The Bristol (TN/VA) Christmas Bird Count set a new region record with 91 species. The count was held Sunday, Dec. 26. The previous region record was 89 speices at Bristol in 1998. The count was first held in 1931. Approximately 22 birders participated in 6 parties. Three additional species were recorded during the count week but are not in the count total (White-winged Scoter, Merlin, Common Grackle). Also observed on count day were 2 Black Duck X Mallard hybrids and a Mute Swan, none of which are included in the count totals. The 91 species compares to an average of 81.5 species per year for the previous 10 years and 75.95 for the previous 20 years. A Cackling Goose is the first for the count, bringing the all-time total species for the count to 145. A dozen species were above record high numbers: Eared Grebe 8 (former high 6 in 1996. It was the 8th year for the species on the count since 1996. This was the 6th year out of the past 9 years for the grebe.); Black-crowned Night-Heron 3 (third consecutive year -- all in Virginia portion of count); Ring-necked Duck 132 (found 24 of last 25 years). Hooded Merganser 308 (10 year avg. = 166.3, 20 year avg. = 111.25) Ring-billed Gull 1,341 (more than 1,000 birds over both 10 yr. and 20 yr. averages) Rock Pigeon 634 Belted Kingfisher 74 (14 above 10 year average) Carolina Wren 154 Northern Mockingbird 190 Brown Thrasher 4 Northern Cardinal 282 Chipping Sparrow 15 Four species equaled record high numbers for individuals: Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 Red-headed Woodpecker 4 Pine Warbler 1 White-throated Sparrow 272 Of special note: Canada Goose (837) were twice the 20 year average and 225 over the 10 year average. Mallard (542) were about one-third their 10 year average and equal to 20 year average. American Wigeon were down 37% from 10 year average and 6 birds below 20 year average. American Robins (low at 34) 112 below 10 year average. It has appeared on the count every year since 1966. House Finch (74) continued a 10-year decline since peaking at 645 in 1994. House Sparrow (22) continued steady downward trend which began in 1960 following record year of 627 in 1959. Other spieces of interest: Northern Pintail 2 Canvasback 1 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 3 Common Goldeneye 3 Bufflehead 165 Red-breasted Merganser 2 Ruddy Duck 1 Osprey 1 Bald Eagle 1 Eastern Screech Owl 20 Great Horned Owl 16 Barred Owl 1 Common Raven 14 Red-breasted Nuthatch 14 Winter Wren 8 American Pipit 3 Cedar Waxwing 6 (low) Loggerhead Shrike 1 Pine Warbler 1 Savannah Sparrow 2 Rusty Blackbird 10 Purple Finch 7 These are unofficial totals until count compiler Richard Lewis releases the final report. Lewis compiles the count for his 24th straight year. Wallace Coffey was in his count sector for his 46th consecutive year. Let's go birding.... Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at: http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5 This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****