Zoochat Big Year 2025
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
08.08.25 - Tuolumne Grove trail, Yosemite NP, California, USA
Mammals
175. California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)
176. Long-eared Chipmunk (Neotamias quadrimaculatus)
Birds (non-passerines)
299. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
I just returned from another trip to Maui which means I yet again got another chance to add a few Hawaii endemics to my list! My main priority was to return to Haleakalā National Park to see the honeycreepers again, but I also managed to squeeze into my schedule a brief visit to Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge to see some of the native waterbirds as well as two snorkeling trips to see the endemic reef fish.
The main highlight of my trip would definitely be during my time on Haleakalā, which is when I learned about a specific lookout point near the observatory at the peak that not only provided a beautiful view of Haleakalā crater, but is also one of the nesting sites of the endangered Hawaiian Petrel. These seabirds dig into the sides of the volcano to nest and only return to them at night after a day feeding out in the open ocean, so I had to wait a couple of hours for darkness to fall. About an hour after sunset, I started hearing the petrels calling from the air and their burrows, but it still took an additional thirty minutes or so to finally be able to spot one flying overhead in the moonlight. Additionally, another petrel flew right in front of the headlights of my car as I was pulling out of the parking lot of the lookout, which gave me a clear (but fleeting) look at the bird. Although it was such a brief sighting, I'm still glad I got a chance to be able to see this rare and elusive bird.
Other notable encounters include three honeycreeper species, a very lucky sighting of an American Barn Owl perched on a sign near the exit to Haleakalā, and a Black Tern at Keālia, a somewhat rare vagrant to the Hawaiian archipelago.
8/5/25
8. Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata)
8/2/25
103. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
104. Red-Crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
105. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
106. Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)
8/3/25
107. Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai)
8/5/25
108. Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
109. Warbling White-Eye (Zosterops japonicus)
8/6/25
Haleakalā National Park
110. Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
111. Maui 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana)
112. 'Apapane (Himatione sanguinea)
113. 'I'iwi (Drepanis coccinea)
114. Scaly-Breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
115. Red-Billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
116. Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis)
117. American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata)
8/7/25
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
118. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
119. African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
120. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
121. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
122. Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
123. Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
8/8/25
Honolulu, Oahu
I don't count hybrids on my Big Year list, but it's at least worth mentioning that I saw a Hawaiian Duck x Mallard hybrid (Anas wyvilliana x platyrhynchos) in one of the ponds located at the Honolulu International Airport while I was catching a connecting flight home.
8/5/25
5. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
6. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
7. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)
Fish:
8/3/25
1. Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus)
2. Stocky Hawkfish (Cirrhitus pinnulatus)
3. Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)
4. Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
5. Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey)
6. Bright-Eye Damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis)
7. Palenose Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)
8. Spotted Puffer (Arothron meleagris)
9. Fourspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus)
10. Wedgetail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
11. Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)
12. Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger)
13. Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
14. Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
15. Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)
16. Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)
17. Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
18. Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)
19. Whitebar Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius)
20. Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)
8/5/25
21. Goldring Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
22. Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus spilurus)
23. Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
24. Lei Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa)
25. Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
26. Yellowstripe Goatfish (Mulloidichthys flavolineatus)
27. Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
28. Highfin Chub (Kyphosus cinerascens)
29. Bluestriped Snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)
30. Pacific Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis)
31. Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
32. Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)
33. Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)
34. Whitespotted Surgeonfish (Acanthurus guttatus)
35. Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
36. Multiband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon multicinctus)
37. Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)
8/1/25
19. American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
8/3/25
20. Yellow Crazy Ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
21. Slate Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus)
22. Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla)
23. Pale Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)
8/5/25
24. Rusty Millipede (Trigoniulus corallinus)
8/7/25
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
25. Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii)
Total:
Mammals: 8
Birds: 123
Reptiles: 7
Amphibians: 2
Fish: 37
Invertebrates: 25
The main highlight of my trip would definitely be during my time on Haleakalā, which is when I learned about a specific lookout point near the observatory at the peak that not only provided a beautiful view of Haleakalā crater, but is also one of the nesting sites of the endangered Hawaiian Petrel. These seabirds dig into the sides of the volcano to nest and only return to them at night after a day feeding out in the open ocean, so I had to wait a couple of hours for darkness to fall. About an hour after sunset, I started hearing the petrels calling from the air and their burrows, but it still took an additional thirty minutes or so to finally be able to spot one flying overhead in the moonlight. Additionally, another petrel flew right in front of the headlights of my car as I was pulling out of the parking lot of the lookout, which gave me a clear (but fleeting) look at the bird. Although it was such a brief sighting, I'm still glad I got a chance to be able to see this rare and elusive bird.
Other notable encounters include three honeycreeper species, a very lucky sighting of an American Barn Owl perched on a sign near the exit to Haleakalā, and a Black Tern at Keālia, a somewhat rare vagrant to the Hawaiian archipelago.
8/5/25
8. Small Indian Mongoose (Urva auropunctata)
8/2/25
103. Spotted Dove (Spilopelia chinensis)
104. Red-Crested Cardinal (Paroaria coronata)
105. Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
106. Zebra Dove (Geopelia striata)
8/3/25
107. Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai)
8/5/25
108. Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
109. Warbling White-Eye (Zosterops japonicus)
8/6/25
Haleakalā National Park
110. Java Sparrow (Padda oryzivora)
111. Maui 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana)
112. 'Apapane (Himatione sanguinea)
113. 'I'iwi (Drepanis coccinea)
114. Scaly-Breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)
115. Red-Billed Leiothrix (Leiothrix lutea)
116. Hawaiian Petrel (Pterodroma sandwichensis)
117. American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata)
8/7/25
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
118. Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)
119. African Silverbill (Euodice cantans)
120. Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
121. Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
122. Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
123. Black-Crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
8/8/25
Honolulu, Oahu
I don't count hybrids on my Big Year list, but it's at least worth mentioning that I saw a Hawaiian Duck x Mallard hybrid (Anas wyvilliana x platyrhynchos) in one of the ponds located at the Honolulu International Airport while I was catching a connecting flight home.
8/5/25
5. Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
6. Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei)
7. Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)
Fish:
8/3/25
1. Brown Surgeonfish (Acanthurus nigrofuscus)
2. Stocky Hawkfish (Cirrhitus pinnulatus)
3. Manybar Goatfish (Parupeneus multifasciatus)
4. Indo-Pacific Sergeant (Abudefduf vaigiensis)
5. Saddle Wrasse (Thalassoma duperrey)
6. Bright-Eye Damselfish (Plectroglyphidodon imparipennis)
7. Palenose Parrotfish (Scarus psittacus)
8. Spotted Puffer (Arothron meleagris)
9. Fourspot Butterflyfish (Chaetodon quadrimaculatus)
10. Wedgetail Triggerfish (Rhinecanthus rectangulus)
11. Ornate Butterflyfish (Chaetodon ornatissimus)
12. Black Triggerfish (Melichthys niger)
13. Orangespine Unicornfish (Naso lituratus)
14. Raccoon Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula)
15. Convict Tang (Acanthurus triostegus)
16. Moorish Idol (Zanclus cornutus)
17. Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens)
18. Pinktail Triggerfish (Melichthys vidua)
19. Whitebar Surgeonfish (Acanthurus leucopareius)
20. Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)
8/5/25
21. Goldring Surgeonfish (Ctenochaetus strigosus)
22. Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus spilurus)
23. Hawaiian Cleaner Wrasse (Labroides phthirophagus)
24. Lei Triggerfish (Sufflamen bursa)
25. Hawaiian Sergeant (Abudefduf abdominalis)
26. Yellowstripe Goatfish (Mulloidichthys flavolineatus)
27. Threadfin Butterflyfish (Chaetodon auriga)
28. Highfin Chub (Kyphosus cinerascens)
29. Bluestriped Snapper (Lutjanus kasmira)
30. Pacific Trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis)
31. Bluespine Unicornfish (Naso unicornis)
32. Christmas Wrasse (Thalassoma trilobatum)
33. Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii)
34. Whitespotted Surgeonfish (Acanthurus guttatus)
35. Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator)
36. Multiband Butterflyfish (Chaetodon multicinctus)
37. Oval Butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunulatus)
8/1/25
19. American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana)
8/3/25
20. Yellow Crazy Ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes)
21. Slate Pencil Urchin (Heterocentrotus mamillatus)
22. Collector Urchin (Tripneustes gratilla)
23. Pale Rock-Boring Urchin (Echinometra mathaei)
8/5/25
24. Rusty Millipede (Trigoniulus corallinus)
8/7/25
Keālia Pond National Wildlife Refuge
25. Rambur's Forktail (Ischnura ramburii)
Total:
Mammals: 8
Birds: 123
Reptiles: 7
Amphibians: 2
Fish: 37
Invertebrates: 25
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Went and found a very lost bird yesterday after work. This is the fourth, maybe fifth record of this species in the northeast US this year alone.
161. Fork-Tailed Flycatcher, Tyrannus savana
~Thylo
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
There was a baby mole near the porch after a rainy night in south Maine. I don't know why it was out but there were holes next to it. Later that day, the baby mole was gone so it hopefully went back down. I was really surprised to see my first ever mole though
INVERTS
114 - Banana-stalk Fly Telostylinus lineolatus
Platypusboy
Well-Known Member
Birds
200. Crested lark, Galedria cristata 29/7/25
Reptiles
1. Grass snake, Natrix natrix
2. Common adder, Vipera berus
3. Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara
Amphibians
2. Moor frog, Rana arvalis
3. Edible frog, Pelophylax esculentus 3/8/25
4. Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris 3/8/25
(I've totally forgot to include most of my herptiles this year, so because of that I don't have the exact date for most of my first sightings.)
200. Crested lark, Galedria cristata 29/7/25
Reptiles
1. Grass snake, Natrix natrix
2. Common adder, Vipera berus
3. Viviparous lizard, Zootoca vivipara
Amphibians
2. Moor frog, Rana arvalis
3. Edible frog, Pelophylax esculentus 3/8/25
4. Smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris 3/8/25
(I've totally forgot to include most of my herptiles this year, so because of that I don't have the exact date for most of my first sightings.)
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Birds
273. Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Lafone
Well-Known Member
One identification from a photo on a previous trip and also had good shots of Spotted Redshank today. Then had a great opportunity to photograph a Tundra Bean Goose that was hanging out with a group of Greylags at the Discovery hide. I've only seen them from a distance before so getting a good view was quite a thing. I haven't had any decent photos of a Bean Goose or Wood Sandpiper before, so a good bird day all round!
107. Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, 15/07/2025, WWT Slimbridge
108. Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
109. Tundra Bean Goose, Anser serrirostris, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
110. Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
107. Spotted Redshank, Tringa erythropus, 15/07/2025, WWT Slimbridge
108. Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
109. Tundra Bean Goose, Anser serrirostris, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
110. Green Sandpiper, Tringa ochropus, 09/08/2025, WWT Slimbridge
Central Java Trip Summary.
To my mind, the mammal watching on this trip was excellent. I saw 10 species of which six were lifers. The first night spotting was very successful, while the silvery gibbons were wonderful. I had only ever seen one wild gibbon before, a siamang at a substantial distance.
Birdwatching was less successful, with 46 species seen (including spotted turtle-dove, which I had seen earlier this year), of which 12 were lifers. Typically, I would expect to see up to twice that number in similar tropical forests over that period of time. There were a couple of contributing factors to that. Firstly, poaching for the song-bird trade has devastated birdlife in Indonesian forests. Secondly my hotel was an hour away from the forests, so with a 6am pickup we did not get to start bird watching till 7am.
The birding issues cannot be laid at the feet of Primavest, who after all promote the tours for mammal watching. Their organization and guiding was excellent, and the conservation work they do well worth supporting.
And finally, there were many butterfly species seen, but as normal I was only able to identify a handful.
16. Striped albatross Appias libythea
17. Crow eggfly Hypolimnas anomala
18. Varied eggfly Hypolimnas bolina
19. sp. Tanaecia trigerta
20. Five-bar swordtail Graphium antiphates
21. Blue gem Poritia erycinoides
09.08.25 - Monterey Harbor (177, 178, 300), Monterey Bay Whale Watch (179, 180, 301-303, 01), Point Lobos SNR (181), California, USA
Mammals
177. Sea Otter (Enhydra lutris)
178. California Sea-lion (Zalophus californianus)
179. Risso's Dolphin (Grampus griseus)
180. Pacific White-sided Dolphin (Aethalodelphis obliquidens)
181. California Vole (Microtus californicus)
Birds (non-passerines)
300. Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
301. Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea)
302. Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes)
303. Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)
Fish
01. Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola)
Burton Mere delivered again
Birds
137 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
138 Nuthatch Sitta europaea
139 Bittern Botaurus stellatus
140 Hobby Falco subbuteo
The latter two were quick flight views; for once I was in the right place at the right time. As for missing Nuthatch for 7 months, the less said about that the better!
Birds
137 Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
138 Nuthatch Sitta europaea
139 Bittern Botaurus stellatus
140 Hobby Falco subbuteo
The latter two were quick flight views; for once I was in the right place at the right time. As for missing Nuthatch for 7 months, the less said about that the better!
Herps
16. Slender Glass Lizard Ophisaurus attenuatus
10.08.25 - Pioneer Canyon (Half Moon Bay) pelagic with Alvaro's Adventures out of Pillar Point Harbor (182, 183, 304-319), Pillar Point Harbor (184, 185, 320, 321), Francis Beach (322-325), California, USA
Mammals
182. Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
183. Northern Fur-seal (Callorhinus ursinus)
184. Brush Rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani)
185. Botta's Pocket Gopher (Thomomys bottae)
Birds (non-passerines)
304. Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)
305. Surfbird (Calidris virgata)
306. Marbled Murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus)
307. Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini)
308. Pink-footed Shearwater (Ardenna creatopus)
309. Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)
310. Ashy Storm-petrel (Hydrobates homochroa)
311. Buller's Shearwater (Ardenna bulleri)
312. Fork-tailed Storm-petrel (Hydrobates furcatus)
313. Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius)
314. Black Storm-petrel (Hydrobates melania)
315. Scripp's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus scrippsi)
316. Carveri's Murrelet (Synthliboramphus craveri)
317. South Polar Skua (Stercorarius maccormicki)
318. Pomarine Skua (Stercorarius pomarinus)
319. Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala)
320. Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
321. Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)
322. California Gull (Larus californicus)
323. Sanderling (Calidris alba)
324. Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)
Birds (passerines)
325. California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)
11.08.25 - Bear Valley Visitor Centre (--- - 327, 329), Abbot's Lagoon (186, 330), Nunes Ranch (331), Elephant Seal Lookout (187, 328), Marshall Beach Road (188-190), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
Mammals
186. North American River Otter (Lontra canadensis)
187. Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris)
188. Bobcat (Lynx rufus)
189. Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis)
190. Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Birds (non-passerines)
---. Acorn Woodpecker
326. Northern Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata)
327. Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
328. Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)
Birds (passerines)
329. Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana)
330. Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum perpallidus)
331. Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
12.08.25 - Bear Valley trail (191), Nunes Ranch (334), Drakes Beach (192, 332, 333), Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
Mammals
191. Sonoma Chipmunk (Neotamias sonomae)
192. Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Birds (non-passerines)
332. Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer)
333. Pacific Diver (Gavia pacifica)
Birds (passerines)
334. Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)
MOG2012
Well-Known Member
I'm a bit late responding with my corrected totals (with my updates) but below is a document with all of my species (with location and date)
BIRDS: 77 species
MAMMALS: 11 species
REPTILES: 6 species
AMPHIBIANS: 2 species
FISH: 13 species
INVERTEBRATES: 41 species
Zoochat Big Year 2025
I'll be in that area in a few days (I'm actually also doing a Pioneer Canyon pelagic with Alvaro's Adventures). Were the elephant seals easy at Point Reyes? What was the situation with any of the murrelet species? Did you get the sense of them being common?
The seals are straight forward. Either go to the elephant seal lookout or walk down Drakes Beach for close-up views.
The murrelets were not common and the boat was stopped when any were seen. We made an explicit stop for the Marbled before going out into deeper water. Scripps we had three (I think) and Carveri was only the third one seen on any trip in the area.
13.08.25 - Asilomar SB, Monterey, California, USA
Birds (non-passerines)
335. Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus)
336. Willet (Tringa semipalmata)
337. Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana)
Birds (passerines)
338. California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)