The Richmond Hill count was held on Saturday 20 December, under chilly but clear and sunny skies. We had a record number of feeder watchers (14+), ( plus 2 ‘super-watchers’ with elaborate feeder setups and detailed observing), mostly thanks to a good Liberal article ahead of the count. Highlights included a Turkey Vulture, a Common Grackle, a couple of Mute Swans in addition to all the Trumpeters, a flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds in with a large flock of Starlings, and especially the beautiful male Cape May Warbler which has been hanging out at Miranda O’Hara’s fancy feeder (grapes, blueberries, greenery on a tray). The Red-bellied Woodpeckers are becoming quite regular, and we even had 4 Great Blue Herons, in spite of very little open water! Missing were Northern Harriers, Snow Buntings and Horned Larks, and possibly others I haven’t noticed yet. A good Count Week bird was a Northern Goshawk seen (and photographed ) in Area 6.
Professor Emeritus Gene Denzel Department of Mathematics and Statistics York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 905-889-7888 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
