
329. Abyssinian Roller
330. Grey-headed Kingfisher
331. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
332. Goliath Heron
333. Yellow-billed Egret
334. African Darter
335. African Woolly-necked Stork
336. Gull-billed Tern
337. Bruce's Green-Pigeon
338. Spur-winged Goose
339. White-rumped Seedeater
340. Sahel Bush Sparrow
341. Little Weaver
342. Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver
343. African Golden Oriole
344. Vieillot's Barbet
345. European Bee-eater
346. Gabar Goshawk
347. Mosque Swallow
348. Grey-headed Bushshrike
349. Lanner Falcon
350. Lesser Honeyguide
351. Purple Roller
352. White-throated Bee-eater
353. Dark Chanting-Goshawk
354. Wahlberg's Eagle
355. Black-rumped Waxbill
356. African Paradise-Flycatcher
357. Spotted Honeyguide
358. Greyish Eagle Owl
359. Ovambo Sparrowhawk
360. Levaillant's Cuckoo
361. Vitelline Masked-Weaver
362. Whistling Cisticola
363. African Goshawk
364. Purple Heron
365. White-backed Night Heron
366. Grey Kestrel
367. Chestnut-bellied Starling
368. Black-crowned Tchagra
369. Black-winged Kite
370. Western Bluebill
371. Capuchin Babbler
372. Little Greenbul
373. Grey-headed Bristlebill
374. Guinea Turaco
375. Palm-nut Vulture
376. African Spoonbill
377. African Sacred Ibis
378. Yellow-billed Stork
379. Grey-hooded Gull
380. Namaqua Dove
381. Sudan Golden Sparrow
382. Black-headed Weaver
383. Purple Starling
384. Western Subalpine Warbler
385. Yellow-gorgeted Greenbul
386. Green-backed Camaroptera
387. Senegal Batis
388. Fine-spotted Woodpecker
389. Lizard Buzzard
390. Long-crested Eagle
391. Pink-backed Pelican
392. Black-headed Heron
393. Squacco Heron
394. West African Crested Tern
395. African Jacana
396. White-fronted Plover
397. Black-winged Stilt
398. African Swamphen
399. White-faced Whistling-Duck
400. Village Indigobird
401. Black-winged Bishop
402. Northern Red Bishop
403. Variable Sunbird
404. Blue-bellied Roller
405. White-crowned Robin-Chat
406. Lesser Blue-eared Starling
407. Blackcap Babbler
408. Red-chested Swallow
409. Oriole Warbler
410. Yellow-billed Shrike
411. Red-necked Falcon
412. African Grey Woodpecker
413. Bearded Barbet
414. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
415. Blue-breasted Kingfisher
416. Green Woodhoopoe
417. Pearl-spotted Owlet
418. Striated Heron
419. Black Heron
420. Hadada Ibis
421. Wood Sandpiper
422. Mourning Collared Dove
423. Yellow-fronted Canary
424. Northern Grey-headed Sparrow
425. Red-billed Firefinch
426. Red-cheeked Cordonbleu
427. Lavender Waxbill
428. Bronze Mannikin
429. Village Weaver
430. Olive-naped Weaver
431. White-billed Buffalo-Weaver
432. Scarlet-chested Sunbird
433. Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat
434. Fanti Sawwing
435. Singing Cisticola
436. Tawny-flanked Prinia
437. Yellow-breasted Apalis
438. Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher
439. Fork-tailed Drongo
440. Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike
441. Northern Puffback
442. Brown-throated Wattle-eye
443. Senegal Parrot
444. Greater Honeyguide
445. Broad-billed Roller
446. Woodland Kingfisher
447. African Pygmy Kingfisher
448. Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
449. West African Pied Hornbill
450. African Harrier-Hawk
451. Great White Pelican
452. Western Cattle-Egret
453. Senegal Coucal
454. Violet Turaco
455. Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
456. Black-billed Wood-Dove
457. Vinaceous Dove
458. Double-spurred Spurfowl
459. African Thrush
460. Piapiac
461. Yellow-crowned Gonolek
462. Ring-necked Parakeet
463. Little Bee-eater
464. Western Red-billed Hornbill
465. Lesser Crested Tern
466. Common Greenshank
467. Beautiful Sunbird
468. Long-tailed Glossy Starling
469. Brown Babbler
470. Common Bulbul
471. Wire-tailed Swallow
472. Pied Crow
473. Pied Kingfisher
474. Giant Kingfisher
475. Malachite Kingfisher
476. African Grey Hornbill
478. Black Kite
479. Shikra
480. Hooded Vulture
481. Hamerkop
482. Western Reef-Heron
483. Reed Cormorant
484. Wattled Lapwing
485. Spur-winged Lapwing
486. Senegal Thick-knee
487. African Palm Swift
488. Western Plantain-eater
489. Red-eyed Dove
490. Speckled Pigeon

I am going to post herps this weekend - they need a bit of ID from photos.
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A little zoo trip down to the lovely Shaldon Wildlife Trust for the Owston's civet (finally seen!) gets me another mammal and another bird (the latter a much wanted lifer!) for the year. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to get up to Cambridgeshire for wild swans before the New Year...

Mammals
40. Roe deer

Birds
492. Cirl bunting
 
Indian birds incoming...

The overwhelming majority are from Nagarahole Tiger Reserve or the grounds of the Kabini River Lodge. A few at each end are from the journey from and back to Bengaluru.

Birds:
201. Black Kite - Milvus migrans
202. Indian Jungle Crow - Corvus culminatus
203. House Crow - Corvus splendens
204. Eastern Cattle Egret - Ardea coromandra
205. Brahminy Kite - Haliastur indus
206. Indian Roller - Coracias bengalensis
207. Red-naped Ibis - Pseudibis papillosa
208. Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
209. Black-headed Ibis - Threskiornis melanocephala
210. Asian Openbill - Anastomus oscitans
211. Painted Stork - Mycteria leucocephala
212. Medium Egret - Ardea intermedia
213. Eastern Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica
214. Grey-headed Swamphen - Porphyrio poliocephalus
215. Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
216. Indian Spot-billed Duck - Anas poeciliorhyncha
217. Blue-tailed Bee-eater - Merops philippinus
218. Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer
219. Tricoloured Munia - Lonchura malacca
220. Indian Pond Heron - Ardeola grayii
221. Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis
222. Indian Golden Oriole - Oriolus kundoo
223. Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius
224. White-cheeked Barbet - Psilopogon viridis
225. Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus
226. Asian Brown Flycatcher - Muscicapa dauurica
227. Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis
228. Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus
229. Spotted Dove - Spilopelia chinensis
230. Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus
231. Jungle Myna - Acridotheres fuscus
232. Indian Cuckooshrike - Coracina macei
233. White-rumped Vulture - Gyps bengalensis
234. Red-headed Vulture - Sarcogyps calvus
235. Little Cormorant - Microcarbo niger
236. Golden-fronted Leafbird - Chloropsis aurifrons
237. Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium bengalense
238. Jungle Babbler - Argya striata
239. Blue-winged Parakeet - Psittacula columboides
240. Plum-headed Parakeet - Psittacula cyanocephala
241. White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis
242. Grey Junglefowl - Gallus sonneratii
243. Malabar Starling - Sturnia blythii
244. Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum
245. Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indicus
246. Streak-throated Woodpecker - Picus xanthopygaeus
247. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon - Treron phoenicopterus
248. Yellow-crowned Woodpecker - Leiopicus mahrattensis
249. Shikra - Tachyspiza badia
250. Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus paradiseus
251. Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda
252. Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis
253. Crested Honey Buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus
254. Common Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx varius
255. Green Imperial Pigeon - Ducula aenea
256. Crested Serpent Eagle - Spilornis cheela
257. Indian Grey Hornbill - Ocyceros birostris
258. Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
259. Purple-rumped Sunbird - Leptocoma zeylonica
260. Coppersmith Barbet - Psilopogon haemacepahalus
261. Greater Coucal - Centropus sinensis
262. Brown Shrike - Lanius cristatus
263. Blue-faced Malkoha - Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
264. White-browed Wagtail - Motacilla maderaspatensis
265. Forest Wagtail - Dendronanthus indicus
266. White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens
267. Malabar Pied Hornbill - Anthracoceros coronatus
268. Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus
269. Indian Cormorant - Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
270. River Tern - Sterna aurantia
271. Indian Paradise Flycatcher - Tersiphone paradisi
272. Asian Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis
273. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch - Sitta frontalis
274. Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus
275. Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Nisaetus cirrhatus
276. Blyth's Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus dumetorum
277. White-browed Bulbul - Pycnonotus luteolus
278. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater - Merops leschenaulti
279. Grey-fronted Green Pigeon - Treron affinis
280. White-bellied Woodpecker - Dryocopus javensis
281. Lesser Yellownape - Picus chlorolophus
282. Spotted Owlet - Athene brama
283. Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides
284. Jerdon's Leafbird - Chloropsis jerdoni
285. Cinereous Tit - Parus cinereus
286. Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis
287. Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker - Yungipicus nanus
288. Common Iora - Aegithina tiphia
289. Bronze-winged Jacana - Metopidius indicus
290. Pheasant-tailed Jacana - Hydrophasianus chirurgus
291. Brown Fish Owl - Ketupa zeylonensis
292. Vernal Hanging Parrot - Loriculus vernalis
293. Crested Treeswift - Hemiprocne coronata
294. Little Swift - Apus affinis
295. Malabar Woodshrike - Tephrodornis sylvicola
296. Small Minivet - Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
297. Yellow-throated Sparrow - Gymnoris xanthocollis
298. Rufous Babbler - Argya subrufa
299. Red Spurfowl - Galloperdix spadicea
300. Common Flameback - Dinopium javanense
301. Bronzed Drongo - Dicrurus aeneus
302. Southern Hill Myna - Gracula indica
303. Pied Bush Chat - Saxicola caprata
304. Chestnut-tailed Starling - Sturnia malabarica
305. White-spotted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis
306. Rufous Woodpecker - Micropternus brachyurus
307. Greater Spotted Eagle - Clanga clanga
308. Oriental Darter - Anhinga melanogaster
309. Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida
310. Asian Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus
311. White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus
312. Lesser Fish Eagle - Ichthyophaga humilis
313. Large Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx sparverioides
314. Ashy Woodswallow - Artamus fuscus
315. Asian Koel - Eudynamys scolopaceus
316. Blue-bearded Bee-eater - Nyctornis athertoni
317. Clamorous Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus stentoreus
318. Common Woodshrike - Tephrodornis pondicerianus
319. Indian Pitta - Pitta brachyura
320. Green Warbler - Phylloscopus nitidus
321. Lesser Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna javanica
322. Lesser Adjutant - Leptoptilos javanicus
323. Jerdon's Nightjar - Caprimulgus atripinnis
324. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike - Hemipus picatus
325. Nilgiri Flowerpecker - Dicaeum concolor
326. Wire-tailed Swallow - Hirundo smithii
327. Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
328. Dusky Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

:)

The slightly odd spread of non-lifers is mainly attributable to trips some years ago to Vietnam, and longer ago still to Malaysia and Nepal. None of these contribute huge numbers of birds to my life list for various reasons, but they all account for a few unbolded birds here.

For completeness, also seen but already on the year list (though sometimes with a different subspecies) were: Little Egret, Great White Egret, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Coot, Common Kingfisher, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon*, Ring-necked Parakeet**, Common Sandpiper, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Greenshank, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Osprey

*as well as feral pigeons in Bengaluru and other towns and cities on the drive, we also saw some apparently true Rock Doves in the reserve

**The ringnecks were my first in their native range, despite many sightings elsewhere..!

I will now need to go through my photos in detail to work out the invert list and check a few photo IDs, so will be back in a few days with inverts and any tweaks/additions after the photos are reviewed. :)
 
Last edited:
Maguari said:
Indian birds incoming...

The overwhelming majority are from Nagarahole Tiger Reserve or the grounds of the Kabini River Lodge. A few at each end are from the journey from and back to Bengaluru.

Birds:
201. Black Kite - Milvus migrans
202. Indian Jungle Crow - Corvus culminatus
203. House Crow - Corvus splendens
204. Eastern Cattle Egret - Ardea coromandra
205. Brahminy Kite - Haliastur indus
206. Indian Roller - Coracias bengalensis
207. Red-naped Ibis - Pseudibis papillosa
208. Eurasian Hoopoe - Upupa epops
209. Black-headed Ibis - Threskiornis melanocephala
210. Asian Openbill - Anastomus oscitans
211. Painted Stork - Mycteria leucocephala
212. Medium Egret - Ardea intermedia
213. Eastern Red-rumped Swallow - Cecropis daurica
214. Grey-headed Swamphen - Porphyrio poliocephalus
215. Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
216. Indian Spot-billed Duck - Anas poeciliorhyncha
217. Blue-tailed Bee-eater - Merops philippinus
218. Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer
219. Tricoloured Munia - Lonchura malacca
220. Indian Pond Heron - Ardeola grayii
221. Oriental Magpie-Robin - Copsychus saularis
222. Indian Golden Oriole - Oriolus kundoo
223. Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius
224. White-cheeked Barbet - Psilopogon viridis
225. Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus
226. Asian Brown Flycatcher - Muscicapa dauurica
227. Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis
228. Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus
229. Spotted Dove - Spilopelia chinensis
230. Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus
231. Jungle Myna - Acridotheres fuscus
232. Indian Cuckooshrike - Coracina macei
233. White-rumped Vulture - Gyps bengalensis
234. Red-headed Vulture - Sarcogyps calvus
235. Little Cormorant - Microcarbo niger
236. Golden-fronted Leafbird - Chloropsis aurifrons
237. Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium bengalense
238. Jungle Babbler - Argya striata
239. Blue-winged Parakeet - Psittacula columboides
240. Plum-headed Parakeet - Psittacula cyanocephala
241. White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis
242. Grey Junglefowl - Gallus sonneratii
243. Malabar Starling - Sturnia blythii
244. Brahminy Starling - Sturnia pagodarum
245. Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indicus
246. Streak-throated Woodpecker - Picus xanthopygaeus
247. Yellow-footed Green Pigeon - Treron phoenicopterus
248. Yellow-crowned Woodpecker - Leiopicus mahrattensis
249. Shikra - Tachyspiza badia
250. Greater Racquet-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus paradiseus
251. Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda
252. Tree Pipit - Anthus trivialis
253. Crested Honey Buzzard - Pernis ptilorhynchus
254. Common Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx varius
255. Green Imperial Pigeon - Ducula aenea
256. Crested Serpent Eagle - Spilornis cheela
257. Indian Grey Hornbill - Ocyceros birostris
258. Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
259. Purple-rumped Sunbird - Leptocoma zeylonica
260. Coppersmith Barbet - Psilopogon haemacepahalus
261. Greater Coucal - Centropus sinensis
262. Brown Shrike - Lanius cristatus
263. Blue-faced Malkoha - Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
264. White-browed Wagtail - Motacilla maderaspatensis
265. Forest Wagtail - Dendronanthus indicus
266. White-bellied Drongo - Dicrurus caerulescens
267. Malabar Pied Hornbill - Anthracoceros coronatus
268. Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus
269. Indian Cormorant - Phalacrocorax fuscicollis
270. River Tern - Sterna aurantia
271. Indian Paradise Flycatcher - Tersiphone paradisi
272. Asian Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis
273. Velvet-fronted Nuthatch - Sitta frontalis
274. Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus
275. Changeable Hawk-Eagle - Nisaetus cirrhatus
276. Blyth's Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus dumetorum
277. White-browed Bulbul - Pycnonotus luteolus
278. Chestnut-headed Bee-eater - Merops leschenaulti
279. Grey-fronted Green Pigeon - Treron affinis
280. White-bellied Woodpecker - Dryocopus javensis
281. Lesser Yellownape - Picus chlorolophus
282. Spotted Owlet - Athene brama
283. Greenish Warbler - Phylloscopus trochiloides
284. Jerdon's Leafbird - Chloropsis jerdoni
285. Cinereous Tit - Parus cinereus
286. Ashy Prinia - Prinia socialis
287. Brown-capped Pygmy Woodpecker - Yungipicus nanus
288. Common Iora - Aegithina tiphia
289. Bronze-winged Jacana - Metopidius indicus
290. Pheasant-tailed Jacana - Hydrophasianus chirurgus
291. Brown Fish Owl - Ketupa zeylonensis
292. Vernal Hanging Parrot - Loriculus vernalis
293. Crested Treeswift - Hemiprocne coronata
294. Little Swift - Apus affinis
295. Malabar Woodshrike - Tephrodornis sylvicola
296. Small Minivet - Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
297. Yellow-throated Sparrow - Gymnoris xanthocollis
298. Rufous Babbler - Argya subrufa
299. Red Spurfowl - Galloperdix spadicea
300. Common Flameback - Dinopium javanense
301. Bronzed Drongo - Dicrurus aeneus
302. Southern Hill Myna - Gracula indica
303. Pied Bush Chat - Saxicola caprata
304. Chestnut-tailed Starling - Sturnia malabarica
305. White-spotted Fantail - Rhipidura albogularis
306. Rufous Woodpecker - Micropternus brachyurus
307. Greater Spotted Eagle - Clanga clanga
308. Oriental Darter - Anhinga melanogaster
309. Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida
310. Asian Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus
311. White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus
312. Lesser Fish Eagle - Ichthyophaga humilis
313. Large Hawk-Cuckoo - Hierococcyx sparverioides
314. Ashy Woodswallow - Artamus fuscus
315. Asian Koel - Eudynamys scolopaceus
316. Blue-bearded Bee-eater - Nyctornis athertoni
317. Clamorous Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus stentoreus
318. Common Woodshrike - Tephrodornis pondicerianus
319. Indian Pitta - Pitta brachyura
320. Green Warbler - Phylloscopus nitidus
321. Lesser Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna javanica
322. Lesser Adjutant - Leptoptilos javanicus
323. Jerdon's Nightjar - Caprimulgus atripinnis
324. Bar-winged Flycatcher-shrike - Hemipus picatus
325. Nilgiri Flowerpecker - Dicaeum concolor
326. Wire-tailed Swallow - Hirundo smithii
327. Spot-billed Pelican - Pelecanus philippensis
328. Dusky Crag Martin - Ptyonoprogne concolor

:)

The slightly odd spread of non-lifers is mainly attributable to trips some years ago to Vietnam, and longer ago still to Malaysia and Nepal. None of these contribute huge numbers of birds to my life list for various reasons, but they all account for a few unbolded birds here.

For completeness, also seen but already on the year list (though sometimes with a different subspecies) were: Little Egret, Great White Egret, Barn Swallow, Eurasian Coot, Common Kingfisher, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon*, Ring-necked Parakeet**, Common Sandpiper, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Green Sandpiper, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Greenshank, Black-winged Stilt, Wood Sandpiper, Little Ringed Player, Osprey

*as well as feral pigeons in Bengaluru and other towns and cities on the drive, we also saw some apparently true Rock Doves in the reserve

**The ringnecks were my first in their native range, despite many sightings elsewhere..!

I will now need to go through my photos in detail to work out the invert list and check a few photo IDs, so will be back in a few days with inverts and any tweaks/additions after the photos are reviewed. :)
Click to expand...

I’ll go for a ‘wow’ I think. Wow. Fantastic. This and the other trip lists like Childonias’s above are just well wow.
 
Lafone said:
I’ll go for a ‘wow’ I think. Wow. Fantastic. This and the other trip lists like Childonias’s above are just well wow.
Click to expand...

It's not generally a cheap option, but getting well away from your normal range does wonders. :D
 
Birds from Kunming, China.

152) Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus
153) Black-throated Tit Aegithalos concinnus
154) Brown-breasted Bulbul Pycnonotus xanthorrhous
155) Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
156) Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
157) Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
158) White Wagtail Motacilla alba
159) Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus
160) Little Egret Egretta garzetta
161) Plumbeous Water Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus
162) Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
163) Rusty-capped Fulvetta Schoeniparus dubius
164) Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus
165) Japanese Tit Parus minor (merged back with P. cinereus as “Asian Tit” on eBird)
166) Swinhoe’s White-eye Zosterops simplex
167) White-tailed Robin Myiomela leucura
168) Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus
169) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
170) Yellow-bellied Tit Periparus venustulus
171) Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus
172) Spectacled Fulvetta Fulvetta ruficapilla
173) Chinese Thrush Turdus mupinensis
174) Black-breasted Thrush Turdus dissimilis
175) White-browed Laughing Thrush Pterorhinus sannio
176) Black-streaked Scimitar-Babbler Erythrogenys gravivox
177) Green-backed Tit Parus monticolus
178) Ashy Drongo Dicrurus leucophaeus
179) Red-tailed Minla Minla ignotincta
180) Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
181) Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis
182) Grey-capped Pigmy Woodpecker Yungipicus canicapillus
183) Rufous-capped Babbler Cyanoderma ruficeps
184) Pallas’ Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus
185) Crested Finchbill Spizixos canifrons
186) Yunnan Fulvetta Alcippe fraterculus
187) Black-headed Greenfinch Chloris ambigua
188) Asian House Martin Delichon dasypus
189) Eastern Buzzard Buteo japonicus
190) Black Kite Milvus migrans
191) White-collared Yuhina Parayuhina diademata
192) Chestnut-vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis
193) Pekin Robin Leiothrix lutea
194) David’s Fulvetta Alcippe davidi
 
Last edited:
I have had the pleasure of going on a couple of animal watching trips with @ThylacineAlive over the past few days.

Firstly, was a trip out to the Western Treatment Plant. I may have said this before, but this is almost certainly one of the very top bird-watching destinations in the world. Over just three and a half hours I saw 57 species, with maybe a couple more waders to come, all from the comfort of our car. By contrast, over the equivalent of three days at O'Reillys and Dryandra Forest last month I only saw a total of 54 species. However, unfortunately, only a few were new for the year and only one a lifer.

507. Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus
508. Brolga Antigone rubicunda
509. Yellow-billed spoonbill Platalea flavipes
510. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
511. Pied oystercatcher Haematopus longirostris
512. Black-fronted dotterel Elseyornis melanops
513. Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva
514. Bar-tailed godwit Limosa lapponica
515. Brown falcon Falco berigora
516. Australian hobby Falco longipennis
517. White-fronted chat Epthianura albifrons
518. Little raven Corvus mellori
519. Australian pipit Anthus australis
520. Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis (introduced)
521. Brown songlark Cincloramphus cruralis

The second trip was spotlighting for mammals near Powelltown specifically for the Critically Endangered Leadbeater's possum.

46. Greater glider Petauroides volans VU
47. Leadbeater's possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri CR

And finally, a few recent local observations.

Moonlit Sanctuary

Mammals
48. Koala Phascolarctos cinereus VU

Birds
522. White-necked heron Ardea pacifica
523. Tree martin Petrochelidon nigricans

Invertebrates
63. Blue ant Diamma bicolor

Home

Mammals
49. Eastern grey kangaroo Macropus giganteus

Birds
524. Spotted turtle-dove Spilopelia chinensis (introduced)

Reptiles
21. Pale flecked (garden) sunskink Lampropholis guichenoti
22. Blotched bluetounge skink Tiliqua nigrolutea

Invertebrates
64. Banded sugar ant Camponotus consobrinus
 
Last edited:
CMP said:
Very nice! I'd recently been looking through the possum species of Australia on iNat and Leadbeater's seemed to be one of the more significantly difficult species to try and find. Nice sighting!
Click to expand...
We knew it was by no means guaranteed but it was @ThylacineAlive's great work on the thermal imager that found it.
 
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