Hello all, The Cortland CBC took place last Saturday (Dec 17) and it was a record breaker in many ways. Combining the ridiculously warm late fall weather and a perfect storm of a warm few days followed by our coldest night of the year that led to a great goose movement, we broke the previous count day record of 75 species (set last year). We had 77 species on the day of the count (maybe 78 depending on whether I count the Mute Swans on Mclean Rd) including a few count day firsts. The count day firsts were ROSS' GOOSE (Chris Wood and Jessie Barry), GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (Cris and Jessie; I had 7 count week birds a couple years ago), GRAY CATBIRD (Peter Harity and party at Lime Hollow) and FISH CROW (Matt Young) at the cemetery off of Rte 13 in Cortland (heard 7-8 times over the past 3 weeks including this morning 12/22). This is a bird I've looked for in Cortland for years....I knew they had to be in Cortland. I've heard as many as 2 birds.
There were several count highs (Canada Goose 20,000+, Snow Goose 2000+, 15-20 Ravens, 3 Goshawks, 200+ PINE SISKINS) and several other really good species such as RUSTY BLACKBIRD (10th time ever), COMMON GRACKLE ( we had the blackbird sweep with BH cowbirds and RW Blackbirds), HERMIT THRUSH (3rd time ever but second time in last 3 years), GOLDEN EAGLE (loafing juvy being harassed by Raven for 20+ minutes --seen by myself and Dave McCartt; 3 time in last 7 years), 2 ADULT BALD EAGLES, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS (probably will be the North America high; Jim Barry's group had 2), EASTERN TOWHEE (5th time ever seen by Governali's), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (male and female on Cold Brook seen by myself and Dave; 3rd time ever), and 6 CACKLING GEESE (one by us, one by McGowan's, 2 by Ken R., Jeff G. and Tim L and 2 by Chris and Jessie). Other good species for the count were NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, 2 CAROLINA WRENS, 16 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS (2nd high count) and ~65 PURPLE FINCHES (also a count high), 2 American Kestrels and ~10 Rough-legged Hawks. The owl count was good too with LONG-EARED OWL, N. SAW-WHET OWL, Barred Owl, Great- horned Owl, and E. Screech-Owl. Lastly, I saw what I would classify as a Cassiar's Junco (a subspecies of junco) on Cold Brook Rd...bird was very orange on flank with orange bleeding into back, and demarcation on breast looking concave-like. Now, you ask where the weather taketh species, well, we missed Snow Bunting (barely got Horned Lark with 2), and typical duck species that are found at the south end of Skaneateles Lake that get pushed down after the first big cold snap ---Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup and often Redhead. Other notable misses were Red Crossbill, N. Harrier, YB Sapsucker, Swamp Sparrow and Merlin (missed for first time in 6 years). As far the overall species numbers, we have had higher numbers when counting count week birds......in 2005-06 we had 71 +9 CW, in 2009-10 we had 74 + 4 CW and last year we had 75 +3CW. Overall though, it was a great day to be out! cheers, Matt Young P.S. The New Woodstock-Southern Highlands count is on Thursday Dec 29. Let me know if you want to help! -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://link.mail2web.com/mail2web -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
