Hello Ontbirders,
The The 82nd Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held today, Sunday
December 17, in remarkably mild and pleasant weather. While the
majority of sector leaders felt the birding was a bit underwhelming,
we nonetheless ended up with above average totals (89 species, 55959
individuals), and record highs for unusually many species.
Preliminary results of the count are summarized below; once count week
is over and we have been able to confirm all data, the final results
will be posted on the Toronto Ornithological Club website, at
http://www.torontobirding.ca/outings#cbc.html
HIGHLIGHTS (subject to review by the Toronto Bird Rarities Committee):
Ovenbird (second record for count day; seen near
Vanier College at York University)
Orange-crowned Warbler (third record for count day;
seen along Mimico Creek near Lakeshore)
Cackling Goose (second count record, along the north Humber)
Chipping Sparrow (7th count record, along the east Don)
Wilson's Snipe (7th count record, but third in 4 years; Downsview Dells)
TOP 5 SPECIES:
European Starling - 21469
Long-tailed Duck - 7180
Ring-billed Gull - 5668
Rock Pigeon - 3358
Canada Goose - 2913
RECORD HIGHS: (17 species including 4 ties)
Great Blue Heron (17; ties high set in 1996)
Black-crowned Night Heron (20; previous high 12 in 1998)
Horned Grebe (3; ties high set in 1975)
Red-necked Grebe (4; previous high 2 in 1997 and 2003)
Northern Shoveler (94; previous high 51 in 1994)
Northern Pintail (14; previous high 8 in 1953)
Red-breasted Merganser (309; previous high 179 in 1993)
Cooper's Hawk (16; previous high 16 in 2005)
Peregrine Falcon (10; ties high set in 2005)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (3; ties high of 1993, 1995, and 2004)
Downy Woodpecker (232; previous high 222 in 2005)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (70; previous high 63 in 2003)
Northern Mockingbird (34; previous high 30 in 2005)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (4; previous high 3 in 1959)
Northern Cardinal (478; previous high 398 in 2005)
American Goldfinch (1198; previous high 1032 in 1963)
House Sparrow (2834; previous high 2618 in 2005)
Also worthy of mention:
76 Hairy Woodpeckers (highest count since 1965)
62 Song Sparrows (highest count since 1989)
767 Dark-eyed Juncos (highest count since 1989)
UNUSUAL LOWS:
Greater Scaup (1033; fewest since 1997)
Redhead (340; fewest since 1996)
Great Black-backed Gull (7; fewest since 1970)
SINGLE BIRDS: (not including those already mentioned)
Wood Duck (Lower Don Valley), Northern Harrier (Lower Humber),
Red-shouldered Hawk (Taylor Creek), Ring-necked Pheasant (Thornhill),
American Coot (Humber Bay), Bonaparte's Gull (Humber Bay), Iceland
Gull (Leslie Spit), Short-eared Owl (Leslie Spit), Ruby-crowned
Kinglet (Portlands), Purple Finch (Lower Humber)
MISSED SPECIES / COUNT WEEK CANDIDATES?
Tundra Swan, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged
Hawk, Merlin, Glaucous Gull, Snowy Owl, Saw-whet Owl, Snow Bunting,
Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird
Count week reports of any of the above species (or any other rarities)
between Dec 14 and 20 (inclusive) are most welcome - please e-mail me
privately ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) if you have any such
sightings. Note that unfortunately Colonel Sam Smith Park is NOT
within the Toronto count circle - a map of the area included in our
coverage is at http://www.torontobirding.ca/cbcsectors.html
Thanks to all who participated for again making it a great count.
Happy holidays and good birding!
Marcel Gahbauer
Toronto / Calgary
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
