Tweets,

First, the Port Hadlock Blue Jay was still present yesterday, calling repeatedly along D street just south of Maple.

Here's my write-up on the Seattle CBC for Earthcare Northwest. The Bohemian Waxwings were photographed. As I was out of town for the count, no one was designated to report rarities to tweeters. Sorry.

I should note also belatedly that I found a Common Redpoll in a flock of Pine Siskins on the Edmonds Count, December 19. The flock was at Horizon View Park in Lake Forest Park.

Have a safe and happy New Year.

Gene.

The Seattle Christmas Bird Count, December 26, 2004.



This year's count was the 75th since 1908. One measure of a count's success is the raw number of species observed. This year saw Washington State's two richest count set new records in this department, Grays Harbor with an all time statewide best of 149 with the Sequim-Dungeness count tallying 147. Seattle, by contrast, hit our 30-year average on the nose with 120 species (plus two additional recognizable forms, Myrtle and Audubon's Warblers and a single Slate-colored Junco amongst the many Oregon's; and two hybrids: Eurasian x American Wigeon and the "Olympic Gull"). However, total numbers of individual birds counted, 63,076, was 17% above the 10-year average and 45% above the 30-year par. Of course, the total of individuals is heavily leveraged by counts of a handful of abundant species, such as crows (18,988), coots (5,885), starlings (3,211), Rock Pigeons (2825), robins (2485), American Wigeons (2373). Pine Siskins (2330), Bushtits (1622), Western Grebes (1371), Black-capped Chickadees (1354), and Glaucous-winged Gulls (1,342, of a grand total gull count of 3073). These top-ten species account for 69.4% of all individual birds counted. The crow count is primarily from our best estimate of numbers at two large winter roosts, the roost on Foster Island tallying 10,929 and the relatively new roost at Newport Shores with an estimated 5000. This year's crow numbers are 2.1x the 10 year average and 4.7x the 30 year average, tracking this anthropophilic species' continuing success.



At the other end of the spectrum are 12 species represented on the count by just one or two individuals: Green Heron, Virginia Rail, Dunlin, Wilson's Snipe, Bonaparte's Gull, Mourning Dove, Barn, screech, Barred, and saw-whet owls, Mountain Chickadee, and Townsend's Warbler. Many of these are regular winter residents with small and/or elusive local populations. A few are irregular visitors recorded just a few times on the Seattle count: Mourning Dove and Mountain Chickadee. The Mountain Chickadee represents the tail-end of an astounding invasion by this montane species of our lowlands regions that began in late fall. Four Bohemian Waxwings in discovery Park and an above average siskin showing might be connected somehow. Note that the addition of just a handful of such stragglers could bring the count species total well above par.



Finally, our count this year shows that certain widely noted trends continue. On the plus side, nine Peregrine Falcons is 5x the 30-year average and nearly double that for the previous 10 years, and 53 Bald Eagles is nearly 4x the 30-year average and 50% above that of the past 10 years. Both species have rebounded dramatically from near extinction during the DDT era. On the other hand, Band-tailed Pigeons and Western Grebes continue to slide. Band-taileds were at just 62% of their 30-year average, Western Grebes recovered somewhat this year but are still at 84% of the average of the previous ten years. Both have been singled out as species of concern in recent years. By contrast, Great Blue Heron numbers are up somewhat, at 50% above the 30 year average. However, we should note the absence of Pacific Loons, normally present in small numbers, and low counts of White-winged Scoters (15% and 9% of the 10 and 30 year averages) and Ruddy Ducks (11% and 3% respectively). Dunlin were notably scarce and Bonaparte's Gulls continue well below average, with just a single bird of each reported. On the other hand, Brandt's Cormorants staged a strong showing (6.5x their 10 year average and 15x their 30 year average), but murres (53% and 38% of the 10 and 30 year averages) and Rhinoceros Auklets (at 37% and 33% respectively) were off the mark. Anna's Hummingbirds set an all time record high count of 173, well above the previous high count of 113. Western Scrub Jays continue to expand their foothold in Seattle with an all-time high of 5 individuals reported, from Capitol Hill, Ballard, and West Seattle. Is this one piece of the puzzle of global warming?



Thanks again to the 166 intrepid observers in 38 parties who helped carry on this invaluable Audubon tradition of citizen science.



Eugene Hunn



SEATTLE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT RESULTS 2003: Greater White-fronted Goose 3, Brant 95, Canada Goose 728, Cackling Goose 3, Wood Duck 16, Gadwall 937, Eurasian Wigeon 9, American Wigeon 2373, Eurasian x American Wigeon 1, Mallard 871, Northern Shoveler 101, Northern Pintail 4, Green-winged Teal 65, Canvasback 299, Redhead 3, Ring-necked Duck 495, Greater Scaup 606, Lesser Scaup 604, scaup sp. 1, Harlequin Duck 40, Surf Scoter 476, White-winged Scoter 8, Black Scoter 82, scoter sp. 10, Bufflehead 956, Common Goldeneye 242, Barrow's Goldeneye 180, Hooded Merganser 104, Common Merganser 425, Red-breasted Merganser 361, Ruddy Duck 14 (low), Ring-necked Pheasant 5, California Quail 25, Red-throated Loon 7, Common Loon 9, loon sp. 5, Pied-billed Grebe 134, Horned Grebe 227, Red-necked Grebe 194, Eared Grebe 5, Western Grebe 1371, Double-crested Cormorant 767, Brandt's Cormorant 244 (record high), Pelagic Cormorant 27, cormorant sp. 1, Great Blue Heron 80, Green Heron 1, Bald Eagle (all) 53, Bald Eagle (adult) 36, Bald Eagle (immature) 14, Sharp-shinned Hawk 23, Cooper's Hawk 26, Accipiter sp. 2, Red-tailed Hawk 45, Merlin 14, Peregrine Falcon 9, hawk sp. 1, Virginia Rail 2, American Coot 5885, Killdeer 24, Spotted Sandpiper 3, Black Turnstone 80, Surfbird 86, Sanderling 89, Dunlin 1 (low), Wilson's Snipe 1, Bonaparte's Gull 1 (low), Mew Gull 663, Ring-billed Gull 184, California Gull 38, Herring Gull 13, Thayer's Gull 5, Western Gull 4, Glaucous-winged Gull 1342, Western x Glaucous-winged Gull 303, gull sp. 520, Common Murre 17, Pigeon Guillemot 29, Rhinoceros Auklet 14, Rock Pigeon 2825, Band-tailed Pigeon 96, Mourning Dove 1, Barn Owl 1, Western Screech-Owl 2, Barred Owl 2, Northern Saw-whet Owl 1, Anna's Hummingbird 173, hummingbird sp. 1, Belted Kingfisher 26, Red-breasted Sapsucker 6, Downy Woodpecker 47, Hairy Woodpecker 3, Northern Flicker (all) 302, N. "Red-shafted" Flicker 297, N. "Red-" x "Yellow-shafted" Flicker 5, Pileated Woodpecker 8, Hutton's Vireo 7, Steller's Jay 176, Western Scrub-Jay 5 (record high), Crow (American or Northwestern) 18988, Black-capped Chickadee 1354, Mountain Chickadee 1, Chestnut-backed Chickadee 151, Bushtit 1622, Red-breasted Nuthatch 31, Brown Creeper 68, Bewick's Wren 192, Winter Wren 166, Marsh Wren 6, Golden-crowned Kinglet 824, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 515, Hermit Thrush 10, American Robin 2485, Varied Thrush 37, Bohemian Waxwing 4, Cedar Waxwing 80, European Starling 3211, Orange-crowned Warbler 4, Yellow-rumped Warbler (all) 77, Yellow-rumped "Audubon's" Warbler 52, Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" Warbler 21, Townsend's Warbler 2, Spotted Towhee 282, Fox Sparrow 135, Song Sparrow 693, Lincoln's Sparrow 20, White-crowned Sparrow 41, Golden-crowned Sparrow 216, Dark-eyed Junco (all) 683, Dark-eyed "Oregon" Junco 682, Dark-eyed "Slate-colored" Junco 1, Red-winged Blackbird 199, Purple Finch 16, House Finch 934, Red Crossbill 6, Pine Siskin 2330, American Goldfinch 263, House Sparrow 1057: total individuals 63076; total species 120, plus two identifiable forms and two hybrids; total participants 167.



Participants: Jamie Acker, Margaret Amory, Linda Anchondo, Alice Arnold, Virginia Arnon, Kevin Atteberry, Tom Aversa, Jeff Baker, Brian H. Bell, Becky & Bob Benton, Scott Berglund, Jim & Maryanne Bickneil, Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Fred Bird, Marv Breece, Beth Bronson, Justine Busse, Lon Butcher, Pam Cahn, James Christensen, Carolee Colter, Brad Connor, Chuck & Georgia Conti, Jon Cooper, Etta Cosey, Darren Curtis, Natalie Curtis, Lou Damberg, Mark Damborg, Steve Dang, Hans & Kristine de Grys, Diana de Paradis, Denis DeSilvis, Diane Doles, Mike Donahue, John Dunne, Sally Easterbrook, Jolynn Edwards, Candi Estrada, Susan Fallat, Decky Fiedlar, Jack Force, Rachel Garson, Julee Geier, George Gerdts, Steve Gerstle, Helen Gilbert, Gerry Grady, Karren Gratt, Bruce Hall, Dan Harville, Nanette Heckendorn, David Hepp, Nancy Heywood, Glen & Kristine Hill, Jeanne Houston, Marty Jackson, Anne Jacobsen, Ken Jacobsen, Wendy John, Kathy King, Vicki King, Laune Kittleson, Antonio Knot, Marianne Kogan, Neal Komedal, Donna Kostka, David & Penny Koyama, Bill & Julia Kruger, Rachel Lawson, Michelle Ledeen, Kevin Li, Tiffany & Tor Linbo, Alan Lincoln, Maxine Linial, Polly Little, Ilon Loban, John Lombard, Patricia Lott, Dennis & Tova Lund, Rita Martello, Dorli Mason, Maria Mayrhofer, Ann McCaffrey, Bo McFadden, Brendan McGarry, Ryan Merrill, Bill Morris, Dick Moxon, Julie Myers, Vicki Nelson, Martha & Gene Nestor, Christen & Henry Noble, Patty North, Thero North, Jeff Nystuen, Margaret Okamoto, Sharon Okamoto, Hal Opperman, Wayne A. Palsson, G. Parameswaran, Kristine Parker, Dennis Paulson, Paul Prappas, Gordon Rasmussen, Ginger Rebstock, John Rehr, John Roach, Judy Roan, Perry Rose, Lisa Saban, Barbara Sacerdote, Katie Sauter Messick, Fayla Schwartz, Mardi Scott, Pat Siggs, Lora Sinisi, Arn & Kathy Slettebak, Netta Smith, Sharon Sneddon, Margot Stiles, Mimi Stiles, Rick Stiles, Dave Swayne, Martha Taylor, Ruth Taylor, Jim Thomas, Sue Thompson, Maryanne Thorbeck, Colin Thoreen, Jean Trent, Joan Trunk, Carolee Trusk, Kathy Veit, Pat Vivian, Brad Waggoner, Scott Warren, Doug Watkins, Isah Webb, Barbara & Paul Webster, Tom Weir, David H. West, Lee Wheeler, David White, Kathy Wickward, Cynthia Wilson, Marc Wiseman, Ann-Marie Wood, Sam Woods, Richard Youel, Peter Zika, Carleen & Neil Zimmerman.