[va-bird] Banister River WMA Christmas Count Results

Happy New Year to All:
On Sunday Dec 26, 2004; the Banister River WMA Christmas Count was completed in 
very cold weather.  The clouds were very low most of the day and looked like it 
was going to snow.  In fact in did snow in Durham just an hours drive south of 
South Boston.

With the help of Freddie Collins, Adam D'Onofrio, Grace McCrowell and Chandler 
& Betty Nelson and myself we managed to count a total of 3,121 birds of 73 
species.  New to the count was a Merlin found by Adam and 2 Lark Sparrows seen 
by the Nelsons.

A special find this year although not new to the count was a Loggerhead Shrike 
by Freddie Collins and Grace McCrowell found American Pipits and a single 
Northern Bobwhite. 

New record High counts were of Canada Goose -202, Red-breasted Nuthatches - 18, 
Chipping Sparrow - 115, and RW Blackbird - 244.

CW's include American Black Duck, Gadwall, Bonaparte's Gull, Cedar Waxwing ( 
very disappointing miss, since I had several in my backyard the day before the 
count and the day after) and Savannah Sparrow.

A single Brown Thrasher was heard by me at Banister River WMA as it got dark.  
I had another two days after count that didn't show up on Count Day.

Totally missed were Canvasback which haven't been seen on count now for the 
past 5 years, GH Owl, Barred Owl, Brown Creeper, Rusty Blackbird, Common 
Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird and Pine Siskins (have seen in my backyard 
several time during early December).

We spent a total of 33.5 hours in the field covering a total of 158 miles.

All of the help was greatly appreciated as I covered the count last year by 
myself and along with Freddie Collins counting at his feeders.

A special Thanks to Freddie Collins for helping me on every count since I 
started this count 19 years ago, who managed in the cold weather to get out and 
find the Loggerhead Shrike and Rock Pigeons.

Good Birding Always

Jeff Blalock
South Boston, VA
(434) 470-8071
jcbabirder@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


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