Our Count has many participants and I have not heard from many of the key counters. Nothing tremendously newsworthy, but here are a few preliminary results in case people are keeping a winter list. For more careful directions for any of these, please get in touch. I am on the Pelee count tomorrow, but get in touch and I will send out something to you on Tuesday.
A white Snow Goose was reported from Springbank Park, near the children's feature called Storybook Gardens. A Tufted Titmouse was reported from along the Thames River, north branch, east of Highbury. A Hermit Thrush was reported from east of the Highbury bridge as well. A Cackling Goose was a fly-by to the east of that location. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was sighted near Gibbons Park, central London, along the river there. Several sightings of Eastern Bluebird were noted, one group of five to the west and just below the Komoka Bridge, south of the traffic lights at Komoka on Komoka Rd. Several White-crowned Sparrows were reported, two on Deadman Road southwest of London. And one in Komoka Provincial Park. Two more were sighted along the Thames River west of London. Because the Thames was so raging, due to recent rains, many waterfowl took refuge at the Komoka Pits, ponds left after gravel extraction. Shoveller (only the third time on the Count), Gadwall, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Ruddy, and Ring-necked Ducks were found there. Also many Hooded and Common Merganser, with a few Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye. There were two Pied-billed Grebes as well. Of note, in two of the ponds there were over 300 American Coot, and we usually have none on the count. Normally, the pits are frozen and there are no waterfowl there. Therefore this was a great and unusual CBC for waterfowl. One Common Grackle was reported from a feeder. Possibly due to flooding and fish being trapped in a disappearing water-soaked field on the Thames River flats, near Delaware, west of London, 12 Bald Eagles were congregated together, and many gulls were noted as well. I will find out the details soon. With that total and with the 6 or more other ones reported, we seem to have a rather huge number on the London CBC again this year(14 last year). So far no tremendous new lingering species, owing to the relatively mild winter, but the numbers on some species are quite high. Others like usual wintering species are low. Many feeder watchers were lamenting the poor turn-out at their feeders so far this year. Not sure of the total number of species but if not average of mid-seventies, then it will be higher due to the waterfowl species. More results when I have heard from more people or if something unusual turns up. Pete Read Compiler, London CBC _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
