The Woodstock Bird Count was held on Saturday December
17th this year. There was more snow than typical and
standing water was all frozen (also atypical), but
there was a good berry crop. That meant that we had
next to no waterfowl, but there were some great birds,
mostly associated with the abundant grapes and other
berries. The count total for species was down somewhat
(55), but was still respectable for Woodstock because
of the numerous good birds that were found. We already
have 5 additional count week birds with a couple of
days to go. Below are the highlights and lowlights of
the count:
Cackling Goose CW (2nd time recorded)
American Black Duck 9 (low)
Ring-billed Gull CW (first time missed on count day
since 1988)
American Herring Gull 24 (low)
Red-shouldered Hawk CW (4th time recorded)
American Kestral 1 (new low)
Merlin 1 (4th time on count)
Ruffed Grouse 0 (first time missed since 1986)
Wild Turkey 36 (second highest count)
Red-bellied Woodpecker 10 (new high count)
Northern Flicker 6 (second highest ever)
Horned Lark 339 (new high count)
Blue Jay 355 (new high count)
American Crow 15279 (lowish compared to recent years;
they must be in Chatham)
Marsh Wren 1 (new bird for count and first December
record for Oxford County)
Winter Wren 3 (ties high count)
Hermit Thrush 2 (new high count, 4th time on count)
Northern Mockingbird 1 (3rd time on count)
Fox Sparrow 2 (2nd time on count, ties high count)
Field Sparrow 3 (new high count)
White-throated Sparrow 28 (new high count)
White-crowned Sparrow CW (5th time on count)
Swamp Sparrow 2 (low count)
Snow Bunting 1753 (2nd highest count)
Rusty Blackbird 1 (2nd time on count)
American Goldfinch 542 (new high count)
Pine Siskin 3 (only northern finch on count)
Summary stats: 31,139 individuals of 55 species plus 5
count week species. 18 observers in field. 17 at
feeders. Weather was good. Temperature steady at 5
degrees, light snow in morning, partly sunny in
afternoon, wind SW at 20-30kph.
Jeff
Jeff Skevington, Invertebrate Biodiversity
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
K.W. Neatby Building, C.E.F., 960 Carling Ave.
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
Work Phone: 613-759-1647, FAX: 613-759-1927
Home Phone: 613-832-1970
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
alternate e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
__________________________________________________________
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From: "Marcel Gahbauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2005 23:33:03 -0500
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Toronto CBC
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Reply-To: Marcel Gahbauer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Hello Ontbirders,
The 81st Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held today, Sunday December 18,
under mostly cloudy skies, and temperatures a few degrees below freezing.
Over 80 participants contributed to a record high species total of 91;
however, the 46,470 individuals counted were the fewest since 1995.
Preliminary results are reported below; final numbers will be on the Toronto
Ornithological Club's website by late December, at
www.torontobirding.ca/outings#cbc.html.
HIGHLIGHTS (subject to review by the Toronto Bird Rarities Committee):
* Savannah Sparrow, 1 at Humber Bay Park east (observed by Glenn Coady;
never before recorded on TOC CBC)
* Pacific Loon, 1 off Cherry Beach (observed by Richard Joos; never before
recorded on TOC CBC)
* Eastern Bluebird, a flock of 5 along the West Don River in Serena Gundy
Park (observed by Kristen Martyn, Bruce Massey, and myself; 5th record in
the count's history)
Also of note, 2 Killdeer (Humber Bay Park, 13th count record), 1 Barred Owl
(Leslie Spit, 14th count record), and 1 Field Sparrow (Ontario Nature
headquarters, 3rd occurrence in past decade).
TOP 5 SPECIES:
European Starling - 9509
Greater Scaup - 5664
Long-tailed Duck - 4432
Ring-billed Gull - 3978
Mallard - 3289
RECORD HIGHS:
Mute Swan - 191 (previously 157 in 2000)
Lesser Scaup - 246 (previously 147 in 2003)
Cooper's Hawk - 13 (previously 11 in 2002)
Red-tailed Hawk - 89 (previously 76 in 1989)
Merlin - 3 (previously 2 in 6 years over the past decade)
Peregrine Falcon - 10 (previously 9 in 2001)
Downy Woodpecker - 226 (previously 184 in 1999)
Eastern Bluebird - 5 (previously 4 in 1950)
Hermit Thrush - 10 (previously 7 in 1997 and 2004)
Northern Mockingbird - 28 (previously 24 in 2003)
House Sparrow - 2530 (previously 2513 in 1996)
Also worthy of mention:
* 391 Northern Cardinals (within 6 of the record set in 2000)
* 177 Red-breasted Mergansers (within 2 of the record set in 1993, and the
first time since 1998 that more than 60 have been seen)
* 7 Pileated Woodpeckers (one short of the record set in 1999)
* 1262 Black-capped Chickadees (just short of the record 1294 set in 2001,
and significant because they experienced a drastic decline in 2002 after
West Nile Virus hit Toronto, but have recovered much more rapidly than crows
and jays - see below)
* 237 American Tree Sparrows (highest count since 1972)
UNUSUAL LOWS:
Common Goldeneye - 465 (fewest since 1994)
Long-tailed Duck - 4432 (fewest since 1995)
Great Black-backed Gull - 26 (fewest since 1985)
Blue Jay - 41 (best total in 4 years, but still very low
compared to historical average)
American Crow - 65 (better than 26 last year, but still
less than 10% of their 10-year average)
Cedar Waxwing - 14 (fewest since 1995)
European Starling - 9509 (fewest since 1995)
House Finch - 302 (fewest since 1987)
SINGLE BIRDS: (not including those already mentioned)
Common Loon (Humber Bay East), Red-necked Grebe (Toronto Island East),
Northern Pintail (Base of Leslie Spit), Ring-necked Duck (Humber Bay East),
Harlequin Duck (Humber Bay East), Northern Harrier (Leslie Spit), Glaucous
Gull (Leslie Spit), Short-eared Owl (Downsview Airport), Northern Saw-whet
Owl (Base of Leslie Spit), Northern Shrike (Toronto Island East),
White-crowned Sparrow (Toronto Island West), Red-winged Blackbird (Toronto
Island East), Rusty Blackbird (Weston), Purple Finch (Base of Leslie Spit).
MISSED SPECIES / COUNT WEEK CANDIDATES?:
Horned Grebe (5 times in past decade)
Double-crested Cormorant (4 times in past decade)
Ruddy Duck (5 times in past decade)
Rough-legged Hawk (4 times in past decade)
Snowy Owl (7 times in past decade)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (6 times in past decade)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (5 times in past decade)
Common Grackle (6 times in past decade)
(Note: last year record highs were set for three of these species -
Double-crested Cormorant, Ruddy Duck, and Bald Eagle)
Count week reports of any of the above species (or any other rarities)
between Dec 15 and 21 (inclusive) are most welcome - please e-mail me
privately ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) if you have any such sightings.
Thanks to all who participated for making it a great count. Happy holidays
and good birding to all!
Marcel Gahbauer
Montreal / Toronto
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
