The 65th consecutive Elizabethton CBC was held on 15 Dec by members & friends of the Herndon chapter of TOS. There were 22 observers in 5 parties. The day was cool, cloudy, & windy. 65 species were observed, which is below the average of 70.4 species over the last 30 years. Six additional species were found during count week (3 days before or after count day). Most participants described it as a slow day. Not only was the species total low, but many species occurred in lower than average numbers. Highlights: Rufous Hummingbird - 1 (5th year in a row, at third different site) Redhead - 1 (first on this count since 1978) Chipping Sparrow - 1 Boreal irruptives: This fall gave indications of a good flight of these northern invaders, but numbers were low on this CBC - just 3 Red-breasted Nuthatches & 1 Pine Siskin. Purple Finch occurred in count week only. No other boreal irruptives were found. Frugivores, particularly robins (3) & waxwings (7), were in low numbers, probably due to the impact on fruiting trees by the double whammy of the Easter freeze & the prolonged drought. Notable misses: Am. Black Duck Lesser Scaup Ruffed Grouse Com. Loon Black Vulture Bald Eagle Wilson's Snipe Brown Creeper N. Bobwhite & Loggerhead Shrike have become so scarce within this count circle as to be noteworthy when they are found, not when they're missed. Neither was found this day. Not all was gloomy, however. Good numbers were found for: Wild Turkey - 32 Great Blue Heron - 26 E. Phoebe - 13 (all above recent averages) Rick Knight, compiler Johnson City, TN