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The fourth "official" Cape Croker CBC was held on Sunday, December 14, on the
shores of Georgian Bay, flanked by the Niagara Escarpment, on the Bruce
Peninsula. As with other southern and central Ontario counts, it was a most
pleasant day to be out, with temperatures hovering between 2C and 5C, little or
no wind, under overcast skies (and some very light intermittent drizzle in the
afternoon).
The total of 39 species (plus a count-week American Robin) found by 14
observers was below average, but the total number of individual birds (1,417)
was record-high, thanks largely to a record count of 457 Snow Buntings.
New for the count were Mute Swan (2) and Ring-billed Gull (7). Notable was a
single Glaucous Gull, seen only once previously.
For what it's worth for such a young count, other record "high" numbers were:
Horned Grebe (8, previous high - 2), Rock Pigeon (4, previously 1), Eastern
Screech-Owl (12, tied previous), Great Horned Owl (3, previous 2), Downy
Woodpecker (17, previous 13), Hairy Woodpecker (7, previous 6), Blue Jay (107,
previous 49), White-breasted Nuthatch (27, previous 15), Golden-crowned Kinglet
(12, previous 11) and Common Redpoll (70, previous 46). One wonders if the
high numbers of woodpeckers, jays and White-breasted Nuthatches has anything to
do with the superabundant crop of acorns this year.
In the where-were-they-all? department, the sparrow family was represented by a
lone American Tree Sparrow and four Northern Cardinals.
Birdy Holidays all!
Jarmo
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