You will probably get some very different replies as some here have already expressed that they do not really understand observing common species.
Well, I am also observing the common ones (and even multiple times) for different reasons (random order)
- I like filling my personal map as a kind of a “I have been here” and will try to observe something even if I am somewhere only for a short period of time.. and often there are some go to species I will observe for that purpose. It even became like a running gag for me and my partner “Hey I need to shoot something or I have not really been here” .. in cities this often will be rock pigeons.. in South America vultures filled this place, especially as I really loved them anyways.. I am surprised that for both only have ~40 observations.. felt much more
- For some species I like to catch a glimpse of the pattern diversity they can show, e.g. marsupial frogs which is my top observed species.. but also the asian ladybeetle as I always felt some morphs seem to be more prominent in certain areas compared to other areas
- Some taxa I just do not know enough about to reliably distinguish species.. so I will take the shot and see what it is later when the experts give their opinion. I got quite some new lifers this way.. especially when it comes to plants, but also some other organisms like fungi, flies, lichen…
- Some species I just reaaaallly like so much, I always love getting a photo like the still bary in my tip ten but probably soon to be replaced by the honey bee Lynx spider Peucetia rubrolineata
- speaking if honey bee.. a very thankful subject to hone photography skills, so some of the observations are due to me practicing and once I have the photo, why not upload it as well.. sometimes they have been a by-catch as a spiders prey or when actually photographing a plant.. or sometimes it was something interesting about it like a drohne, a natural hive or something similar.. there are other species that are similar
- Sometimes I just like and go out an take as many photos as I can, especially when I am in a place that has not a lot of observations yet
- If I am at a place and see even common species have not been observers there yet, I will observe them to fill the map.for them as well
- Phenology data is also something I think about for certain species.. so I like to get the first an possibly last one I see in a year as observation