Hello all On a particularly mild day Saturday, December 16, we held the 114th consecutive London Christmas Bird Count. Despite the birds being rather scattered due to the weather conditions and availability of wild food, the approximate 160 observers in just over 50 parties and 25 feeders, managed to find a higher than average number of species at 82. The individuals count was below average, but the highlights were many. Almost all water was open, and Two new species were recorded, a Philadelphia Vireo, observed in November by Reuven Martin, and re-found a number of times, luckily by Rose Braxton and her group on Count Day. The other new bird was a long-remaining Black-billed Magpie, found by Jason McGuire on Count Day. Perhaps this bird was one of the ones from the nesting of that species in Elgin County not far away. Other interesting species included Barred Owl (2nd CBC) which captured a frog in front of the group which located it, a Raven (2nd CBC) being mobbed by crows, 2 Snow Geese (9th CBC), Tundra Swan (13th CBC), Ruddy Duck (14th CBC), a Red-shouldered Hawk (24th CBC), Iceland Gull (17th CBC), several Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (37th CBC), Merlin (23rd CBC), Chipping Sparrow (11th CBC), Fox Sparrow (22nd CBC), Hermit Thrush (35th CBC), Common Yellowthroat (15th CBC), and a Yellow-rumped Warbler (30th CBC). I have not finished the totals, but it does appear as though some species are in higher numbers than usual, particularly waterfowl, also a result of a mild winter thus far. There were several "winter finches" noted but also several blackbird species which boosted our total species. Thanks to all who all who took part and especially Glenn Berry, who built online submission forms for our multitude of parties and feeders to make my compilations easier.
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