32nd Annual Dunrobin-Breckenridge Christmas Bird Count results

Hi Everyone

The 32nd Dunrobin, On-Breckenridge, P.Q. Christmas Bird Count took place on January 5, 2013. Weather conditions varied from a very comfortable start at -4C while owling at 4:30a.m. to -9C in the late afternoon. Throughout the day, it varied from sunny to partly cloudy with varying winds out of the west and north-west before the compilation. In general many species were low in numbers but participants at our compilation dinner were a record high! I would like to thank all field observers and feeder watchers for their great effort. This year, a total of 52 species were recorded. The average is 51 species. Two new species were added along with 4 record highs. Again, many thanks to everyone who participated on the 32nd Annual Dunrobin-Breckenridge Christmas Bird Count. I would like to thank my wife Laurie for preparing the wonderful post-count supper!

 Good birding, Bruce Di Labio Compiler

The following highlights were recorded.

New Species:

Tufted Titmouse 1

Boreal Owl 1

This brings the overall total to 112 species in 32 yrs.

Record Highs: Previous highs are shown in parentheses, followed by the year.

Wild Turkey 487 (228, 2010)

Great Gray Owl 7 (6,2004)

White-throated Sparrow 3 (2, 1997)

Hoary Redpoll 8 ( 4,1986, 2007)

Other species of interest:

Gray Partridge 6 first occurrence since 2000.

Merlin 1 (7th record)

Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 (4th record)

Black-backed Woodpecker 1 first occurrence since 2006.

Finches:

Pine Grosbeak (77)

Purple Finch (0)

White-winged Crossbill (10)

Red Crossbill (0)

Common Redpoll (1071)

Hoary Redpoll (8)

Pine Siskin (2)

American Goldfinch (158)

Evening Grosbeak (13)

Long overdue on the Dunrobin-Breckenridge CBC  was the first record of Boreal Owl.  The owl was discovered by Jeff Skevington at Constance Bay. Over the years it has been found before or after the count date! 

Dunrobin-Breckenridge CBC results

Species	Number	Records	Comments
Mallard	7
Gray Partridge	6		First occurrence since 2000.
Ruffed Grouse	3		low
Wild Turkey	487	*	Record High
Bald Eagle	4
Cooper's Hawk	5
Red-tailed Hawk	6
Rough-legged Hawk	1		low
American Kestrel	1
Merlin	1
Rock Pigeon	196
Mourning Dove	271
Great Horned Owl	1		low
Barred Owl	3
Great Gray Owl	7	*	Record High
Boreal Owl	1	**	NEW
Northern Saw-whet Owl	1
Red-bellied Woodpecker	1		4th record
Downy Woodpecker	52
Hairy Woodpecker	75
Black-backed Woodpecker	1		first occurrence since 2006.
Northern Flicker	1
Pileated Woodpecker	26
Northern Shrike	5
Blue Jay	326
American Crow	708
Common Raven	93
Horned Lark	39
Black-capped Chickadee	986
Tufted Titmouse	1	**	NEW
Red-breasted Nuthatch	17
White-breasted Nuthatch	145
Brown Creeper	13
Golden-crowned Kinglet	2		low
European Starling	795
Bohemian Waxwing	96
Lapland Longspur	2
Snow Bunting	153		low
American Tree Sparrow	72
Song Sparrow	1
White-throated Sparrow	3	*	Record High
Dark-eyed Junco	85
Northern Cardinal	34
Pine Grosbeak	77
House Finch	1		low
White-winged Crossbill	10
Common Redpoll	1071
Hoary Redpoll	8	*	Record High
Pine Siskin	2
American Goldfinch	158
Evening Grosbeak	13
House Sparrow	34
Total Species:	52
Total Individuals:	6,107
Record High*
New Record**
Ties Record High***

A record 7 Great Gray Owls were found on the count breaking the old record of 6 during our biggest Great Gray Owl invasion  the winter of 2004-05. Courtesy of David Hinks.

Like most small nocturnal owls, this Boreal Owl was  extremely tame and many of the count participants were able to get out and see it. A lifer for some or a new species for their Ottawa district list!  

Since the early 80's the Northern Cardinal has expanded its range north east and have moved into many small town and villages where feeding birds is popular. 

A record total of 3 White-throated Sparrows were recorded.