The 69th annual Ulster County Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir (NYML) Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was conducted yesterday, 15 December 2018, under very mild and pleasant weather conditions. Pending count week additions and data verification, fifty-two (52) participants in fifteen (15) field parties encountered a total of 14,497 individuals representing 81 species, plus one additional count week species.
Diversity was four species above our current ten-year average of 77 species/year, six species shy of our all-time record high count of 87 species encountered last year. Total abundance was slightly above the ten-year average of 14,056 individuals, but well-below our record high 22,307 from 2017. No new species were added to the count composite, maintaining our historical total at 147 species. Unusual for this count circle, a Northern Pintail was found on Spring Lake, representing only our third count record for this species first recorded on this count in 2012. One Northern Saw-whet Owl was found in a nontraditional location in Hurley, a lone Long-eared Owl was detected in a historical wintering location on private property, and a Northern Shrike was also observed on private property. Three Peregrine Falcons represent a new high count and the fifth time this species has been recorded on this count, all within the last ten years. A single Gray Catbird lingered in the count area, and a total of ten American Pipits were found in two distinct locations. Two count week Cackling Geese were observed on Friday, one day before the count, associating with a large flock of Canada Geese in a farm field off Hurley Mountain Road. Eleven additional species were encountered in record high numbers: Bufflehead (8, eclipsing 4 in 2007) Red-tailed Hawk (84 / 80 in 2010) Rock Pigeon (856, well above the 598 recorded in 2016) Barred Owl (9 / 7 in 2017) Red-headed Woodpecker (7, more than double our previous high count of 3 in 1984) Red-bellied Woodpecker (153 / 141 in 2017) Downy Woodpecker (169 / 165 in 2017) Pileated Woodpecker (40 / 33 in 2017) Blue Jay (539 / 520 in 2005) Carolina Wren (121, an astonishing number in comparison to our previous high 68 in 2014) Field Sparrow (12 / 11 in 1979) Two Rusty Blackbirds, two Red-winged Blackbirds, a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler, four Belted Kingfishers, and six Great Blue Herons lingered in the count area. Hermit Thrush (4), American Robin (231) and Cedar Waxwing (33) were present in relatively small numbers, but 194 Eastern Bluebirds was just one shy of our all-time record high. The highly anticipated incursion of northern irruptive species was not reflected in the day's effort. Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, and Pine Siskin were entirely absent. Two Red-breasted Nuthatch, two Purple Finches, and only three Evening Grosbeaks detected as single individuals in three distant locations, were also disappointing few in number. A complete summary report will appear at a later date on the John Burroughs Natural History Society website. Thanks to all of the participants for a another great effort, and once again this year a special thanks to Kyla Haber, Mark DeDea, and everyone that helped with preparing the food and facilities for our post-count compilation at Hasbrouck Park in Kingston. Steve M. Chorvas Mohonk Lake/Ashokan Reservoir CBC Compiler Saugerties, NY SAVE THE DATE - The 2019 Mohonk Lake-Ashokan Reservoir CBC is scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2019. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm 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://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
