Zoochat Big Year 2025

Birds

1. Rock pigeon (Columba livia)

Youll have to guess the country though :p
I never meant to leave this off for so long.

Taiwan, Jan 1-2

Mammals
1. Formosan Rock Macaque (Macaca cyclopis) (Lifer)
2. Pallas' Squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus)

Birds
2. Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus)
3. Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia orientalis)
4. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
5. Light-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis)
6. Pacific Swallow (Hirundo javanica)
7. Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
8. Great Egret (Ardea alba)
9. Gray Treepie (Dendrocitta formosae)
10. Black Drongo (Dicrurus macrocercus)
11. Taiwan Blue-magpie (Urocissa caerulea)
12. Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
13. Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
14. White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) (Lifer)
15. Pale Thrush (Turdus pallidus)
16. Large-billed Crow (Corvus macrorhynchos) (Lifer)
17. Crested Goshawk (Lophospiza trivirgata) (Lifer)
18. Bronzed Drongo (Dicrurus aeneus) (Lifer)

19. Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
20. White-eared Sibia (Heterophasia auricularis)
21. Brown-headed Thrush (Turdus chrysolaus)
22. Taiwan Bamboo-Partridge (Bambusicola sonorivox) (Lifer)
23. Morrison’s Fulvetta (Alcippe morrisonia) (Lifer)
24. Taiwan Whistling-thrush (Myophonus insularis) (Lifer)
25. Black-naped Monarch (Hypothymis azurea) (Lifer)
26. Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus) (Lifer)
27. White-bellied Erpornis (Erpornis zantholeuca) (Lifer)
28. Gray-chinned Minivet (Pericrocotus solaris) (Lifer)

29. Taiwan Scimitar-babbler (Pomatorhinus musicus)
30. Taiwan Barbet (Psilopogon nuchalis)
31. Swinhoe’s Pheasant (Lophura swinhoii) (Lifer)
32. Eastern Cattle-egret (Ardea coromanda)
33. Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
34. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
35. Crested Myna (Acridotheres cristatellus) (Lifer)
36. Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius) (Lifer)

37. White-breasted Waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus)
38. Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
39. Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
40. Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) (Lifer)
41. Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus)
42. Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex)
43. Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
44. Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
45. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
46. Malayan Night Heron (Gorsachius melanolophus)
47. White-rumped Shama (Copsychus malabaricus)
48. Manchurian Bush-warbler (Horornis canturians)

I write a bit about the trip here: CMP Travels Asia (Part 1?) - Page 2 - ZooChat
 
I accidentally listed Desert Cottontail twice so far this year, so my next addition below is still #52.

Vernon, New Jersey:

52. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) (Jul 11)
53. Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) (Jul 13)
54. Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

I just returned from 5 days in Pico Island, Azores with fantastic results!! Including not just one, but two members of a mammal family lifer for me (13 remain!) while closing out the 2nd and final species from the Kogiidae family.

Pico Island, The Azores:

55. Azores noctule (Nyctalus azoreum) (Jul 19)
56. Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) (Jul 20)
57. Striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
58. Short-finned pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
59. Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
60. Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis)
61. Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)
62. False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) (Jul 21)
63. Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)
64. Sowerby's beaked whale (Mesoplodon bidens)
65. Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps)
66. Northern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon ampullatus)
(Jul 22)

Note: Short-finned pilot whale was confirmed to species level using underwater GoPro footage.
 
26.07.25 - bicycle trail opposite Tamarack Mill, New Meadows (137), Riverland East, Boise (242), Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation Area (243, 15), Idaho, USA

Mammals
147. Columbian Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus columbianus)


Birds (non-passerines)
242. American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
243. Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

Amphibians
15. Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana)
27.07.25 - Eastwood Place, Boise, Idaho, USA

Mammals
148. Northern Pocket-gopher (Thomomys talpoides)
 
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7/25/25
Savannah, Georgia

93. Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
94. Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)


7/26/25
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

95. Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)

96. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
97. Swallow-Tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus)
98. Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
99. American Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
100. Western Cattle Egret (Ardea ibis)
101. Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
102. Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)





7/26/25
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

4. American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)


Total:
Mammals: 7
Birds: 102
Reptiles: 4
Amphibians: 2
Invertebrates: 18
Apparently I wasn’t the only ZooChatter birding in the Savannah NWR last week :p
 
27.07.25 - Eastwood Place, Boise, Idaho, USA

Mammals
148. Northern Pocket-gopher (Thomomys talpoides)
28.07.25 - Camas Centennial Marsh (139, 244-252), Craters of the Moon National Monument (140, 253-256), Idaho, USA

Mammals
149. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
150. Crater Chipmunk (Neotamias cratericus)


Birds (non-passerines)
244. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)

245. Sora (Porzana carolina)
246. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
247. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
248. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

249. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
250. Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
251. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)


Birds (passerines)
252. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
253. Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
254. Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
255. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
256. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
 
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28.07.25 - Camas Centennial Marsh (139, 244-252), Craters of the Moon National Monument (140, 253-256), Idaho, USA

Mammals
149. Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)
150. Crater Chipmunk (Neotamias cratericus)


Birds (non-passerines)
244. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)

245. Sora (Porzana carolina)
246. Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
247. Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata)
248. White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

249. Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
250. Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor)
251. Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)


Birds (passerines)
252. Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
253. Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)
254. Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri)
255. Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides)
256. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
29.07.25 - Yellowstone NP (West entrance (141), Mount Washburn (142-144, 257), Lamar Valley (145, 146, 258, 259), North entrance (147, 260), road towards Bridge Bay Campground (148)), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
151. American Bison (Bison bison)
152. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis)
153. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
154. Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
155. Uinta Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus armatus)
156. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
157. Wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

158. American Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva)

Birds (non-passerines)
257. Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)
258. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)

259. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
260. American Coot (Fulica americana)
 
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Saw a pair of these today collecting nest material in the Binturong exhibit at Taronga!

Birds
127. Spotted Pardalote (Pardalotus punctatus)
Just realised today that I didn't actually have this species on my yearlist (even though I have seen it many times this year), having previously assumed that I already had noted it down!

128. Australasian Grebe (Tachybaptus novaehollandiae)
 
Well haven’t I been awful at tracking my Big Year this year! It’s been a very busy year for me and I’ve not had all that much time for birding (or zoos even, really) so my list will be a bit lackluster compared to the past couple of years. I’ve still managed a few short get-aways which have yielded some very nice lifers.

First, the unusual suspects:

1. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
2. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
3. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
4. American Black Duck, Anas rubripes
5. Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
6. Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
7. Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
8. Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
9. Ring-Billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
10. American Herring Gull, Larus smithsonianus
11. Greater Black-Backed Gull, Larus marinus
12. Great Egret, Ardea alba
13. Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
14. Double-Crested Cormorant, Nannopterum auritus
15. American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus
16. Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
17. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
18. Cooper’s Hawk, Astur cooperii
19. Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
20. Red-Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
21. Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
22. Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
23. Downy Woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
24. Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
25. Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
26. Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
27. Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
28. American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
29. Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus
30. Common Raven, Corvus corax
31. Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
32. Black-Capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
33. White-Breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
34. Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
35. Common Starling, Sturnus vulgarus
36. Grey Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
37. Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
38. American Robin, Turdus migratorius
39. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
40. House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
41. Dark-Eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
42. White-Throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
43. Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
44. Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
45. Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

1. Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
2. Eastern Grey Squirrel, Neosciurus carolinensis
3. Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus
4. Groundhog, Marmota monax
5. White-Footed Mouse, Peromyscus leucopus
6. House Mouse, Mus musculus
7. Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda
8. White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus

Next a nice twitch while in Rhode Island:

46. Tundra Bean Goose, Anser serrirostris

In February I spent a week in Florida. While most of this time was spent either visiting family or some zoos, I did spend some time birding. Unfortunately, I completely missed out on a vagrant Yellow-Headed Caracara that was hanging out in Miami for days while I was there. The day I went for it, it just never showed up. Was there the day before and after, though :(

47. Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
48. Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis
49. Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea
50. Laughing Gull, Leucocephaeus atricilla
51. American Darter, Anhinga anhinga
52. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja
53. North American Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
54. Yellow-Rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Setophaga coronata
55. Sandhill Crane, Antigone canadensis
56. Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
57. American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
58. Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum
59. Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
60. Western Cattle Egret, Ardea ibis
61. Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
62. Red-Shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
63. Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
64. Boat-Tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major
65. Blue-Winged Teal, Spatula discors
66. American Coot, Fulica americana
67. Common Gallinule, Gallinula galeata
68. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia
69. American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
70. Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
71. Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptica
72. Domestic Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata
73. Domestic Chicken/”Red Junglefowl”, Gallus gallus
74. Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
75. Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
76. Mottled Duck, Anas fulvigula
77. Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus
78. White-Eyed Conure, Psittacara leucophthalmus
79. Common Ground-Dove, Columbina passerina
80. Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor
81. Wood Stork, Mycteria americana

9. Northern Raccoon, Procyon lotor
10. Feral Cat, Felis catus
11. Seminole Bat, Lasiurus seminolus
12. Florida Bonneted Bat, Eumops floridanus

13. North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis

Spring birding in CT was bizarre this year. The foliage grew in early which made finding singing passerines difficult, so a lot of my usual birds were heard-only. Additionally, a lot of birds seemed to have arrived early and passed through quicker than normal. All in all, a much quieter season for all CT birders, though I still managed three long sought-after lifers.

82. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
83. Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica
84. Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
85. Willet, Tringa semipalmata
86. Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
87. Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
88. Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus
89. Red-Eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus
90. Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
91. Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
92. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
93. Northern House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
94. Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
95. Veery, Catharus fuscescens
96. Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
97. American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis
98. Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
99. Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
100. Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
101. Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius
102. Red-Winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
103. Brown-Headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
104. Blue-Winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera
105. Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
106. Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina
107. Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia
108. Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata
109. Kentucky Warbler, Geothlypis formosa
110. Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea
111. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
112. Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
113. Black-Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
114. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, Antrostomus vociferus


Over Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May for the non-Americans), I spent a few days in Pinnacles National Park and Monterey Bay. Without a doubt this mini-trip was the best I’ve had for wildlife sightings so far this year—and that is unlikely to change. I also got to meet up with @Coelacanth18 which was lovely :)

115. Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
116. Yellow-Billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli
117. Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
118. Steller’s Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
119. California Quail, Callipepla californica
120. California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus
121. Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
122. Western Bluebird, Sialia Mexicana
123. White-Throated Swift, Aeronautes saxatali
124. Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
125. Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna
126. Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
127. California Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica
128. Black-Headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
129. Canyon Wren, Catherpes mexicanus
130. Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
131. Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei
132. Western Screech-Owl, Megascops kennicottii
133. American Barn-Owl, Tyto furcata

134. Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Dryobates nuttallii
135. Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
136. Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
137. Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya
138. American Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
139. Western Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
140. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
141. Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata
142. White-Tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
143. Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, Poecile rufescens
144. Hutton’s Vireo, Vireo huttoni

145. Violet-Green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
146. Western Gull, Larus occidentalis
147. Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii
148. Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea
149. Brandt’s Cormorant, Urile penicillatus
150. Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba
151. Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica

152. Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri
153. Black-Footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
154. Pink-Footed Shearwater, Ardenna creatopus
155. Sooty Shearwater, Ardenna grisea
156. Common Murre, Uria aalge
157. Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena

158. Cassin’s Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
159. Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus

14. California Ground Squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi
15. Fox Squirrel, Parasciurus niger
16. Merriam’s Chipmunk, Neotamias merriami
17. Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus
18. Canyon Bat, Parastrellus hesperus
19. Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, Tadarida brasiliensis
20. Yuma Myotis, Myotis yumanensis
21. Piñon Mouse, Peromyscus truei
22. Dusky-Footed Woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes
23. North American Hoary Bat, Aeorestes cinereus

24. Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
25. California Myotis, Myotis californicus
26. Western Small-Footed Bat, Myotis ciliolabrum
27. Long-Eared Myotis, Myotis evotis
28. Western Mastiff Bat, Eumops perotis
29. Heermann’s Kangaroo-Rat, Dipodomys heermanni

30. Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis
31. California Vole, Microtus californicus
32. Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus
33. Cougar, Puma concolor
34. Grey Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
35. Narrow-Faced Kangaroo-Rat, Dipodomys venustus
36. California Pocket-Mouse, Chaetodipus californicus
37. Bryant’s Woodrat, Neotoma bryanti

38. American Badger, Taxidea taxus
39. California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
40. Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris
41. Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina
42. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
43. Western Grey Squirrel, Hesperosciurus griseus
44. Risso’s Dolphin, Grampus griseus
45. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Aethalodelphis obliquidens
46. Northern Right-Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis


Most recently I spent a week in Maine with my fiancé’s family. While this was not a wildlife-watching trip, I did spend a couple days out birding. One of the days, I visited the small mountain town of Rangeley, which is supposed to be a very excellent spot for a lot of boreal birds such as Ruffed Grouse, Grey Jay, and Black-Backed Woodpecker with decent odds of Bicknell’s Thrush if you go high enough, and small odds of Spruce Grouse. It’s also one of the most popular towns to go moose-watching. Unfortunately, the weather turned out pretty miserable and I missed out on pretty much every single one of my target birds after 7.5 hours of birding starting at 5am (and I had woken up at 2:45am to make the drive up there…). The best I got was a brief and unsatisfying flyover of one lifer on Saddleback Mountain. On the bright side, the mammal watching was pretty good. My next Maine birding day was a puffin cruise to Eastern Egg Rock, the site of America’s first seabird reintroduction. That day turned out to be more fruitful.

160. American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
161. Common Loon, Gavia immer
162. Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
163. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
164. Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
165. Boreal Chickadee, Poecile hudsonicus
166. Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
167. Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
168. Black Guillemot, Cepphus grille
169. Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica

170. Common Tern, Sterna Hirundo
171. Common Eider, Somateria mollissima

47. American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
48. Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus
49. American Mink, Neogale vison
50. Eastern Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus
51. American Moose, Alces (alces) americanus
52. Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena

~Thylo
 
Well haven’t I been awful at tracking my Big Year this year! It’s been a very busy year for me and I’ve not had all that much time for birding (or zoos even, really) so my list will be a bit lackluster compared to the past couple of years. I’ve still managed a few short get-aways which have yielded some very nice lifers.

First, the unusual suspects:

1. Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
2. Mute Swan, Cygnus olor
3. Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos
4. American Black Duck, Anas rubripes
5. Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
6. Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
7. Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
8. Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
9. Ring-Billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
10. American Herring Gull, Larus smithsonianus
11. Greater Black-Backed Gull, Larus marinus
12. Great Egret, Ardea alba
13. Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
14. Double-Crested Cormorant, Nannopterum auritus
15. American Black Vulture, Coragyps atratus
16. Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
17. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
18. Cooper’s Hawk, Astur cooperii
19. Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
20. Red-Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
21. Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon
22. Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
23. Downy Woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
24. Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus
25. Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
26. Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
27. Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
28. American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
29. Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus
30. Common Raven, Corvus corax
31. Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
32. Black-Capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
33. White-Breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis
34. Carolina Wren, Thryothorus ludovicianus
35. Common Starling, Sturnus vulgarus
36. Grey Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
37. Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
38. American Robin, Turdus migratorius
39. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
40. House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus
41. Dark-Eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
42. White-Throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
43. Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
44. Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
45. Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis

1. Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus
2. Eastern Grey Squirrel, Neosciurus carolinensis
3. Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus
4. Groundhog, Marmota monax
5. White-Footed Mouse, Peromyscus leucopus
6. House Mouse, Mus musculus
7. Northern Short-Tailed Shrew, Blarina brevicauda
8. White-Tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus

Next a nice twitch while in Rhode Island:

46. Tundra Bean Goose, Anser serrirostris

In February I spent a week in Florida. While most of this time was spent either visiting family or some zoos, I did spend some time birding. Unfortunately, I completely missed out on a vagrant Yellow-Headed Caracara that was hanging out in Miami for days while I was there. The day I went for it, it just never showed up. Was there the day before and after, though :(

47. Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
48. Brown Pelican, Pelecanus occidentalis
49. Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea
50. Laughing Gull, Leucocephaeus atricilla
51. American Darter, Anhinga anhinga
52. Roseate Spoonbill, Platalea ajaja
53. North American Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
54. Yellow-Rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Setophaga coronata
55. Sandhill Crane, Antigone canadensis
56. Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
57. American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
58. Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum
59. Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
60. Western Cattle Egret, Ardea ibis
61. Snail Kite, Rostrhamus sociabilis
62. Red-Shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
63. Limpkin, Aramus guarauna
64. Boat-Tailed Grackle, Quiscalus major
65. Blue-Winged Teal, Spatula discors
66. American Coot, Fulica americana
67. Common Gallinule, Gallinula galeata
68. Burrowing Owl, Athene cunicularia
69. American White Ibis, Eudocimus albus
70. Eurasian Collared Dove, Streptopelia decaocto
71. Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptica
72. Domestic Muscovy Duck, Cairina moschata
73. Domestic Chicken/”Red Junglefowl”, Gallus gallus
74. Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
75. Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
76. Mottled Duck, Anas fulvigula
77. Royal Tern, Thalasseus maximus
78. White-Eyed Conure, Psittacara leucophthalmus
79. Common Ground-Dove, Columbina passerina
80. Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor
81. Wood Stork, Mycteria americana

9. Northern Raccoon, Procyon lotor
10. Feral Cat, Felis catus
11. Seminole Bat, Lasiurus seminolus
12. Florida Bonneted Bat, Eumops floridanus

13. North American River Otter, Lontra canadensis

Spring birding in CT was bizarre this year. The foliage grew in early which made finding singing passerines difficult, so a lot of my usual birds were heard-only. Additionally, a lot of birds seemed to have arrived early and passed through quicker than normal. All in all, a much quieter season for all CT birders, though I still managed three long sought-after lifers.

82. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
83. Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica
84. Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
85. Willet, Tringa semipalmata
86. Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
87. Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus
88. Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus
89. Red-Eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus
90. Northern Rough-Winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
91. Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
92. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
93. Northern House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
94. Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina
95. Veery, Catharus fuscescens
96. Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
97. American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis
98. Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
99. Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana
100. Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula
101. Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius
102. Red-Winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
103. Brown-Headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
104. Blue-Winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera
105. Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
106. Hooded Warbler, Setophaga citrina
107. Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia
108. Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata
109. Kentucky Warbler, Geothlypis formosa
110. Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea
111. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
112. Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
113. Black-Billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
114. Eastern Whip-Poor-Will, Antrostomus vociferus


Over Memorial Day weekend (last weekend in May for the non-Americans), I spent a few days in Pinnacles National Park and Monterey Bay. Without a doubt this mini-trip was the best I’ve had for wildlife sightings so far this year—and that is unlikely to change. I also got to meet up with @Coelacanth18 which was lovely :)

115. Brewer’s Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus
116. Yellow-Billed Magpie, Pica nuttalli
117. Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
118. Steller’s Jay, Cyanocitta stelleri
119. California Quail, Callipepla californica
120. California Condor, Gymnogyps californianus
121. Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
122. Western Bluebird, Sialia Mexicana
123. White-Throated Swift, Aeronautes saxatali
124. Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivorus
125. Anna’s Hummingbird, Calypte anna
126. Spotted Towhee, Pipilo maculatus
127. California Scrub-Jay, Aphelocoma californica
128. Black-Headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus
129. Canyon Wren, Catherpes mexicanus
130. Lesser Goldfinch, Spinus psaltria
131. Lawrence’s Goldfinch, Spinus lawrencei
132. Western Screech-Owl, Megascops kennicottii
133. American Barn-Owl, Tyto furcata

134. Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Dryobates nuttallii
135. Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta
136. Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
137. Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya
138. American Bushtit, Psaltriparus minimus
139. Western Flycatcher, Empidonax difficilis
140. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus
141. Wrentit, Chamaea fasciata
142. White-Tailed Kite, Elanus leucurus
143. Chestnut-Backed Chickadee, Poecile rufescens
144. Hutton’s Vireo, Vireo huttoni

145. Violet-Green Swallow, Tachycineta thalassina
146. Western Gull, Larus occidentalis
147. Bewick’s Wren, Thryomanes bewickii
148. Pygmy Nuthatch, Sitta pygmaea
149. Brandt’s Cormorant, Urile penicillatus
150. Pigeon Guillemot, Cepphus columba
151. Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica

152. Forster’s Tern, Sterna forsteri
153. Black-Footed Albatross, Phoebastria nigripes
154. Pink-Footed Shearwater, Ardenna creatopus
155. Sooty Shearwater, Ardenna grisea
156. Common Murre, Uria aalge
157. Lazuli Bunting, Passerina amoena

158. Cassin’s Kingbird, Tyrannus vociferans
159. Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus

14. California Ground Squirrel, Otospermophilus beecheyi
15. Fox Squirrel, Parasciurus niger
16. Merriam’s Chipmunk, Neotamias merriami
17. Mule Deer, Odocoileus hemionus
18. Canyon Bat, Parastrellus hesperus
19. Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, Tadarida brasiliensis
20. Yuma Myotis, Myotis yumanensis
21. Piñon Mouse, Peromyscus truei
22. Dusky-Footed Woodrat, Neotoma fuscipes
23. North American Hoary Bat, Aeorestes cinereus

24. Big Brown Bat, Eptesicus fuscus
25. California Myotis, Myotis californicus
26. Western Small-Footed Bat, Myotis ciliolabrum
27. Long-Eared Myotis, Myotis evotis
28. Western Mastiff Bat, Eumops perotis
29. Heermann’s Kangaroo-Rat, Dipodomys heermanni

30. Striped Skunk, Mephitis mephitis
31. California Vole, Microtus californicus
32. Pallid Bat, Antrozous pallidus
33. Cougar, Puma concolor
34. Grey Fox, Urocyon cinereoargenteus
35. Narrow-Faced Kangaroo-Rat, Dipodomys venustus
36. California Pocket-Mouse, Chaetodipus californicus
37. Bryant’s Woodrat, Neotoma bryanti

38. American Badger, Taxidea taxus
39. California Sea Lion, Zalophus californianus
40. Sea Otter, Enhydra lutris
41. Harbor Seal, Phoca vitulina
42. Humpback Whale, Megaptera novaeangliae
43. Western Grey Squirrel, Hesperosciurus griseus
44. Risso’s Dolphin, Grampus griseus
45. Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Aethalodelphis obliquidens
46. Northern Right-Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis borealis


Most recently I spent a week in Maine with my fiancé’s family. While this was not a wildlife-watching trip, I did spend a couple days out birding. One of the days, I visited the small mountain town of Rangeley, which is supposed to be a very excellent spot for a lot of boreal birds such as Ruffed Grouse, Grey Jay, and Black-Backed Woodpecker with decent odds of Bicknell’s Thrush if you go high enough, and small odds of Spruce Grouse. It’s also one of the most popular towns to go moose-watching. Unfortunately, the weather turned out pretty miserable and I missed out on pretty much every single one of my target birds after 7.5 hours of birding starting at 5am (and I had woken up at 2:45am to make the drive up there…). The best I got was a brief and unsatisfying flyover of one lifer on Saddleback Mountain. On the bright side, the mammal watching was pretty good. My next Maine birding day was a puffin cruise to Eastern Egg Rock, the site of America’s first seabird reintroduction. That day turned out to be more fruitful.

160. American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
161. Common Loon, Gavia immer
162. Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis
163. Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
164. Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus
165. Boreal Chickadee, Poecile hudsonicus
166. Golden-Crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
167. Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Oceanites oceanicus
168. Black Guillemot, Cepphus grille
169. Atlantic Puffin, Fratercula arctica

170. Common Tern, Sterna Hirundo
171. Common Eider, Somateria mollissima

47. American Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
48. Snowshoe Hare, Lepus americanus
49. American Mink, Neogale vison
50. Eastern Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus
51. American Moose, Alces (alces) americanus
52. Harbor Porpoise, Phocoena phocoena

~Thylo
Where and how did you see all the bats in Cali?
 
29.07.25 - Yellowstone NP (West entrance (141), Mount Washburn (142-144, 257), Lamar Valley (145, 146, 258, 259), North entrance (147, 260), road towards Bridge Bay Campground (148)), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
151. American Bison (Bison bison)
152. Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis)
153. American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
154. Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
155. Uinta Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus armatus)
156. Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
157. Wapiti (Cervus canadensis)

158. American Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes fulva)

Birds (non-passerines)
257. Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)
258. Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus)

259. Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)
260. American Coot (Fulica americana)
30.07.25 - Yellowstone (Cascades Lake Trail (261, 262)), Wyoming & Greycliff Prairie Dog Town (149, 263), ZooMontana parking area (150), Montana & Yellowstone (mountains past east entrance (151), Lamar Valley (152), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
159. Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
160. Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)
161. Moose (Alces americanus)
162. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Birds (passerines)
261. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
262. Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
263. Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
 
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30.07.25 - Yellowstone (Cascades Lake Trail (261, 262)), Wyoming & Greycliff Prairie Dog Town (159, 263), ZooMontana parking area (160), Montana & Yellowstone (mountains past east entrance (161), Lamar Valley (162), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
159. Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus)
160. Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii)
161. Moose (Alces americanus)
162. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

Birds (passerines)
261. Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)
262. Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli)
263. Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus)
31.07.25 - Yellowstone (Specimen Ridge (---, 264, 266)), Grand Teton (Schwabacher Landing (163, 265, 267, 268, 16)), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
---. Coyote (Canis latrans)
163. Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps)

Birds (non-passerines)
264. Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
265. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)


Birds (passerines)
266. American Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)

267. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
268. Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

Amphibians
16. Western (Boreal) Toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas)
 
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31.07.25 - Yellowstone (Specimen Ridge (---, 264, 266)), Grand Teton (Schwabacher Landing (163, 265, 267, 268, 16)), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
---. Coyote (Canis latrans)
163. Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps)

Birds (non-passerines)
264. Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
265. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)


Birds (passerines)
266. American Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)

267. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
268. Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

Amphibians
16. Western (Boreal) Toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas)

Racking up mammal family lifers like candy on Halloween! Well done!
 
31.07.25 - Yellowstone (Specimen Ridge (---, 264, 266)), Grand Teton (Schwabacher Landing (163, 265, 267, 268, 16)), Wyoming, USA

Mammals
---. Coyote (Canis latrans)
163. Western Jumping Mouse (Zapus princeps)

Birds (non-passerines)
264. Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
265. Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)


Birds (passerines)
266. American Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri)

267. Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)
268. Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

Amphibians
16. Western (Boreal) Toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas)
01.08.25 - Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming, USA

Mammals
164. White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)
165. White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus)
166. Pygmy Rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis)

Birds (non-passerines)
269. Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
270. Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

Birds (passerines)
271. Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
272. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
 
I find myself in Jakarta with a few days to spare, so am taking at trip to Pekalongan in Central Java, nearby which are to be found five of the six non-human primate species found in Java. I left this morning and was meant to take a train that would have taken 4 hours and which left at 7.15. Unfortunately, due to a derailment on the track the train was cancelled. Cars were organized as a replacement but that meant I did not get here till 4pm. However, the change did allow for some birdwatching at stops along the way.

223. Zebra dove Geopelia striata
224. Cave swiftlet Collacalia linchi
225. Javan pond heron Ardeola speciosa
226. White-breasted woodswallow Artamus leucorynchus
227. Scarlet-headed flowerpecker Dicaeum trochileum
228. Brown-throated sunbird Anthreptes malacensis
229. Ornate sunbird Cinnyris ornatus
230. White-bellied munia Lonchura leucogastra
231. Javan munia Lonchura leucogastroides
232. Pacific swallow Hirundo javanica
233. Sooty-headed bulbul Pycnonotus aurigaster
 
01.08.25 - Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming, USA

Mammals
164. White-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus townsendii)
165. White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus)
166. Pygmy Rabbit (Sylvilagus idahoensis)

Birds (non-passerines)
269. Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
270. Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)

Birds (passerines)
271. Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
272. Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

Given my utter failure at Fossil Butte a couple years back, needless to say I am very envious of you hear! Both for the rabbit and the grouse!!

~Thylo
 
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