Zoochat Big Year 2025

Najade said:
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)
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14.08.25 - Moss Landing (339-341), bridge in Morgan Hill (193, 343), Pinnacles NP (194, 342), California, USA

Mammals
193. Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)
194. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

Birds (non-passerines)
339. Marbled Gotwit (Limosa fedoa)
340. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
341. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
342. Western Screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii)

Birds (passerines)
343. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
 
CarnotaurusSastrei said:
94. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

Totals: 94 Birds, 14 Mammals, 2 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 10 Invertebrates
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Birds
95. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Inverts
11. Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
12. Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
13. Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis)
14. American Snout (Libytheana carinenta)
15. Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)

Totals: 95 Birds, 14 Mammals, 2 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 15 Invertebrates
 
Najade said:
14.08.25 - Moss Landing (339-341), bridge in Morgan Hill (193, 343), Pinnacles NP (194, 342), California, USA

Mammals
193. Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus)
194. Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)

Birds (non-passerines)
339. Marbled Gotwit (Limosa fedoa)
340. Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)
341. Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)
342. Western Screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii)

Birds (passerines)
343. Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)
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15.08.25 - Balconies Cave trail (195, 196, 344, 345, 347, 348), road to eastern entrance (349), High Peaks Trail (346), Bear Gulch Cave trail (197, 17), Bear Gulch parking area (04), Pinnacles NP, California, USA

Mammals
195. Merriam's Chipmunk (Neotamias merriami)
196. Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
197. Dusky-footed Woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes)

Birds (non-passerines)
344. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
345. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
346. White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)

Birds (passerines)
347. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
348. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)
349. Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttallii)

Amphibians
17. California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii)

Invertebrates
04. California Swollen-stinger Scorpion (Anuroctonus pococki)

(+2 bats yet to be IDed)
 
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Najade said:
15.08.25 - Balconies Cave trail (195, 196, 344, 345, 347, 348), road to eastern entrance (349), High Peaks Trail (346), Bear Gulch Cave trail (197, 17), Bear Gulch parking area (04), Pinnacles NP, California, USA

Mammals
195. Merriam's Chipmunk (Neotamias merriami)
196. Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii)
197. Dusky-footed Woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes)

Birds (non-passerines)
344. California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus)
345. Nuttall's Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii)
346. White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis)

Birds (passerines)
347. Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus)
348. Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus)
349. Yellow-billed Magpie (Pica nuttallii)

Amphibians
17. California Red-legged Frog (Rana draytonii)

Invertebrates
04. California Swollen-stinger Scorpion (Anuroctonus pococki)

(+2 bats yet to be IDed)
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16.08.25 - Carrizo Plain NM (198-201, 350, 351), Petroleum Club Road (352), California, USA

Mammals
198. Long-tailed Weasel (Neogale frenata)
199. Nelson's Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
200. Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis)
201. Giant Kangaroo-rat (Dipodomys ingens)

Birds (non-passerines)
350. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Birds (passerines)
351. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
352. Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli)
 
Osedax said:
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)
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This one was seen on the whale watching trip a month ago, but I had left it unID'd as I wasn't quite sure what is was. After some research however, I am now confident enough to count it.

Birds
129. Cape Petrel (Daption capense)
 
amur leopard said:
A few additions from the last few days - some really nice species for me, especially the boobook, which is only my fourth owl ever. Hoping for Spotted wood owls soonish too. Overall, very happy though, two family lifers in there to boot.

Birds
137. Brown boobook, Ninox scutulata
138. Buffy fish owl, Ketupa ketupu
139. White throated kingfisher, Halycon smyrnensis
140. Coppersmith barbet, Psilopogon haemacephalus
141. Pied triller, Lalage nigra (fam lifer)
142. Common iora, Aegithina tiphia (fam lifer)

Reptiles
10. Oriental garden lizard, Calotes versicolor
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A few additions, been a little while since I've been birding properly! Had a hugely successful day for my standards yesterday, felt like it was raining eagles and owls. Very grateful to see some of these beautiful and in some cases very endangered species.

Was lucky enough to see grey headed fish eagle, stork billed kingfisher and white bellied sea eagle all fishing over the last two days. If any of the photos turned out well enough, will post! That plus a Draco lizard gliding, and water snakes and monitor lizards hunting...

Birds
143. Banded woodpecker, Chrysophlegma miniaceum
144. Black nest swiftlet, Aerodramus maximus
145. Grey rumped treeswift, Hemiprocne longipinnis
146. Rufous bellied eagle, Hieraaetus kienierii
147. Crested goshawk, Accipiter trivirgatus
148. Grey headed fish eagle, Icthyophaga icthyaetus
149. Collared scops owl, Otus lettia
150. Spotted wood owl, Strix seloputo
151. Monk parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus
152. Copper throated sunbird, Leptocoma calcostetha
153. Straw headed bulbul, Pycnonotus zeylanicus

Reptiles
11. Painted river terrapin, Batagur borneensis
12. Olive tree skink, Dasia olivacea
13. Dog faced water snake, Cerberus schneiderii

Amphibians
1. Guenther's frog, Sylvirana guentheri

Fishes
1. Stripe nosed halfbeak, Zenarchopterus buffonis
2. Spotted green pufferfish, Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
 
CMP said:
Nice, were you able to find a nest to identify them? Also, those are some great raptors and passerines
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I was told by another birder that they were this species, but they weren’t identified by me as I know it’s pretty much impossible without bird in hand. For me they’re just Swiftlet sp. so in retrospect probably better to remove.
 
ThylacineAlive said:
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
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ThylacineAlive said:
Somehow left this little fella off from PNP:

160. Oak Titmouse, Baeolophus inornatus

~Thylo
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ThylacineAlive said:
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
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You skipped over a whole section between posts, so should be on 173 I think?
 
amur leopard said:
I was told by another birder that they were this species, but they weren’t identified by me as I know it’s pretty much impossible without bird in hand. For me they’re just Swiftlet sp. so in retrospect probably better to remove.
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Ah, sorry my comment had you remove a species, I was curious if there was a site where they were confidently IDed.
 
CMP said:
Ah, sorry my comment had you remove a species, I was curious if there was a site where they were confidently IDed.
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These were at Singapore Quarry, I think I heard that on Sentosa there are specific areas where the swiftlets species is known but I don't really know otherwise. But to be honest didn't know how extreme the similarities were between species until after you replied, I just assumed he knew what he was talking about. I guess to guarantee to species level you'd have to visit a place with only one species of Aerodramus/Collocalia?
 
amur leopard said:
These were at Singapore Quarry, I think I heard that on Sentosa there are specific areas where the swiftlets species is known but I don't really know otherwise. But to be honest didn't know how extreme the similarities were between species until after you replied, I just assumed he knew what he was talking about. I guess to guarantee to species level you'd have to visit a place with only one species of Aerodramus/Collocalia?
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I believe either that or if there is an active nest visible, as I think they can be reliably identified from the nests (hence the names).
 
Najade said:
16.08.25 - Carrizo Plain NM (198-201, 350, 351), Petroleum Club Road (352), California, USA

Mammals
198. Long-tailed Weasel (Neogale frenata)
199. Nelson's Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
200. Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis)
201. Giant Kangaroo-rat (Dipodomys ingens)

Birds (non-passerines)
350. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Birds (passerines)
351. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
352. Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli)
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Wow over 200 mammals in a year. A feat seldom done on Zoochat (and probably in general).

I've been able to do it twice- in 2021 and 2023. I was also within 25 of hitting 200 in- 2019, 2022 and 2024 (only missed it by 5 that year!)

As far as zoochat history goes @LaughingDove just broke 200 in 2018 with 201. No one even cracked 100 mammals in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019* and 2020 (understandable), with @lintworm barely breaking 100 in 2017 with 101. In fact, 2013's total combined Big Year mammal list was only 219.

*Note my 2019 and 2020 Mammal Big Year totals were never added since I didn't know about the thread until 2021.
 
Najade said:
16.08.25 - Carrizo Plain NM (198-201, 350, 351), Petroleum Club Road (352), California, USA

Mammals
198. Long-tailed Weasel (Neogale frenata)
199. Nelson's Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus nelsoni)
200. Kit Fox (Vulpes macrotis)
201. Giant Kangaroo-rat (Dipodomys ingens)

Birds (non-passerines)
350. Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus)

Birds (passerines)
351. Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)
352. Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli)
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17.08.25 - Santa Cruz Island ferry (202, 353, 354), Scorpion Canyon Campgrounds (203, 355, 360, 361), Santa Clara River Estuary (356-359), California, USA

Mammals
202. Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus bairdii)
203. Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis)

Birds (non-passerines)
353. Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
354. Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
355. Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
356. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
357. Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
358. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
359. Semipalmeated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
359. Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)

Birds (passerines)
360. Island Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma insularis)
361. Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)
 
Najade said:
17.08.25 - Santa Cruz Island ferry (202, 353, 354), Scorpion Canyon Campgrounds (203, 355, 360, 361), Santa Clara River Estuary (356-359), California, USA

Mammals
202. Long-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus bairdii)
203. Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis)

Birds (non-passerines)
353. Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea)
354. Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)
355. Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
356. Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)
357. Black-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
358. Gadwall (Mareca strepera)
359. Semipalmeated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
359. Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii)

Birds (passerines)
360. Island Scrub-jay (Aphelocoma insularis)
361. Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)
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18.08.25 - Coachella Valley Preserve (204, 17), Andreas Canyon road (364, 365), Mt San Jacinto (205, 206, 366, 367), Vendel Road (362, 363), California, USA

Mammals
204. White-tailed Antelope Squirrel (Ammospermophilus leucurus)
205. Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus)
206. California Chipmunk (Neotamias obscurus)

Birds (non-passerines)
362. Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia)
363. Gambel's Quail (Callipepla gambelii)

Birds (passerines)
364. Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
365. Verdin (Auriparus flaviceps)
366. Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea)
367. White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Reptiles
17. Zebra-tailed Lizard (Callisaurus draconoides)
 
Giant Eland said:
Wow over 200 mammals in a year. A feat seldom done on Zoochat (and probably in general).

I've been able to do it twice- in 2021 and 2023. I was also within 25 of hitting 200 in- 2019, 2022 and 2024 (only missed it by 5 that year!)

As far as zoochat history goes @LaughingDove just broke 200 in 2018 with 201. No one even cracked 100 mammals in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019* and 2020 (understandable), with @lintworm barely breaking 100 in 2017 with 101. In fact, 2013's total combined Big Year mammal list was only 219.

*Note my 2019 and 2020 Mammal Big Year totals were never added since I didn't know about the thread until 2021.
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To be fair I took the easy way out with bats and squirrels.
 
Giant Eland said:
Wow over 200 mammals in a year. A feat seldom done on Zoochat (and probably in general).

I've been able to do it twice- in 2021 and 2023. I was also within 25 of hitting 200 in- 2019, 2022 and 2024 (only missed it by 5 that year!)

As far as zoochat history goes @LaughingDove just broke 200 in 2018 with 201. No one even cracked 100 mammals in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019* and 2020 (understandable), with @lintworm barely breaking 100 in 2017 with 101. In fact, 2013's total combined Big Year mammal list was only 219.

*Note my 2019 and 2020 Mammal Big Year totals were never added since I didn't know about the thread until 2021.
Click to expand...

In sum, it's been done by 3 different zoochatters across 4 years (2018, 2021, 2023 and 2025) since these threads began in 2013 (13 year span)
 
amur leopard said:
These were at Singapore Quarry, I think I heard that on Sentosa there are specific areas where the swiftlets species is known but I don't really know otherwise. But to be honest didn't know how extreme the similarities were between species until after you replied, I just assumed he knew what he was talking about. I guess to guarantee to species level you'd have to visit a place with only one species of Aerodramus/Collocalia?
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Aerodramus and Collocalia are relatively easy to tell apart (Collocalia species tend to be bigger, quite obviously blue/dark with a stark contrast between the white belly and back and also a slightly noticeable difference in wing shape) and as the only Collocalia species in Singapore is Plume-toed swiftlet, you should be able to tick that if you confidently think you've seen a Collocalia species.

The problem lies within Aerodramus indeed where species look very similar. There's a few differences mentioned in literature (tone, colour of the rump etc...) but they're very minimal and I've always personally chosen not to identify Aerodramus to species level unless I see them on the nest. Some people do tick them simply on aerial view however so it's to each their own.
 
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