#photography #nature #lifelist

My Photographic Life list

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I never used to be bothered about keeping a life list, it seemed a bit pointless to me. But then as I photographed more more species, in more and more locations, I started keeping tally of these animals I was photographing. I had the idea to try and photograph, well, all the animals I've seen. This became a bit of an obsession and now I'm stuck updating this list! How fun!

The categories below are not intended to be taxonomic in nature, more rough groupings based on what feels right. The location and date are those of the photo presented and not necessarily the first sighting as I update images when I improve on previous. All animals are wild, nothing captive here apart from the odd escapee which has become established (e.g., parakeets and wood duck in the UK).

This list sits at 377 species so far but is still missing the majority of my plant and fungi observations! I'll keep updating this list. My full eBird profile can be found here.

Jump Links

Use these links to jump to specific sections. For those one desktop use the contents list on the right of the page.

Mammals | Birds | Plants | Fungi | Herps | Bugs

Mammals

Deer

Red Deer

England - 2022

Elk (Wapiti)

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Fallow Deer

England - 2019

Sika Deer

England - 2018

Roe Deer

England - 2022

Sambar Deer

India - 2022

Nilgai

India - 2022

Chital

India - 2022

Moose

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Cows, Pigs, and Goat-likes

Indian Guar

India - 2022

Wild Boar

India - 2022

Bighorn Sheep

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Mountain Goat

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Primates

Langur

India - 2022

Felines

Royal Bengal Tiger

India - 2022

Canines

Red Fox

England - 2022

Bears

Brown Bear

Finland - 2024

American Black Bear

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Musta-likes

European badger

England - 2023

Stoat

England - 2019

Indian Mongoose

India - 2022

Wolverine

Finland - 2024

Small Bear-Like Things

Raccoon

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Hoary Marmot

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Rabbits and Rodents

Mountain Hare

England - 2019

European Rabbit

England - 2022

Wood Mouse

England - 2023

Wet Mammals

American Beaver

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Eurasian Otter

Scotland - 2023

North American River Otter

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Grey Seal

England - 2022

Common Seal

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

Harbour Seal

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

California Sea Lion

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Bottlenose Dolphin

England - 2023

Pacific White-sided Dolphin

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Humpback Whale

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Orca (Resident Killer-whale)

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Squirrels and That

Red Squirrel

England - 2023

American Red Squirrel

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Grey Squirrel

England - 2023

Indian Striped Squirrel

India - 2022

Columbian Ground Squirrel

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Birds

Birds of Prey

Bald Eagle

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Golden Eagle

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

White-tailed Eagle

Poland - 2023

Short-toed Snake Eagle

India - 2022

Sparrowhawk

England - 2024

Shikra

India - 2022

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Coopers Hawk

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

White-eyed Buzzard

India - 2022

Oriental Honey Buzzard

India - 2022

Red-shouldered Hawk

Florida - 2016

Common Buzzard

England - 2019

Red-tailed Hawk

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Kestrel

England - 2019

American Kestrel

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Hobby

England - 2023

Merlin

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Red Kite

Wales - 2021

Western Marsh Harrier

England -2023

Northern Harrier

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Osprey

England - 2022

Peregrine Falcon

England - 2022

Barred Owl

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Great Horned Owl

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Tawny Owl

England - 2023

Little Owl

England - 2019

Barn Owl

England - 2023

Short-eared Owl

England - 2023

Long-eared Owl

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Mottled Wood Owl

India - 2022

Indian Scops Owl

India - 2022

Jungle Owlet

India - 2022

Turkey Vulture

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Wet Birds

Atlantic Puffin

Scotland - 2023

Razorbill

England - 2023

Guillemot

England - 2023

Great Skua

Scotland - 2023

Manx Shearwater

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

Northern Gannet

England (Bempton Cliffs) - 2023

Common Gull

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

Herring Gull

England - 2022

Lesser Black-back Gull

England (iPort Lakes) - 2022

Glaucous-winged Gull

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Black-headed Gull

England (Porter Valley) - 2023

Short-Billed Gull

Canada (British Columbia) Juv & Adult - 2025

Black-legged Kittiwake

England (Bempton Cliffs) - 2023

Fulmar

England (Bempton Cliffs) - 2023

Common Tern

England (Attenborough Nature Reserve) - 2023

Caspian Tern

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Black Tern

England (Potteric Carr) - 2023

European Shag

Scotland (Isle of Lunga)- 2023

Great Cormorant

England (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) - 2023

Double-crested Cormorant

Florida - 2016

Pelagic Cormorant

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

White-breasted Kingfisher

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Common Kingfisher

England (Porter Valley) - 2024

Belted Kingfisher

Canada(British Columbia) - 2025

Brown Pelican

Florida - 2016

Open-billed Stork

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Lesser Adjutant Stork

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

European Spoonbill

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

American White Ibis

Florida - 2016

Purple Heron

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Indian Pond Heron

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Green Heron

Florida - 2016

Black-crowned Night Heron

England (RSPB Adwick Washlands) - 2023

Grey Heron

England (Porter Valley) - 2024

Great Blue Heron

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Little Bittern

England (RSPB Old Moor) - 2016

Great Bittern

England (RSPB St Aidans) - 2024

American Bittern

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Snowy Egret

Florida - 2016

Little Egret

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Great White Egret

Florida - 2016

Eastern Cattle Egret

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Indian Darter

India (Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve) - 2022

Black-winged Pratincole

England (Notts) - 2024

Pied Avocet

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2020

Bar-tailed Godwit

England - 2022

Black-tailed Godwit

England (Potteric Carr) - 2024

Eurasian Curlew

Scotland (Isle of Mull) - 2023

Long-billed Curlew

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Greater Yellowlegs

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Least Sandpiper

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Sandpiper

Scotland (Isle of Mull) - 2023

Green Sandpiper

Finland - 2024

Wood Sandpiper

Finland - 2024

Dunlin

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

Common Ringed Plover

Scotland (Isle of Mull) - 2023

Little Ringed Plover

England (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) - 2023

Killdeer

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Ruddy Turnstone

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

Sanderling

Ireland (Dolly Mount Strand) - 2023

Eurasian Oystercatcher

Scotland (Isle of Mull) - 2023

Black Oystercatcher

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Snipe

England - 2018

Wilson's Snipe

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Redshank

England - 2023

Common Greenshank

Finland - 2024

Black-winged Stilt

England - 2023

Northern Lapwing

England - 2023

Common Moorhen

England - 2024

Common Coot

England - 2023

American Coot

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Mallard

England - 2021

Carolina Wood Duck

England - 2021

Mandarin Duck

England - 2024

Common Pochard

England - 2024

Tufted Duck

England - 2023

Barrows's Goldeneye

BC, Canada (Vancouver Port) - 2025

Bufflehead

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Green-winged Teal

England - 2023

Eurasian Wigeon

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Shelduck

England - 2018

Northern Pintail

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Surf Scoter

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Harlequin Duck

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Goosander

England (Lake District) - 2024

Hooded Merganser

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Mute Swan

England - 2022

Greylag Goose

England - 2023

Canda Goose

England - 2023

Cackling Goose

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Egyptian Goose

England - 2023

Greater-white Fronted Goose

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Snow Goose

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Great Northern Diver (Common Loon)

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Great Crested Grebe

England - 2023

Little Grebe

England - 2023

Slavonian Grebe (Horned Grebe)

England - 2023

Black-necked Grebe (Eared Grebe)

England - 2024

Water Rail

England - 2022

Virginia Rail

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

White-throated Dipper

England - 2024

American Dipper

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Wagtails

Grey Wagtail

Scotland - 2022

Pied Wagtail

England - 2023

Woodpeckers et al.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

England - 2023

Downy Woodpecker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Hairy Woodpecker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Green Woodpecker

England - 2023

Black-rumped Flameback

India - 2022

Pileated Woodpecker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Northern Flicker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Red-naped Sapsucker

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Cuckoos

Common Cuckoo

England (Hatfield Moors) - 2024

Hoopoes

Eurasian Hoopeo

India - 2022

Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbird

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Rufous Hummingbird

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Birds that Sing a lot

European Robin

England - 2018

American Robin

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Oriental Magpie Robin

India - 2022

European Blue Tit

England - 2018

Great Tit

England - 2019

Coal Tit

Scotland - 2020

Black-capped Chickadee

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Cinereous Tit

India - 2022

Long-tailed Tit

England - 2020

Crested Tit

Scotland - 2020

Bearded Tit

England - 2019

European House Sparrow

England - 2023

European Tree Sparrow

England - 2023

Song Sparrow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

White-crowned Sparrow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Dark-eyed Junco

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Spotted Towhee

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

European Goldfinch

England - 2023

Common Chaffinch

England - 2019

European Greenfinch

England - 2019

Purple Finch

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

House Finch

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Twite

Scotland (Isle of skye) - 2024

Common Linnet

England - 2023

Common Crossbill

Scotland (Skye) - 2024

Red Crossbill

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Jungle Babbler

India - 2022

Common Reed Bunting

England - 2024

Lazuli Bunting

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Stonechat

England - 2024

Common Redpoll

England - 2019

Pine Siskin

England - 2019

Eurasian Siskin

Scotland - 2023

Dunnock

England - 2023

Common Chiffchaff

England - 2024

Common Whitethroat

England - 2023

Eurasian Blackcap (female)

England - 2024

Eurasian Reed Warbler

England - 2024

Garden Warbler

England - 2024

Cetti's Warbler

England - 2024

Willow Warbler

England (Hatfield Moors) - 2024

Skylark

England - 2024

Meadow Pipit

Scotland - 2023

Northern Wheatear

Scotland (Isle of Skye) - 2024

European Wren

England - 2020

Pacific Wren

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

European Goldcrest

England - 2024

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Eurasian Treecreeper

England - 2024

Nuthatch

England - 2023

European Starling

England - 2023

European Blackbird

England - 2023

Red-winged Blackbird

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Brewer's Blackbird

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Redwing

England - 2020

Varied Thrush

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Song Thrush

England - 2018

Bohemian Waxwing

England - 2023

Cedar Waxwing

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Red-vented Bulbul

India - 2022

Grey Shrike

Poland - 2023

Great Northern Shrike

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Say's Phoebe

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Barn Swallow

England - 2023

Tree Swallow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Violet-green Swallow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Common Swift

England - 2023

House Martin

England - 2024

Sand Martin

England - 2024

Purple Martin

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Smart Birds

Carrion Crow

England - 2019

American Crow

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Hooded Crow

Finland - 2024

Eurasian Jackdaw

England - 2023

Common Raven

Poland - 2023

Red-billed Chough

Wales - 2023

Common Magpie

England - 2023

Eurasian Jay

England - 2019

Canada Jay

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Stellar's Jay

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Clark's Nutcracker

Canada (Alberta) - 2025

Common Grackle

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Pigeons and Doves

Spotted Dove

India - 2022

Collared Dove

England - 2023

Rock Dove

England - 2023

Common Woodpigeon

England - 2024

Pheasants and That

Ring-necked Pheasant

England - 2023

Grey Partridge

England - 2023

Red-legged Partridge

England - 2024

Red Grouse

England - 2024

Sooty Grouse

Canada (Vancouver Island) - 2025

Junglefowl

India - 2022

Parakeets

Plum-headed Parakeet

India - 2022

Ring-necked Parakeet

England - 2023

Birds that I Can't Categorise

Indian Roller

India - 2022

Asian Green Bee-eater

India - 2022

European Bee-eater

England - 2022

Purple-rumped Sunbird

India - 2022

Corncrake

Scotland (Iona) - 2023

Indian Nightjar

India - 2022

Sandhill Crane

Florida - 2016

Eastern Kingbird

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Western Wood Pewee

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Herps

Common Frog

England (My Garden) - 2022

Indian Bullfrog

India - 2022

Common Toad

England (My Garden) - 2022

Bugs et al.

Zebra Spider

England (Yorkshire Wildlife Park) - 2020

Wolf Spider

England (My Garden) - 2021

Swamp Crab Spider

England (Potteric Carr) - 2024

Fork-palped Harvestman

England (Walkers Garden Centre) - 2021

Opilio canestrinii (Harvestman)

England (Walkers Garden Centre) - 2021

Common Harvestman

England (Walkers Garden Centre) - 2021

Scarlet Lily Beetle

England (My Garden) - 2020

Green Shield Bug

England (My Garden) - 2021

Dock Bug

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Harlequin Lady Beetle (Red with black spots)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Harlequin Lady Beetle (Black with red spots)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Harlequin Lady Beetle (Yellow with black spots)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Cercopis vulnerata (Sp. Froghopper)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Rhododendron Leafhopper

England (Walkers Garden Centre) - 2021

Meadow Grasshopper

England (Walkers Garden Centre) - 2021

Alder Leaf Beetle

England (My Garden) - 2024

Rosemary Beetle

England (My Garden) - 2023

Hawthorn Leaf Beetle

England (My Garden) - 2021

Athous haemorrhoidalis (sp. Click Beetle)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Donacia clavipes (sp. Leaf Beetle)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Cantharis nigricans (Sp. Soldier Beetle)

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Green Tiger Beetle

England (Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve) - 2024

Common Tiger Fly

England (My Garden) - 2021

Blow Fly

England - 2021

House Fly

England - 2021

Yellow Dung Fly

England (My Garden) - 2021

Buff-tailed Bumble Bee

England - 2020

Common Wasp

England (My Garden) - 2021

Marmalade Hover Fly

England (My Garden) - 2021

Eristalis pertinax (Sp. Hover Fly)

England - 2018

Helophilus pendulus (Sp. Hover Fly)

England - 2024

Common Drone Fly

England (My Garden) - 2021

Common Darter

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2023

Vagrant Darter

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2023

Four-spotted Chaser

England (Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve) - 2024

Southern Hawker

England (Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve) - 2024

Ground Skimmer

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Crimson Marsh Glider

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Emerald Damselfly

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2023

Large Red Damselfly

England (Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve) - 2024

Azure Damselfly

England (Potteric Carr Nature Reserve) - 2024

Azure Damselfly (Male: right | Female: left)

England (Hatfield Moors Nature Reserve) - 2024

Orange Tip

England (Idle Valley Nature Reserve) - 2024

Large Skipper

England - 2023

Firery Skipper

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Blue Tiger

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Plain Tiger (theres no such thing as a plain tiger...)

India (Tadoba) - 2022

The Baronet

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Green-veined White

England - 2022

Painted Lady

England (Idle Valley Nature Reserve) - 2019

Red Admiral

England - 2022

The Commander

India (Tadoba) - 2022

Dingy Footman

England - 2020

Plants

English Blue Bell

England - 2022

Corncockle

England - 2020

Fox and Cubs

England - 2020

Fungi

Gills and Pores

Fly Agaric

England - 2021

Birch Bolete

England - 2021

The Blusher

England - 2021

Witches Hat

England - 2021

Penny Bun (Porchini)

England - 2021

Sulphur Tuft

England - 2019

Orange Deceiver

England - 2021

Amethyst Deceiver

England - 2021

Red Sickener

Scotland - 2020

Clouded Funnel

England - 2021

Woolly Birds Nest Fungus

Canada (British Columbia) - 2025

Spore Shooters

Common Puffball

England - 2021

Candle Snuff Fungus

England - 2021

Orange Peel Fungus

England - 2021

Scarlette Elfcup

England - 2020

Slate Grey Saddle

England - 2021

Brackets and Similar

Chicken of the Woods

England - 2020

Dryads Saddle

England - 2020

Beefsteak Fungus

England - 2020

Flat Oystering

Scotland - 2021

Oyster Mushroom

England - 2021

Tinder/Hoof Fungus

England - 2019

Lichens

Toy Soldiers

England (Hatfield Moors) - 2021

Footnote: fungi identification is difficult. These are my best guesses and should NOT be used to identify any species of fungus.

Note: I'm aware lichen are not just fungi, I'm just lumping them in with fungi for the purposes of this list.

Created by Niall Bell (niall@niallbell.com)