The third annual WWBC was held on Sunday Feb 19, with 15 observers in seven
parties scouring a CBC sized circle centred on Winchester in the snowy steppes
of eastern Ontario. The previous two efforts having been conducted in
Neptune-like conditions, this year's balmy plus ten weather came as a welcome
relief. The count was an average (we think; hard to say after only three tries)
44 species, with a total of 5,514 individuals. Yet again, the commonest bird
was Snow Bunting, at 1,309, but shockingly American Robin came in a strong
third at 1,012. Horned Larks also had a good showing, with a grand total of 135
(all of those identified were alpestris, but there may have been a few
praticola about). A high count of six accipiters were no doubt a direct
consequence of the large number of robins; other "berry birds" included small
numbers of both waxwings. A micro dump near Winchester produced a good
assortment of gulls (including one Iceland and three Glaucous) and also an
oddball in the f
orm of a hybrid Great Black-backed x Herring. Snowy Owls put on a modest
showing, with only four being counted. Surprisingly, no Great Gray Owls were
recorded. A Red-bellied Woodpecker at a previously unknown location was
emblematic of the ongoing infiltration of this species into eastern Ontario. In
its three year history the count has now recorded 53 species. The count is
timed to coincide with the Great Backyard Bird Count and all parties entered
e-bird data following the CBC protocol.
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