Tweeters,

The tentative species total for the Sequim-Dungeness CBC is 142 species.
We have yet to receive the tallies for one group, but I doubt that more
species will be added.

Count day (Monday, 12/21) started with steady snowfall but light winds.
The snow finished by late morning, then relatively calm, overcast
conditions with good visibility lasted the rest of the day. Freshwater
ponds were mostly frozen, so we had large numbers of waterfowl pushed
into saltwater bays and estuaries. Lowland birds were very cooperative
once the snow stopped, but mountain routes were fairly lean and difficult
to negotiate. We had very few misses of expected species -- all expected
waterfowl, raptors, gulls, woodpeckers, and passerines cooperated well. I
am still entering route totals, so final numbers are not yet available.

Highlight species for our count include:
Emperor Goose: It might be "origin unknown," but we're going to count it,
no matter what you guys say!
Blue-winged Teal: one at Graysmarsh, near Jamestown, 2nd time on count in
23 years.
Canvasback: one at 3 Crabs vicinity.
Gyrfalcon: one at Dungeness Spit.
Blue Grouse: possibly driven downhill by snow at higher elevations, 2nd
time on count.
Semipalmated Plover: 3 in Sequim Bay, 1st time on count.
Other shorebirds not always seen on our count: dowitcher sp. (3), Western
Sandpiper (1), Greater Yellowlegs (1).
Iceland (Kumlien's) Gull: 2nd winter, excellent study at Dungeness Spit.
Glaucous Gull: 1st winter, present at Olympic Game Farm for several days.
Mountain Bluebird: female present in west Dungeness for at least one week.
Eurasian Skylark: 2 present in weed field above the Dungeness Oysterhouse
with 12 Meadowlarks. We have had considerable discussion about these
birds, as their identification was not initially certain. Are there any
other records for mainland Washington state? It is interesting that they
would be seen here just a couple days following strong northerly winds
across the Strait. Still present on 12/22.
Orange-crowned Warbler: one at Cline Spit.

Notable misses:
Black-and-white Warbler: seen and studied well one day before count week
at west Sequim Bay, not seen since.
White-throated Sparrow: didn't show up for its stake out, but present the
day before.
Rhinoceros Auklet: count week. Our offshore boat was delayed by weather,
then wrapped a crabpot line around its prop after less than an hour at
sea. Good thing we have telescopes!
Yellow-rumped Warbler: count week.

The species count of 142 is the second highest total in the 23 years for
this count, compared with 144 in 1996. Thank you very much to all our
hard-working counters, especially those who drove long distances to join
us, then shlogged up snow-covered roads to count kinglets and Winter
Wrens. We greatly appreciate everyone's contribution.

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim