Zoochat Big Year 2024

[Platypusboy]

I managed to pick up a few species from a short family vacation to Alicante Spain, despite it not being a wildlife based trip by any means.

Birds

254. Yellow-legged gull, Larus michahellis 26/12/24
255. Black redstart, Phoenicurus ochruros 26/12/24
256. Spotless starling, Sturnus unicolor 26/12/24
257. Little egret, Egretta garzetta 26/12/24
258. Sardinian warbler, Curruca melanocephala 26/12/24
259. European serin, Serinus serinus 27/12/24
260. Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis 27/12/24

 

[Mr. Zootycoon]

Today I had planned a winter bird census count, hoping perhaps to find a last-minute addition to my year list - an accidentally flushed jacksnipe, a flyover bewick's swan, or a stoat trotting down the path. It was not to be however. Given that tomorrow is a full-day of office work - starting before sunrise and ending after sunset - there's little chance to find anything more. Unless a completely out-of-season vagrant owl pops up in my village tonight, my list is complete.

This year was quite a mixed bag for me, both personally and in terms of wildlife. I had wanted to write a detailed overview of the year and elaborate on each species group, but I'll refrain to avoid making this post unbearable to read. This also prevents it from becoming too personal or negative. I'll instead make do with some short statistics and a few highlights:

This year I saw:
221 species of birds, including 5 lifers (2.3%).
25 mammals, 5 lifers (20%)
15 amphibians, 1 lifer (6.7%)
7 reptiles, 2 lifers (28.6%)
26 fish, 12 lifers (46.2%)
44 butterflies, 10 lifers (22.7%)
112 moths, 42 lifers (37.5%)
44 dragonflies, 10 lifers (13.6%)
16 bees, 5 lifers (31.3%)
18 grasshoppers, 10 lifers (55.6%)
13 gastropods, 4 lifers (30.8%)

Some (brief) highlights:
- Finally finding my first Adder after many fruitless attempts
- In contrast: seeing a dozen Tau Emperors on the first try, and several more later
- An intense but amazing herptile weekend which included sightings of fire salamander, great crested newt and tree frog, and many bonus non-herptiles (green hairstreak, polecat, beech marten, woodcock)
- My second fish monitoring weekend, seeing among others many saltwater species
- A day with over 30 butterfly species, including several lifers
- Finding fantastic species in Austria: Eurasian Otter, European Souslik, Imperial Eagle, Great Bustard, Fire-bellied Toad, White-tipped Skimmer and others
- Several great birding excursions with many friends, which were all great fun regardless of how much or how little we actually saw

With that little bundle of positivity I wrap up my wildlife adventures of 2024.

I wish you all a very happy new year.

 

[Bisonblake]

Between a lack of motivation and some stuff in my personal life, I haven't done much birding since my last post here. Now, it looks like I will fall short of my goal of 200 birds by the end of the year, but it was a fun year of birding. There are still a few days until I reach my goal, but I may need a miracle. Here's a little recap of what I've seen between July 3rd and today:

Birds:
7/11/24
176. Purple martin Progne subis

8/12/24
177. Solitary sandpiper Tringa solitaria
178. Lesser yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
179. Semipalmated sandpiper Calidris pusilla

9/16/24
180. Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus

10/13/24
181. Wilson's snipe Gallinago delicata
182. Least sandpiper Calidris minutilla
183. Pectoral sandpiper Calidris melanotos

10/24/24
184. Lincoln's sparrow Melospiza lincolnii

10/28/24
185. Ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensis
186. Horned grebe Podiceps auritus

Total Species: 220
Birds: 186
Mammals: 12
Reptiles: 12
Amphibians: 3
Fish: 18

This was the final day that I could try to add some last-minute species for the year. I couldn't add anything new to this list, but I could at least add a couple of species to my Indiana life list. Overall it was a fantastic year. I fell short of my goal of 200 birds, but I didn't do much birding during the second half of the year. Unless some abnormal event causes 14 vagrants to show up at work, I probably won't hit that goal. The 186 birds I did see make it hard to complain about not hitting it. Here's my end-of-the-year recap.

Final yearly totals:
Birds: 186 species (41 lifers)
Mammals: 12 species (1 lifer)
Herptiles: 15 species; 12 reptiles and 3 amphibians (6 lifers)
Fish: 18 species (16 lifers)
Total: 220 species (64 lifers!!!!)

Highlights of the year:
1. I started the year in Key West. To my surprise, this overdeveloped island had a lot of life on and around the island. Probably my favorite species sightings were: Tricolored heron, painted bunting, Yellow-throated warbler, Florida manatee, common box turtle, nurse shark, and spotted eagle ray.
2. American Woodcocks
3. Western tanager showing up near campus right during my final finals week
4. Barred owl being active well after sunrise
5. Black-necked stilt
6. Piping plovers and a vagrant willet along Lake Michigan during 4th of July week

Plans for 2025:
I don't have a lot planned for next year, but I have booked a trip to Magee Marsh and the surrounding area for the "Biggest Week in American Birding" festival. I've heard great things about the festival so I'm excited about it. I'll probably head to Indiana Dunes again as well. I went there in 2023 and it was such a great spot for wildlife. I'm also gonna try again to see 200 bird species by the end of the year.

Happy New Year, and good luck to everyone in 2025!

 

[DesertTortoise]

Birds
Dunn Ranch Prairie - August 17
214. Henslow’s sparrow (Centronyx henslowii)
215. Grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)
216. Sedge wren (Cistothorus stellaris)
Nodaway Valley Conservation Area - August 20
217. Solitary sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)
Little Platte Recreation Area - August 22
218. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Mammals
Blank Park Zoo, Iowa - July 6
19. Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge - August 20
20. North American river otter (Lontra canadensis)
Backyard - September 1
21. Eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus)

Fish
Truman Lake - July 27
13. Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Birds
Little Platte Recreation Area - September 10
219. Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia)
Oklahoma City Zoo, Oklahoma - October 4
220. Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Backyard - November 3
221. Winter wren (Troglodytes hiemalis)
222. Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Smoke and Davy Trail - November 10
223. Brown creeper (Certhia americana)
McGee Family Conservation Area - November 17
224. Swamp sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)
225. Rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)
Backyard - November 23
226. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Hodge Park - December 8
227. Purple finch (Haemorhous purpureus)

Mammals
Backyard - October 13
22. Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Reptiles
Backyard - September 14
18. Prairie kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)

 

[Stefan Verhoeven]

One final update for the year and it's a special one! Djibouti!! Fun to say and even more fun to visit. This country hugely outdid all of our expectations! Beira was the biggest target for me. I was invited to visit Al Wabra in Qatar back in 2013 but my dad had complications with a cancer surgery so I understandably canceled the trip. The next time I reached out was 2018, but by then they were closing up and had already lost their Beira.

Assamo Camp, Djibouti:
177. Beira (Dorcatragus megalotis)

Ahhh, what a year!

Great to hear you can tick that box from now on! And also an impressive list of other species you have already seen

 

[Yoshistar888]

I’ve done a lot of wildlife watching this year but haven’t updated much here, so I thought I should share some of the lifers I’ve gotten so far. I’ll try and keep up to date next year, I’ve got some plans to travel to Central and Northern Victoria so should produce many lifers.

Birds:

45. Arctic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus)
46. Red-backed Kingfisher (Todiramphus pyrrhopygius)
47. Channel-billed Cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae)
48. Oriental Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis)
49. White-throated Gerygone (Gerygone olivacea)
50. Pacific Koel (Eudynamys orientalis)
51. Rufous Bristlebird (Dasyornis broadbenti)
52. Southern Emu-Wren (Stipiturus malachurus)
53. Long-toed Stint (Calidris submunita)
54. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialus fulva)
55. White-browed Woodswallow (Artamus superciliosus)


Reptiles:

3. Tussock Skink (Pseudemoia pagenstecheri)
4. Cunningham’s Skink (Egernia cunninghami)
5. Southern Grass Skink (Pseudemoia entrecasteauxii)
6. McCoy’s Skink (Anepischetosia maccoyi)

Some birding in Central Victoria produced many lifers, great trip. Will do full counting next year and will be birding both on the 1st and 2nd of Jan.

Birds:
56. White-browed Babbler (Pomatostomus superciliosus)
57. Painted Honeyeater (Grantiella picta)
58. Southern Whiteface (Aphelocephla leucopsis)
59. Southern Scrub-robin (Drymodes brunneogypia)
60. Pied Butcherbird (Cracticus nigrogularis)
61. White-winged Fairywren (Malurus leucopterus)
62. Banded Lapwing (Vanellus tricolor)
63. Australian Pratincole (Stiltia isabella)
64. Cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus)

 

[Chlidonias]

My last animals of the last days of 2024, all from Sichuan:


Chengdu

BIRDS
326) Chinese Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis
327) Rufous-bellied Woodpecker Dendrocopos hyperythrus
328) Chinese Blackbird Turdus mandarinus
329) White-cheeked Starling Spodiopsar cineraceus
330) Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
331) Japanese Thrush Turdus cardis


Wanglang Nature Reserve

MAMMALS
17) Tufted Deer Elaphodus cephalophus

 

[amur leopard]

Spent what felt like a very brief week in Madeira. Somewhat of a mixed bag in terms of wildlife success as it was mainly a hiking/activity focused trip.

Mammals
10. Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus

Birds
75. Red legged partridge, Alectoris rufa
76. Madeiran chaffinch, Fringilla maderensis
77. Cory’s shearwater, Calonectris diomedea
78. European storm petrel, Hydrobates pelagicus
79. Madeiran firecrest, Regulus madeirensis
80. Sandwich tern, Thalasseus sandvicensis
81. Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla
82. Atlantic canary, Serinus canarius

And an unbelievably cool (for me) heard only Zino’s petrel at the top of Pico de Arieiro in the pitch black at 6am .

Reptiles
4. Madeira lizard, Teira dugesii
5. Loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta

Amphibians
2. Perez’s frog, Pelophylax perezi

Haven't really been keeping up with my listings this year, so will try and do better in 2025, but here's a few species from the South of France from a week ago to cap it off.

83. Yellow-legged gull, Larus micahellis
84. Greater flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus
85. Little egret, Egretta garzetta
86. Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus

Reptiles

6. Moorish gecko, Tarentola mauritanica
7. Common wall lizard, Podarcis muralis
8. East Iberian psammodromus, Psammodromus edwarsianus

Disappointed not to hit triple figures (although if I had been more rigorous with noting I might well have), but hopefully should do better next year, depending on what placements I manage to land .

 

[birdsandbats]

Another crazy twitch here in Wisconsin, the ABA area's second furthest inland all time:

Birds
511. White Wagtail Motacilla alba

Should be my last addition for the year from Wisconsin.

I took a trip up to northern Minnesota in the last days of the year, as there are still a few bird species I'm missing in that region and some chances for some nice mammals, too. I did get one of the birds I was missing (and some other nice species I was missing for the year), but I continue to miss Northern Hawk-Owl, Black-backed Woodpecker and Moose every time I come up here. Hearing lots of wolves at night was pretty cool, though.

Birds
512. Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis
513. Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus
514. Great Gray Owl Strix nebulosa
515. Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia
516. American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis

 

[Platypusboy]

Last species for 2024 and its one that has managed to elude me for quite some time.

Birds

261. Willow tit, Poecile montanus 31/12/2024

 

[Dr. Loxodonta]

Whilst out hiking a couple of days ago, I went past a patch that I had previously seen Bullfinches before at and I want disappointed.

Birds
189. Eurasian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula pileata)

Elmley NNR, 29/12/24
My last visit to Elmley NNR for the year and it was an owl spectacular. A good 12 Short-eared, roughly 10 Barn and a pair of Little owls were out and about and as the sun set, my last bird of the year emerged.

Birds
190. Long-eared Owl (Asio otus)

Mammals
23. Stoat (Mustela erminea stabilis)
24. Field Vole (Microtus agrestis)

Total Species: 224
Birds: 190
Mammals: 24
Herptiles: 10

 

[WhistlingKite24]

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

I am starting to wrap up my first trip to New Zealand via a cruise ship that did a big lap from Brisbane. In summary, a good range of pelagic birds were seen across the trip especially in the first couple of days around Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands. This trip focussed on common NZ land birds and lots of seabirds and then in future trips I can focus on the fenced sanctuaries and islands for the top-tier native land birds. Highlights have included Hector’s Dolphin calves, dozens and dozens albatrosses (20+ sightings of Salvin’s Albatross on a single day for example), the Northern Royal Albatross mainland breeding colony at Taiaroa Head, Little Penguins and meeting @WalkingAgnatha for some Auckland urban birding. Note there were a few pelagic birds I haven’t included due to shaky identifications.

Mammals:
33) Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis
34) Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis
35) Hector’s Dolphin Cephalorhynchus hectori
36) New Zealand Sea Lion Phocarctos hookeri

Birds:
251) White-throated Needletail Hirundapus caudacutus
252) Musk Duck Biziura lobata
253) Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
254) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata
255) White-necked Petrel Pterodroma cervicalis
256) Black-winged Petrel Pterodroma nigripennis
257) Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi
258) White Tern Gygis alba
259) Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
260) Masked Booby Sula dactylatra
261) Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica
262) Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta
263) Flesh-footed Shearwater Ardenna carneipes
264) Buller’s Shearwater Ardenna bulleri
265) Fluttering Shearwater Puffinus gavia
266) New Zealand Scaup Aythya novaeseelandiae
267) Canada Goose Branta canadensis
268) Paradise Shelduck Tadorna variegata
269) New Zealand Grebe Poliocephalus rufopectus
270) Barbary Dove Streptopelia risoria
271) Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae
272) New Zealand Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa
273) Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
274) Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
275) Common Greenfinch Chloris chloris
276) New Zealand Pigeon Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
277) Grey Warbler Gerygone igata
278) Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
279) Cook's Petrel Pterodroma cookii
280) Little Penguin Eudyptula minor
281) White-fronted Tern Sterna striata
282) Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
283) Black Petrel Procellaria parkinsoni
284) Northern Royal Albatross Diomedea sanfordi
285) Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis
286) Black-billed Gull Chroicocephalus bulleri
287) Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini
288) White-capped Albatross Thalassarche steadi
289) Cape Petrel Daption capense
290) Mottled Petrel Pterodroma inexpectata
291) Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor
292) Spotted Shag Phalacrocorax punctatus
293) Dunnock Prunella modularis
294) California Quail Callipepla californica
295) New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura
296) Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
297) White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
298) Southern Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora
299) Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris
300) Otago Shag Leucocarbo chalconotus
301) Swamp Harrier Circus approximans
302) South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi
303) Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
304) Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli

Reptiles:
28) Murray’s Skink Silvascincus murrayi

Fish:
38) Shortfin Eel Anguilla australis
39) Bennett's Flyingfish Cheilopogon pinnatibarbatus

Invertebrates:
343) Hydaticus suffuses [beetle]
344) Flame-headed Riverdamsel Pseudagrion ignifer
345) Spotted Ground Spider Nyssus coloripes
346) Cowboy Beetle Chondropyga dorsalis
347) Ommatius mackayi [robber fly]
348) Fiddler Beetle Eupoecila australasiae
349) Cassida diomma [tortoise beetle]
350) Bathroom Moth Fly Clogmia albipunctata
351) Cletus similis [leaf-footed bug]
352) Four-spotted Cup Moth Doratifera quadriguttata
353) Polyrhachis machaon [spiny ant]
354) Colepia ingloria [robber fly]
355) Lined Nerite Nerita balteata
356) Austrophlugis orumbera [katydid]
357) Blunt Creeper Cerithidea anticipata
358) Littoraria articulata [periwinkle]
359) Bush Cockroach Ellipsidion australe
360) Common Drone Fly Eristalis tenax
361) Red Damselfly Xanthocnemis zealandica
362) Buff-tailed Bumble Bee Bombus terrestris
363) Eleven-spotted Ladybird Coccinella undecimpunctata
364) Plicate Barnacle Epopella plicata

 

[Bactrian Deer]

It’s been a while since I’ve posted…I will post my other animals later:
152- Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius, 4-22-2024
153- Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica, 4-24-2024
154- Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra, 4-25-2024
155- Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla, 4-25-2024
156- Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula, 4-25-2024
157- Gray-Cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus, 4-27-2024
158- Worm-Eating Warbler, Helmitheros vermivorum, 4-27-2024
159- Tennessee Warbler, Leiothlypis peregrina, 4-28-2024
160- Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas, 4-28-2024
161- Red-Breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus, 4-29-2024
162 - Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, 4-30-2024
163- Willet, Tringa semipalmata, 5-2-2024
164- Orange-Crowned Warbler, Leiothlypis celata, 5-3-2024
165- Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus, 5-4-2024
166- Cape May Warbler, Setophaga tigrina, 5-5-2024
167- American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla, 5-5-2024
168- Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius, 5-5-2024
169- Swainson’s Thrush, Catharus ustulatus, 5-5-2024
170- Blue-Headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius, 5-5-2024
171- Wilson’s Warbler, Cardellina pusilla, 5-11-2024
172- Blackburnian Warbler, Setophaga fusca, 5-11-2024
173- Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus virens, 5-11-2024
174- Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea, 5-12-2024
175- Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea, 5-12-2024
176- Black-Throated Green Warbler, Setophaga virens, 5-12-2024
177- Black-Throated Blue Warbler, Setophaga caerulescens, 5-12-2024
178- Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata, 5-12-2024
179- Chestnut-Sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica, 5-12-2024
180- Bay-Breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanea, 5-12-2024
181- Magnolia Warbler, Setophaga magnolia, 5-12-2024
182- Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina, 5-12-2024
183- Kentucky Warbler, Geothlypis formosa, 5-12-2024
184- Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis, 5-12-2024
185- Lincoln’s Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii, 5-12-2024
186- Veery, Catharus fuscescens, 5-12-2024
187- Philadelphia Vireo, Vireo philadelphicus, 5-12-2024
188- Yellow-Throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons, 5-12-2024
189- Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus, 5-12-2024
190- Yellow-Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus, 5-12-2024
191- Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, 5-17-2024
192- Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, 5-17-2024
193- Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor, 5-17-2024
194- Canada Warbler, Cardellina canadensis, 5-19-2024
195- Mourning Warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia, 5-19-2024
196- Prothonotary Warbler, Protonotaria citrea, 5-19-2024
197- Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum, 5-21-2024
198- Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola, 5-21-2024
199- Acadian Flycatcher, Empidonax virescens, 5-23-2023
200- Dickcissel, Spiza americana, 5-25-2024
201- Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris, 6-2-2024
202- White Wagtail, Motacilla alba, 6-3-2024
203- Spanish Sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis, 6-3-2024
204- Eurasian Blackbird, Turdus merula, 6-3-2024
205- Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia, 6-3-2024
206- Eurasian Jackdaw, Coloeus monedula, 6-3-2024
207- Yellow-Legged Gull, Larus michahellis, 6-3-2024
208- Common Swift, Apus apus, 6-3-2024
209- Alpine Swift, Apus melba, 6-3-2024
210- Italian Sparrow, Passer italiae, 6-3-2024
211- Common Firecrest, Regulus ignicapilla, 6-3-2024
212- Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix, 6-3-2024
213- Eurasian Magpie, Pica pica, 6-3-2024
214- Eurasian Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus, 6-3-2024
215- Black Kite, Milvus migrans, 6-3-2024
216- European Turtle-Dove, Streptopelia turtur, 6-3-2024
217- Common Wood-Pigeon, Columba palumbus, 6-3-2024
218- Ring-Necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus, 6-3-2024
219- European Serin, Serinus serinus, 6-4-2024
220- European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis, 6-4-2024
221- European Greenfinch, Chloris chloris, 6-4-2024
222- Common Nightingale, Luscinia megarhynchos, 6-4-2024
223- European Robin, Erithacus rubecula, 6-4-2024
224- Eurasian Wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, 6-4-2024
225- Short-Toed Treecreeper, Certhia brachydactyla, 6-4-2024
226- Eurasian Blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla, 6-4-2024
227- Western House-Martin, Delichon urbicum, 6-4-2024
228- Wood Lark, Lullula arborea, 6-4-2024
229- Eurasian Blue Tit, Cyanistes caeruleus, 6-4-2024
230- Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus, 6-4-2024
231- Rose-Ringed Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, 6-4-2024
232- Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, 6-4-2024
233- White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, 6-4-2024
234- Eurasian Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus, 6-4-2024
235- Pallid Swift, Apus pallidus, 6-4-2024
236- Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Passer montanus, 6-5-2024
237- Common Chaffinch, Fringilla coelebs, 6-6-2024
238- Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata, 6-6-2024
239- Cetti’s Warbler, Cettia cetti, 6-6-2024
240- Common Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita, 6-6-2024
241- Great Tit, Parus major, 6-6-2024
242- Eurasian Green Woodpecker, Picus viridis, 6-6-2024
233- Common Gull, Larus canus, 6-6-2024
244- Long-Tailed Tit, Aegithalos caudatus, 6-7-2024
245- Common Buzzard, Buteo buteo, 6-7-2024
246- Cory’s Shearwater, Calonectris borealis, 6-7-2024
247- European Stonechat, *Saxicola rubicola*, 6-7-2024
248- Red-Rumped Swallow, *Cecropis daurica*, 6-7-2024
249- Yelkouan Shearwater, *Puffinus yelkouan*, 6-7-2024
250- Ciel Bunting, *Emberiza cia*, 6-8-2024
251- Corn Bunting, *Emberiza calandra*, 6-8-2024
252- Rock Sparrow, *Petronia petronia*, 6-8-2024
253- Northern Wheatear, *Oenanthe oenanthe*, 6-8-2024
254- Rufous-Tailed Scrub-Robin, *Cercotrichas galactotes*, 6-8-2024
255- Sardinian Warbler, *Sylvia melanocephala*, 6-8-2024
256- Common Reed Warbler, *Acrocephalus scirpaceus*, 6-8-2024
257- Crested Lark, *Galerida cristata*, 6-8-2024
258- Eleonora's Falcon, *Falco eleonorae*, 6-8-2024
259- Eurasian Hoopoe, *Upupa epops*, 6-8-2024
260- Eurasian Sparrowhawk, *Accipiter nisus*, 6-8-2024
261- Short-Toed Snake-Eagle, *Circaetus gallicus*, 6-8-2024
262- Little Egret, *Egretta garzetta*, 6-8-2024
263- European Shag, *Phalacrocorax aristotelis*, 6-8-2024
264- Black-Winged Stilt, *Himantopus himantopus*, 6-8-2024
265- Eurasian Coot, *Fulica atra*, 6-8-2024
266- Chukar, *Alectoris chukar*, 6-8-2024
267- Ferruginous Duck, *Aythya nyroca*, 6-8-2024
268- Gray Heron, *Ardea cinerea*, 6-9-2024
269- Eurasian Jay, *Garrulus glandarius*, 6-9-2024
270- Eastern Olivaceous Warbler, *Iduna pallida*, 6-10-2024
271- Alexandrine Parakeet, *Psittacula eupatria*, 6-10-2024
272- Coal Tit, *Periparus ater*, 6-11-2024
273- Peregrine Falcon, *Falco peregrinus*, 6-11-2024
274- Little Owl, *Athene noctua*, 6-11-2024
275- Blue Grosbeak, *Passerina caerulea*, 7-10-2024
276- Willow Flycatcher, *Empidonax traillii*, 7-10-2024
277- Yellow-Breasted Chat, *Icteria virens*, 7-21-2024
278- Cliff Swallow, *Petrochelidon pyrrhonota*, 7-21-2024
279- Common Tern, *Sterna hirundo*, 10-14-2024
280- Forster’s Tern, *Sterna forsteri*, 10-14-2024
Some of these scientific names may be wrong because I used Copilot to fill out my list so I could keep my sanity

Mammals:

1. Fox Squirrel, Sciurus niger 1-1-2024
2. Eastern cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus, 1-27-2024
3. Muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus, 2-7-2024
4. White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, 3-2-2024
5. Eastern Gray Squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis, 3-3-2024
6. Virginia Opossum, Didelphis virginiana, 3-7-2024
7. Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes, 4-7-2024
8. House Mouse, Mus musculus
9. Brown Rat, Rattus norvegicus
10. Black Rat, Rattus rattus
11. Eastern Mole, Scalopus aquaticus
12. Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus
13. North American Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum
14. American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
15. Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
16. Indiana Bat, Myotis sodalis
17. Coyote, Canis latrans
18. Gray Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
19. Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis
20. Eurasian Red Squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris
21. West European Hedgehog, Erinaceus europaeus
22. Daubenton’s Bat, Myotis daubentonii
23. Greater Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum
24. Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog, Erinaceus roumanicus
25. Blasius’s Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus blasii
26. Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus
27. Kuhl’s Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii

Amphibians:

1. American Bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, 3-12-2024
2. Gray Treefrog, Dryophytes versicolor, 4-16-2024

Reptiles:

1. Red-Eared Slider, Trachemys scripta elegans, 3-3-2024
2. Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, 4-14-2024
3. Balkan Green Lizard, Lacerta trilineata
4. European Cat Snake, Telescopus fallax
5. Common Wall Gecko, Tarentola mauritanica
6. Marginated Tortoise, Testudo marginata
7. European Pond Turtle, Emys orbicularis
8. Hermann’s Tortoise, Testudo hermanni
9. Dahl’s Whip Snake, Platyceps najadum
10. Four-Lined Snake, Elaphe quatuorlineata
11. European Green Lizard, Lacerta viridis
12. Mediterranean House Gecko, Hemidactylus turcicus
13. Eastern Rat Snake, Pantherophis alleghaniensis

Inverts

1. House Fly, Musca domestica, 2-25-2024
2. Camponotus castaneus, 3-12-2024
3. Varied Carpet Beetle, Anthrenus verbasci, 3-23-2024
4. Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, Halyomorpha halys, 4-13-2024
5. House Centipede, Scutigera coleoptrata

Fish:

1. Bluntnose Minnow, Pimephales notatus, 3-3-2024
2. Blackstripe Topminnow, Fundulus notatus, 3-3-2024
3. Creek Chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, 3-3-2024
4. Spotted Bass, Micropterus punctulatus, 3-3-2024
5. Bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, 3-14-2024
6. Smallmouth Bass, Micropterus dolomieu, 3-14-2024
7. Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides, 3-29-2024

What a stupendous year it has been, in total I have seen 334 species of animals that I have cared to note (I’m not looking up all those fish and inverts that I’ve seen, Nuh uh). This is 234 more bird, 10 more mammal, 9 more herptile, 3 more fish (that I wrote - I’ve probably seen at least 20 more species), species with a decrease in invert species because I didn’t have the time or patience to recall every species. What a great year it has been!

 

[Osedax]

I had you on 22 reptiles - have you missed one out or skipped a number?

Sorry, should be 23 with the beardie.

 

[BerdNerd]

I yet again had the opportunity to re-visit Maui and add some last minute sightings to my list. The main highlight of my trip was Haleakalā National Park, a nature preserve located in the southeastern part of the island and with an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. I also got to go to both Keālia and Kanaha pond to search for the indigenous and endemic waterbirds and shorebirds. However, I unfortunately did not have enough time to go snorkeling on this visit (which explains the low amount of fish on my list), but I did go on a deep-sea fishing trip which allowed me to not only pick up a few pelagic species, but to also get a chance to see a handful of seabirds.

11/26/24

9. North American Raccoon (Procyon lotor)

10. Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)- December 23

12/1/24

96. Wild Turkey

*96. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)- December 21
97. Hawaiian Goose (Branta sandvicensis)- December 21
98. Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)- December 21
99. Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)- December 21
100. Warbling White-Eye (Zosterops japonicus)- December 22
101. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)- December 22
102. Java Sparrow (Lonchura oryzivora)- December 22
103. Great Frigatebird (Fregata minor)- December 23
104. Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster)- December 23
105. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)- December 23
106. Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)- December 23
107. Ring-Necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)- December 29
108. ‘Apapane (Himatione sanguinea)- December 29
109. ‘I’iwi (Drepanis coccinea)- December 29
110. Hawai’i ‘Amakihi (Chlorodrepanis virens)- December 29
111. Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)- December 29
112. White-Faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)- December 31
113. Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)- December 31
114. Peach-Faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)- December 31
115. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)- December 31
116. Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai)- December 31

*This is not a typo; I have made the decision to no longer count domestics on my life list and remove any currently on my list. Apart from the feral chickens I saw on my trip, this year there was only one domestic, the Rock Dove, so Wild Turkey will change to #95 and Common Myna will be #96 instead. For future Big Years, I will no longer list any domestics, including those that I have counted in previous years.

8/5/24

3. Broad-Headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps)

4. Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)- August 21
I don't know how I forgot to post about this sighting, but according to my life list, this is a species I saw all the way back on August 21 back in North Carolina and just forgot to report on ZooChat. Coincidentally, I did see this species again on this trip on December 26, but I will still count this as an August sighting.

5. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)- December 25

5/29/24

2. Fowler's Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri)

3. American Green Tree Frog (Dryophytes cinereus)- August 10
4. American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus)- August 21

Again, just two more species from North Carolina I forgot to list previously. Honestly, I'm baffled that it's been this long without me noticing.


Fish:

1. Mackerel Scad (Decapterus macarellus)- December 23
2. Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena hippurus)- December 23
3. Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)- December 23
4. Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)- December 23
5. Bluefin Trevally (Caranx melampygus)- December 23

12/17/24

30. Magnolia Green Jumping Spider (Lyssomanes viridis)

31. Asian Swallowtail (Papilio xuthus)- December 22
32. Thin-Shelled Rock Crab (Grapsus tenuicrustatus)- December 22
33. Yellow Crazy Ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)- December 24
34. Giant Daddy-Long-Legs (Artema atlanta)- December 26


These are my last sightings for this year, but I will be uploading my final list within the next couple of days or so.


Total:

Mammals: 10
Birds: 116
Reptiles: 5
Amphibians: 4
Fish: 5
Invertebrates: 34

 

[MRJ]

My final post for the year. I have already added my first bird to the 2025 thread.

Firstly, some amendments to the Werribee trip with @ThylacineAlive .

Delete:
Pacific golden plover Pluvialis fulva
Australian pipit Anthus australis

Add:
Sharp-tailed sandpiper Calidris acuminata
Curlew sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Common greenshank Tringa nebularia
White-winged black tern Chlidonias leucoptera

That means two additional birds for the year, making my final total for the year 527 birds.

Another sighting for the year, worth mentioning due to the location, was a tiger snake, about 1.2 metres long. The location was my study, and I was lucky to notice it and get the dogs out before they made too much of a fuss.

The first highlight of the year was Panama last March, which added 30 mammal and 330 bird species to my list, as well as numerous new families.

The second highlight was the Leadbeater's possum. Its rediscovery occurred when I was seven years old and was probably the first "conservation" news story that I was interested in. Thanks, @ThylacineAlive for finally getting me out into the forest to see a wild one.

2025 will be slower because family issues will still limit my travel. However, I am making a short trip to southern Florida and the Dominican Republic this February. The Dominican Republic is renowned for the large number of endemic Hispanic and Caribbean species and especially Families. Plus, hopefully, I get to see a very special mammal.

And a happy and animal-filled New Year to you all!

 

[Hix]

Plus, hopefully, I get to see a very special mammal.
And a happy and animal-filled New Year to you all!

Solenodon paradoxurus?



Hix

 

[Hix]

Birds
200. Olive-backed Oriole
201. Australian Tern
202. Caspian Tern
203. Eastern Cattle Egret
204. Double-banded Plover
205. Royal Spoonbill
206. Fairy Martin
207. Australian Pipit
208. Swamp Harrier
209. Weebill
210. White-winged Triller
211. Australian Spotted Crake
212. Latham's Snipe
213. Blue-billed Duck

Mammals
21. Humpback Whale



Hix

Birds
214. Whistling Kite
215. Gang-gang Cockatoo
216. White-throated Treecreeper
217. Striated Thornbill
218. Buff-rumped Thornbill
219. Australian Hobby
220. Leaden Flycatcher
221. White-throated Needletail
222. Brown Cuckoo-dove
223. Tawny Frogmouth
224. Brown Gerygone
225. Brown-headed Honeyeater
226. Golden-headed Cisticola
227. Great Crested Grebe


Mammals
22. European Hare
23. Wallaroo


Reptiles
6. Eastern Water Dragon
7. Eastern Brown Snake
8. Macquarie Shortneck Turtle


Inverts
5. Asian Paper Wasp
6. Many-spotted Flower Spider
7. Fiddler Beetle
8. Plague Soldier Beetle
9. Razor Grinder Cicada
10. Double Drummer Cicada
11. Floury Baker Cicada
12. Australian Crow Butterfly
13. Mud-dauber wasp (Scliphron laetum)
14. White-tailed Spider
15. Honeybee
16. Large Earth Bumble Bee
17. Australian Hornet (Abispa ephippium)
18. Red Eye Cicada

Still have a few insects to ID, but this is enough for now.



Hix

 

[KiwiBirb]

After getting back from my last trip to New Hampshire this year, it has been a rough month for birding back here in Jersey. Started off by getting sick after getting back from New Hampshire and missing the final days of the fall migration. After recovering I went to DeKorte park in search of a Hudsonian Godwit but it was nowhere to be seen (it was visible from the parking lot the next day.) The next weekend I traveled to Overpeck Park in search of a pair of Greater White-Fronted Goose which was also a failure (although I did see a rare Cackling Goose, first for my state list!) The next weekend there were reports of Snowy Owl in Bayonne, however the next day when I was around it was gone. After Thanksgiving I took 2 trips to Parsons Pond in search of Wigeon (both American and Eurasian) however missed them by a few hours both times. A trip to the Celery Farm in search of a Virginia Rail turned up nothing but hundreds of Robins, Blackbirds, Geese, and a little Winter Wren. JMU ended up drawing the Boca Raton Bowl, which I couldn’t attend due to scheduling, preventing me from getting a trip down south this year. Last Weekend I traveled to Jersey City in search of a Male Painted Bunting. After about an hour of waiting I had to go get ready for dinner. I saw on eBird later that day that the Bunting that the Bunting showed up less then 10 minutes after I left. Today I was doing nothing so I braved the holiday traffic to travel back down to Jersey City. After another hour of waiting that turned up nothing but an unseasonal Catbird, my feet were beginning to feel like ice blocks. I took one last look at the feeder where it had been hanging out and there was a splash of color among a group of House Sparrows- a Painted Bunting! I unfortunately had no time by this point to stop by Liberty State Park to search for Scaups and Goldeneyes, although I hope to get them after Christmas; however, knowing my luck, this may very well be my last update before the new year.


Birds
259) Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Progress:
Mammals- 24
Birds- 259
Herptiles- 15
Total- 298 (almost 300 )
Heard-only Species- 11

Happy New Years everyone. This will be my final update of the year but I will post a recap of my year tonight. After another failed attempt to see Virginia Rail, I was able to secure a short weekend trip down the Jersey Shore. My first stop was as the evening was fading in Point Pleasant right by the Jenkison’s Aquarium (sadly I didn’t have time to go) at Lake of the Lilles. The thing the attracted me there was a group of Redheads that were reported, and after doing more research on eBird, it was a huge bonus that there was a rare Eurasian Wigeon there. After arriving it took barely anytime to see both along with American Wigeon and Lesser Scaup along with a first for my State list American Coot. The next morning I traveled to the Southern End of Long Beach Island where a Snowy Owl had been reported. Sadly the majestic owl was nowhere to be seen, however I did see 2 long overdue ocean species in Black Scoter and Long-Tailed Duck. I then traveled allll the way to the other end of LBI to Barnegat Lighthouse which had been a reliable location for several species I was looking for. Despite it initially looking closed with beach dredging going on, I found a way around the defying to the ocean side of the beach which was very much open. After chatting with another birder I was very easily spot my 3 target birds: Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, and Purple Sandpiper. I was also able to spot first for state Snow Buntings and a first for the US Lesser Black-Backed Gull there. My final stop for the trip, and my final stop at a hotspot this year would be the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR. My main targets here were Greater Scaup and Tundra Swan, along with wanting to see more Snow Geese which I only saw one of back in May. While I couldn’t spot any Scaups (although I think part of that is due to the sunset making bird identification impossible for half the drive) and the Snow Geese were distant, I was able to spot a group of Tundra Swans, and right when I was leaving I finally got my state first Carolina Chickadee and I got close looks of a Snow Goose while stopped at a red light in someone’s backyard.

Birds
260) American Wigeon (Mareca americana)
261) Redhead (Aythya americana)
262) Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope)
263) Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)
264) Black Scoter (Melanitta americana)
265) Long-Tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
266) Common Eider (Somateria mollissima)
267) Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus)
268) Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
269) Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Progress:
Mammals- 24
Birds- 269
Herptiles- 15
Total- 308
Heard-only Species- 11

 

[Tetzoo Quizzer]

Solenodon paradoxurus?



Hix

If it is I would like to know who you contacted to arrange this; I hope to do a similar trip in the near future.