The 30th Ingersoll CBC took place on December 28, a cold, snowy, windy
day. Despite the wintry weather 62 species were tallied which slightly
exceeds the long term average of 59.2 species and ties the 10 year
average of 62.2 species. The number of individuals was 30,902, almost
double the long term average and the 3rd highest.
Highlights include the 2nd ever Wilson's Snipe, American Pipit and
Thayer's Gull.
The combination of a deep water roosting pond at the limestone quarrying
pits along the Thames River just east of Ingersoll and the nearby
Norwich dump produced all-time high gull counts including 8210 Herring
[previous 2556], 25 Great Black-backed [8], 5 Glaucous [2], 4 Lesser
Black-backed [1] and 3 Iceland [1] Gulls.
Waterfowl were plentiful and most were found in above average numbers.
53 Common Mergansers produced the 2nd highest-ever count. There were
1500 Tundra Swans in the area since late November but only 2 small
flocks were seen on count day, both heading south with the cold front.
The high winds and snow streamers off Lake Huron kept most raptors low
although Northern Harriers were double the average. The four American
Kestrels were the lowest total in 30 years.
Some sparrows and finches were lower than average in numbers. Only three
[average 11] White-throated Sparrows were found. On the other hand 862
Dark-eyed Juncos were well above average [627] and Snow Buntings were
found throughout and were abundant with 5164 individuals, the 3rd
highest count in 30 years.
The biggest miss was Brown-headed Cowbird, the first time in the 30
years of the count. The long-term average for this species is 152. Other
species missed include Ruffed Grouse, Merlin, Long-eared Owl, Northern
Shrike, Pileated Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush and White-crowned Sparrow.
Winter finches were scarce with 1 Common Redpoll, 1 Pine Siskin and 4
White-winged Crossbills feeding together in a large alder thicket near
Centreville.
Dave Martin
Harrietsville
damar...@xplornet.com
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
