Subject: [Tweeters] Ladner, BC/WA Christmas Count highlights-- Dec. 27
Date: Dec 28 19:55:58 2005
From: Wayne C. Weber - contopus at telus.net


Birders,

Here are some highlights from the Ladner Christmas Bird Count
(covering most of Delta, a chunk of Richmond, plus Point Roberts,
WA), which was held yesterday, December 27.

The weather was better than predicted, with mild temperatures and
only brief afternoon showers, rather than the downpour that was
forecast. The main drawback was strong southerly winds (up to
30 or 35 km/hr) for much of the day, but even these dropped off by
mid-afternoon.

The species total as of the evening tally-up was 139 species--
close to average, and well in excess of the totals posted by Victoria (131)
and Vancouver this year. Unless the upcoming White Rock CBC can pull off
some kind of a miracle, this will likely be Canada's top Christmas
Bird Count again this season.

Some noteworthy species were as follows:

Black-crowned Night-Heron-- 4 (Reifel Bird Sanctuary)
American Bittern-- 6 (3 at Reifel, 3 at Brunswick Point)
Mute Swan-- 6 (Westham I. bridge and vicinity)
Redhead-- 1 drake (Lily Point, Point Roberts)
Sandhill Crane-- 6 (Reifel)
Willet-- 1 (Tsawwassen ferry jetty)
Black Oystercatcher-- 4 (Tsawwassen jetty)
Snowy Owl-- 24 (17 along Boundary Bay, mostly near 72nd Street;
7 in the Brunswick Point area and southward along the dike)
American Tree Sparrow-- 3 (2 at Brunswick Point)
Swamp Sparrow-- 2 (Reifel)
Snow Bunting-- 2 (Tsawwassen jetty)

The Ladner count is organized and compiled by Jude Grass,
who did a terrific job as usual.


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net