Klamath Falls CBC was done yesterday, a mostly sunny wind-free day,
sandwiched between a few days of rain before the count day, and today,
a cloudy and icy day, but free of precipitation.
The number of species is currently 114, a high number, and could be
above the previous high set many years ago, but is pending the results
of one species with a follow-up, and news that this week's Barred Owl
was seen or heard on count day.
Although the final tally has not been done, most of the individual
birds are contained in just a few species,like most other count
totals:European Starling, Eurasian Collared-Dove, and House Sparrow..
all those invasive species, and Mourning Dove, which was absent 30
years ago, but is now present in the Klamath Basin in impressive
numbers.
High numbers: Black Phoebe- 9 (Wow!), Red-shouldered Hawk- 4 (not the
highest ever), Ferruginous Hawk- 11, Western Bluebird - 67,
I was amazed at how many waterfowl were seen, considering that most of
the open water was unfrozen, and they were scattered, and only one of
each was seen for: Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and Wilson's Snipe,
probably due to availability of habitat with unfrozen shore and banks.
Unusual Species for winter, or any time of year, included: NORTHERN
MOCKINGBIRD - 2, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW - 2, Northern Yellow-rumped
Warbler - 7 (Wow!), and Orange-crowned Warbler- 1. Also, American
White Pelican -2, Double-crested Cormorant- 1, Western Grebe-1,
Clark's Grebe- 1, Cackling Goose (several at least), Chestnut-backed
Chickadee (with all three chickadee species in one flock at one
location; not normally seen in town, east of its favorable environ),
Varied Thrush- 1, and Peregrine Falcon -1,Fox Sparrow- 1, and Mountain
Bluebird-1.
One participant,, BJ Matzen, has been a participant on all of the
counts since Steve Summers started it in 1979. I think he has only
missed one count. And Lois Phillips, a feeder watcher, who is
recruited to watch her feeder for "her Mountain Quail", and has
contributed her results every year I've been the compiler, for 30
years about, plus all the years prior to that, celebrated her 90th
birthday just a short while ago. The Mountain Quail did not show up
yesterday, but she reported that after two days of rain her feeders
were very busy. Maybe it'll be added for count week with some showing
up later!
Thanks to all the participants: BJ Matzen, son Andy Matzen, Wes Stone,
Howard West, John Fortune, Daniel Rey, Jennifer Brayley, Sherry
Lindley, Marshal Moser, Stacy Taeuber, Dave Haupt, Dave Kohli, Julie
Van Moorhem, Rick Hardy, Morgan Newberry, and myself, Kevin
SpencerFeeder watchers included: Lois Phillips, Dave Hewitt, Todd and
Lynne Wilkens, and Mary Ellen Sargent.
Kevin SpencerKlamath Falls, Oregonrriparia@xxxxxxxxxxx
