The 65th annual Mohonk Lake-Ashokan Reservoir (Ulster County) Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was conducted this past Saturday, 20 December 2014, under relatively good weather conditions. Forty-four (44) participants in ten field parties encountered 15,661 individuals of 79 species (plus two additional count week species, pending additions to the count week period). This year's effort resulted in our second-highest abundance total, just 431 individuals short of our record high 16,092 in 2008, and equaled our previous high diversity counts of 79 species in 2012 and 2007.
Temperatures remained just below freezing throughout the count day, ranging from an early morning low of 27° (F) to an afternoon high of 30° (F) on the Lomontville Flats in Hurley. Winds were calm or very light over most of the count terrain, and visibility was good under cloudy skies with no precipitation. Field conditions were characterized by a complete lack of snow cover and significant areas of water open, with most sources of water devoid of ice or minimally infringed along stagnant edges. Night skies were solid overcast, precluding any moonlight. Three Cackling Geese associating with a large flock of Canada Geese on Spring Lake off Lucas Avenue in Kingston represent a new addition to the count composite and species number 146 for this count circle. Sector leader Mark DeDea noted that this large flock of Canada Geese consisted of numerous smaller Lesser/Richardson's types, and considerable time and patience was required to sort out the Cackling Geese. Five Northern Pintail (three off Clearwater Road in New Paltz, and a pair in a pond off Lapla Road in Marbletown) represent only our second count record for this species, previously recorded when two individuals were observed on a small pond in Krumville in 2012. Record-high counts were established for a remarkable twenty species, including three Iceland Gulls observed along Mohonk Road in New Paltz (our fourth overall CBC record), and three reports of individual Merlins from three distinct locations, representing our fifth CBC record. Additional high counts were recorded for Ring-necked Duck (28, eclipsing 14 in 2013), Bald Eagle (10, eclipsing 6 in 2011), Cooper's Hawk (9, eclipsing 8 in 2012 and 2011), Red-shouldered Hawk (7, eclipsing 5 in 2012), Great Horned Owl (7, eclipsing 5 in 1966), Northern Saw-whet Owl (3, eclipsing 2 in 2010), Red-bellied Woodpecker (85, eclipsing 77 in 2013), Downy Woodpecker (161, eclipsing 126 in 2009), Hairy Woodpecker (40, eclipsing 36 in 1965), Common Raven (25, eclipsing 16 in 2006), Tufted Titmouse (364, eclipsing 331 in 2006), White-breasted Nuthatch (267, significantly exceeding our previous high count of 158 in 2006), Carolina Wren (68, eclipsing 61 in 2012), Eastern Bluebird (195, eclipsing 145 in 2012 and 2006), Savannah Sparrow (14, eclipsing 9 in 1967), Northern Cardinal (257, eclipsing 245 in 2009), and American Goldfinch (335, significantly exceeding our previous high count of 266 in 1972). Pileated Woodpecker matched our previous high count of 31 from last year. Canada Geese were once again the most numerous species recorded during the count, accounting for 26% (4,086) of our total number of individuals. A flock of 250 Snow Geese were a nice addition, more often than not missed entirely on this count. Irruptive winter finches were modestly represented with a single Purple Finch, four Common Redpolls, and 41 Pine Siskins. One Eastern Towhee, one Field Sparrow, four Great Blue Herons, four Belted Kingfishers, and eight Hermit Thrushes lingered in the count circle, otherwise half-hardies were surprisingly absent during this relatively mild December. We did not detect any warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, or Gray Catbirds during the count, and blackbirds also appeared scarce, with only two Red-winged Blackbirds, a single Common Grackle, and two count week Brown-headed Cowbirds detected. No record-low counts were set for any species previously encountered on this count, though our total number of Swamp Sparrows (5) was half the current ten-year average of 10.1/year and well below our record high count of 46 in 2006. Thanks to the following participants for their fine effort in conducting this annual bird survey: David Arner, Christina Baal, Joseph Ben-Eliazer, Allan Bowdery, Lynn Bowdery, Mira Bowin, Joe Bridges, Jim Clinton, Matt Corsaro, Sammy Decker, Mark DeDea, Lin Fagan, Deb Ferguson, Amy Fradon, Christine Guarino, Barbara Hart, Dave Hayes, Jon Hilowitz, Jon Johnson, Evelyn Leigh (feeder-watch), Maeve Maurer, Annie Mardiney, Arnold Meier, Joel Meier, Malcolm Meier, Travis Meier, Elizabeth Moffett, Frank Murphy, Jeff Nerp, David Nyzio, Jessica Prockup, George Rodenhausen, Susan Rogers, Tom Sarro, Peter Schoenberger, Halley Schwab, Donna Seymour, Steve Stanne, Nava Tabak, John Thompson, Wendy Tocci, Glen Van Gorden, and Kent Warner. It was particularly gratifying to see several young birders engaged in this project this year, and once again I would like to extend a very special thanks to Mark DeDea, Kyla Haber, and everyone that helped with the facilities, hot food, and beverages for our very enjoyable post-count compilation at Hasbrouck Park in Kingston. Next year's Mohonk Lake-Ashokan Reservoir CBC is scheduled for Saturday, December 19, 2015. Steve M. Chorvas Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir CBC Compiler Saugerties, NY -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
