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Subject:

Taylor's Island 1st annual Count at Christmas -- 12/18/10

From:

Jim Brighton

Reply-To:

Jim Brighton

Date:

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 20:22:51 -0500

Hi everyone,

Matt Hafner and I inaugurated the first annual(?) Taylor's Island
Count at Christmas.  79 species were seen/heard from 7am to 12:30pm.
Highlights include at least two White-winged Crossbills, a single
Ross's Goose in a flock of Canada Geese, nine fly-by Redheads, a
single adult Brown Pelican, three White-breasted Nuthatches, two Rusty
Blackbirds, and a single Purple Finch and Pine Siskin.  Complete list
below.

Location:     Taylor's Island
Observation date:     12/18/10
Notes:     Observers: Jim Brighton, Matt Hafner First Annual(?)
Taylors Island Count at Christmas!
Number of species:     79

Ross's Goose     1     ***UNCOMMON*** Rare on Taylors Island.  Seen
well flying with a Canada Goose flock.  Flock was barely above tree
tops, less than 100 yds away.  Very small white goose, dwarfed by
Canadas, short neck, small head, and small stubby bill confirmed
Ross's over Lesser Snow.
Canada Goose     526
Tundra Swan     95
American Black Duck     2505     ***High Count**** Massive flock of
"quack" ducks to the south of Punch Island Rd
Mallard     1515     ***High Count**** Massive flock of "quack" ducks
to the south of Punch Island Rd
Canvasback     50
Redhead     9     ***High Count*** Flock of mixed males and females
seen flying north from Punch Island Rd
Greater Scaup     11
Surf Scoter     75
Long-tailed Duck     75
Bufflehead     63
Common Goldeneye     40
Hooded Merganser     5
Red-breasted Merganser     6
Ruddy Duck     1
Common Loon     5     Surprisingly few
Brown Pelican     1     ***RARE***  Adult bird seen flying north over
the Bay from Punch Island Rd.  Becoming more regular in the southern
portion of the bay in early winter in recent years.
Great Blue Heron     1
Turkey Vulture     6
Bald Eagle     6
Northern Harrier     2
Sharp-shinned Hawk     1
Cooper's Hawk     1
Red-shouldered Hawk     1
Red-tailed Hawk (Eastern)     2
Killdeer     1
Dunlin     21     End of Punch Island Rd
Wilson's Snipe     1
Ring-billed Gull     35
Herring Gull (American)     40
Great Black-backed Gull     25
Rock Pigeon     3
Mourning Dove     33
Eastern Screech-Owl     3
Great Horned Owl     2
Belted Kingfisher     1
Red-bellied Woodpecker     6
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker     1
Downy Woodpecker     18
Hairy Woodpecker     1     Pine Top Rd
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)     5
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Blue Jay     7
American Crow     49
Carolina Chickadee     38
Tufted Titmouse     17
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch     3     ***UNCOMMON*** Taylors may be the
best place to see these in Dorchester.
Brown-headed Nuthatch     42     ***High Count*** Seen and heard from
almost all stops on the island.  Very common at this location.
Brown Creeper     2
Carolina Wren     3
Winter Wren     2
Golden-crowned Kinglet     3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     3
Eastern Bluebird     46
Hermit Thrush     30     ***High Count***  Holly understory makes
Taylors an excellent spot for winter Hermit Thrushes
American Robin     64
Northern Mockingbird     9
Brown Thrasher     1
European Starling     12
Cedar Waxwing     20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle)     85
Eastern Towhee     2
Fox Sparrow (Red)     12     ***High Count*** Seen and heard
throughout the island
Song Sparrow     52
Swamp Sparrow     32
White-throated Sparrow     7
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)     41
Northern Cardinal     20
Red-winged Blackbird     1653
Eastern Meadowlark     16     northeast end of Hoopers Neck Rd
Rusty Blackbird     2     ***UNCOMMON*** Male and female in a
cornfield with Mourning Doves
Common Grackle     502
Brown-headed Cowbird     27
Purple Finch     1
House Finch     6
White-winged Crossbill     2     ***VERY RARE***  Heard well near
Taylors Family Campground giving chit-chit-chit rattle calls.  Feeding
at the tops of Loblolly pines, an adult male was briefly observed from
below and in flight.  Rosy pink color distinct, strongly forked black
tail.
Pine Siskin     1     seen with American Goldfinches
American Goldfinch     51

After Taylor's Island, Matt and I made a brief stop at Hooper's Island
where three Sanderlings were observed on the jetties at the north end
of the middle island.

Jim Brighton
Easton, MD