Preliminary results of the 79th Toronto Christmas Bird Count, held Sunday December 21 under generally mild and clear conditions, though windy in exposed areas: 87 species (5th highest) and 63,301 individuals (4th highest), recorded by 86 field participants and 4 feeder-watchers. Final totals will be posted on the Toronto Ornithological Club's website by early January, at www.torontobirding.ca/outings#cbc.html.
The highlight was our first ever Eurasian Wigeon, a male discovered on the Leslie Spit by the team of John Carley, Jean Iron, Carl Hills, Bill Morris, and Ralph Toninger. The bird was in embayment B; for those interested in viewing the bird, please note that public access to the Spit is only on weekends and holidays. Also of special note was the Wilson's Snipe (our first since 1973) discovered in the East Don Valley near Finch, by Declan Troy, Ross Harris, Don Burton, and Jim Fellowes. RECORD HIGHS: American Wigeon - 58 (previously 44 in 2002) Greater Scaup - 6896 (previously 5866 in 2002) Lesser Scaup - 147 (previously 31 in 2001) Hooded Merganser - 172 (previously 111 in 2002) Ruddy Duck - 2 (tied with 1972 and 1996) Merlin - 2 (ties six other years) Ring-billed Gull - 8241 (7494 in 2002) Thayer's Gull - 2 (ties 1998) Red-breasted Nuthatch - 58 (57 in 1997) Northern Mockingbird - 24 (20 in 2002) Swamp Sparrow - 11 (ties 1976) NOTABLE HIGHS: Hairy Woodpecker - 64 (highest since 1965) Red-winged Blackbird - 18 (highest since 1987) OTHER UNUSUAL BIRDS: Red-necked Grebe - 2 (Leslie Spit, Ontario Place) Double-crested Cormorant - 2 (Humber River/Old Mill, Humber Bay) Northern Goshawk - 2 (East Don/Serena Gundy Park, James Gardens) Short-eared Owl - 4 (fourth time in past decade; Downsview Park) Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 (first since 1998; north of James Gardens) Common Yellowthroat - 1 (fourth ever; in Humber Marshes) Purple Finch - 2 (first since 1997) OTHER SINGLE BIRDS: Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Rough-legged Hawk, Snowy Owl, Long-eared Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-crowned Sparrow, Snow Bunting, Brown-headed Cowbird UNUSUAL LOWS: American Black Duck - 82 (fewest since 1946) Mallard - 2610 (fewest since 1990) Herring Gull - 777 (fewest since 1986) Great Black-backed Gull - 54 (fewest since 1990) Blue Jay - 21 (tied with 2002 for fewest since 1949) American Crow - 76 (better than last year's 47, but still VERY low) MISSED SPECIES: Common Loon (5 times in the past decade) Horned Grebe (5 times in the past decade) Ring-necked Duck (seen annually over the past 6 counts) Ring-necked Pheasant (5 times in the past decade) Bald Eagle (seen annually over the past 4 counts) Northern Harrier (seen annually over the past 5 counts) Glaucous Gull (seen annually since 1988) Northern Saw-whet Owl (6 times in the past decade) Yellow-rumped Warbler (4 times since 1996) Eastern Towhee (4 times since 1995) Fox Sparrow (4 times in the past five years) Common Grackle (5 times in the past decade) Count week reports of any of the above species (or any other rarities) between Dec 18 and 24 (inclusive) are most welcome - please e-mail me privately ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) if you have any such sightings. Thanks to all who participated yesterday. Happy holidays and good birding to all! Marcel Gahbauer Ottawa / Toronto [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Marcel Gahbauer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
