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Unusual Finds in the Christmas Bird Count

January 12, 2010 - Christmas Count season is upon us. Organized by the National Audubon Society, this census effort has given us a valuable snapshot of early winter bird distribution for over the past 100 years. More than 20 counts are held in Maine. This column is the first in a series describing the highlights of the 2009/2010 counts.

Each winter, bird abundance in Maine is increased by varying numbers of irruptive (meaning moving into) birds from our north. Such species include common redpolls, pine grosbeaks and other northern finches as well as bohemian waxwings. In some years, snowy owls, great gray owls and northern hawk owls grace us with their presence for the winter. Alas, this year is a poor one so far for these erratic winter visitors.

Maine's southernmost count, the York count, was held Dec. 14 and produced a fine list of 86 species. With lots of coastal and freshwater habitat, this count circle usually produces a nice diversity of waterfowl. This year's count was no exception with 16 species found. The most notable waterfowl were three snow geese and two Gadwall. Harlequin ducks in eastern North America seem to be declining, so the 86 individuals of these handsome birds on the York count were nice to see.

The combination of the southerly location and early date for this count in the nearly three-week counting period resulted in a number of birds that were lingering later than normal. I am sure most of these birds have found their way farther south now!

These lingerers included double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, northern harrier, Wilson's snipe, belted kingfisher, yellow-bellied sapsucker, American pipit and Savannah sparrow. I suspect many of the 51 eastern bluebirds tallied have sought warmer climes now.

Six species of gulls were counted; the most unusual was a black-headed gull. Black-legged kittiwakes were represented by a fine total of 35.

Shorebird diversity was excellent with the expected purple sandpipers and sanderlings joined by a killdeer, two ruddy turnstones and two Dunlin.

The most common alcid in coastal waters is the black guillemot, and 10 were found this year. Razorbills usually winter well offshore so the count of 22 birds is noteworthy.

The best rarity on the count was a yellow-throated warbler.

The Lewiston/Auburn count was held Dec. 19. A total of 43 species were found by the 25 participants. The 326 mallards were by far the most common of the six species of waterfowl found. Two lingering common loons were nice finds. Five species of diurnal raptors were found, with the dozen red-tailed hawks and the two peregrine falcons being the most notable.

Red-breasted nuthatch abundance varies greatly from winter to winter. This year seems to be a bit of a down year; only 14 were found in Lewiston/Auburn.

Lingering birds included a hermit thrush and a field sparrow. Three northern mockingbirds and 60 cedar waxwings were good additions to the count. The 50 northern cardinals indicate this species continues to increase in Maine; the species was quite uncommon in Maine only 30 years ago. Only two finch species (American goldfinch and house finch) were found this year.

The Bunker Hill count in Lincoln County produced 50 species on Dec. 21. Eleven species of waterfowl were tallied, with a redhead, a ring-necked duck and a dozen greater scaup being the most notable.

Birds that normally depart from Maine by this time included a great blue heron, two eastern bluebirds and, most unusually, a vesper sparrow.

Three red-bellied woodpeckers were found along with three other species of woodpeckers: downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker.

Only two species of finches were found: 114 American goldfinches and a single house finch.

The Waterville count was held on Dec. 20 and produced 53 species. Open water was limited but counters were able to find a greater scaup, a lingering ring-necked duck and a single Barrow's goldeneye (multiple individuals of this species are usually found on the Kennebec River here).

Diurnal raptor diversity was good with the highlights being a rough-legged hawk, several red-tailed hawks and a merlin.

Two observers must have been amazed to find an eastern phoebe, pumping its tail, at this late date. Other unexpected birds included a Lincoln's sparrow and a pair of rusty blackbirds.

One bohemian waxwing was picked out of a flock of cedar waxwings. A large dairy farm north of Fairfield usually produces a nice mix of ground-feeding seed eaters. The counters were not disappointed this year, finding horned larks, snow buntings, and a single Lapland longspur.

HERB WILSON, Portland Press Herald, January 9, 2010


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