MOG2012
Well-Known Member
February 13, 2025
It was raining today but I saw a group of these
BIRDS:
21) Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Mammals: 3 species
Birds: 22 species
Invertebrates: 1 species
Total: 26 species
Zoochat Big Year 2025
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
It was raining today but I saw a group of these
BIRDS:
21) Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Mammals: 3 species
Birds: 22 species
Invertebrates: 1 species
Total: 26 species
I've been too busy to really go birding recently, but I finally got a chance to do so. The list is a bit different from my usual one for Bangalore early i the year, as it's in a very different location in a grassland sort of habitat. The thick-billed warbler was a very nice surprise addition as it's really different from the other warblers (though I still couldn't have identified it myself). Waterbirds are still something I'm missing for the year, but tomorrow I'm going to a lake that should remedy that.
Birds
60. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
61. Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
62. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
63. Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
64. Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
65. Dusky Crag-martin Ptyonoprogne concolor
66. Yellow-billed Babbler Argya affinis
67. Shikra Tachyspiza badia
68. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
69. Large Grey Babbler Argya malcolmi
70. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
71. Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
72. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
73. Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus
74. Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis
75. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
76. Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
77. Thick-billed Warbler Arudinax aedon
78. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
79. Coppersmith Barbet Psilipogon haemacephalus
80. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
81. Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
Birds
60. Greater Coucal Centropus sinensis
61. Koel Eudynamys scolopacea
62. Common Tailorbird Orthotomus sutorius
63. Indian White-eye Zosterops palpebrosus
64. Ashy Prinia Prinia socialis
65. Dusky Crag-martin Ptyonoprogne concolor
66. Yellow-billed Babbler Argya affinis
67. Shikra Tachyspiza badia
68. Ashy Woodswallow Artamus fuscus
69. Large Grey Babbler Argya malcolmi
70. Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
71. Bay-backed Shrike Lanius vittatus
72. Black Drongo Dicrurus macrocercus
73. Indian Robin Copsychus fulicatus
74. Oriental Magpie-robin Copsychus saularis
75. Blue-tailed Bee-eater Merops philippinus
76. Blue-faced Malkoha Phaenicophaeus viridirostris
77. Thick-billed Warbler Arudinax aedon
78. Indian Roller Coracias benghalensis
79. Coppersmith Barbet Psilipogon haemacephalus
80. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
81. Indian Silverbill Euodice malabarica
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
A somewhat failed attempt to find four Smew, three Greater Scaup and a Greater White-fronted Goose on Wednesday (somewhat failed as one of my friends found the Smew but me and my other friend couldn't relocate the bird and to rub salt in the wounds all three had been all seen after we had left the site 
) However, I did manage one year tick that has been quite overdue given my position in the country currently:
105) Great White Egret Ardea alba
Next week we should be getting back out to try and find the birds, with hope they remain where they are.
) However, I did manage one year tick that has been quite overdue given my position in the country currently:105) Great White Egret Ardea alba
Next week we should be getting back out to try and find the birds, with hope they remain where they are.
Osedax
Well-Known Member
Finally identified that skink from January:
Reptiles
9. Yellow-bellied Water Skink (Eulamprus heatwolei)
Plus one more from two days ago:
10. Robust Ctenotus (Ctenotus robustus)
Prochilodus246
Well-Known Member
Two invertebrates in the walled garden yesterday whilst I was picking some kale:
6) Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
7) Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
And I somehow forgotten about this very common mammal from Wednesday, in which we saw two albino individuals:
4) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
6) Harlequin Ladybird Harmonia axyridis
7) Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria
And I somehow forgotten about this very common mammal from Wednesday, in which we saw two albino individuals:
4) European Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
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MOG2012
Well-Known Member
February 15, 2025
I just arrived in Nassau today. While landing, I saw a group of cattle egrets flying away from a pond and a solitary great egret in the wetlands near the airplane runway. At the airport, I saw a swallow in the garden and then a grassquit in a bush outside.
BIRDS:
23) Cattle-Egret Bubulcus ibis
24) Great Egret Ardea alba
25) Bahama Swallow Tachycineta cyaneoviridis
26) Black-faced Grassquit Melanospiza bicolor
Mammals: 3 species
Birds: 26 species
Invertebrates: 1 species
Total: 30 species
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Couple from the past few days.
Mammals
4. Mountain hare, Lepus timidus 15/2/25
5. Red fox, Vulpes vulpes 16/2/25
Birds
62. Twite, Linaria flavirostris 14/2/25
Mammals
4. Mountain hare, Lepus timidus 15/2/25
5. Red fox, Vulpes vulpes 16/2/25
Birds
62. Twite, Linaria flavirostris 14/2/25
Birds
84. Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus
Lafone
Well-Known Member
No new birds but a couple of mammals to add to the list from this weekend.
A mouse in the Tropical House at Cotswold Wildlife Park (a short view, there's an endless rodent control battle being waged under the feeders!) and a super close encounter with a Hare nestling in a form near the top of the bank on the South Finger path at Slimbridge, which made my whole trip today.
Mammals
4. House mouse, Mus musculus, 15/02/2025, CWP (Tropical House)
5. Brown hare, Lepus europaeus, 16/02/2025, Slimbridge
A mouse in the Tropical House at Cotswold Wildlife Park (a short view, there's an endless rodent control battle being waged under the feeders!) and a super close encounter with a Hare nestling in a form near the top of the bank on the South Finger path at Slimbridge, which made my whole trip today.
Mammals
4. House mouse, Mus musculus, 15/02/2025, CWP (Tropical House)
5. Brown hare, Lepus europaeus, 16/02/2025, Slimbridge
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
February 16, 2025
This morning when I was at breakfast, I saw some bananaquits & yellowthroats on the patio with some annoying house flies on my food. Outside in a garden, there was a Kestrel flying over a tree. Also flying over the seaside garden was a female frigatebird and a grackle. There was also an undentifiable Crane fly. Over the pool, there was a red saddlebags dragonfly and eastern pondhawk dragonfly. Unfortunately when I was in the pool, there was a laughing Gull who flew in. There was a honeybee that tried to sting me too. When I was at the beach, there was some unidentifiable school of silversides.
BIRDS:
27) Bananaquit Coereba flaveola
28) Bahama Yellowthroat Geothlypis rostrata
29) American Kestrel Falco sparverius
30) Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens
31) Northern Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
32) Laughing Gull Leucocephaeus atricilla
INVERTEBRATES:
2) Common House Fly Musca domestica
3) Red Saddlebags Tramea onusta
4) Western Honey Bee Apis mellifera
5) Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis
MAMMALS: 3 species
BIRDS: 32 species
INVERTEBRATES: 5 species
TOTAL: 40 species
A brief spot of fishwatching from a local marina proved to be surprisingly productive. Got an excellent demonstration from a resident archerfish of it's long-range spitting ability - straight into my eye!
FISHES
122 - Stars-and-stripes Puffer Arothron hispidus
123 - Reticulated Puffer Arothron reticulatus
124 - Whitespotted Grouper Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus
125 - Russell's Snapper Lutjanus russellii
INVERTS
29 - Bigfin Reef Squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana
FISHES
122 - Stars-and-stripes Puffer Arothron hispidus
123 - Reticulated Puffer Arothron reticulatus
124 - Whitespotted Grouper Epinephelus caeruleopunctatus
125 - Russell's Snapper Lutjanus russellii
INVERTS
29 - Bigfin Reef Squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana
HOKKAIDO birds and mammals
I have finished my time in Ice Japan, flying out tomorrow morning from Hokkaido to Honshu. There will still be ice and snow in some places I go in Honshu (I'll be starting out in Nagano and Karuizawa) but it won't be quite the conditions of Hokkaido.
I'm not going to be seeing any extra animals in Hokkaido this evening or tomorrow morning, so the following are what I got while there.
I saw 54 species of birds in Hokkaido, which doesn't seem like many but Hokkaido in winter is more about specific birds rather than lots of different birds. There are 405 species listed for Hokkaido on eBird, with a lot obviously being ones I wouldn't see because they are either not there in winter or they are vagrants or whatever. Just checking February lists there are 194 species recorded, so I saw over a quarter of that. A good proportion of the year birds I saw were lifers (19 species out of 28), and those 19 lifers were also about a third of the total species I saw in Hokkaido so I'm not complaining about that!
BIRDS:
176) Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
177) Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
178) Steller’s Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus
179) Asian Rosy Finch Leucosticte arctoa
180) Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
181) Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus
182) Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
183) Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
184) Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus
185) White-tailed Sea Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
186) Vega Gull Larus vegae
187) Black Scoter Melanitta americana
188) Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
189) Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
190) Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
191) Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
192) Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus
193) Blakiston’s Fish Owl Ketupa blakistoni
194) Naumann's Thrush Turdus naumanni
195) Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus
196) White's Thrush Zoothera aurea
197) Willow Tit Poecile montanus
198) Goldcrest Regulus regulus
199) Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
200) Temminck's (Japanese) Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus
201) Greater Scaup Aythya marila
202) Japanese Auklet Synthliboramphus wumizusume
203) Common Murre Uria aalge
MAMMALS:
6) Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
7) Sika Deer Cervus nippon
8) Kuril Seal Phoca vitulina stejnegeri
9) Sea Otter Enhydris lutris
10) Steller's Sealion Eumetopias jubatus
11) Stejneger's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri
12) Spotted Seal Phoca largha
I have finished my time in Ice Japan, flying out tomorrow morning from Hokkaido to Honshu. There will still be ice and snow in some places I go in Honshu (I'll be starting out in Nagano and Karuizawa) but it won't be quite the conditions of Hokkaido.
I'm not going to be seeing any extra animals in Hokkaido this evening or tomorrow morning, so the following are what I got while there.
I saw 54 species of birds in Hokkaido, which doesn't seem like many but Hokkaido in winter is more about specific birds rather than lots of different birds. There are 405 species listed for Hokkaido on eBird, with a lot obviously being ones I wouldn't see because they are either not there in winter or they are vagrants or whatever. Just checking February lists there are 194 species recorded, so I saw over a quarter of that. A good proportion of the year birds I saw were lifers (19 species out of 28), and those 19 lifers were also about a third of the total species I saw in Hokkaido so I'm not complaining about that!
BIRDS:
176) Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
177) Red-crowned Crane Grus japonensis
178) Steller’s Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus
179) Asian Rosy Finch Leucosticte arctoa
180) Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus
181) Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus
182) Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena
183) Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
184) Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus
185) White-tailed Sea Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
186) Vega Gull Larus vegae
187) Black Scoter Melanitta americana
188) Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis
189) Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
190) Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens
191) Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus
192) Ancient Murrelet Synthliboramphus antiquus
193) Blakiston’s Fish Owl Ketupa blakistoni
194) Naumann's Thrush Turdus naumanni
195) Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus
196) White's Thrush Zoothera aurea
197) Willow Tit Poecile montanus
198) Goldcrest Regulus regulus
199) Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea
200) Temminck's (Japanese) Cormorant Phalacrocorax capillatus
201) Greater Scaup Aythya marila
202) Japanese Auklet Synthliboramphus wumizusume
203) Common Murre Uria aalge
MAMMALS:
6) Red Fox Vulpes vulpes
7) Sika Deer Cervus nippon
8) Kuril Seal Phoca vitulina stejnegeri
9) Sea Otter Enhydris lutris
10) Steller's Sealion Eumetopias jubatus
11) Stejneger's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon stejnegeri
12) Spotted Seal Phoca largha
A red-necked grebe at Walthamstow Wetlands was an irresistible addition to the year-list and was the best view I have ever had of the species (albeit the only other time was in the pouring rain in rural Kent). I also singularly failed to add two birds from my trip to Bristol the other day.
Birds
73. Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
74. Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
75. Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
February 17, 2025
It was a mostly tame day but I saw some crazy ants next to the pool and an osprey soaring near the beach.
BIRDS:
33) Osprey Pandion haliaetus
INVERTEBRATES:
6) Caribbean Crazy Ant Nylanderia pubens
MAMMALS: 3 species
BIRDS: 33 species
INVERTEBRATES: 6 species
TOTAL: 42 species
I'm going to Big Major Cay with the pigs tomorrow and I was wondering if the pigs count or not.
I have just arrived in the Dominican Republic, having spent three days recovering from 24 hours in flights and transit from Melbourne in southern Florida. Of course, most time was spent animal watching, but extreme heat made that a little difficult. In particular, the manatees I had counted on seeing had made their way back out to sea because conditions were too warm.
Arriving in Miami early evening, first sightings were after breakfast at the airport hotel. Not a great site, but as someone said there is water everywhere in southern Florida, and I did achieve two new Families.
Mammals
1. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Birds
2. Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto (introduced)
3. Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Reptiles
1, North Caribbean bark anole Anolis distichus (new Family) (introduced)
2. Florida red-bellied turtle Pseudemys nelsoni (new Family)
Arriving in Miami early evening, first sightings were after breakfast at the airport hotel. Not a great site, but as someone said there is water everywhere in southern Florida, and I did achieve two new Families.
Mammals
1. Eastern grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Birds
2. Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto (introduced)
3. Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Reptiles
1, North Caribbean bark anole Anolis distichus (new Family) (introduced)
2. Florida red-bellied turtle Pseudemys nelsoni (new Family)
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
63. White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos 17/2/25
64. Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus 17/2/25
63. White-backed woodpecker, Dendrocopos leucotos 17/2/25
64. Long-tailed tit, Aegithalos caudatus 17/2/25
Haven't gotten around to posting for the year here yet - time to change that! I've stuck exclusively to Alabama so far this year, with the majority of these sightings coming from Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge in north AL, and I've gotten quite a few lifer birds already.
As for highlights, I've found some skulking birds that like to remain down in reeds and cattails, which is always nice - Sedge Wren, LeConte's Sparrow, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, and Virginia Rail have all been great, along with my lifer Muskrat. Common Goldeneye, Canvasback, and Redhead have helped nearly round out my AL waterfowl list. Recent trips to Tuskegee National Forest, one on a cold, damp night, and the other on a foggy morning, have been extremely productive - the first was targeted at finding migrating salamanders, and rewarded me with my first reptile of the year, a Gray Ratsnake, and my lifer Marbled and Spotted Salamanders. The morning trip was a birding one, and got me a Bachman's Sparrow, and the last, most elusive woodpecker of the Southeast - the Red-Cockaded. A group of 10 of these birds was introduced in fall of 2024 to Tuskegee, where they had not been present since at least the 1970s. The Forest Service had some extensive management in creating suitable habitat for RCWs, and my uncle and I were extremely lucky to happen across a cluster (as you'd expect with a threatened species, Tuskegee management was extremely secretive about the locations of these clusters). We saw 3 birds, 33.3% of the population in Tuskegee.
Mammals:
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – 1.2.25
2. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) – 1.5.25
3. Southern White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus virginianus) – 1.9.25
4. Coyote (Canis latrans) – 1.20.25
5. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) – 1.23.25
6. Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) – 2.9.25
7. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) – 2.9.25
Birds:
1. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – 1.1.25
2. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) – 1.1.25
3. Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) – 1.1.25
4. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) – 1.1.25
5. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) – 1.1.25
6. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) – 1.1.25
7. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) – 1.1.25
8. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) – 1.2.25
9. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) – 1.2.25
10. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – 1.3.25
11. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) – 1.3.25
12. Eastern Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis borealis) – 1.3.25
13. Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus lineatus) – 1.3.25
14. Merlin (Falco columbarius) – 1.3.25
15. Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) – 1.3.25
16. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) – 1.3.25
17. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) – 1.3.25
18. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) – 1.3.25
19. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) – 1.3.25
20. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – 1.3.25
21. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) – 1.3.25
22. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) – 1.3.25
23. Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) – 1.3.25
24. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – 1.3.25
25. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) – 1.3.25
26. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) – 1.3.25
27. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) – 1.3.25
28. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) – 1.3.25
29. Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – 1.3.25
30. White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) – 1.3.25
31. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) – 1.3.25
32. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) – 1.3.25
33. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) – 1.3.25
34. Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) – 1.3.25
35. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 1.3.25
36. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – 1.3.25
37. Golden-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) – 1.5.25
38. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) – 1.7.25
39. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) – 1.9.25
40. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) – 1.9.25
41. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) – 1.9.25
42. Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) – 1.9.25
43. White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) – 1.9.25
44. LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) – 1.9.25
45. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) – 1.9.25
46. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) – 1.9.25
47. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) – 1.9.25
48. Great Egret (Ardea alba) – 1.9.25
49. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) – 1.9.25
50. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) – 1.9.25
51. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) – 1.9.25
52. Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) – 1.9.25
53. Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) – 1.9.25
54. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) – 1.9.25
55. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – 1.9.25
56. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) – 1.9.25
57. Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) – 1.9.25
58. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) – 1.9.25
59. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) – 1.9.25
60. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) – 1.9.25
61. Blue-Headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) – 1.9.25
62. Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) – 1.9.25
63. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) – 1.9.25
64. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) – 1.9.25
65. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – 1.9.25
66. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) – 1.9.25
67. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) – 1.9.25
68. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) – 1.9.25
69. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) – 1.9.25
70. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – 1.9.25
71. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) – 1.9.25
72. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – 1.9.25
73. Ring-Billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) – 1.9.25
74. American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) – 1.9.25
75. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – 1.9.25
76. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – 1.9.25
77. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) – 1.9.25
78. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) – 1.9.25
79. Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) – 1.9.25
80. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) – 1.9.25
81. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 1.9.25
82. Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) – 1.9.25
83. Ring-Necked Duck (Aythya collaris) – 1.9.25
84. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) – 1.9.25
85. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) – 1.20.25
86. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) – 1.20.25
87. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) – 1.20.25
88. Sora (Porzana carolina) – 1.20.25
89. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – 1.20.25
90. Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) – 1.20.25
91. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) – 1.20.25
92. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) – 1.23.25
93. Orange-Crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) – 1.20.25
94. Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) – 2.9.25
95. Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) – 2.9.25
96. Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) – 2.9.25
97. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) – 2.9.25
98. Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) – 2.9.25
99. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) – 2.9.25
100. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) – 2.9.25
101. Redhead (Aythya americana) – 2.9.25
Reptiles:
1. Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) – 2.2.25
2. Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta) – 2.9.25
Amphibians:
1. Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) – 2.2.25
2. Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – 2.2.25
Fish:
1. Striped Shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) – 1.3.25
2. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) – 1.3.25
Invertebrates:
1. Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) – 1.3.25
2. Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) – 1.14.25
3. Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) – 1.14.25
4. Dark Fishing Spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) – 2.2.25
5. Georgia Wolf Spider (Tigrosa georgicola) – 2.2.25
6. Changeable Mantleslug (Megapallifera mutabilis) – 2.2.25
7. Broad Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta lata) – 2.2.25
8. Golden Net-Winged Beetle (Dictyoptera aurora) – 2.9.25
Trying to knock out a few easy species I haven't seen for the year yet, like Brown Creeper and Pine Warbler. In the next few weeks I'll likely make a trip down to Eufaula NWR to hopefully snag some birds like White Ibis, Anhinga, Common Gallinule, and hopefully King Rail.
As for highlights, I've found some skulking birds that like to remain down in reeds and cattails, which is always nice - Sedge Wren, LeConte's Sparrow, Wilson's Snipe, Sora, and Virginia Rail have all been great, along with my lifer Muskrat. Common Goldeneye, Canvasback, and Redhead have helped nearly round out my AL waterfowl list. Recent trips to Tuskegee National Forest, one on a cold, damp night, and the other on a foggy morning, have been extremely productive - the first was targeted at finding migrating salamanders, and rewarded me with my first reptile of the year, a Gray Ratsnake, and my lifer Marbled and Spotted Salamanders. The morning trip was a birding one, and got me a Bachman's Sparrow, and the last, most elusive woodpecker of the Southeast - the Red-Cockaded. A group of 10 of these birds was introduced in fall of 2024 to Tuskegee, where they had not been present since at least the 1970s. The Forest Service had some extensive management in creating suitable habitat for RCWs, and my uncle and I were extremely lucky to happen across a cluster (as you'd expect with a threatened species, Tuskegee management was extremely secretive about the locations of these clusters). We saw 3 birds, 33.3% of the population in Tuskegee.
Mammals:
1. Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) – 1.2.25
2. Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) – 1.5.25
3. Southern White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus virginianus) – 1.9.25
4. Coyote (Canis latrans) – 1.20.25
5. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) – 1.23.25
6. Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) – 2.9.25
7. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) – 2.9.25
Birds:
1. Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – 1.1.25
2. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) – 1.1.25
3. Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) – 1.1.25
4. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) – 1.1.25
5. American Robin (Turdus migratorius) – 1.1.25
6. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) – 1.1.25
7. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) – 1.1.25
8. Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) – 1.2.25
9. Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) – 1.2.25
10. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) – 1.3.25
11. Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) – 1.3.25
12. Eastern Red-Tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis borealis) – 1.3.25
13. Red-Shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus lineatus) – 1.3.25
14. Merlin (Falco columbarius) – 1.3.25
15. Red-Bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) – 1.3.25
16. Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) – 1.3.25
17. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) – 1.3.25
18. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) – 1.3.25
19. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) – 1.3.25
20. American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – 1.3.25
21. Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) – 1.3.25
22. Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) – 1.3.25
23. Brown-Headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) – 1.3.25
24. Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – 1.3.25
25. Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) – 1.3.25
26. Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) – 1.3.25
27. Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) – 1.3.25
28. Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) – 1.3.25
29. Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – 1.3.25
30. White-Throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) – 1.3.25
31. Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) – 1.3.25
32. Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) – 1.3.25
33. Red-Winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) – 1.3.25
34. Yellow-Rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) – 1.3.25
35. European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 1.3.25
36. House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – 1.3.25
37. Golden-Crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) – 1.5.25
38. White-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) – 1.7.25
39. Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) – 1.9.25
40. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) – 1.9.25
41. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) – 1.9.25
42. Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) – 1.9.25
43. White-Crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) – 1.9.25
44. LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) – 1.9.25
45. Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) – 1.9.25
46. Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) – 1.9.25
47. Whooping Crane (Grus americana) – 1.9.25
48. Great Egret (Ardea alba) – 1.9.25
49. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) – 1.9.25
50. American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) – 1.9.25
51. Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) – 1.9.25
52. Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) – 1.9.25
53. Dark-Eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) – 1.9.25
54. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) – 1.9.25
55. Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) – 1.9.25
56. Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) – 1.9.25
57. Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) – 1.9.25
58. American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) – 1.9.25
59. Gadwall (Mareca strepera) – 1.9.25
60. Pied-Billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) – 1.9.25
61. Blue-Headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) – 1.9.25
62. Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) – 1.9.25
63. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) – 1.9.25
64. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) – 1.9.25
65. Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – 1.9.25
66. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) – 1.9.25
67. Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) – 1.9.25
68. Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) – 1.9.25
69. Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) – 1.9.25
70. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) – 1.9.25
71. Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) – 1.9.25
72. Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) – 1.9.25
73. Ring-Billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) – 1.9.25
74. American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) – 1.9.25
75. American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) – 1.9.25
76. Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – 1.9.25
77. Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) – 1.9.25
78. Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) – 1.9.25
79. Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) – 1.9.25
80. Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) – 1.9.25
81. Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) – 1.9.25
82. Green-Winged Teal (Anas crecca) – 1.9.25
83. Ring-Necked Duck (Aythya collaris) – 1.9.25
84. Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) – 1.9.25
85. Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) – 1.20.25
86. Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) – 1.20.25
87. Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) – 1.20.25
88. Sora (Porzana carolina) – 1.20.25
89. Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) – 1.20.25
90. Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) – 1.20.25
91. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) – 1.20.25
92. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) – 1.23.25
93. Orange-Crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) – 1.20.25
94. Red-Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) – 2.9.25
95. Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) – 2.9.25
96. Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) – 2.9.25
97. Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) – 2.9.25
98. Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) – 2.9.25
99. Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) – 2.9.25
100. Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) – 2.9.25
101. Redhead (Aythya americana) – 2.9.25
Reptiles:
1. Gray Ratsnake (Pantherophis spiloides) – 2.2.25
2. Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta) – 2.9.25
Amphibians:
1. Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) – 2.2.25
2. Spotted Salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) – 2.2.25
Fish:
1. Striped Shiner (Luxilus chrysocephalus) – 1.3.25
2. Largemouth Bass (Micropterus nigricans) – 1.3.25
Invertebrates:
1. Leopard Slug (Limax maximus) – 1.3.25
2. Western Honeybee (Apis mellifera) – 1.14.25
3. Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) – 1.14.25
4. Dark Fishing Spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) – 2.2.25
5. Georgia Wolf Spider (Tigrosa georgicola) – 2.2.25
6. Changeable Mantleslug (Megapallifera mutabilis) – 2.2.25
7. Broad Wood Cockroach (Parcoblatta lata) – 2.2.25
8. Golden Net-Winged Beetle (Dictyoptera aurora) – 2.9.25
Trying to knock out a few easy species I haven't seen for the year yet, like Brown Creeper and Pine Warbler. In the next few weeks I'll likely make a trip down to Eufaula NWR to hopefully snag some birds like White Ibis, Anhinga, Common Gallinule, and hopefully King Rail.
Couple of additions mainly from a very pleasant morning at my local patch. In terms of birds nothing quite out of the ordinary, but lots of good sightings including finally my first view of a black woodpecker this year. Highlight was a very unexpected but definitely not unwelcome mustelid trotting over the path.
The day after I went out so some waterfowl spots along the river. Despite the cold and biting wind I had a good time seeing many common waterbirds. Most numerous where the greater white-fronted geese with 1500 to 2000 individual, the first decent numbers this winter. In among the common ducks there was also a red-crested pochard, a dozen or so mergansers and a pair of goldeneyes.
Birds
114. Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos
115. Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius
116. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
117. Common Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
118. Eurasian Skylark, Alauda arvensis
119. Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina
Mammals
6. European Polecat, Mustela putorius
The day after I went out so some waterfowl spots along the river. Despite the cold and biting wind I had a good time seeing many common waterbirds. Most numerous where the greater white-fronted geese with 1500 to 2000 individual, the first decent numbers this winter. In among the common ducks there was also a red-crested pochard, a dozen or so mergansers and a pair of goldeneyes.
Birds
114. Song Thrush, Turdus philomelos
115. Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius
116. Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella
117. Common Reed Bunting, Emberiza schoeniclus
118. Eurasian Skylark, Alauda arvensis
119. Red-crested Pochard, Netta rufina
Mammals
6. European Polecat, Mustela putorius
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
February 18, 2025
When I was in Nassau harbor earlier, I saw some rock pigeons mixed with a zenaida dove
BIRDS:
34) Zenaida Dove Zenaida aurita
I did a half day trip so I first snorkeled. This was the best I could remember as I only snorkeled for 10-15 minutes.
FISH:
1) Atlantic Blue Tang Acanthurus coeruleus
2) Stoplight Parrotfish Sparisoma viride
3) Princess Parrotfish Scarus taeniopterus
4) Caribbean Bluehead Wrasse Thalassoma bifasciatum
5) Yellowtail Snapper Ocyurus chrysurus
6) Schoolmaster Snapper Lutjanus apodus
After that, I went to Pig Beach. Do the chickens and pigs at rose island count? There were royal terns everywhere, eating the food that the pigs didn't eat. There were also some bonefish in the water
BIRDS:
35) Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
FISH:
7) Bonefish Albula vulpes
After that, I stopped by Green Cay and saw my first wild sea turtles
REPTILES:
1) Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas
I also saw some feral dogs and was wondering if they count too.
MAMMALS: 3 species (might be higher if the pigs and dogs count)
BIRDS: 35 species (36 if the chickens count)
REPTILES: 1 species
FISH: 7 species
INVERTEBRATES: 6 species
TOTAL: 52 species