Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2004 21:02:14 EST Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Mark Hoffman Subject: OC CBC Results - Part 2 of 2 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit OC CBC Results from Jay Sheppard, Part 2 of 2 M. Hoffman mhoff36100@aol.com PARTICIPANTS: Karen Anderson, Brad Andres, Zach Baer, Tom Bancroft, Marty Barron, Ed Boyd, Mike Burchett, Paul Bystrak, Mike Carpenter, John Churchill, Lynn Davidson*, Bill Ellis, Fred & Jane Fallon, Al Haury, Mark Hoffman*, Ed Horner, Joe Jehl, Heather Johnson, Susan Lawrence, Woody Martin*, David Mozurkewich*, Dotty Mumford*, Michael O'Brien*, Ron & Susan Polniaszek, Sue Ricciardi, Bob Ringler*, Chan Robbins*, Denise Ryan, Norm & Fran Saunders, Jay Sheppard*, Jim Stasz, Charles Stegman, Charles Vaughn*, Hal Wierenga*, and Louise Zemaitis (*area leaders or co-leaders). Compiler-Jay Sheppard, 3359 Cranberry South, Laurel, MD 20724-2419; EM: jmsheppar@aol.com. COMMENTS: The all time high count is 163 species. Previously, 161 had been recorded twice before as our second highest total. The composite total now strands at 243 species; two species were added this year: American White Pelican and Hoary Redpoll. Boat-tailed Grackle was missed for the first time since 1961. Northern Bobwhite continued its decline with a new all time low (prev. low=11). The following species set new or tied all time high counts (previous high): Little Blue Heron (6-tied), Ring-necked Duck (246 previous high), Bufflehead (4996), Hooded Merganser (249), Greater Yellowlegs (34), Lesser Black-backed Gull (5), House Wren (14), Lincoln's Sparrow (2), and Common Redpoll (4). The following are new or tied second highest totals (previous total): Great Cormorant (6-prev. 2nd high), Tricolored Heron (10-tied), Redhead (60), and Common Merganser (13). Overall numbers of total individuals were down from the recent 30-year average of 160,000; no large roosts of blackbirds were found, and there was no sea watch from Assateague near the bridge as in recent decades. Certainly a very interesting count. Weather was excellent for observers. Most remarkable was the flight that morning of redpolls. Birds were heard calling before first light at the Assateague Island bridge. Redpolls were seen flying from off the ocean into the beaches from about 7:30 AM until 9 AM. Few birds were found anywhere on the count after early afternoon or more than a mile or so from tide water. Reports from up and down the Atlantic coast came from as far south as Pea Island, NC, and as far north as Nantucket Island, MA, the day of our count. There were no reports of redpolls along the coast in the days before. The birds just all appeared that morning. The flock of American White Pelicans had been present for about 2 months in the lower estuary of Trappe Creek, which flows into Newport Bay on the west side of South Point. The three phalaropes flew onto the flats just north of the Rt. 50 bridge into O.C. just after sunset and were too far away to positively identify in the fading light at that distance from Hooper's Crab House; they were not present early the following morning. A Monarch Butterfly was found alive and well on Assateague Island by Hal Wierenga; surely the only butterfly of this species ever found on this count. A new daytime roost site has been discovered for some local Snow Geese. The roost is due East of and just over the horizon (~4-5 miles) from the O.C. Inlet. Many thousands of birds clearly roost there; they were only visible from the Inlet when a boat ran through the flock. Shortly after dark and until ~8 PM, thousands of birds could be seen flying over the lights of O.C. in long waving white lines headed inland to feed. One must wonder if these geese also spend very stormy days out on the open ocean? My own observations of the food crop were that we had almost no bay berries this year. Except weed seeds, other food sources seemed only in fair supply at best. Most bird feeders that I saw in the yards of local O.C. residents were empty. Gulls and other waterbirds numbers at the Inlet seemed down from past years for the most part. The fall and early winter had been mostly mild and very wet. Standing water was everywhere. Most herons were in excellent numbers, as were some of the waterfowl. Most other species numbers seemed about normal. On a personal note, Lynn Davidson was coming down with a fine case of pneumonia that weekend and was in great agony the day after the count. Her perseverence is most appreciated and trust she is now feeling much better as this report is being sent out!? Finally, speaking for all participants, I would like to thank all of the many landowners and property managers again who allowed us access to their lands and waters during the day. Since there are few public lands within the count circle away from Assateague Island, we are at the mercy of landowners for access to count the birds in the wide variety of habitats found within the circle. We would also like especially to thank Ed Horner for taking some of our observers out in his boat to find several species that we would never have otherwise seen and again for the use of his Waterman's Restaurant for our tally dinner.-J.M.S. (January 4, 2004) P.S.--In looking at the calender for December 2004, it would appear that the next OC count may be on the Tuesday or Wednesday after Christmas, but that date will be determined later. ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================