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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Top 10 best birds of 2013

I didn't do a lot of traveling this past year, so most of my birding was close to home.  Here are my top 10 birds of 2013:

1) Mew Gull--back in January I was able to find this bird, the first one ever photographed in New Jersey.

First documented Mew Gull in NJ, photo Rob Fergus

2) Lazuli Bunting--six days after finding the first Mew Gull in New Jersey, I found this bird, the first Lazuli Bunting ever found in New Jersey.  I didn't get the best look and we weren't able to fully identify it until others were able to get photos a week later.  Thank goodness birding is a team sport :-)

First documented Lazuli Bunting in NJ, photo Sam Galick.


3) Blue-footed Booby--on one of only a couple out of state trips this year I was able to see two of these birds at Skinner Lake in Riverside County, California earlier this month.  Looks like it will be my only new bird for my ABA area list this year.

Blue-footed Boobies with cormorants, Skinner Lake, CA--photo Rob Fergus

4) Snowy Owl--there are hundreds of these guys across the East Coast this winter, and a couple weeks ago I got a call about one near my home.  A couple hours later it was relocated and I got to see it, the first one documented for our county (or so we thought until a photo of one a week earlier ended up in the local paper!).
2nd Hunterdon County NJ Snowy Owl record--photo Rob Fergus


5) Barnacle Goose--this bird from last January was one of 10 species I was able to add to my county list last year, and maybe a third county record.  Just got word this morning that it was seed again today, so hope to see it again in 2014.


6) Long-eared Owl--another scarce local bird I was able to add to my county list this year.

7) Pink-footed Goose--got this rare Eurasian bird for the first time in the county late in 2012, and at least three different birds showed up off and on in the county for the first part of 2013.  So far no reports from this winter, but we'll be looking.
Pink-footed Goose, Hunterdon Co, NJ--photo Rob Fergus

8) Glossy Ibis--saw my first one for the county back in May, a bird seen flying across the Spruce Run reservoir at the end of a very good day of birding there with friends.

9) Northern Lapwing--three birds in South Jersey were the first ones I've seen in North America since 1995.


10) Short-eared Owl--my first one for the county was pretty sweet to see, and took a lot of attempts at dusk and dawn to finally see.

I only saw 252 species this past year, my worst year probably in a long time.  That is fewer species than I saw in the county alone last year, and really not great. 1 new ABA bird is the fewest new ABA species I've added in a long time as well.  New responsibilities at church and a new job kind of slowed me down.  My blogging here has tapered off a lot too.  But even with all that, these are some very fine birds to have part of my life this past year, and I am grateful for them!

So what about birding goals for 2014?  I want to get 100 species for my yard next year.  Also want to help two of my kids get 200 species for the county in 2014.  So look forward to lots of birding with them in the coming year.  I'm close to an ABA birding milestone of 700 species, so I'm still playing with the possibility of a south Florida trip in the spring to (finally!) put me over that milestone.

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Bird Control for Building Renovations

Sometimes contractors working on building renovations run into properties that have had serious bird problems--including pigeon infestations in abandoned buildings.  To help contractors get on the right path, here's a bird control article I recently had published with Retrofit Magazine online.

Crossing the Finish Line--1000 Species Challenge Final Day

Sora, Cold Brook Preserve, NJ
The day started with my not knowing exactly how many species I needed to cross the 1000 species threshold, as I hadn't tallied up all my species from Saturday.  But I thought I needed at least 30 species to finish the day.

After teaching my classes at East Stroudsburg University, I stopped by the greenhouse and picked up what I hoped would be at least a dozen species.  Then I stopped by Cold Brook Preserve to look for the Sora that had been there the last two days.  After many days of looking for this bird this fall and last fall, it was nice to get good looks of an adult Sora feeding on the edge of the small marshy pond there.

Then I headed home to be with my kids as they got off the bus from school.  We wandered the yard and turned over logs hoping to get enough species to finish out the month.  By bedtime I was sure I had gotten 1000 species, but didn't know what my final tally would be.  As it is, the final tally will go up as I identify additional plants and moths that I have photographed this month, but for now at least the goal was met.

Later I'll post a recap and retrospective of what I learned doing this challenge this month.  I'm already thinking about how to go bigger next September :-)

Final Species Tally: 1004+

New Species
Jumping Spider Salticidae sp.
Orb-weaving Spider Araneidae sp.
Wolf Spider Lycosidae sp.
Sora Porzana carolina
Woodlouse Oniscidea sp.
Ant  Formicidae sp.
Band-winged Grasshopper Oedipodinae sp.
Bumblebee  Bombini sp.
Fruit Fly Tephritidae sp.
Large Carpenter Bee Xylocopinae sp.
Orange Sulphur Colias eurytheme
Northern Short-tailed Shrew Blarina brevicauda
Birdbill Dayflower Commelina dianthifolia
Bowstring Hemp Sansevieria hyacinthoides
False Lilac Leptodermis oblonga
Fire Lilly Cyrtanthus elatus
Fuchsia Fuchsia hybrid
Grass Aloe Aloe verecunda
Hippeastrum Hippeastrum vittatum
Hippeastrum Hippeastrum aulicum
Hummingbird Bush Anisacanthus quadrifidu
Lindheimer's Beeblossom Oenothera lindheimeri
Pelargonium Storksbill Pelargonium sp.
Pink Friesland Sage Salvia nemorosa
Porcupine Tomato Solanum pyracanthum
Purple Passionflower Passiflora incarnata
Red Clover Trifolium pratense
Rose Cactus Pereskia grandifolia
Spotted Touch-Me-Not Impatiens capensis
Turquoise Crossanda Ecbolium viride

1000 Species Challenge Homestretch--Day 28 Update

Northern Brown Snake

A big day, starting early driving down to Philadelphia to take my Rosemont College students on their first birding expedition to the John Heinz NWR.  We met up with a small group and walked the dike trail out into the refuge, and picked up a lot of new birds for the month including Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Marsh Wren.  I also picked up four reptiles--including a Northern Brown Snake, and several turtles.


On my way home I stopped off at Todd Marcus Birds Exotic in Delran, NJ and picked up a couple dozen exotic birds, mostly parrots.


The last species of the day reflects the difficulty of identifying many species in the food trade--wild caught Chinese Crawfish.  One can only hope these are accurately labeled, though I can only guess that they are native Asian crawfish, which would be from the family Cambaridae.  I don't have any other crawfish on my list, so it is a new species for the month even if it is misidentified.  But it sure would be nice to have species labels on seafood--and hats off to those companies that I found this month that do label their packaging.  Lets hope they are accurately labeled!



Cumulative Species Total: 974

New Species
African Grey Parrot                            Psittacus erithacus
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Black-capped Parakeet Pyrrhura rupicola
Blue-and-yellow Macaw Ara ararauna
Blue-fronted Amazon Amazona aestiva
Blue-headed Parrot Pionus menstruus
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
Canary Serinus canaria
Chestnut-fronted Macaw Ara severus
Cockatiel Nymphicus hollandicus
Curl-crested Aracari Pteroglossus beauharnaesii
Eclectus Parrot Eclectus roratus
Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Green Singing Finch Serinus mozambicus
Green-backed Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula
Green-cheeked Parrot Ara severus
Green-winged Macaw Ara chloropterus
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis
Hyacinth Macaw Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Pacific Parrotlet Forpus coelestis
Palm Cockatoo Probosciger aterrimus
Peach-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Pin-tailed Wydah Vidua macroura
Red-rumped Parrot Psephotus haematonotus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Salmon-crested Cockatoo Cacatua moluccensis
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Star Finch Neochmia ruficauda
White Cockatoo Cacatua alba
White-bellied Parrot Pionites leucogaster
White-crowned Parrot Pionus senilis
Yellow-crowned Amazon Amazona ochrocephala
Boxelder Acer negundo
Common Mugwart Artemesia vulgaris
Creeping Primrose Willow Ludwigia repens
Goldenrod Solidago altissima
Pickerel Weed Pontederia sp.
Purple Loosestrife Lythrum salicaria
Spatterdock Nuphar advena
Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata
Tickseed Sunflower Bidens aristoa
Wild Rice Zizania sp.
Northern Brown Snake Storeria dekayi
Northern Red-bellied Turtle Pseudemys rubriventris
Red-eared Slider Trachemys scripta
Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina
Chinese Crawfish Cambaridae sp.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Down to the Wire--Day 26 Update--1000 Species Challenge

Only one new bird for the month--a Blue-headed Vireo that popped out in the trees while I was visiting with friends on my patio this morning.  At Amwell Lake I managed to find a Puffball as well as my first Odonates--actually the first dragonflies and damselfly that I've ever tried to ID, so hope I got them right :-)

Then I stopped by the Rutgers Landscape & Nursery on Hwy 202 south of Flemington and picked up over 80 additional plant species, and got some more ideas for landscaping our yard.

Northern Bluet, Amwell Lake, Hunterdon, NJ

Autumn Meadowhawk, Amwell Lake, Hunterdon, NJ

I only have a few more days in the month, and new species are harder to get all the time.  Looks like I need to plan on more than just the Rosemont College biodiversity class field trip on Saturday to put me over the top!

Total Cumulative Species: 906+

New Species
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
Puffball Bovista pila
Autumn Meadowhawk Sympetrum vicinum
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis
European Honey Bee Apis mellifera
Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum
Adam's Needle Yucca filamentosa
American Holly Ilex opaca
American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua
American Willow Salix discolor
Arkansas Blue Star Amsonia hubrichtii
Autumn Joy  Hylotelephium telephium
Black Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica
Blue Pacific Juniper Juniperus conforta
Butterfly Blue  Scabiosa columbaria
Carpathian harebell Campanula carpatica
Cheddar Pink Dianthus gratianopolitanus 
Cinnamon Fern Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Common Holly Ilex aquifolium
Cotoneaster Cranberry Cotoneaster apiculatus
Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica
Curve-leaf Yucca Yucca gloriosa
Darley Heath Erica × darleyensis 
Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata
Deutzia Hydrangea Deutzia gracilis
European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus
Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida
Fountain Grass Pennisetum alopecuroides
Foxglove Beard Tongue Penstemon digitalis
Fraser's Photinia Photinia x fraseri
Garden Catmint Nepeta racemosa
Gold Flame Honeysuckle Lonicera x heckrotti
Green Osier Dogwood Cornus alternifolia
Honey Locust Gleditsia triacanthos
Hosta Hosta sieboldiana
Hydrangea Hydrangea petiola
Hydrangea anomala Hydrangea anomala
Japanese Anemone Anemone tomentosa
Japanese Flowering Crabapple Malus floribunda
Japanese Forest Grass Hakonechloa macra
Japanese Lilac Syringa reticulata
Japanese Snowball Viburnum plicatum
Japanese Stewartia Stewartia pseudocamellia
Japanese Stonecrop Sedum makinoi
Japanese Wisteria Wisteria floribunda
Korean Sun Pear Pyrus fauriei
Large-flowered Tickseed Coreopsis grandiflora
Maiden Grass Miscanthus sinensis
Mediteranean Fan Palm Chamaerops humiilis
Mexican Evening Primrose Oenothera berlandieri
Montauk Daisy Nipponanthemum nipponicum
Mountain Cornflower Centaurea montana
Nandina Nandina domestica
Pampas Grass Saccharum ravennae
Persian Ironwood Parrotia persica
Pin Oak Quercus palustris
Prague Viburnum Viburnam x praganse
Purple Willow Salix purpurea
Red Carpet Sedum spurium
Red Horse Chestnut Aesculus x carnea
Redvein Enkianthus Enkianthus campanulatus
Rose Mallow Hibiscus moscheutos
Rosy Tickseed Coreopsis rosea
Russian Sage Perovskia atriplicifolia
Seaside Goldenrod Solidago sempervivens
Short's Goldenrod Solidago shortii
Showy Stonecrop Hylotelephium spectabile
Siberian Bugloss Brunnera macrophylla
Siberian Iris Iris siberica
Silver Lime Tilia tomentosa
Sneezeweed Helenium x coppelia
Snow-in-Summer Cerastium tormentorum
Solomon's Seal Polygonatum multiflorum
South American Elephant Grass Miscanthus sinensis
Spindle Euonymus fortunei
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum
Sullivant's Coneflower Rudbeckia speciosa
Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor
Tropical Mandevilla Mandevilla sp.
Violet Viola etain
Virginia Knotweed Persicaria virginiana
Weeping Willow Salix babylonica
Weigela Florida Weigela florida
White Snakeroot Ageratina altissima
Windmill Palm Trachycarpus fortunei
Winterberry Ilex verticillata
Wood Oats Chasmanthium latifolium

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Day 24--1000 Species Challenge Catch Up Day

Over 100 species of plants to check out!
Morning birding was a bit slow, though I did get my first Bullfrog, Lincoln's Sparrow and White-throated Sparrow for the month at Cold Brook Preserve, Tewksbury Twp, NJ.  On the way home I stopped in for some shopping at the Four Seasons Greenery in White House and picked up almost 130 species.  Browsing a nursery or garden center is like shooting fish in a barrel, but the productivity does highlight just how many species we choose to surround ourselves with in our homes and yards.  I came away with a lot of thoughts about things to plant in my yard...that's going to be a big project, eventually!

I'm now a bit ahead of my initial projected pace, and need less than 40 new species a day to reach my goal of 1000 species for the month.

Cumulative Species Total: 822

New Species
Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
American Milletgrass Milium effusum
Anise Hyssop Agastache foeniculum
Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica
Austrian Speedwell Veronica austriaca
Autumn Crocus Colchicum speciosum
Bamboo Fargesia rufa
Bear's Paw Cotyledon tomentosa
Black Spruce Picea mariana
Bletilla Orchid Bletilla striata
Blue Fescue Festuca glauca
Blue Spruce   Picea pungens
Blue Spruce Sedum Sedum reflexum
Burkwood Viburnum Viburnum burkwoodii
Butterfly Bush Buddleja davidii
Carolina Allspice Calycanthus floridus
Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera
Chinese Bush Cherry Prunus glandulosa
Chinese Finger Tree Chionanthus retisus
Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Willow Salix matsudana
Clematis Clematis flammula
Coleus Coleus sp.
Common Beach Fagus sylvatica
Common Grape Hyacinth Bellevalia pycnantha
Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris
Corydalis Corydalis lutea
Crabapple Malus x coracale
Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis
Creeping Mazus Mazus reptans
Creeping Phlox Phlox stolonifera
Creeping Wire Vine Muehlenbeckia axillaris
Crimson Beebalm Monarda didyma
Crocus Crocus cartwrightianus
Cyclamen Cyclamen coum
Cyclamen-flowered Daffodil Narcissus cyclamineus
Dawn Redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Dutch Iris Iris x hollandica
Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis
Elephant Ear Colocasia escuentla
Elephant Grass Pennisetum purpureum
Elephant's Ear  Bergenia sp.
English Elm Ulmus procera
Fairy Duster Calliandra eriophylla
False Bucks Beard Astilbe japonica
False Sunflower Heliopsis helianthoides
Forbes' Glory-of-the-snow Chionodoxa forbesii
Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Galanthus Galanthus woronowii
German Iris Iris germanica
Geum Geum fragarioides
Giant Foxtail Setaria faberii
Goatsbeard Aruncus dioicus
Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea
Heptacodium Heptacodium miconioides
Himalayan Juniper Juniperus squamata
Hosta Masquerade Hosta sp.
Huachuca Agave Agave parryi
Huernia Huernia plowesii
Hybrid Witch Hazel Hamamelis × intermedia
Impatiens Impatiens hybrida
Japanese Andromeda Pieris japonica
Japanese Holly Ilex crenata
Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica
Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora
Japanese White Pine Pinus parviflora
Japanese Zelkova Zelkova serrata
Joe Pye Weed Eutrochium sp.
Judy Zuk Magnolia Magnolia x brooklynensis
Katsura Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Ladybells Adenophora confusa
Larkspur Delphinium x elatum
Leyland Cypress Cupressus x leylandi
Lilly of the Valley Convallaria majalis
Limber Pine Pinus flexilis
Lizard's Tail Crassula muscosa
Miyamamatatabi Actinidia kolomikta
Mountain Witch Alder Fothergilla major
Multiflora Rose Rosa multiflora
Nootka Cypress Cupressus nootkatensis
Northern Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum
Obedient Plant Physostegia virginiana
Othocalis Othocallis siberica
Paperbark Maple Acer griseum
Paperwhite Narcissus tazetta
Persimmon Diospyros kaki
Purple Dragon Lamium maculatum
Red Barberry Berberis thunbergii
Red Currant Ribes rubrum
Reed Canarygrass Phalaris arundinacea
Rhododendron  Rhododendron roseum
Saucer Magnolia Magnolia × soulangeana
Sawara Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera
Schip Laurel Prunus laurocerasus
Serbian Spruce Picea omorika
Shasta Daisy Leucanthemum × superbum
Siberian Carpet Cypress Microbiota decussata
Siberian Dwarf Pine Pinus pumila
Siberian Wallflower Erysimum x allionii 
Silver Arborvitae Thuja occidentalis
Silver Dollar Plant Crassula arborescens
Skimmia Skimmia japonica
Smoke Bush Cotinus coggygria
Southern Arrowwood Viburnum dentatum
Spiked Speedwell Veronica spicata
Spiraea Spiraea x bumalda
Spotted Knapweed Centaurea maculosa
Spotted Laurel Aucuba japonica
Spotted Loosestrife Lysimachia punctata
Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina
Summer Ragwort Ligularia dentata
Sun Begonia Begonia richmondensis
Thermopsis Thermopsis villosa
Threadleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata
Tiger Daylily Hemerocallis fulva
Tree Peony Paeonia suffruticosa
Umbrella Pine Sciadopitys verticillata 
Vinca Vinca sp.
Vine Maple Acer circinatum
Virginia Sweetspire Itea virginica
Voss Chain Tree Laburnum x watereri
White Fringetree Chionanthus virginicus
White Mulberry Morus alba
White Spruce Picea glauca
White Turtlehead Chelone glabra
White Willow Salix alba
White Wood Aster Eurybia divaricata
Willow Salix integra
Wood Dock Rumex sanguineus
Woodruff Galium odoratum
Yarrow Achillea millefolium
Yellow Archangel Lamiastrum galeobdolon
Yellow Grape Hyacinth Muscari macrocarpum

Monday, September 23, 2013

Day 23--1000 Species Update

I taught at ESU this morning and didn't get out species hunting until this evening.  A trip to Petsmart to get a new dog collar landed me 46 new species--mostly aquarium plants, fish, and a couple others.  I don't have to teach tomorrow, so I can go for a bigger day--probably mostly some birding and then hit some garden centers for more plants.

Cumulative Species Total: 688

New Species:
Marsh Shrimp Palaemonetus vulgaris
African Jewelfish Hemichromis bimaculatus
Armored Catfish Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Auratus Cichlid Melanochromis auratus
Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Blotched Upside-down Catfish Synodontis nigriventris
Blunthead Cichlid Tropheus moorii
Bronze Corydoras Corydoras aeneus
Bumblebee Cichlid Pseudotropheus crabro
Clown Plecostomus Panaqolus maccus
Demasoni Cichlid Pseudotropheus demasoni
Denison's barb Puntius denisonii
Emerald Cory Brochis splendens
Featherfin Squeaker Synodontis eupterus
Ghost Catfish Kryptopterus minor
Golden Otocinclus Macrotocinclus affinis
Lombardoi Maylandia lombardoi
Ornate Tetra Hyphessobrycon bentosi
Oscar Astronotus ocellatus
Plecostomus Pterygoplichthys pardalis
Rubberlip Pleco Chaetostoma thomsoni
Silver Dollar Metynnis argenteus
Spotfin Hatchetfish Thoracocharax stellatus
Tete Sea Catfish Ariopsis seemanni
Western Dwarf Clawed Frog Hymenochirus curtipes
Mystery Snail Pomacea bridgesii
Amazon Swordplant Echinodorus amazonicus
Anubias Anubias congensis
Aquarium Plant Telanthera cardinalis
Bolbitis Bolbitis heteroclita
Brazilian Waterweed Egeria densa
Broadleaf Amazon Echinodorus bleheri
Cryptocoryne Cryptocoryne crispatula
Cyperus Cyperus helferi
Dwarf Anubias Anubias nana
Hairgrass Eleocharis parvula
Java Fern Microsorium pteropus
Lobelia Lobelia cardinalis
Lucky Bamboo Dracaena braunii
Moss Ball Aegagropila linnaei
Narrow-leafed Anubias Anubias afzelii
Peace Lily Spathiphyllum walsii
Staurogyne Staurogyne repens
Vine Spike Moss Selaginella willdenowii
Water Hyssop Bacopa caroliniana
Water Primrose Ludwigia arcuata
Water Wisteria Hygrophila difformis

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Day 20--1000 Species Challenge Update

Not the most productive day, species wise.  I taught in the morning at ESU, then drove down to suburban Philly to give a talk at the Wyncote Audubon Society.  Had a great time, but my only new species were a cool starfish that I've been looking for and finally found in the saltwater aquarium at work, and a series of strange and exotic plants that I found by searching herbal supplement labels at CVS pharmacy!  I ended the day with only 13 new species, for a total of 641 for the month.

I'm just over a day behind schedule now, but still in it to win!



New Species
Banded Serpent Starfish Ophioderma appressum
Red Yeast Monascus purpureus
Horny Goat Weed Epimedium grandiflorum
Maca  Lepidium meyenii
Cowitch Mucuna pruriens
Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare
Fermenting Bacteria Lactobacillus fermentum
Lactobacteria Lactobacillus gasseri
Narrow-leaf Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia
Evening Primrose Oenothera sp.
Goldenseal Hydrastis canadensis
Greater Burdock Arctium lappa
Wood Betony Stachys officinalis

Day 19--1000 Species Challenge

There is supposed to be a Connecticut Warbler here...somewhere!
I managed a good day today for the species count, with some morning birding and an evening visit to Petsmart and Walmart.

Birding was great this morning, with my best bird being two Connecticut Warblers calling in the underbrush at the Clinton Wildlife Management Area.  While grocery shopping, I checked out the herbal tea section, which I had previously skipped, and found a lot of exotic chinese herb species.  Petsmart had a few more reptiles and amphibians, and I didn't have time to check out all the fish and aquatic plants, so I'll be making another trip over there next week.  At Walmart, I just had time to skim through the cactus collection, and pulled out quite a haul there.

Cactus collection at Walmart
My final daily tally was 93 new species, for a total of 628--only 28 behind the pace I need to hit 1000 by the end of the month.

My strategy, such as there is, will be to hit a bunch of nurseries and hopefully some botanical gardens for the bulk of the remaining needed species.  I may have to hit some big pet bird stores in the state as well.  I can probably get another 20 birds or so with some luck this week, unless I head to the shore--then I could probably pick up some more.  Will have to do some additional exploring to see where I might pick up a bunch of additional species without having to go to the Philadelphia Zoo!


American Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Cranwell's Horned Frog Ceratophrys cranwelli 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Pickerel Frog Rana palustris 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata 19-Sep-13 Home, Hunterdon, NJ
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Northern Parula Setophaga americana 19-Sep-13 Home, Hunterdon, NJ
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Society Finch Lonchura striata 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina 19-Sep-13 Home, Hunterdon, NJ
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Zebra Finch Taeniopygia guttata 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Red-clawed Crab Perisesarma bidens 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Scale Insect (Carmine) Dactylopius coccus 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus 19-Sep-13 Spruce Run, Hunterdon, NJ
Chinese Hamster Cricetulus griseus 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Djungarian Hamster Phodopus sungorus 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Roborovski Hamster Phodopus roborovskii 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Adromischus cristatus Adromischus cristatus 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Aloe Zanzibarica Aloe juvenna 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Alstroemeria Alstroemeria sp. 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Anemarrhena rhizome Anemarrhena asphodeloides 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Autumn-Olive Elaeagnus umbellata 19-Sep-13 Spruce Run, Hunterdon, NJ
Baby's Breath Gypsophila paniculata 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Balloon Flower Platycodon grandiflorus 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Beleric Myrobalan Terminalia bellirica 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Blessed Thistle Cnicus benedictu 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Blue Candle Cactus Pilosocereus azureus 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Blue Gum Eucalyptus globulus 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Bull Thistle Cirsium vulgare 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Bunny-ears Cactus Opuntia microdasys 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Caper Bush Capparis spinosa 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Chebulic Myrobalan Terminalia chebula 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Chin Cactus Gymnocalycium mihanovichii, 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Cobweb Houseleek Sempervivum arachnoideum 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Common Chicory  Cichorium intybus 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Common Climbing Aloe Aloe ciliaris 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Cotyledon macrantha Cotyledon macrantha 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Crassula Crassula mesembryanthemoides 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Cryptanthus Cryptanthus marginatus 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Drooping Prickly Pear Opuntia monacantha 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Dwarf Jade Plant Portulacaria afra 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria   Echeveria runyonii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria   Echeveria x mazarine 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria   Echeveria peacockii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria   Echeveria x chroma 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria Cactus Echeveria runyonii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria Cactus Echeveria harmsii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echeveria Dondo Echeveria x derenbergii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Echinacea Echinacea angostifolia 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Fenugreek Trigonella foenum-graecum 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Forsythia Forsythia suspensa 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Garden Angelica Angelica archangelica 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Giant Ragweed Ambrosia trifida 19-Sep-13 Spruce Run, Hunterdon, NJ
Goji/Wolfberry Lycium barbarum 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Golden Sedum Sedum adolphii 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Golden-toothed Aloe Aloe noblis 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Indian Fig Opuntia/Prickly Pear Opuntia ficus-indica 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Indian Gooseberry Phyllanthus emblica 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Indian Sarsparilla Hemidesmus indicus 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Japanese Stiltgrass Microstegium vimineum 19-Sep-13 Clinton WMA, Hunterdon, NJ
Jing Jie Schizonepeta tenuifolia 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Kombu Saccharina japonica 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Lemon Myrtle Backhousia citriodora 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Licorice  Glycyrrhiza glabra 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Mammillaria Mammillaria celsiana 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Marshmallow Althaea officinalis 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Money Tree Crassula ovata 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Omija Schisandra chinensis 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Opuntia Prickly Pear Opuntia subulata 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Parodia Parodia mammulosa 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Pork and Beans Sedum rubrotinctum 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Red-button Opuntia Opuntia quitensis 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Rooibos Aspalathus linearis 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Safari Conebush Leucadendron laureolum x L. salignum 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Sedum nussbaumerianum Sedum nussbaumerianum 19-Sep-13 Walmart, Flemington, NJ
Shiso Perilla frutescens 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Spearmint Mentha spicata 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Sprenger's Magnolia Magnolia sprengeri 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Star Anise Illicium verum 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Stevia Stevia rebaudiana 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Tillandsia Tillandsia sp. 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Yerba Mate Ilex paraguariensis 19-Sep-13 Shoprite, Clinton, NJ
Brown Anole Anolis sagrei 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticep 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Chinese Water Dragon Physignathus cocincinus 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Long-tailed Grass Lizard Takydromus sexlineatus 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
Veiled Chameleon Chamaeleo calyptratus 19-Sep-13 Petsmart, Flemington,NJ
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