The 124th Christmas Bird Count (CBC), sponsored by the National Audubon Society, ran between Dec. 15 and Jan. 6, with loads of highlights price exploring.
The Waterville CBC on Dec. 17 produced a positive complete of 60 species, effectively above common. There was loads of open water, so waterfowl placed on a great present with 10 species, together with report highs for Canada geese (361) and buffleheads (28). The rarest have been pairs of better scaup and American wigeon. The eight frequent loons have been additionally a report excessive.
Three barred owls have been seen, together with a dozen red-bellied woodpeckers (all-time excessive) and a lingering northern flicker. Record-high counts have been set for 5 species that when left the state to overwinter: Carolina wren (9), jap bluebird (19), American robins (180), white-throated sparrow (65) and savannah sparrow (6). The solely northern finches have been 21 purple finches and 13 pine siskins.
The Bunker Hill CBC, close to Jefferson, yielded 62 species. Thirteen species of waterfowl have been current, together with 334 Canada geese (an all-time excessive), a northern pintail and all three of our diving geese within the genus Aythya: 11 ring-necked geese, 29 better scaup and one lesser scaup.
Lingering birds together with two turkey vultures, a red-shouldered hawk and a belted kingfisher. The solely alcids have been a pair of dovekies. An amazing discover!
Six species of woodpeckers have been discovered, together with a lingering yellow-bellied sapsucker and 7 northern sparkles. Notable data for the songbirds included all-time excessive counts for golden-crowned kinglets (41), jap bluebirds (151) and white-throated sparrows (70). A swamp sparrow, an jap towhee and a red-winged blackbird would usually have migrated south.
The solely birds of northern affinity have been 21 purple finches and three purple crossbills. The 638 American goldfinches have been a brand new excessive depend.
The Thomaston-Rockland CBC on Dec. 17 produced 79 species. Nineteen of these have been waterfowl, together with some sudden species: one gadwall, two ring-necked geese and a ruddy duck. Only one red-throated loon was discovered among the many 103 frequent loons. Horned grebes outnumbered red-necked grebes, 31-4.
This depend produced a protracted record of lingering birds that have been induced to delay their southward migrations. These included two nice blue herons, two turkey vultures, a belted kingfisher, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, an American kestrel, a Carolina wren, two northern mockingbirds, a pine warbler, a yellow-rumped warbler, two savannah sparrows, eight red-winged blackbirds and a Baltimore oriole. Climate change, anybody?
Birds of northern origin included a northern shrike, two purple crossbills and three white-winged crossbills.
Continuing Downeast, the Blue Hill CBC on Dec. 17 produced an inventory of 65 species. Fifteen species of waterfowl have been dominated by mallards (416) and American black geese (417). Two northern pintails and a ring-necked duck have been notable finds.
The frequent loon depend of 56 was a brand new depend report however red-throated loons have been no-shows. The solely grebes have been three red-necked grebes. Lingering non-songbirds included two red-shouldered hawks, a belted kingfisher, and a northern flicker. One alcid was discovered alongside the shore: a typical murre.
The depend had some half-hardy, lingering songbirds however probably the most hanging songbird sample to me was the variety of species with new excessive counts. These species have been frequent raven, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, winter wren, jap bluebird, European starling and white-throated sparrow.
The Mount Desert Island CBC had 60 species on Dec. 15 together with 13 species of waterfowl, all frequently occurring species. The commonest have been mallards, long-tailed geese, and bufflehead. Common loons outnumbered red-throated loons, 111-2. Double-crested and nice cormorants each appeared.
Lingering birds included an excellent blue heron, a northern harrier, a red-headed woodpecker (!), and a hermit thrush. Birds of northern affinity included eight bohemian waxwings, 4 purple finches, and a single white-winged crossbill.
Herb Wilson taught ornithology and different biology programs at Colby College. He welcomes reader feedback and questions at [email protected]
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