On Saturday December 18th, the 42nd annual Peel-Halton Counties Christmas
Bird Count (sponsored by the South Peel Naturalists Club - www.spnc.ca) was
held and 41 field observers plus 10 feeder watchers recorded 30,520
individuals of 72 species - about average for species but the 4th highest
total ever for individuals. However, with an unprecedented 9 additional
species reported during count week (so far!), the grand total is now at 81
species which ties the all-time record for this count from three previous
years - 1970, 1974 and 1975.
The most unusual species reported were:
Cackling Goose - new species for the count (of course) - 1 in count week
(Tuesday) reported by Craig McLauchlan at Lakeside Park - brings the
cumulative total for the count to 160 species in 42 years
Pine Warbler - 3rd record - 1 adult male on count day at Rhododendron
Gardens - found by Don Perks, John Lamey, Mark Cranford and Bill Evans
Lincoln's Sparrow - 3rd record, first since 1977, 1 in count week (Tuesday)
found by Wayne Renaud in Rattray Marsh / Jack Darling Park area
Trumpeter Swan - 3rd record - 1 on count day in Bronte area found by Gavin
Edmondstone
Bald Eagle - 5th record - 1 on count day in Lions Valley Park in Oakville
found by Donna Sheppard and Brian Sheppard
Fox Sparrow - 6th record - 1 on count day in Annapolis Park in Oakville
found by Sandra Eadie and Rainer Rothfuss
Northern Goshawk - 8th record, first since 1991 - 1 adult in count week
(Friday Dec. 17th) in Arkendo Park in Oakville, found by Wayne Renaud
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8th record, first since 1996 - 1 male in count week
(Tuesday) found by Wayne Renaud in Rattray Marsh / Jack Darling Park area
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 8th record, 3rd year in a row - 2 on count day
(Bronte - Gavin Edmondstone, southeast Oakville - Bill Jablonsky and Jerry
Guild) plus another in count week (woods east of Fusion Centre in extreme
southwest Mississauga - Wayne Renaud)
Record high counts:
Mute Swan - 76, previous record was 66 last year
Redhead - 780 vs. 713 last year
Lesser Scaup - 211 vs. 37 last year (there were also 3249 Greater Scaup
recorded)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11 vs. 9 in 1998
Rock Pigeon - 1441 vs. 1352 in 2001
Low counts:
American Crow - 72 - 3rd lowest (45 in 1968, 71 in 2002)
Blue Jay - 68 - ties 5th lowest total
European Starling - 3421 - lowest since 3055 in 1997
Missed species:
Great Horned Owl - for the first time in the 42-year history of the count
this species was not found on count day - however, it was found during the
count week
Red-winged Blackbird - found on 29 counts in the past
Pine Siskin - 28 prior counts
Common Grackle - 24 counts
Field Sparrow - 20 counts
Glaucous Gull - 20 counts
Reports of additional species for the count day or week (December 15-21)
for the Peel-Halton Counties count circle are welcome. Note, however, that
I will be away from email for the next few days (until at least Monday).
Thanks to all who contributed to this year's successful count!
Mark Chojnacki
Mississauga, Ontario
[EMAIL PROTECTED] OR [EMAIL PROTECTED]
