Animal Log of your native fauna

[bmathison1972]

Birded up City Creek Canyon today. The two most interesting records were the Lewis's Woodpecker (rare vagrant here) and Hermit Thrush (my first personal Utah record).

https://ebird.org/checklist/S154315510

[Isidro]

I rarely write here but today, coming back from work I got an EXTREMELY EXCITING sight!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first HEDGEHOG of my life!!!! I saw previously a drowned one, captive ones, roadkilled ones, taxidermied ones, but never one alive in the wild until now!

[AnimalToyForum]

I rarely write here but today, coming back from work I got an EXTREMELY EXCITING sight!!!!!!!!!!!!! The first HEDGEHOG of my life!!!! I saw previously a drowned one, captive ones, roadkilled ones, taxidermied ones, but never one alive in the wild until now!

Fantastic! One night at about 11:30pm I heard some snorting sounds coming from the back garden here in Nottingham. I looked out of the window with a torch and directly below on the patio were two hedgehogs engaged in some sort of mating ritual. One, the male maybe, was walking around the other again and again, snorting and grunting. I guess this is where they got the 'hog' part of the name from. I watched them for about half an hour, curious little creatures! I've never seen any hedgehogs since but I sometimes find their droppings so I think they are still around, living in the hedgerows at the bottom of the garden behind the garden room.

Foxes are also regular visitors to our garden, but we hear them more than we see them

[bmathison1972]

Got a lifer today in Cassin's Finch

https://ebird.org/checklist/S155261743

[bmathison1972]

Hepatic Tanager in Utah! First formal record of the species in the state!!! It's been here for nearly a week, but I picked it up yesterday. Not a lifer, as I got it in Arizona back in April of this year, but a very rare vagrant here, that's for sure:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S155816699

[bmathison1972]

I had to speak at a meeting in Philadelphia on Friday and stayed the weekend so a birding friend can take me on some marathon birding up and down the NJ and DE coasts and wetland areas!

Ended up with 95 species and 22 lifers (two of the 'lifers' on the list are ebird lifers but not personal lifers).

https://ebird.org/tripreport/177920

[bmathison1972]

Been on vacation this last week and spend a good chunk of it birding locally. Here is my report for the week!

https://ebird.org/tripreport/189392

[Isidro]

This is a resume of the species I've seen in the wild during 2023. In bold, lifers.

-Abia aenea.
-Acanthodactylus erythrurus.
-Achyra nudalis.
-Acinopus picipes.
-Acmaeodera pulchra.
-Acmaeoderella adspersula.
-Acmaeoderella lanuginosa.
-Aconophora compressa.
-Acontia lucida.
-Acrida ungarica.
-Acrocephalus scirpaceus.
-Acrotylus insubricus.
-Actinia equina.
-Aculepeira armida.
-Adalia bipunctata.
-Adelphocoris lineolatus.
-Aedes albopictus.
-Aegithalos caudatus.
-Aelia germari.
-Aetalion pictum.
-Aetalion reticulatum.
-Agalenatea redii.
-Agalmatium flavescens.
-Agapanthia asphodeli.
-Agapanthia cardui.
-Agapanthia dahli.
-Agdistis meridionalis.
-Aglais urticae.
-Agraulis vanillae.
-Agriphila straminella.
-Aiolopus strepens.
-Akis genei.
-Albarracina warionis.
-Alburnus alburnus.
-Alcedo atthis.
-Allograpta neotropica.
-Alopecosa cuneata.
-Altica lythri.
-Altinote negra.
-Amblypsilopus medianus.
-Amegilla quadrifasciata.
-Ameles assoi.
-Anacridium aegyptium.
-Anadenobolus monilicornis.
-Anas bahamensis.
-Anas platyrhynchos.
-Anax parthenope.
-Ancistrosoma klugii.
-Andrena agilissima.
-Anisakis simplex.
-Anisoplia baetica.
-Anobium punctatum.
-Anogcodes seladonius.
-Anstenoptilia marmarodactyla.
-Anthaxia dimidiata.
-Anthaxia hypomelaena.
-Anthaxia lencinai.
-Anthaxia millefolii.
-Anthelephila pedestris.
-Anthidium florentinum.
-Anthomyia albovittata.
-Anthomyia illocata.
-Anthomyia lindigii.
-Anthophila fabriciana.
-Anthrax anthrax.
-Anthrenus pimpinellae.
-Anthrenus verbasci.
-Antigastra catalaunalis.
-Aphaenogaster senilis.
-Aphanus rolandri.
-Aphis nerii.
-Apion frumentarium.
-Apis mellifera.
-Apolygus spinolae.
-Aporodes floralis.
-Apus apus.
-Araneus diadematus.
-Araneus granadensis.
-Araneus horizonte.
-Archaeopsylla erinacei.
-Ardea alba.
-Ardea cinerea.
-Argiope argentata.
-Arhopalus ferus.
-Arion ater.
-Arion subfuscus.
-Armadillidium vulgare.
-Armadillo officinalis.
-Arocatus melanocephalus.
-Ascia monuste.
-Asterias rubens.
-Astylus pallipes.
-Atlantoraphidia maculicollis.
-Attagenus trifasciatus.
-Atyaephyra desmaresti.
-Auchenocrepis minutissima.
-Aulonogyrus striatus.
-Aurelia aurita.
-Autographa gamma.
-Aythya fuligula.
-Belonochilus numenius.
-Biblis hyperia.
-Blatta orientalis.
-Bolbonota corrugata.
-Bombus bohemicus.
-Bombus hypnorum.
-Bombus lapidarius.
-Bombus lucorum.
-Bombus pascuorum.
-Bombus pratorum.
-Bombus terrestris.
-Borogonalia impressifrons.
-Bos taurus.
-Brachodes nanetta.
-Brachycarenus tigrinus.
-Brachycoleus triangularis.
-Brachynema germarii.
-Brachynotocoris puncticornis.
-Bruchidius meleagrinus.
-Bubulcus ibis.
-Bufo calamita.
-Burhinus oedicnemus.
-Cacoecimorpha pronubana.
-Cacyreus marshalli.
-Cairina moschata.
-Calcisuccinea costarricana.
-Calliphora vicina.
-Calliphora vomitoria.
-Calliptamus barbarus.
-Callipteroma sexguttata.
-Calomicrus circumfusus.
-Calopteryx xanthostoma.
-Camponotus truncatus.
-Campsomeris ephippium.
-Camptogramma bilineata.
-Camptostoma obsoletum.
-Campyloneura virgula.
-Cantharis livida.
-Caparinia tripilis.
-Carcharodus alceae.
-Carcinus maenas.
-Cardioscarta flavifrons.
-Carduelis carduelis.
-Carduelis chloris.
-Carduelis psaltria.
-Carduelis spinus.
-Carpocoris fuscispinus.
-Castilia castilla.
-Cataglyphis iberica.
-Catasticta flisa.
-Catasticta semiramis.
-Celastrina argiolus.
-Celypha siderana.
-Centrocoris variegatus.
-Cepaea nemoralis.
-Cerceris sabulosa.
-Cercopis intermedia.
-Ceriana vespiformis.
-Ceroxys urticae.
-Certallum ebulinum.
-Cetonia carthami.
-Cettia cetti.
-Chaitophorus populeti.
-Chauliognathus cinguliventris.
-Chauliognathus nigrimembris.
-Cheiracanthium mildei.
-Chelifer cancroides.
-Chlorogonalia ultima.
-Choreutis nemorana.
-Choroterpes picteti.
-Chorthippus apicalis.
-Chrysocale splendens.
-Chrysodeixis chalcites.
-Chrysolina americana.
-Chrysolina haemoptera.
-Chrysomyia albiceps.
-Chrysoperla carnea.
-Ciconia ciconia.
-Cixius cunicularius.
-Clausilia bidentata.
-Clogmia albipunctata.
-Clusiodes ruficollis.
-Coccinella septempunctata.
-Cochlicella barbara.
-Coenosia humilis.
-Coenosia tigrina.
-Colias crocea.
-Colias dimera.
-Colibri coruscans.
-Colotes maculatus.
-Columba livia.
-Columba palumbus.
-Columbina cruziana.
-Conirostrum cinereum.
-Conocephalus equatorialis.
-Copestylum vagum.
-Coragyps atratus.
-Coreus marginatus.
-Corizus hyoscyami.
-Cornu aspersum.
-Corvus corax.
-Corvus corone.
-Corvus monedula.
-Corythucha ciliata.
-Crematogaster auberti.
-Crematogaster scutellaris.
-Creoleon lugdunensis.
-Crioceris asparagi.
-Crioceris paracenthesis.
-Crocistethus waltlianus.
-Crocothemis erythraea.
-Cryphia muralis.
-Cryptopalpus ornatus.
-Ctenolabrus rupestris.
-Ctenolepisma longicaudata.
-Culiseta longiareolata.
-Cyanea capillata.
-Cycloneda sanguinea.
-Cydia inquinatana.
-Cygnus olor.
-Cylindroiulus punctatus.
-Cyprinus carpio.
-Dalla agathocles.
-Dalla carnis.
-Danaus plexippus.
-Dasysyrphus albostriatus.
-Dasysyrphus tricinctus.
-Delia platura.
-Delichon urbica.
-Delta unguiculatum.
-Deraeocoris cordiger.
-Deraeocoris ruber.
-Deroceras reticulatum.
-Dexiosoma caninum.
-Diabrotica decempunctata.
-Dictyla nassata.
-Diglossa cyanea.
-Diglossa humeralis.
-Dinocampus coccinellae.
-Dione glycera.
-Dione juno.
-Dioprosopa clavata.
-Diplazon laetatorius.
-Discus rotundatus.
-Dismorphia nemesis.
-Dixus capito.
-Dociostaurus genei.
-Dociostaurus jagoi.
-Drepanosiphum platanoidis.
-Dryomyza anilis.
-Duilius seticulosus.
-Dyroderes umbraculatus.
-Dysdercus bloetei.
-Ectomyelois ceratoniae.
-Egretta garzetta.
-Embia ramburi.
-Empis mediterranea.
-Empusa pennata.
-Enallagma cyathigerum.
-Endomychus coccineus.
-Ennya ecuadorensis.
-Ennya sobria.
-Enolmis userai.
-Enoplognatha mandibularis.
-Enoplognatha ovata.
-Ensifera ensifera.
-Entomobrya atrocincta.
-Entypus unifasciatus.
-Eobania vermiculata.
-Epilachna argus.
-Episyrphus balteatus.
-Erinaceus europaeus.
-Eriocnemis vestita.
-Eristalinus aeneus.
-Eristalinus taeniops.
-Eristalis arbustorum.
-Eristalis tenax.
-Erithacus rubecula.
-Erythrodiplax ines.
-Esphalmenus camposi.
-Euaresta bullans.
-Euborellia moesta.
-Eucereon costulata.
-Euchloe crameri.
-Euchorthippus pulvinatus.
-Euchromius cambridgei.
-Euchromius rayatellus.
-Eudonia angustea.
-Eudonia lacustrata.
-Euglossa flammea.
-Eupeodes corollae.
-Eurema xanthochlora.
-Euryopis episinoides.
-Euthycera cribata.
-Euxesta obliquestriata.
-Evacanthus interruptus.
-Evania appendigaster.
-Evarcha arcuata.
-Evergestis marionalis.
-Exosoma lusitanicum.
-Eyprepocnemis plorans.
-Falco peregrinus.
-Falco sparverius.
-Falco tinnunculus.
-Feigeria caligula.
-Felis catus.
-Ficedula hypoleuca.
-Ficocyba ficaria.
-Flustrellidra hispida.
-Forficula auricularia.
-Fringilla coelebs.
-Fumea casta.
-Galerida cristata.
-Gallinula chloropus.
-Gallus gallus.
-Gambusia holbrooki.
-Gammarus locusta.
-Gammarus pulex.
-Gasteracantha cancriformis.
-Gavia stellata.
-Geckobia latastei.
-Geocoris lineola.
-Girardia festae.
-Glycaspis brimblecombei.
-Gonepteryx rhamni.
-Gonioctena variabilis.
-Gonocephalum granulatum.
-Graphosoma lineatum.
-Graphosoma semipunctatum.
-Grus grus.
-Gryllus assimilis.
-Gryllus bimaculatus.
-Gymnoscelis rufifasciata.
-Hadula trifolii.
-Haematopota pluvialis.
-Haematopus ostralegus.
-Halictus scabiosae.
-Harmonia axyridis.
-Harmonia quadripunctata.
-Heliconius melpomene.
-Helicoverpa armigera.
-Hellula undalis.
-Hemerobius bolivari.
-Hemiargus ramon.
-Hemipenthes velutina.
-Henricia sanguinolenta.
-Hermetia illucens.
-Heterogaster urticae.
-Hieraaetus pennatus.
-Himantarium mediterraneum.
-Hipparchia semele.
-Hippodamia variegata.
-Hippotion celerio.
-Hirundo rustica.
-Hoffmannophila pseudospretella.
-Holcocranum saturejae.
-Holocnemus hispanicus.
-Holotrichapion pisi.
-Homo sapiens.
-Homotoma ficus.
-Hoplia chlorophana.
-Horvathiolus syriacus.
-Hyalopterus pruni.
-Hybos culiciformis.
-Hypena lividalis.
-Hypera variabilis.
-Hysteropterum reticulatum.
-Icerya purchasi.
-Icius hamatus.
-Idaea laevigata.
-Idaea ochrata.
-Idaea sericeata.
-Iphiclides feisthamelii.
-Ischnura graellsii.
-Jivarus ecuadoricus.
-Julus scandinavius.
-Kalotermes flavicollis.
-Kyphiacris andeana.
-Labrus mixtus.
-Lachnaia pubescens.
-Lachnaia tristigma.
-Lampides boeticus.
-Larinus cynarae.
-Larus argentatus.
-Larus cachinnans.
-Larus canus.
-Larus fuscus.
-Larus ridibundus.
-Lasiocampa trifolii.
-Lathys humilis.
-Lehmannia valentiana.
-Lejops mexicanus.
-Lepidargyrus ancorifer.
-Lepisma saccharina.
-Leptogaster cylindrica.
-Leptoglossus zonatus.
-Leptophobia aripa.
-Leptophobia eleone.
-Leptophobia eleusis.
-Leptotes pirithous.
-Lesbia nuna.
-Lesbia victoriae.
-Lestes viridis
-Leucauge mariana.
-Leucozona glaucia.
-Ligia oceanica.
-Limax maximus.
-Liorhyssus hyalinus.
-Liparoderus venator.
-Lissonota coracina.
-Littorina littoralis.
-Loboptera canariensis.
-Locusta migratoria.
-Loxosceles rufescens.
-Loxostege sticticalis.
-Lucilia sericata.
-Luscinia megarhynchos.
-Lycaena phlaeas.
-Lycosa tarantula.
-Macaria aestimaria.
-Macroglossum stellatarum.
-Macrosiphum edrossi.
-Macrosiphum rosae.
-Malvaevora timida.
-Mangora acalypha.
-Mecocerculus leucophrys.
-Megabruchidius tonkineus.
-Megachile centuncularis.
-Melanaphis donacis.
-Melanchroia aterea.
-Melyris oblonga.
-Membranipora membranacea.
-Menemerus bivittatus.
-Menemerus semilimbatus.
-Merops apiaster.
-Messor barbarus.
-Metallura tyrianthina.
-Metcalfiella jaramillorum.
-Mexigonus minutus.
-Microdaiphron implicitus.
-Micropterus salmoides.
-Milax gagates.
-Milvus migrans.
-Milvus milvus.
-Molothrus bonariensis.
-Monopis crocicapitella.
-Monoxia obesula.
-Motacilla alba.
-Motacilla cinerea.
-Mus musculus.
-Musca domestica.
-Myathropa florea.
-Mychonia violacea.
-Mycophaga testacea.
-Myiopsitta monachus.
-Myrtis fanny.
-Mythimna unipuncta.
-Mytilus edulis.
-Nabis viridulus.
-Necrodes littoralis.
-Neda norrisi.
-Neoponera aenescens.
-Neoscona nautica.
-Nephodinus villiger.
-Nephrotoma appendiculata.
-Nephrotoma ferruginea.
-Noctua comes.
-Noctua pronuba.
-Nomioides minutissimus.
-Nomisia aussereri.
-Nomophila noctuella.
-Notiochelidon cyanoleuca.
-Nyctelius nyctelius.
-Nycticorax nycticorax.
-Nyctophila reichii.
-Odontosciara nigra.
-Oecobius navus.
-Oedemera flavipes.
-Oedemera lurida.
-Oedemera simplex.
-Oedipoda caerulescens.
-Oenopia conglobata.
-Oiketicus kirbyi.
-Ommatoiulus rutilans.
-Oniscus asellus.
-Opomyza germinationis.
-Opsius stactogalus.
-Orchesella cincta.
-Oriolus oriolus.
-Orphilus niger.
-Orthetrum cancellatum.
-Oryctes nasicornis.
-Oryctolagus cuniculus.
-Osmia cornuta.
-Otala punctata.
-Otiorhynchus singularis.
-Otiorhynchus sulcatus.
-Otus scops.
-Oxyallagma dissidens.
-Oxycarenus lavaterae.
-Oxyopes heterophthalmus.
-Oxysarcodexia varia.
-Oxythyrea funesta.
-Paederus fuscipes.
-Palepicorsia ustrinalis.
-Palpada mexicana.
-Palpita vitrealis.
-Pangaeus bilineatus.
-Pantherodes conglomerata.
-Pantherodes pardalaria.
-Panyapedaliodes drymaea.
-Papilio machaon.
-Papilio thoas.
-Paracinema tricolor.
-Paragus quadrifasciatus.
-Parapedaliodes parepa.
-Pararge aegeria.
-Paratettix meridionalis.
-Parus caeruleus.
-Parus major.
-Passer domesticus.
-Passer montanus.
-Patella vulgata.
-Pedaliodes phaea.
-Peirates stridulus.
-Pemphredon lethifer.
-Penelope montagnii.
-Pepsis grossa.
-Perichares adela.
-Periplaneta australasiae.
-Perisama humboldtii.
-Perizoma taeniata.
-Petrobius brevistylis.
-Phaedon semimarginatus.
-Phaiogramma etruscaria.
-Phalacrocorax carbo.
-Phalaenophana pyramusalis.
-Phalangium opilio.
-Phaneroptera nana.
-Pheidole pallidula.
-Pheucticus aureoventris.
-Pheucticus chrysogaster.
-Phoenicurus ochruros.
-Pholcus phalangioides.
-Phormia violacea.
-Phylloscopus collybita.
-Phylloscopus trochilus.
-Phymatocera aterrima.
-Physella acuta.
-Physocyclus globosus.
-Pica pica.
-Pieris brassicae.
-Pieris napi.
-Pieris rapae.
-Piezodorus lituratus.
-Piezogaster rubropictus.
-Pipistrellus pipistrellus.
-Pisaura mirabilis.
-Plagiognathus arbustorum.
-Plagiolepis pygmaea.
-Plagiometriona clarki.
-Platybunus pinetorum.
-Platycleis sabulosa.
-Platycnemis latipes.
-Plodia interpunctella.
-Podagrica fuscicornis.
-Podarcis hispanica.
-Podisus congrex.
-Polistes dominula.
-Polistes nimpha.
-Polydesmus angustus.
-Polyglypta costata.
-Polyommatus icarus.
-Polyxenus lagurus.
-Pontia daplidice.
-Porcellio laevis.
-Porcellio scaber.
-Porcellionides pruinosus.
-Prionyx kirbii.
-Proatelurina pseudolepisma.
-Procambarus clarkii.
-Progne elegans.
-Propylaea quatuordecimpunctata.
-Prostemma guttula.
-Protaetia morio.
-Psammodromus algirus.
-Psarocolius angustifrons.
-Pseudapion fulvirostre.
-Pseudomallada genei.
-Pseudovadonia livida.
-Psilothrix viridicoerulea.
-Pterostichus niger.
-Pyralis farinalis.
-Pyrgomorpha conica.
-Pyrocephalus rubinus.
-Pyronia bathseba.
-Pyronia cecilia.
-Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax.
-Pyrrhocoris apterus.
-Quiscalus lugubris.
-Rana perezi.
-Rattus norvegicus.
-Rekoa palengon.
-Reticulitermes lucifugus.
-Rhagio lineola.
-Rhagio tringarius.
-Rhagonycha fulva.
-Rhaphigaster nebulosa.
-Rhionaeschna marchali.
-Rhizophagus dispar.
-Rhizotrogus chevrolati.
-Rhodometra sacraria.
-Rhynocoris cuspidatus.
-Rumina decollata.
-Runcinia grammica.
-Ruspolia nitidula.
-Salmo trutta.
-Salticus propinquus.
-Sangalopsis microleuca.
-Saprinus caerulescens.
-Sarconesiopsis magellanica.
-Satyramoeba hetrusca.
-Saxicola torquata.
-Sayornis nigricans.
-Scaurus punctatus.
-Scaurus rugulosus.
-Sceliphron curvatum.
-Sceliphron destillatorium.
-Sceliphron madraspatanum.
-Sceliphron spirifex.
-Scenopinus fenestralis.
-Schistocerca pallens.
-Sciurus stramineus.
-Scolia hirta.
-Scolopendra cingulata.
-Scoparia lacustrata.
-Scopula compensata.
-Scytodes thoracica.
-Sericomyia silentis.
-Serinus serinus.
-Sibovia taeniatifrons.
-Sicalis flaveola.
-Sidymella lucida.
-Somateria mollissima.
-Spermophagus sericeus.
-Sphaerophoria scripta.
-Sphenophorus meridionalis.
-Sphingonotus coerulans.
-Spilostethus pandurus.
-Spirorbis spirorbis.
-Steatoda grossa.
-Stegobium paniceum.
-Stehlikiana crassa.
-Stenocercus festae.
-Stenopterus ater.
-Sterna hirundo.
-Stictocephalus bisonia.
-Stomorrhina lunata.
-Stotzia ephedrae.
-Streptopelia decaocto.
-Streptopelia turtur.
-Strophosoma melanogrammum.
-Strymon davara.
-Sturnus unicolor.
-Stylosomus tamarisci.
-Sylvia atricapilla.
-Sylvia undata.
-Sympetrum gilvum.
-Synema globosum.
-Syngnathus acus.
-Synoeca septentrionalis.
-Syritta pipiens.
-Syrphus ribesii.
-Tachina fera.
-Taeniaptera lasciva.
-Tangara cyanicollis.
-Tangara vitriolina.
-Tapinoma nigerrimum.
-Tarentola mauritanica.
-Tatochila mercedis.
-Tenthredo colon.
-Tenthredo meridiana.
-Tentyria peirolei.
-Tephrina murinaria.
-Tetragnatha extensa.
-Tettigonia viridissima.
-Thaumatomyia notata.
-Thea vigintiduopunctata.
-Theridion frizzellorum.
-Thomisus onustus.
-Thraupis episcopus.
-Thygater aethiops.
-Thymelicus acteon.
-Timarcha perezi.
-Tineola bisseliella.
-Tipula fulvipennis.
-Tipula paludosa.
-Tipula truncorum.
-Titanochrysa circumfusa.
-Tomocerus minor.
-Toxomerus nasutus.
-Toxomerus paragrammus.
-Toxotoma flavofasciata.
-Trepanes duvali.
-Trichodes leucopsideus.
-Trichodes octopunctatus.
-Trichoplusia ni.
-Trigonotylus ruficornis.
-Trioza alacris.
-Trochoidea elegans.
-Trochulus hispidus.
-Troglodytes aedon.
-Trogoderma angustum.
-Tropidopola cylindrica.
-Tropidothorax leucopterus.
-Tropinota squalida.
-Truxalis nasuta.
-Tuberolachnus salignus.
-Tupiocoris cucurbitaceus.
-Tuponia brevirostris.
-Turdus chiguanco.
-Turdus fuscater.
-Turdus iliacus.
-Turdus merula.
-Turdus philomelos.
-Turdus viscivorus.
-Tuta absoluta.
-Tyrannus melancholicus.
-Uloborus walckenaerius.
-Upupa epops.
-Uresiphita gilvata.
-Urochroa bougueri.
-Valenzuela flavidus.
-Vanessa atalanta.
-Vanessa braziliensis.
-Vanessa carye.
-Velia caprai.
-Vespula germanica.
-Vespula rufa.
-Vespula vulgaris.
-Willowsia platani.
-Xanthochilus saturnius.
-Xanthogaleruca luteola.
-Xanthogramma marginale.
-Xanthorrhoe designata.
-Xerotricha conspurcata.
-Xylocopa violacea.
-Xylophrurus augustus.
-Xylota segnis.
-Zargopsinettia verticalis.
-Zelus renardi.
-Zenaida auriculata.
-Zonotrichia capensis.
-Zygina nivea.

[bmathison1972]

Got a lifer birding yesterday in the Greater White-fronted Goose. Before then the only one I had seen was by Kaiyodo LOL

[Isidro]

Today, besides first white stork and first serin of the year, I saw nothing less than a snakefly larva creeping over a wall in my city!!! Sadly, the identification of larvae is as complicated or more than the adults, so I can't identify it, not even at family level. There are at least two species present in my city according to my experience, Atlantoraphidia maculicollis and Fibla hesperica, each one belongs to a different family but the larvae seems identical to my eyes.

[Animal Lover]

This is the first time I'm seeing this thread. Figured out I'd share a bit about the local fauna of my country too. So, I live on the island of Mauritius. Since the arrival of colonizers on the island and invasive species in the 17th-18th Centuries, many once abundant local species of native fauna were lost; giant saddle-back land tortoises and local, endemic bird species including the famous Dodo (Raphus Cucullatus) so now all that's left is a mix of invasive species and endemic species.

There are two islets which are nature reserves "Ile Aux Aigrettes" which is in the South East of the island and "Ile Ronde" in the North of the island. On the first, you will encounter mostly endemic species of birds and on the latter, endemic species of reptiles; snakes and skinks. There's also the Black River Gorges National Park where you can encounter a plethora of species of endemic flora and our endemic species of birds. A last, must-visit place in Mauritius for eco-tourists is the Natural History Museum of Mauritius, located in the capital, Port Louis.

Anyway, so I have a pair of ring neck parakeets in their cage in my front yard and quite frequently, when I go to give them their food, there's this little visitor;


A beautiful Madagascar Day Gecko; an introduced species. As part of the diet of my pet parakeets, there's fruits such as banana, papaya, mango; among others. I then realized that the diet of Geckos also comprises of fruits, so I tried to give it fruits too and indeed, it likes fruits;

[NSD Bashe]

That is a beautiful lizard

[Isidro]

What a casuality, I'll be on Mauritius by next July. Yes it's a shame that the fauna (and flora) of the island is mostly invasive species (including Madagascar day gecko), many of them being serious pests (such as macaques and mynas) that destroys and aniquilate the fragile endemic fauna.

Do you know if La Vanilla nature park have Mauritius kestrels, or there are any place with Mauritius kestrels on display? If not, where is easiest to spot the species in the wild?

Are your parakeets true ring-necked (a serious plague in several countries outside native range) or the endemic Mauritius parakeet? I'm just unable to differenciate both!

[Animal Lover]

@Isidro Hope you enjoy your visit. La Vanille Nature Park doesn't have Mauritius Kestrels. The easiest and only place to spot them on the island is Black River Gorges National Park.

My pet parakeets are Indian Ring-necked Parakeets. The endemic species is called Echo Parakeet. So, mine are exotic species. Indeed, the Indian Ring-Necked Parakeet is a non-native species and it's in the list of pets never to release in nature;

The Madagascar Day Gecko is in the list too.

Here's a brief overview of the native endemic fauna;

[Isidro]

Many thanks for the very valuable info! I will try to reach Black River Gorges then!

[Animal Lover]

@Isidro My pleasure.

[bmathison1972]

Got another lifer yesterday! A vagrant Gilded Flicker has been hanging out in the cemetery in my neighborhood:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S159233903

[bmathison1972]

Just got back from speaking at a meeting in Jacksonville, FL and got some birding in. 8 lifers! (the Pileated Woodpecker is an 'ebird lifer' not a 'true lifer'

https://ebird.org/tripreport/207306

[bmathison1972]

This past weekend I was at a meeting in New Orleans and stayed for some birding. Got three lifers in the Western Cattle Egret, Hooded Warbler, and Northern Parula.

Full trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/215050

[Isidro]

Yesterday was a rainy day, but checking the nesting colony of cattle egrets (with some night herons and roosting place for jackdaws) that is in the river of my city, I saw nothing less than a GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus). These ibises are a common sight in the warm south of my country, but a great rarity up so north as where I live.