Tweeters,

Sorry about the old news, but I've finally had a chance to tally the late
reports for the May 9th Clallam County NA Migration Count/Olympic
Peninsula Audubon Society Birdathon.

Our final total came to 182 species and 39,617 individuals, counted by 85
people in 51 parties. We didn't count Northwestern Crow as a separate
species, so if we thumb our nose at the Washington Bird Records committee
and believe the American Ornithologist's Union (who consider American and
Northwestern separate species), we would have 183 species.

The most abundant species (all over 1000 individuals) were
Glaucous-winged Gull (including hybrids), Pigeon Guillemot, Brant,
Dunlin, and American Robin. You really have to appreciate the ubiquitous
abundance of Robins, numerically important in all habitats from shoreline
to treeline. The most abundant duck in the county on count day was Surf
Scoter (970), most abundant raptor was Bald Eagle (106), most abundant
swallow was Violet-green (765), most abundant wren was Winter (139), most
abundant warbler was Wilson's (214!), most abundant sparrow was Song
(478), and most abundant finch was House (286).

Unusual species for our spring count included one Yellow-billed Loon, two
Sooty Shearwaters, one late Eurasian Wigeon, 4 Ruddy Ducks, 3 Soras, 2
Willets, one lingering Thayer's Gull, one Black-legged Kittiwake, one
White-breasted Nuthatch, and one White-throated Sparrow still at a feeder.

Otherwise, no real surprises. Considering counter effort, counts of
nearly all waterbirds and passerines were remarkably similar to the last
two years' counts. Two species with exceptionally low numbers this year
include Red Crossbill (5 only) and Cedar Waxwing (none on count day, but
scattered individuals have been reported since then).

Bob Boekelheide
Sequim