2015 Christmas Bird Counts - Port Hope-Cobourg & Presqu'ile-Brighton

Nature Notes for December 28, 2015

The morning of December 19, we awoke before daylight to be greeted by 50 to 60 kilometer per hour winds. What dreadful conditions in which to do a Christmas Bird Count! This was the date of the Port Hope-Cobourg count. On the plus side temperatures were mild, hovering just around the freezing mark all day, and there was open water on most small ponds. Even Rice Lake was open, which it seldom is for this count. Although a light dusting of snow fell late in the afternoon, the ground was mostly free of snow, which meant that is was possible to walk many trails and road allowances which are often not passable. What a difference from the past two years.

The wind, however, made hearing birds very difficult. Lake Ontario was very choppy so that even the few ducks there were very difficult to see. Cobourg harbour was sheltered and held many birds.

Despite difficult conditions, a total of 67 species were found. In addition, 5 more species were reported during count week (the three days prior to and following count day). One of these was the Tufted Titmouse reported in last month’s column. This bird was seen regularly until December 16, but has not been seen since. The only other Tufted Titmouse seen on the Port Hope-Cobourg count was recorded in 1991.

Unusual species found were: 2 Double-crested Cormorants; 1 Snow Goose; 4 Cackling Geese; 3 Canvasbacks; 2 Harlequin Ducks; 1 Surf Scoter (a new species for the count); 4Black Scoter; 1 Bald Eagle; 1 Snowy Owl (in Cobourg Creek Conservation Area).

High totals were recorded only for Common Raven (22).

A record high 22 Common Ravens were found on the Port Hope-Cobourg Christmas Bird Count. This species used to be very rare south of the Canadian Shield, but is now seen regularly south of Rice Lake.

photo © Rob Lonsberry Photography.

Low totals were found for: Common Goldeneye (137, not a record low, but lowest in 20 years); Red-breasted Merganser (29, lowest in 20 years.); Red-tailed Hawk (25); Mourning Dove (192); and Northern Shrike (1, lowest is 20 years).

The following day, December 20, was the Presqu’ile-Brighton count. The winds were still high, but not as high as day before. Temperatures were slightly warmer. This count tallied 82 species, plus 2 more in count week.

Unusual species found were: 1 Cackling Goose; 1 Killdeer; 1 Sanderling; 1 Dunlin; 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull; 1 Northern Mockingbird; and 1 Fox Sparrow.

High totals were recorded for:  Trumpeter Swan (12); Northern Shoveler (18); Red-bellied Woodpecker (6); and Redhead (2335. This shattered the old record of 278 in 2002).

Low totals were found for: Common Merganser (4); Mourning Dove (268); Northern Shrike (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (27); American Tree Sparrow (102); and Northern Cardinal (21).

The third Northumberland County count, the Rice Lake Plains Christmas Bird Count, will take place on January 1, 2016 in a circle which includes the northern part of the county. Who knows what the weatherman will have in store for us on that day.

The hummingbird reported in last month’s column was in the area of this circle. The bird, which was positively identified as a Rufous Hummingbird, was seen until December 9, but has not been seen since. In the couple of days preceding its disappearance, the bird was seen feeding on tiny insects which were active due to the mild temperatures. Perhaps the bird was able to eat enough of them to have enough energy to migrate to more southerly latitudes where it would have a better chance of survival.

For more information about Christmas Bird Counts and the results of this year’s counts as they are compiled and reported, go to http://www.birdscanada.org/volunteer/cbc.