The 14th annual Huntsville Christmas Bird Count was held on Tuesday, December 18. After some early morning very light freezing drizzle, it was cloudy, calm and not too cold for the rest of the day, providing good conditions for birding. The only open water was in some sections of the Muskoka River. Knee-deep powdery snow made off-road travel challenging. Forty species were observed, two above the count average.
Record highs were set for 10 species. Previous highs are shown in parentheses. Red-tailed Hawk: 4 (2) Wild Turkey: 55 (18) Barred Owl: 5 (4) Hairy Woodpecker: 102 (62) Pileated Woodpecker: 13 (10) Northern Shrike: 6 (3) Black-capped Chickadee: 1456 (1367) White-breasted Nuthatch: 165 (105) Pine Grosbeak: 211 (208) Common Redpoll: 581 (242) New Species for the Count: Northern Saw-whet Owl: 1 (observed roosting during the day) Hoary Redpoll: 3 Unusual Species for the Count: Gray Jay: 2 (not recorded since 2003) Boreal Chickadee: 1 (not recorded since 2001) White-throated Sparrow: 1 (at a feeder) European Goldfinch: 1 (an escape photographed near a feeder, and not included in the species total) Finches: Pine Grosbeak: 211 Purple Finch: 6 (at one feeder) Common Redpoll: 581 Hoary Redpoll: 3 American Goldfinch: 62 Evening Grosbeak: 14 (at two feeders) I appreciate the great effort by our 20 field observers, and several feeder watchers. Thanks to Kevin Clute for organizing the electronic tally, and to Lyn Griffin and Pat Tozer for preparing the great post-count supper. Ron Tozer Huntsville CBC Compiler _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
