Hello, Tweeters,

We held the 47th Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count on Monday, Dec 19, attended by 108 field counters and 27 feeder watchers. We counted 60,048 individual birds of 143 species, both fairly close to average for the SDCBC.

Temperatures never rose above 30 degrees during the day, but winds were light and big snows thankfully held off until after dark.

The ten most abundant species this year, in decreasing order, were American Wigeon (12,347), Mallard (5722), Dark-eyed Junco (3928), Northern Pintail (3414), American Robin (3231), Glaucous-winged/Olympic Gull (2512), Dunlin (2206), Ancient Murrelet (2165), Green-winged Teal (1529), and Bufflehead (1522). These ten species made up about 64 percent of all the birds tallied on the count.

Species with high counts this year, or near-record high counts, included Greater White-fronted Goose, Bald Eagle, Greater Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Black-capped Chickadee, Pacific Wren, Hermit Thrush, Varied Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, and American Goldfinch. Although not a record, the Ancient Murrelet count was the highest since 2011.

Most impressive was the number of juncos, which far surpassed their old record set just last year. Varied Thrushes almost doubled their old record, previously set in 2001. Increases of species that largely winter on the Pacific Coast in California and Oregon, such as Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and White-crowned Sparrow, might suggest that their wintering ranges are expanding north, as foretold by climate models.

At the other end of the abundance spectrum, species with very low relative numbers this year included Black Scoter, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Western Grebe, Hutton's Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, Pine Siskin, and Brewer's Blackbird. The decline in Western Grebes continues with only 7 birds, from an all-time high of 533 in 1984.

Curiously, our American Goldfinch total was the second highest ever for the SDCBC, whereas our Pine Siskin total was the second lowest ever for the SDCBC. Only twice in 47 years have goldfinches outnumbered siskins on the SDCBC, this year and in 2018, both years with virtually zero siskins. The absence of Pine Siskins is striking. Just two years ago siskins set their all-time record for our CBC with 8966, but this year we only tallied 45.

The count totally missed Western Screech-Owl, Canada Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend Warbler, and Evening Grosbeak, even during count week. The last time we totally missed Cedar Waxwings was 22 years ago. Count week birds included Redhead and Band-tailed Pigeon.

Several unusual species showed up this year. The most unusual species was a stake-out Northern Mockingbird that has been visiting a feeder in Sequim since November. This is the first mockingbird ever for our CBC. Next most unusual might be the Lesser Black-backed Gull here for its second winter at Maple View Farm and Washington Harbor. Other noteworthy species included a Spotted Sandpiper at Washington Harbor, only the eighth time this species occurred on the SDCBC; nine Yellow-billed Loons and a Bonaparte's Gull found by our boat party; one Canvasback swimming with scaup off Dungeness; one Sora at Three Crabs; one Harris's Sparrow at Jamestown; two Swamp Sparrows at Graysmarsh; and two Greater Yellowlegs and three Snow Buntings at Dungeness Spit.

Many thanks to all who participated in the count, particularly those who traveled distances to get here. Thanks also to property owners who allow us access. A huge thanks to Durkee Richards, our intrepid offshore boat owner who helps us set world CBC high counts for species like Pigeon Guillemot, Ancient Murrelet, and Yellow-billed Loon.

Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness