Compared to counts held on Sunday, the weather was moderate with light winds
and a light snow only late in the day.
Most lakes and streams were frozen, but there was some open water in Gull
Lake, and a little in Gull River through Minden.
Highlights included two Common Loons and 66 Wild Turkeys (a count high).
The only gull was a Herring Gull headed south away from any waterway.
There were no Canada Geese for the first time in the past eight years.
One Bald Eagle (adult) was seen, marking the sixth consecutive year for
this species, which first showed up on the 1994 count. On the 27 counts
prior to that, there were no sightings.
Black-capped Chickadees were present in fairly large flocks, both at and
away from feeders.
Blue Jay numbers were up from last year.
Evening Grosbeak flocks were few, but of substantial size with a
predominence of males in spectacular plumage. They were both at feeders and
feeding on sumac fruit. Redpolls were either at feeders, or feeding on
tamarack buds, suggesting that preferred wild food is scarce. For that
reason flocks will likely continue to move south. There were a few
Goldfinches, but no Purple Finches, Pine Siskins or crossbills, although
White-winged Crossbills were seen two days before the count. While large
numbers of Pine Grosbeaks were seen collecting grit on sideroads two days
before the count, not as many were spotted on count day. Very few pink
adult males were seen on either day.
Total number of species was 40, slightly below the count average for the
past several years.
The count circle is centred about 3 kilometres southeast of Minden, which is
on Highway #35, and includes the hamlets of Miner's Bay, Kinmount, Gelert,
Lochlin and Ingoldsby, and the western edge of Irondale.
Dennis Barry 905-725-2116
