Zoochat Big Year 2025

I'm off overseas on business, taking advantage of any time I have for wildlife watching. First stop is London, and as I am staying across the river near Earl's Court, I spent a morning at the London Wetland Centre. There is always a competition as to whether the first bird seen in London is a magpie or rose-ringed parrot. This year the magpie won.

Birds
20 species seen
274. Mute swan Cygnus olor
275, Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope
276. Gadwall Mareca strepera
277. Rock dove Columba livia (introduced)
278. European wood pigeon Columba palumbus
279. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
280. European herring gull Larus argentatus
281. European common gull Larus canus
282. European green woodpecker Picus viridis
283. Rose-winged parrot Psittacula krameri
284. Western jackdaw Coloeus monedula
285, Carrion crow Corvus corone
286. Eurasian magpie Pica pica

Next stop is Chicago, where I spent the weekend with friends. We visited the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, which is a former missile base, on as small peninsula that stick out into the lake. It is famous for migratory warblers.

Birds
19 species seen
287, Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus
288, Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris
289, Common sanderling Calidris alba
290. Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis
291. American herring gull Larus smithsonianus
292. Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus
293 Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus
294 Field sparrow Spizella pusilla
295.Nashville warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
296.Northern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
297. American robin Turdus migratorius

And a couple of sightings in my friend's backyard.

Mammal
30. Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus

Bird
298, Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

The next few days will be solid work, with any sightings unlikely.
 
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MRJ said:
I'm off overseas on business, taking advantage of any time I have for wildlife watching. First stop is London, and as I am staying across the river near Earl's Court, I spent a morning at the London Wetland Centre. There is always a competition as to whether the first bird seen in London is a magpie or rose-ringed parrot. This year the magpie won.

Birds
20 species seen
274. Mute swan Cygnus olor
275, Eurasian wigeon Mareca penelope
276. Gadwall Mareca strepera
277. Rock dove Columba livia (introduced)
278. European wood pigeon Columba palumbus
279. Great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
280. European herring gull Larus argentatus
281. European common gull Larus canus
282. European green woodpecker Picus viridis
283. Rose-winged parrot Psittacula krameri
284. Western jackdaw Coloeus monedula
285, Carrion crow Corvus corone
286. Eurasian magpie Pica pica

Next stop is Chicago, where I spent the weekend with friends. We visited the Montrose Bird Sanctury, which is a former missile base, on as small peninsula that stick out into the lake. It is famous for migratory warblers.

Birds
19 species seen
287, Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus
288, Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris
289, Common sanderling Calidris alba
290. Ring-billed gull Larus delawarensis
291. American herring gull Larus smithsonianus
292. Broad-winged hawk Buteo platypterus
293 Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus
294 Field sparrow Spizella pusilla
295.Nashville warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla
296.Northern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
297. American robin Turdus migratorius

And a couple of sightings in my friend's backyard.

Mammal
30. Eastern chipmunk Tamias striatus

Bird
298, Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

The next few days will be solid work, with any sightings unlikely.
Click to expand...
Where did you manage to see a bobwhite in Chicago?
 
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birdsandbats said:
Where did you manage to see a bobwhite in Chicago?
Click to expand...
At Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, There is a small artificial stream next to the path at one point. I noted two medium quails scurry into the undergrowth. Bobwhite is the only quail on the Ebird checklist for the site and within range so I assumed that was it.

However when you questioned it I checked the bar charts and indeed sightings are very rare.there. I’m confident it was a quail, on the other hand I normally operate on the presumption that I am unlikely to see the rarity. So now I am in a quandary and am happy to entertain alternatives.
 
MRJ said:
At Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, There is a small artificial stream next to the path at one point. I noted two medium quails scurry into the undergrowth. Bobwhite is the only quail on the Ebird checklist for the site and within range so I assumed that was it.

However when you questioned it I checked the bar charts and indeed sightings are very rare.there. I’m confident it was a quail, on the other hand I normally operate on the presumption that I am unlikely to see the rarity. So now I am in a quandary and am happy to entertain alternatives.
Click to expand...
If you saw any quail there, even a bobwhite, it would have been a released bird. Are you sure it wasn't something like a rail?
 
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MRJ said:
At Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, There is a small artificial stream next to the path at one point. I noted two medium quails scurry into the undergrowth. Bobwhite is the only quail on the Ebird checklist for the site and within range so I assumed that was it.

However when you questioned it I checked the bar charts and indeed sightings are very rare.there. I’m confident it was a quail, on the other hand I normally operate on the presumption that I am unlikely to see the rarity. So now I am in a quandary and am happy to entertain alternatives.
Click to expand...
Funnily enough, before this year, Broad-winged Hawk was somehow nearly just as rare at Montrose point- although there have definitely been sightings of them at the site in the past few days.

Not sure what you saw, but Bobwhite, or any other similar bird (except perhaps a rail like @birdsandbats mentioned), are very rare in the Chicago area, especially so at Montrose. This would be a released bird pair.

If you want to see Bobwhite they are quite common at certain spots further downstate.
 
Was fun to find I had got a Willow tit in the lens at Lakenheath Fen. It's been a really good small bird year. Was also good to find more butterflies and dragonflies alongside the paths in an otherwise fairly quiet reserve.

Birds

113. Willow tit, Poecile montanus, 16/08/2025, RSPB Lakenheath Fen

Other

21. Meadow Brown, Maniola jurtina, 16/08/2025, RSPB Lakenheath Fen
22. Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum, 16/08/2025, RSPB Lakenheath Fen
 
Chlidonias said:
One more:

466) Whitehead Mohoua albicilla
Click to expand...

First birds and mammals from my Australia trip, these ones all from Victoria (mainly Melbourne). Details can be found in my trip thread here: Chlidonias presents: Bustralia



BIRDS:

467) Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
468) Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
469) Little Raven Corvus mellori
470) Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
471) Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
472) Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
473) Straw-necked Ibis Threskiornis spinicollis
474) Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
475) Chestnut Teal Anas castanea
476) Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
477) Australian Black Duck Anas superciliosa
478) Pied Currawong Strepera graculina
479) Australasian Gannet Morus serrator
480) Little Corella Cacatua sanguinea
481) Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
482) Brown Thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
483) New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae
484) Pacific Gull Larus pacificus
485) Australian Pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
486) Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
487) Nankeen Kestrel Falco cenchroides
488) Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
489) Hoary-headed Grebe Poliocephalus poliocephalus
490) Australian Little Blue Penguin Eudyptula novaehollandiae
491) Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
492) Gang-Gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum
493) Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
494) Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
495) Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna
496) Australian Grey Fantail Rhipidura albiscapa
497) Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus punctatus
498) White-plumed Honeyeater Ptilotula penicillatus
499) Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys
500) Golden Whistler Pachycephala pectoralis
501) White-browed Scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
502) Australian King Parrot Alisterus scapularis
503) Grey Currawong Strepera versicolor
504) Common Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
505) Scaly-breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
506) Superb Fairy-Wren Malurus cyaneus
507) Common Bronzewing Pigeon Phaps chalcoptera
508) White-winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
509) Striated Pardalote Pardalotus striatus
510) Australian Shelduck Tadorna tadornoides
511) Willy Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys


MAMMALS:

48) Common Brush-tailed Possum Trichosurus vulpecula
49) Eastern Grey Kangaroo Macropus giganteus
50) Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus
51) Australian Water Rat Hydromys chrysogaster
52) Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
 
Birds
142 Montagu’s Harrier Circus pygargus
143 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Mammals
8 Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus

A visit to Marshside resulted in the two Birds of Prey; the harrier was exceptionally distant but clearly smaller and slighter than the surrounding Marsh Harriers; just enough for a year tick!
The hedgehog was at Bispham Hall Scout Centre, scuttling across the road as we were leaving.
 
birdsandbats said:
If you saw any quail there, even a bobwhite, it would have been a released bird. Are you sure it wasn't something like a rail?
Click to expand...
CMP said:
Funnily enough, before this year, Broad-winged Hawk was somehow nearly just as rare at Montrose point- although there have definitely been sightings of them at the site in the past few days.

Not sure what you saw, but Bobwhite, or any other similar bird (except perhaps a rail like @birdsandbats mentioned), are very rare in the Chicago area, especially so at Montrose. This would be a released bird pair.

If you want to see Bobwhite they are quite common at certain spots further downstate.
Click to expand...
Obviously, if I did see a quail, it was not part of a wild population so am removing it. Second time in a month that an app map has bamboozled me. Don't think it was a rail, wrong body shape.

Saw this outside my hotel in Denver:

297. Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus

A couple of species missed from my visit to London Wetlands

Birds
298. Eurasian blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus
299. Great tit Parus major
Invertebrates
22. Common European yellowjacket Vespula vulgaris
23. Small white Pieris rapae
24. Migrant hawker Aeshna mixta
25. Common darter Sympetrum striolatum
 
Seen in the grounds of my hotel in San Diego:
(7 seen)
300. Anna's hummingbird Calypte anna
301. Northern raven Corvus corax
302. Berwick's wren Thryomanes bewickii
 
DaLilFishie said:
forgot this too
BIRDS
229 - Plumed Egret Ardea plumifera
Click to expand...
BIRDS
230 - Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata
231 - Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
232 - Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
233 - Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
234 - Pacific Emerald Dove Chalcophaps longirostris
235 - Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura
236 - Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula

HERPS
23 - Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle Myuchelys latisternum
 
CarnotaurusSastrei said:
Birds
96. Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina)
97. Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

Reptiles
3. Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Invertebrates
17. Red-Spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis)

Totals: 97 Birds, 14 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 17 Invertebrates (138 Total)
Click to expand...

Birds
98. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
99. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
100. Bay-Breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
101. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
102. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
103. Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (minor sidenote, I believe this is the 200th species I've added to my eBird life list)
104. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
105. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
106. Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Invertebrates
18. Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Totals: 106 Birds, 14 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 18 Invertebrates (148 Total)
New Life List Entries: 44 Birds, 6 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 3 Fishes, 12 Invertebrates (66 Total)
 
CarnotaurusSastrei said:
Birds
98. Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)
99. Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)
100. Bay-Breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)
101. Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)
102. Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)
103. Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (minor sidenote, I believe this is the 200th species I've added to my eBird life list)
104. Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus)
105. Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
106. Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)

Invertebrates
18. Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Totals: 106 Birds, 14 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 18 Invertebrates (148 Total)
New Life List Entries: 44 Birds, 6 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 3 Fishes, 12 Invertebrates (66 Total)
Click to expand...
107. Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata)

Totals: 107 Birds, 14 Mammals, 3 Reptiles, 2 Amphibians, 5 Fishes, 18 Invertebrates (149 Total)
New Life List Entries: 45 Birds, 6 Mammals, 1 Reptile, 3 Fishes, 12 Invertebrates (67 Total)
 
A fun late afternoon at Farmoor Reservoir where I got to spend a bit of time up close with a flock of Snow Geese. This breeding group of ferals, resident in Oxfordshire, contains a large number of birds (more than 70 were present on the shoreline and there were more in the water). They were resting on the far side of the stage 2 part of the reservoir and as no one was around I got to sit on the edge close to them for a while, until a jogger came past and they flew off.

I believe all the Snow Geese I have seen over time have been feral, but usually it's been single birds. To see a large group with both morphs and this seasons Goslings (I counted 8) up close was a lot of fun.

114. Snow Goose, Anser caerulescens, 13/09/2025, Farmoor Reservoir
 
DaLilFishie said:
BIRDS
230 - Yellow-spotted Honeyeater Meliphaga notata
231 - Large-billed Gerygone Gerygone magnirostris
232 - Shining Flycatcher Myiagra alecto
233 - Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
234 - Pacific Emerald Dove Chalcophaps longirostris
235 - Dusky Honeyeater Myzomela obscura
236 - Leaden Flycatcher Myiagra rubecula

HERPS
23 - Eastern Saw-shelled Turtle Myuchelys latisternum
Click to expand...
INVERTS
128 - Evening Brown Melanitis leda
 
akasha said:
Mammals:

7. Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)
8. House Cat (Felis catus)
9. Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
10. Common Wallaroo (Osphranter robustus)

Birds:

86. Australian Boobook
87. Buff-rumped Thornbill
88. Scarlet Robin

Reptiles:

1. Delicate Garden Skink (Lampropholis delicata)

Invertebrates:

13. Blue Banded Bee (Amegilla cingulata)
14. Snail Parasitic Blowfly (Amenia imperialis)
Click to expand...

Mammals:

11. Rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster)
12. Feral Goat (Capra hircus)
13. Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Birds:

89. Straw-necked Ibis
90. Nankeen Kestrel
91. Pied Butcherbird
92. Yellow-rumped Thornbill
93. Little Raven
94. Double-barred Finch
95. Masked Lapwing
96. Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater
97. Little Friarbird
98. White-naped Honeyeater
99. Blue-billed Duck
100. Musk Duck
101. Great Crested Grebe
102. Silverye
103. Fairy Martin
104. Dusky Woodswallow
105. Restless Flycatcher
106. Freckled Duck
107. Pink-eared Duck
108. Black-shouldered Kite
109. Whistling Kite
110. Cockatiel
111. Brown Treecreeper
112. Western Gerygone
113. White-browed Babbler
114. Stubble Quail

Reptiles:

2. Shingleback (Tiliqua rugosa)
3. Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)
4. Eastern Short-necked Turtle (Emydura macquarii)
5. Eastern Snake-necked Turtle (Chelodina longicollis)
6. Tree Skink (Egernia striolata)
7. Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata)

Invertebrates:

15. Little Marbled Scorpion (Lychas marmoreus)
16. Black Rock Scorpion (Urodacus manicatus)
 
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