The Southern Nassau County Christmas Bird Count was conducted on Saturday, 1 January 2011, by 61 participants. This represents the 71st time this CBC has been held since its inception in 1932 (there were several years with no count during the 1930s and 1940s).
A total of 125 species was recorded (plus Ipswich Sparrow), a little below the 20-year average of 128. The weather was good on count day, but prolonged freezing conditions during December clearly impacted a variety of species. In general, this year's results struck us as rather average, with few really exceptional species and few really bad misses (our worst misses this year involved species we've knowingly struggled with in recent years). In selecting the unusual species named below, we included a few that, although they are quite regular on this count, are nevertheless rare in NYS in winter. Some species that we would ordinarily expect on this count, but which were perceived as good finds this year owing to the cold early winter weather, are highlighted as "ice-sensitive saves." Several species are widely expected on LI or NYS CBCs in general but are nevertheless very difficult in southern Nassau County. These are difficult to categorize as either highlights or low-lights, but for convenience we've lumped a few of these local oddities in with the low counts and misses. Many thanks to all those who participated, and Happy New Year to all! Unusual Species: Greater White-fronted Goose--Mitchell, 4th time recorded in last 20 years Whistling Swan--2 in Five Towns, 3rd time recorded in last 20 years Wood Duck--4 in Hempstead and 1 in Massapequa Eurasian Wigeon--count-week in Massapequa Harlequin Duck--6 at Atlantic Red-shouldered Hawk--1 at Tobay, 6th time recorded in last 20 years; particularly unusual on barrier beach American Oystercatcher--29, Short Beach and Massapequa Red Knot--8 at Short Beach, missed last 3 years Razorbill--3 at Atlantic and Short Beach Dovekie--count-week at Short Beach Monk Parakeet--8 in Baldwin, at three sites, just the 2nd time ever recorded Barn Owl--5 from Tobay and Boat Great Horned Owl--1 in Five Towns, just the 3rd time recorded in 20 years Short-eared Owl--1 at Short Beach Tree Swallow--singles at Short Beach and Baldwin Orange-crowned Warbler--3, 2 at Short Beach and 1 at Massapequa Yellow-breasted Chat--1 at Massapequa Lapland Longspur--1 at Short Beach Dickcissel--count-week in Baldwin Rusty Blackbird--2 at Hempstead Boat-tailed Grackle--17 from Loop Parkway, Short Beach, Massapequa, and Boat; 6 of 8 records ever are since 2003-04 Common Redpoll--12, from Short Beach Tobay, and Baldwin; just 5th time recorded in 20 years Pine Siskin--4, from Tobay and Baldwin; just 2nd time recorded in 20 years Ice-sensitive Saves: Great Egret--1 in Five Towns Killdeer--singles Five Towns and Hempstead Greater Yellowlegs--1 at Tobay Wilson's Snipe--1 at Short Beach American Woodcock--singles at Short Beach and Tobay Ruby-crowned Kinglet--1 at Five Towns (widely missed on coastal CBCs this year) High Counts: Ring-necked Duck--50, surpassing the previous max, from just last year, of 47 Common Eider--209, 2nd only to last year's 254 White-winged Scoter--53, far surpassing 20-year max of 30. Double-crested Cormorant--154, 2nd only to last year's 178 Northern Harrier--58, surpassing previous max of 50 Sharp-shinned Hawk--34, surpassing previous max of 25 Cooper's Hawk--24, surpassing previous max of 17 (4th new max in 10 years) Peregrine Falcon--23, equalling previous max, from just last year (4th time max equalled or exceeded in 10 years) Ruddy Turnstone--55, 2nd highest ever Red-bellied Woodpecker--39, 2nd highest ever Northern Cardinal--317, far exceeding previous max of 241, from 2005-06 Low Counts, Bad Misses, and Southern Nassau County CBC Oddities: Canvasback----just 5, at Massapequa and Baldwin Redhead--9 at Massapequa were a save Common Goldeneye--missed for 4th time in 20 years Ring-necked Pheasant--missed for 1st time in 20 years Northern Gannet--missed for 2nd time in 20 years Bonaparte's Gull--31, lowest since 1996-97; 40-year average = 1461 Marsh Wren--missed for 6th time in 20 years Brown Thrasher--1 at Five Towns was a save Cedar Waxwing--10 at Baldwin were a save Eastern Towhee--singles at Tobay and Hempstead; just 1 last year Field Sparrow--1 at Atlantic; just 1 last year too Savannah Sparrow--7, 3rd lowest in 50 years Saltmarsh/Nelson's/Seaside Sparrows--just 2nd time in 10 years all three missed White-crowned Sparrow--missed for 7th time in 20 years Eastern Meadowlark--missed for 6th time in 10 years Shai Mitra & Patricia Lindsay Bay Shore ________________________________ Think green before you print this email. -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html 3) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
