On Saturday June 4th the Lynchburg Bird Club held their 32nd annual
Breeding Bird Count. Twenty-nine individuals in a dozen primary parties
covered our traditional CBC circle centered on Lynchburg, with a little
of the coverage also taking place on Fri the 3rd and Monday the 6th.
A total of 103 species were tallied, which is a little above our average
of 101 species. Highlights included the addition of three new species
to the count list. Jo Wood spotted two COMMON TERNS passing over a
small lake on Enterprise Road. Common Terns are accidental in our area,
with only one previous record for the Lynchburg area (includes Amherst,
Bedford and Campbell Co.) in March 1994 of two individuals in different
locations. Also, Melva and Charles Hansrote and Ruthann and Richard
Miller found a lingering RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, which extends its late
date by nineteen days. Finally, a SWAINSON'S THRUSH singing at dawn was
located, also setting a late record. The cumulative species list for
this count, held on the first Saturday of June, now stands at 153.
Another unusual find, by John and Thelma Dalmas, were five SEMIPALMATED
SANDPIPERS on a small sewage pond.
High counts were set for Canada Goose (473, up 24% from last year's high
count), Black and Turkey Vulture (115 and 146 respectively), Bald Eagle
(six, including a nest active since 2000), Sharp-shinned Hawk (6), Wild
Turkey (28), Pileated Woodpecker (36), Tree Swallow (63, up 62% over our
high of 39 in 2003), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (110), Fish Crow
(22), Red-eyed Vireo (167), and Orchard Oriole (54). Numbers were also
up for Mallard (129, continuing high numbers in 2000-2002), Downy
Woodpecker (63), Cedar Waxwing (152, our third highest count), and Blue
Grosbeak (33).
Low counts were set for Northern Bobwhite (9), continuing its decline,
and Great Crested Flycatcher (14), which has been down in numbers
somewhat since 2001. Grasshopper Sparrows (9) and Eastern Meadowlarks
(38) also continued in low numbers.
Other unusual species found included American Woodcock (1), Common
Nighthawk (2), Willow Flycatcher (1), Prothonotary Warbler (2), Hooded
Warbler (1), and Summer Tanager (1),
The only real misses on the count were Barred Owl, seen on 20 of our 32
counts, and American Redstart, which has occurred on 26 of the 32
counts, but which has been missed six times in the last ten years. Many
thanks to the volunteers who made the count possible.
Gene Sattler
Lynchburg
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