FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Elizabethton & Roan Mtn CBC highlights

["Rick Knight" <RKnight@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Reports from 2 CBCs in Northeast Tennessee:

The 63rd consecutive Elizabethton CBC was held on Saturday, 17 Dec 2005.
Six parties found a total of 78 species, which is well above the average
of 71.0 for the previous 20 years.  The all-time high for this count was
79 species in 1995 & 2001.

There was 1-2 inches of snow above 3500 ft. in the mountains.

Notable finds included:
Barn Owl - 1 (first on this CBC since 1969);
Ruddy Duck - 2 (only 5th occurrence on this CBC);
N. Bobwhite - 2 (first since 1994);
Dbl-cr. Cormorant - 2 (3rd occurrence);
Loggerhead Shrike - 1 (3rd since 1990);
House Wren - 1 (8 times in last 20 years);
Gray Catbird - 3 by 2 parties (3rd occurrence);
Brown Thrasher - 1 (6 times in last 20 years);
Chipping Sparrow - 20 (7 times in last 20 years);
Purple Finch - 7 (only 5th time since 1991).

Also, a Rufous Hummingbird which had been present since 1 Oct vanished
on 12 Dec, but returned on 20 Dec, just barely making the count week (3
days before & after count day).
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The Roan Mountain CBC was held on Sunday, 18 Dec 2005 for the 53rd time
in 56 years (3 early counts were missed, apparently due to heavy snow).
Two parties found 48 species, which is slightly above the average of
44.9 for the previous 20 years.  The all-time high for this count was 55
species in 1987. (There is less diversity of habitat & harsher climate
higher in the mountains, thus less diversity of birdlife.)

There was 1-4 inches of snow above 4000 ft. elevation.

Notable finds included:
Gray Catbird - 1 (3rd occurrence on this CBC);
Red-br. Nuthatch - 4 (scarce in region this winter).
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Good luck to all other CBCs.
###################
Rick Knight
Johnson City, TN
rknight@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

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