Nancy and I, accompanied by nine other participants did the C&O Canal Mid-winter Count for the three miles section from milepost 70 to 73, today. We were off to a slow start in the fog, picking up only 25 species in the first mile.

We added 4 species in the second mile, and an unexpected 11 more in the third for a total of 40 species. It was a great day for the count and for a walk along the canal.

Highlights were a Winter Wren, 8 Brown Creeper, and 13 Common Goldeneye.

The species and counts for each mile are shown below.

Milepost 70-71

Carolina Wren	11
Winter Wren	1
Golden-crowned Kinglet	4
Eastern Bluebird	7
American Robin	72
European (Common) Starling	14
Yellow-rumped Warbler	7
Song Sparrow	2
White-throated Sparrow	11
Dark-eyed Junco	5
Northern Cardinal	5
American Goldfinch	2

Total Species	25
Total Individuals	233

Milepost 71-72

Great Blue Heron	1
Canada Goose	29
Bufflehead	2
Common Goldeneye	13
Red-bellied Woodpecker	9
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	1
Downy Woodpecker	3
Pileated Woodpecker	1
American Crow	22
Common Raven	1
Carolina Chickadee	7
Tufted Titmouse	3
White-breasted Nuthatch	9
Brown Creeper	1
Carolina Wren	10
Eastern Bluebird	1
Northern Cardinal	2
American Goldfinch	4

Total Species	18
Total Individuals	119

Milepost 72-73

Great Blue Heron	2
Black Vulture	2
Turkey Vulture	1
Canada Goose	107
Common Merganser	2
Sharp-shinned Hawk	1
Red-shouldered Hawk	1
Red-tailed Hawk	2
Rock Dove	2
Red-bellied Woodpecker	2
Downy Woodpecker	5
Pileated Woodpecker	1
American Crow	13
Fish Crow	10
Common Raven	2
Carolina Chickadee	9
Tufted Titmouse	5
White-breasted Nuthatch	9
Brown Creeper	7
Carolina Wren	7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	1
Northern Mockingbird	1
European (Common) Starling	1
Cedar Waxwing	22
White-throated Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	2
Northern Cardinal	2
House Finch	1
American Goldfinch	11

Total Species	29
Total Individuals	232
 
Three mile total:
Species 				40
Individuals			584

-- 
Elliot

-- 
Elliot Kirschbaum
Shepherdstown, WV
kingfisher501 at gmail dot com