Subject: Forward of Sequim-Dungeness CBC results
Date: Jan 2 20:51:09 1998
From: Norton360 - Norton360 at aol.com


I am forwarding Bob Boekelheide's summary. Among the amazing things
happening in this electronic age is this: He tried twice to send it to
TWEETERS and it did not go through. I asked him to try sending it to me and it
comes through! So I am saved much typing. Bob Norton

Subj: Sequim-Dungeness CBC results
Date: 98-01-02 19:40:10 EST
From: bboek at olympus.net
To: norton360 at AOL.COM (Bob Norton)


>>Tweets:

You've heard the hype about the Sequim-Dungeness CBC (hang down your
head, Tom Schooley!); now read the real story (provided I don't get any
more tally sheets in the mail from tardy counters).

Species total: 136
No. of Individuals: 53832

Like the Seattle CBC reported by Hal Opperman, we had several records of
note this year:

Highest counts for the last 23 years (since 1975) occurred for Gr. Wh-fr
Goose, Oldsquaw (1143!), Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagle, N. Harrier,
Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, Ruffed Grouse, Va. Rail, Am. Coot,
L.B. Dowitcher, Common Murre, Ancient Murrelet (372!), Mourning Dove,
Anna's Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, crows, Raven, Bushtit, Bewick's
Wren, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's
Warbler, Spotted Towhee, W. Meadowlark, and House Sparrow.

Eared Grebes were the highest since 1986, and Bonaparte's Gulls and
Steller's Jays were their second highest since 1975.

These high numbers appear due to:
1) an excellent boat party of Tom Schooley, Bruce LaBar, Todd Beuke, and
Kent and Peggy McKellar (thanks to Sequim Bay Tours!),
2) the warmer, stable weather of late, which seemed to keep wintering
populations of some species at higher numbers,
3) continued recovery of Bald Eagles and Peregrines in western N. America,
4) the success of species that have adapted well to humans, and
5) better coverage of habitat by some great observers (thanks to all of
you who helped, especially those who drove from Seattle and other
locations to join our great count!).

Very low numbers of some species also occurred, particularly northern
migrants and some eruptive finch species. We only had one N. Shrike
(lowest in 15 years) and completely missed Evening Grosbeak and Red
Crossbill, both of which have been exceedingly scarce this fall on the
Olympic Peninsula. Some montane species sometimes driven downslope by
snow were low, such as Gray Jay and Varied Thrush. We missed N. Pygmy
Owl for the first time in 5 years.

Nice birds for the count included one Golden Eagle (an immature well
described by an experienced observer), one Gyrfalcon, one Sora, one Red
Phalarope, one Heermann's Gull, one Barred Owl, one Townsend's Solitaire,
and one Am. Tree Sparrow. Sorry, no North American records this year!

The 1998 Sequim-Dungeness CBC is tentatively planned for Monday, 21
December. Be there!

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim <<