Sutton 33rd. C.B.C. Saturday December 28, 2019 Saturday December 28, 2019 a total of 40 observers tallied 1,179 individual birds of 56 species in the Georgina, East Gwillimbury and northwest Uxbridge areas. Weather was temperature ranging from a high at 4 degrees to low 0 degrees, winds east at 7 km./hour (variable).
A total of 56 species were documented on the day (one of the highest species counts in recent years, unexpected as fewer birds were seen at feeders, but with a fully open Lake Simcoe. Highlights for the count day were a count high of four Owl species seen or heard Great Horned (2), Eastern Screech (1), Barred (1), and Snowy (8) owls seen. Nine Bald eagles were recorded, with all water still open except for Cook's Bay. Lots of waterfowl and expected gulls were seen on count day, with unexpected Cackling geese (4), and a high for Black ducks (14) and notables included Trumpeter swan (6), Red-breasted merganser (2), Hooded merganser (2), and Great Black-backed gull (1) for field birders. Some of the southern migrating birds still lingering in our count area included Song sparrow (4), House wren (1), Common Grackle (5) and Red-winged blackbird (1). The northern finches' irruption hoped for across southern Canada did not appear in the Sutton Count area, but House finch (5) and American goldfinch (159) were all that were documented. Though, White-breasted nuthatch (44) and Red-breasted nuthatch (9) were well represented this year, Brown creeper (2) was welcome. However, in 2019 the Sutton Count highlights were a lingering Common loon (1) on Lake Simcoe and Rough-legged hawk (2) in the count area on the day. Thanks to all field birders and feeder watchers who participated in the count. The best bird observed in the count week on December 31rd. was an intergrade dark/white morph Snow goose in the Willow Beach area. As usual and expected Black-capped chickadees were the most common bird in the forests. Paul Harpley _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
