For many of us, including both field parties, the Fairmont count ended when the wind came up at noon. Birds and white cars full of birders suddenly became much more difficult to see though the blowing snow as secondary roads began to accumulate snow drifts. Despite this, eight observers counting on Saturday came up with 33 species including one species new to the count; Herring Gull. Additional observers unable to participate on count day added Bald Eagle and a Red-Shafted Flicker (OK; not a species, but interesting) as Count Week sightings.
In addition to Herring Gull; Horned Lark (333), American Goldfinch (86) and Pine Siskin(39) were seen in record high numbers. There were no big surprises, but birds missed in some years included; Rusty Blackbird (2), Lapland Longspur (1), Harris' Sparrow (1), and White-Throated Sparrow (3). Oddly enough; we completely missed Rough-legged Hawk from 1990-2004, but have recorded the species every year since. It may also be worth nothing that our six highest Northern Cardinal counts (42 this year) have occured in the past six years - certainly indicating a trend. Significant misses include; all owls, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Waxwings, Am Robin, and Grackle. Next year's count will be Dec 19, 2009. Brad Bolduan Windom ---- Join or Leave mou-net:http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives:http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
