111th Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Mohonk Lake / Ashokan Reservoir (NYML) - December 18, 2010
Twenty-seven observers in ten field parties recorded 11,840 individuals of 72 species (plus one additional count week species) during our 61st annual survey of this Ulster County CBC circle centered at the Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge. This year's count represents only the third time we have recorded 70 or more species (record-high of 79 species in 2007), and our third highest total number of individuals (previously 16,092 in 2008 and 14,162 in 2007). Species diversity was well above the recent ten-year average of 64.3 species, and we exceeded last year's (2009) count by one species and 209 individuals. Weather conditions this year were quite favorable for conducting the count, if not for concentrating birds in limited areas. Temperatures were typically cold and near average, ranging from an early morning low of 15° (F) in the southwest sector to an afternoon high of 38° (F) at Ashokan Reservoir. No precipitation was recorded during the count, with mostly sunny skies and little or no wind. The higher elevations of Mohonk Lake experienced light winds and recorded trace amounts of snow cover, while the rest of the count area was generally devoid of any snow. Smaller ponds and slow moving bodies of water were largely frozen. Fast moving streams, Esopus Creek, and the lower basin of Ashokan Reservoir were entirely open, and approximately one third of Stone Ridge Pond on Mill Dam Road retained open water. Highlights include three species previously recorded only once during this count's 61-year history. A very late Broad-winged Hawk was observed by Tom Sarro perched in a tree on the edge of a horse paddock on Klienekill Farm in the Mohonk Lake sector; two Northern Saw-whet Owls responded to Peter Schoenberger's vocal imitation on Sundale Road in Accord; and a total of eight Wood Ducks in two groups were encountered in two sectors, eclipsing our first record of 3 recorded in 2005. Two additional species were encountered for only the third time; two Merlins (previously 1 in 1988 and 1 in 2008) and a late Killdeer (3 in 1973 and 1 in 1991). Six Ring-necked Ducks, last recorded 19 years ago and on four previous occasions (1/1991, 14/1987, 2/1975, 14/1974, 4/1966) were an unusual find for this count circle. Additional noteworthy records include new high counts of 767 Mallards (eclipsing 715 in 2008), 5 Bald Eagles (eclipsing 4 in 2009 and 2007), 7 Cooper's Hawks (surpassing last year's record 6), 4 Red-shouldered Hawks (eclipsing 2 in 2008), 80 Red-tailed Hawks (surpassing last year's record 65), 7 Barred Owls (eclipsing 4 in 2006), 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (eclipsing 8 in 2008), 53 Carolina Wrens (eclipsing 47 in 2006), and 98 Song Sparrows (eclipsing 95 in 2007). Two White-crowned Sparrows represent our 7th count record, and two Ruby-crowned Kinglets, three Field Sparrows, one Fox Sparrow, and three American Kestrels were nice half-hardy additions to the compilation. Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and Northern Cardinal were encountered by all of the ten field parties. Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Horned Grebe, Broad-winged Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Killdeer, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Hermit Thrush, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Snow Bunting, and Common Grackle were recorded by only one field party. Stone Ridge Pond continues to attract and account for significant numbers of Canada Geese, Mallards, and a few Mute Swans, but lacked additional waterfowl diversity this year, and the overall population density continues to decline from the high counts of 2,000+ individuals of recent past years. Several large flocks of Canada Geese were observed in flight over the Lomontville Flats, heading in no consistent direction or with any apparent objective, and the compost mounds off Fording Place continue to attract large numbers of Ring-billed Gulls along with a few Herring Gulls. Canada Geese and American Crows once again accounted for a large percentage of the total number of individuals (38%). Three typically abundant species were notable for their relative scarcity. Downy Woodpecker completely evaded detection in one large sector, White-throated Sparrows (200) were below average and fewer than half of the 403 detected last year, and Dark-eyed Juncos were well below recent averages and down 60% compared to 2009 (631 vs.1,558). No winter finches (Purple Finches, Siskins, Redpolls, Grosbeaks, or Crossbills) and no Yellow-rumped Warblers were encountered by any of the field parties, and blackbirds were limited to just one lone Common Grackle! For the fourth consecutive year, relatively few vultures (12) were observed in the vicinity of a known roosting site in New Paltz that is currently hosting over 100 individuals, including 40+ Black Vultures. Common Loon was once again absent from the lower basin of Ashokan Reservoir. Below is the complete list of species with total number of individuals (asterisks indicate unusual species for this count circle, "cw" indicates a count-week only species). Thanks to all of the following participants for their time and effort: David Arner, Jackie Bogardus, Alan Bowdery, Lynn Bowdery, Mira Bowin, Joe Bridges, Matt Corsaro, Tom Crepet, Mark DeDea, Jaime Deppen, Lin Fagan, Christine Guarino, Jim Marks, Gene McGarry, Jennifer Merriam, Maeve Mower, Jeff Nerp, David Nyzio, David Rankin, Doug Robinson, Susan Rogers, Tom Sarro, Peter Schoenberger, Donna Seymour, Tracey Shimer, Selden Spencer, Steve Stanne, John Thompson, and Glen Van Gorden. And once again this year a very special thanks to Mark DeDea and Kyla Haber for providing the facilities, hot food, and beverages for our well-attended post-count compilation at Hasbrouck Park in Kingston. Steve M. Chorvas Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir CBC Compiler Saugerties, NY Canada Goose-3,354 Mute Swan-8 Wood Duck*-8 American Black Duck-28 Mallard-767 Ring-necked Duck*-6 Bufflehead-cw Common Goldeneye-2 Hooded Merganser-8 Common Merganser-46 Wild Turkey-55 Horned Grebe-7 Great Blue Heron-5 Black Vulture-4 Turkey Vulture-8 Bald Eagle-5 Northern Harrier-8 Sharp-shinned Hawk-3 Cooper's Hawk-7 Red-shouldered Hawk-4 Broad-winged Hawk*-1 Red-tailed Hawk-80 Rough-legged Hawk-1 American Kestrel-3 Merlin*-2 Killdeer*-1 Ring-billed Gull-570 Herring Gull-65 Great Black-backed Gull-6 Rock Pigeon-369 Mourning Dove-285 Eastern Screech-Owl-3 Great Horned Owl-2 Barred Owl-7 Northern Saw-whet Owl*-2 Belted Kingfisher-3 Red-bellied Woodpecker-63 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-9 Downy Woodpecker-82 Hairy Woodpecker-29 Northern Flicker-15 Pileated Woodpecker-13 Woodpecker sp.-1 Blue Jay-458 American Crow-1,165 Common Raven-6 Black-capped Chickadee-373 Tufted Titmouse-298 Red-breasted Nuthatch-14 White-breasted Nuthatch-157 Brown Creeper-4 Carolina Wren-53 Golden-crowned Kinglet-42 Ruby-crowned Kinglet-2 Eastern Bluebird-109 Hermit Thrush-1 American Robin-11 Northern Mockingbird-55 European Starling-918 Cedar Waxwing-50 American Tree Sparrow-195 Field Sparrow-3 Fox Sparrow-1 Song Sparrow-98 Swamp Sparrow-10 White-throated Sparrow-200 White-crowned Sparrow -2 Dark-eyed Junco-631 Snow Bunting-58 Northern Cardinal-192 Common Grackle-1 House Finch-121 American Goldfinch-87 House Sparrow-580 -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
