The Smithtown Count (Suffolk County, Long Island) was held on Monday, December 27 with overcast skies, light breezes and cool conditions with daytime temperatures in the mid 30's. Seven parties and 32 participants tallied 101 species and 18,567 individuals on the day of the count and an additional 4 species during the count week period. This is consistent with our 10 year average of 104 species. The highlights of the count included: 54 Common Merganser (Lake Ronkonkama) 5 Wild Turkey (Stony Brook, Setauket, Old Field Sectors) 1 Snowy Egret (Setauket Harbor) 5 Bald Eagle (Blydenburgh, Sunken Meadow, Ronkonkama, Old Field Sectors) 2 American Kestrel (South Setauket, Old Field Sectors) 1 Virginia Rail (Head of the Harbor) 1 Ruddy Turnstone (Old Field Sector) 1 Black-headed Gull (Stony Brook Harbor) 4 Saw-Whet Owl (Ronkonkama, Mt. Sinai, Old Field Sectors) 17 Common Raven (sightings throughout the count area) 1 Marsh Wren (Nissequogue River Sector) 64 Eastern Bluebird (Blydenburgh, Sunken Meadow, Setauket Sectors) 1 Orange-crowned Warbler (McCallister County Park) 22 Chipping Sparrows (1 from Blydenburgh and a flock of 21 from Sunken Meadow) 1 Baltimore Oriole (Ronkonkama Sector) 4 Purple Finch (Sunken Meadow, Setauket, Old Field Sectors) High counts were reported for: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 39 Common Raven 17 Eastern Bluebird 64 Chipping Sparrow 22 White-throated Sparrow 1497 (nearly double our previous high count) Dark-eyed Junco 727 Additionally, while not high counts, impressive numbers were posted for: Screech Owl 39 Great Horned Owl 21 Field Sparrow 20 Count week species included: Ruddy Duck Great Cormorant Northern Harrier Purple Sandpiper I would like to thank all the participants who dedicate their time effort to the count and I hope to see you all next year. Rich Gostic Compiler
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