Guest blogger Christine Trudeau presents results of the 9th annual Alfred-Montebello Christmas Bird Count (CBC) held this past Boxing Day (traduction en français possible)

N.B. Dans la case à droite, choisir English puis French apparaîtra comme un choix parmi toutes les autres langues.  Ensuite cliquez French, et Google traduira l'article en français.  JB.

Hi again,

The 9th edition of the Alfred-Montebello CBC took place on December 26, 2015.   This time, a total of 20 field participants and 2 feeder watchers took part. 

It was another great count!!  A total of 57 species was tallied, an amazing 9 more species  than the previous high of 48 recorded in 2011; this surpasses by 15 the 9-year average of 42 species.  The total of 9,234 birds beats the 2011 record high count of 7,435. These great results are certainly due in part to the beautiful day with temperatures ranging from -3 to +3 degrees C, no wind, no snow on the ground, no precipitation and with most of the waterways being free of ice.

The following nine NEW species brings the cumulative species total to 77: 

Snow Goose (61), American Black Duck (3), Northern Pintail (Canard pilet) (4 at Plantagenet lagoons, see 2 of these in photo below),

Green-winged Teal (1), Bufflehead (1), Peregrine Falcon (Faucon pèlerin) (1 adult near Plantagenet in photo below), 

Ring-billed Gull (5), Iceland Gull (2), and Belted Kingfisher (1).

RECORD HIGHS are:  (previous highs in parenthesis)

Canada Goose 4875 (158 in 2011)

Mallard 219 (2 in 2011 and 2012)

Common Goldeneye 17 (1 in 2014)

Hooded Merganser 3 (1 in 2011)

Common Merganser 20 (5 in 2011)

Northern Harrier 2 (1 in 2011)

Rough-legged Hawk 13 (12 in 2011)

One of 13 Rough-legged Hawks (Buse pattue) seen during count period

Herring Gull 407 (107 in 2014)

Glaucous Gull 3 (2 in 2014)

Great Black-backed Gull 64 (20 in 2011)

Pileated Woodpecker 8 (4 in 2010 and 2011)

Red-breasted Nuthatch 53 (41 in 2008)

White-breasted Nuthatch 52 (45 in 2012)

Golden-crowned Kinglet 9 (5 in 2010)

Purple Finch 12 (2 in 2011)

TIED RECORDS are:  (tied year in parenthesis)

Great Horned Owl 1 (2008)

Short-eared Owl 1 (2011)

Bohemian Waxwing (Jaseur boréal) 25 (2007), photo below shows one of them feeding on crab apples in Plantagenet.

Please see a map showing the locations of all three local CBC (RON) at this link:

https://mapsengine.google.com/map/edit?mid=zqKmUR0yZG5w.kzDsqU9eNzOI

These counts are always full of surprises. While Jacques and I were looking for Short-eared Owls at dawn in the Alfred area, we came across three large animals grazing together in a field near the Alfred Bog.  At first, in the dim light, we thought they were cattle but we had never seen cattle there before.  It turns out these animals were Moose.  See photos below.

q

Moose (Orignal) 1, 2 and 3

A big Thank You to all participants for a job well done!!  I look forward to seeing you all again next year during this  amazing, social and scientific birding event!!

For a complete list of all 57 species and their numbers please contact me at: 

christinetb5@aol.com

À la prochaine,

Christine

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Christine Trudeau
Compiler for ONVK,ONAM & ONFL