The Central Suffolk (Long Island) Christmas Bird Count was held on Tuesday, 27 December 2022, with clear weather, light winds and cool temperatures - ranging from 27 - 35 degrees throughout the day. Because the Count Day followed a stretch of below freezing days, most fresh water locations were nearly frozen over, including the normal duck hot-spot of Eastport Pond. Many south shore creeks and inlets, as well as parts of Moriches Bay, had frozen sections. Started with the Count of 1953, and five participants, this circle is has its center in Manorville, LI, and covers the area of Calverton/Riverhead, Westhampton, Cupsogue County Park, Smith Point County Park and Yaphank. This year, there were 18 parties and 43 participants, and a total of 120 species and 21,535 individuals birds seen. As with every Count, there were certain highlights:
1 Snow Goose 1 Eurasian Wigeon 125 Wild Turkey Bald Eagle - an amazing total of 22 were reported, but with the limited area covered, there may have been some duplication of individuals. Full adults and juveniles were seen 3 American Woodcock 310 Bonaparte’s Gull Among the owls, 3 Northern Saw-whet, 14 Eastern Screech Owl, and 5 Great Horned Owls were heard during pre-dawn hours. 9 Common Raven 71 Horned Lark 3 Orange-crowned Warbler 74 Snow Bunting 1 Eastern Meadowlark 4 Rusty Blackbird 16 Red-crossbill 6 Pine Siskin Missed on this Count, but usually seen in the past, were Wood Duck, American Bittern, Snowy Owl, Cedar Waxwing, White-crowned Sparrow. Common Grackle A compilation dinner was held at a local fraternal hall in Eastport, with thanks to Eastern Long Island Audubon Society for subsiding the catered meal. Thank you to all the participants this year - and every year! Without your dedication and commitment - and long hours in the cold - this event wouldn’t be possible. Our 60th Count will be on 27 Dec 2023 - Save The Date!! The best in the year ahead, and, as always - Good Birds in our collective futures! Eileen Schwinn Compiler -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES.htm http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birding.aba.org/maillist/NY01 Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
