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2018 Big Year
Topic Started: Dec 27 2017, 08:05 PM (7,785 Views)
Anton
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King of Cotingas

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If there's one thing that brings all of the TRT members together, it's the love of animals. For most members this probably means an interest in zoos and animals in captivity in general, but there are a lot of members interested in observing wild animals as well.

Those that do are probably familiar with the "big year" concept: keeping track of all animals you see within a single calendar year. This can be done within a certain region (which is how the idea and name came to existence, after birders aimed to see as many species within the USA in one single year), but because we have members from all over the world we decided world listing would be more interesting.

Basically, the idea is as follows; from the 1st of January until the 31st of December, everyone who participates keeps track of the animals they see and identify, and lists them all in the order of seeing them. Every time you see a new species, you add onto that list by posting a new post in this topic. At the end of the year you can then easily compile a total list of the animals you saw that year, and keep the memories of seeing those species forever!
Of course, we'll add a little extra competition by bringing pointies into the mix. You'll be rewarded in pointies for every few animals you see, and at the end of each month the person with the most new species will be given a silhouette!

Rules:
  • Number your lists. This way it's always easy to check how many species you've seen.
  • We keep track of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. If you choose to only list the groups that interest you most, that's fine! A lot of people generally don't bother counting invertebrates.
  • Keep different lists for different classes (except with fish and invertebrates, list all different fish classes together and all different invertebrate classes together for those). Separate the lists for birds, mammals, reptiles etc. from each other.
  • Highlight the species you see for the first time ("lifers") in bold. This makes for a more interesting overview, and makes the listing of species more rewarding as you can draw more attention to the species that are more special to you!
  • We only list species, not subspecies, to prevent taxonomical debates. However, if you see a different subspecies worth mentioning, it's always interesting to include that in your post (without numbering it and putting it on the list). Hybrid animals don't count either.
  • We only list species we've seen directly, not species we've only heard. Similarly to different subspecies, it's always interesting to add the heard-only species to your post without listing them!
  • We only list actual wild species, escaped exotic species don't count unless they've become self-established (like feral pigeons everywhere, ring-necked parakeets in Europe and common starlings in North America).
  • List common names and binominal names of all species you see. Common names differ immensely per bird checklist (Clements, IOC, etc.), so to keep things clear we ask this as a requirement.
  • You are welcome to join in after January, but people starting in another month will not be counted for the first month they enter. For example, if you join in March and immediately have a list of 50+ species when most of these were seen in January and February, it'd be unfair to others that already saw the majority of their species in January, when the competition for "new" species was a lot higher.
  • You do not have to provide photographic evidence, your word is your bond. We trust our members won't lie about seeing things they didn't just to get a higher score.

Prizes:
  • On the first day of every month starting February 1st, I will be giving an overview of how many species of each category people have seen in total. I will also calculate how many species everyone gained compared to the previous month.
  • For every species you gained compared to the previous month, you will receive 5 pointies for use in the pointies store.
  • The person with the most species gained that month will receive a pointies animal.

Extra:
  • The double-posting rule will be less strict here than it is in other areas of the forum (as it's possible that you see something new before someone else has), but keep it sensible. Try not to post list updates twice in the same day if you see or identify another species later, it's easier to just edit your previous post.
  • Have fun!
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Replies:
Orca Freak
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Killer Whales rule the World

Haven't seen anything new upon today
Word had reached us at work that a rare seal (rare for this part of the North Sea at least) was spotted at the beach of Koksijde
So my college and I took a field trip to have a look, and sure enough: a nice surprise was waiting for us c:
But why oh why does my phone-camera have to be broken xD

February 1st - 6th

Birds:
44. Sanderling - Calidris alba

Mammals:
6. Ringed Seal- Pusa hispida

Total list

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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Just dipped while looking for arguably one of the biggest (figurative, as they're quite small) bird finds in the Netherlands this year so far, a juvenile Ross' gull, but did see some other very nice birds while I was there.

BIRDS:
117) Black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa
118) Caspian gull, Larus cachinnans
119) Grey wagtail, Motacilla cinerea
120) Red-breasted merganser, Mergus serrator

Total


I also saw a beautiful Mediterranean gull again that wasn't shy at all and kept coming extremely closeby, so I got some excellent opportunities for photographs, like this one:

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And here's the red-breasted merganser, for good measure! :D

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Also, those are some REALLY good finds Wes and Orca Freak! I might have to try and find that seal tomorrow as well... :P
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Danny
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BIRDS
112 - Yellow-Tufted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops)

REPTILES
10 - White's Skink (Liopholis whitii)*
11 - Copper-Tailed Skink (Ctenotus taeniolatus)*

A day of lifers :) Getting a good list of herps this trip!
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Danny
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MAMMALS
12 - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)*

BIRDS
113 - Brown Falcon (Falco berigora)*
114 - Red-Rumped Parrot (Psephotus haematonotus)*
115 - Spotted Quail-Thrush (Cinclosoma punctatum)
116 - Brown Gerygone (Gerygone mouki)
117 - Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii)
118 - Great Egret (Ardea alba)
119 - Grey Currawong (Strepera versicolor)

REPTILES
12 - Lace Monitor (Varanus varius)
13 - Australian Water Dragon (Intellagama lesueurii)

Very good day today!
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cassynatorium
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~8 February~

finally some new species!

37- coal tit, periparus ater
38- long-tailed tit, aegithalos caudatus
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Had an excellent day of twitching and birding today! As happens quite often, the coast was full of rarities today. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find a surf scoter that had been seen yesterday, but I did find all other goals and quite some nice extras, too!

BIRDS:
121) Red-throated loon, Gavia stellata
122) Dusky warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus
123) Crested lark, Galerida cristata
124) Desert wheatear, Oenanthe deserti
125) Great Northern loon, Gavia immer
126) Black-necked grebe, Podiceps nigricollis

The desert wheatear and great northern loon are the same animals as the ones I saw at the end of last year, so that's why those aren't lifers though they are rare. :P

MAMMALS:
7) Grey seal, Halichoerus grypus

Total


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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Danny
Feb 8 2018, 06:02 AM
115 - Spotted Quail-Thrush
Not update (yet) but just wanted to say I'm jealous! :o (the other taxa are very nice too, especially the platypus but quail-thrushes are probably some of the coolest birds around)
Edited by Zoo Tycooner FR, Feb 8 2018, 02:33 PM.
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Danny
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Zoo Tycooner FR
Feb 8 2018, 02:33 PM
Danny
Feb 8 2018, 06:02 AM
115 - Spotted Quail-Thrush
Not update (yet) but just wanted to say I'm jealous! :o (the other taxa are very nice too, especially the platypus but quail-thrushes are probably some of the coolest birds around)
Yes I dropped into a national park on the way home right after seeing the goanna crossing the road in front of me. After a brief walk around I didn't see any goannas but spotted the quail thrush as I was heading out :) I must admit I didn't immediately recognise the bird and only got a short view as it escaped immediately after I got out of the car :P Fortunately I could identify it right after.

EDIT: Stopped off at one more wetland before arriving home today :) Overall, a very enjoyable trip and I'm glad I got enough time to do some bird-watching while travelling in addition to my research work with the skinks.

February 9, 2018
BIRDS
120 - Forest Raven (Corvus tasmanicus)
121 - Black-Fronted Dotterel (Elseyornis melanops)
122 - Golden-Headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)
123 - Rufous Whistler (Pachycephala rufiventris)
124 - Black-Shouldered Kite (Elanus axillaris)

I wasn't originally going to do fish, but after seeing so many carp leaping from the water, I decided to go back and identify a couple of fish I had seen :) The toadfish was seen in January.

January 20, 2018
FISH
1 - Smooth Toadfish (Tetractenos glaber)

February 8, 2018
FISH
2 - Southern Garfish (Hyporhamphus melanochir)
3 - Sand Grey Mullet (Myxus elongatus)
4 - Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio

February 10, 2018
FISH
5 - Brown Trout (Salmo trutta)*
6 - Short-Finned Eel (Anguilla australis)

Total
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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Zoo Tycooner FR
Feb 3 2018, 09:10 AM
2 species of swallow seen this year and it's not even spring, this is so precocious!

16 - Common house martin, Delichon urbicum urbicum
Had planned to go birding but as usual, things didn't happen as planned so instead I went to a basketball session and on road I saw this cutie which is not a lifer but quite rare here nonetheless

17 - Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

Frustratingly, I also saw my first lark inside the city (they very common in rural areas but not in the city) but we were driving too fast to identify it.
Edited by Zoo Tycooner FR, Feb 10 2018, 08:46 AM.
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Danny
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Figured I'd just share a few of the mammal shots I got while I was away.
Our house was surrounded by red-necked wallabies and eastern grey kangaroos :)

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Zoo Tycooner FR
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#Lithopédion

Zoo Tycooner FR
Feb 10 2018, 08:45 AM
Had planned to go birding but as usual, things didn't happen as planned so instead I went to a basketball session and on road I saw this cutie which is not a lifer but quite rare here nonetheless

17 - Stonechat, Saxicola rubicola

Frustratingly, I also saw my first lark inside the city (they very common in rural areas but not in the city) but we were driving too fast to identify it.
Well guess what, first birding session of the season and probably one of the best I've ever had (not for the number of species I've seen but for the whole experience and some of the species)! :D

18 - Crested lark, Galerida cristata
19 - Southern gray shrike, Lanius meridionalis
20 - Spanish sparrow, Passer hispaniolensis
21 - Thekla lark, Galerida theklae
22 - European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur
23 - Sardinian warbler, Sylvia melanocephala
24 - Maghreb long-legged buzzard, Buteo rufinus cirtensis
25 - Western olivaceous warbler, Iduna opaca
26 - Black-winged kite, Elanus caeruleus
27 - Moussier's redstart, Phoenicurus moussieri

Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with me because I don't know where the charger is and it is completely discharged; it is even more frustrating when you consider the fact raptors are rare in Morocco (because of poisoning mainly) and that these 2 species were very close to me (both were looking to steal chicks from the farmers in the are)!

The Black-winged kite and the Western olivaceous warbler are uncommon, the Maghreb long-legged buzzard is rare and the Spanish sparrow, although supposed to be found here, is one of the species that keeps on eluding me so I consider it to be a nice addition (although not a lifer). All in all, a very good day! :)
Edited by Zoo Tycooner FR, Feb 11 2018, 10:51 AM.
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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Went looking for another very rare species in the Netherlands again, and actually found it this time! Before a visit to Burgers' Zoo with Kevin today we went to Arnhem's port to find a really nice finch!

BIRDS:
127) Arctic redpoll, Acanthis hornemanni

MAMMALS:
8) House mouse, Mus musculus

Total


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Fireplume
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Snok Snok Snerson

Birds
91. House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)
92. Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)
93. Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
94. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)
95. Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)
96. Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Total List




Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

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Greenwing Teal (Anas carolinensis)

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Anton
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King of Cotingas

Finally managed to find that penduline tit! Saw two female bullfinches as well, and heard a water rail which I unfortunately couldn't find among the reeds.

BIRDS:
128) Eurasian penduline tit, Remiz pendulinus
129) Eurasian bullfinch, Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Total


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A grey heron flew by, as well!

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Keniafan
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So after a few days not being active I've still seen some nice species to add to the collection for this February!

91) Short-toed treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla)
92) Eurasian teal (Anas crecca)
93) Caspian gull (Larus cachinnans)
94) Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
95) Hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes)
96) Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
97) Smew (Mergellus albellus)
98) Western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
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