RTWBC - Pawling CBC 1/1/2004

Pawling NY - CT (Hidden Valley) Christmas Bird Count
January 1, 2004

by Carena Pooth

13,923 birds were counted with 80 species plus two in count week. This was up from 9,391 individuals and 70 species plus two in count week last year. Comparative 2002/2003 results are shown in the accompanying chart.

This year we were again blessed with moderate temperatures, with a low of 27 around 7 in the morning and a high around 42 in the afternoon. The day was bright and we had no rain or snow. Unlike last year, we had enjoyed higher than normal temperatures in the prior weeks, resulting in quite a bit of open water. However, the lack of snow cover caused many birds to stay away from roadside edges as they successfully foraged in the fields.

The Connecticut contingent netted the highest ever Eastern Screech-Owl total, 24. Other owls in the circle this year were 3 Great Horned, 2 Barred, and 5 Northern Saw-whet.

In the waterfowl category, we saw all three mergansers (Red-breasted was a "count week" bird). The Hooded Merganser total of 139 was more than triple the previous high of 42, and there were 1177 Common Mergansers—not as unusual a number but still among the top 7 totals in the 28-year history of the Hidden Valley count. Other notables on the water included Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead

This was quite a year for diurnal raptors. We saw 8 species, including Northern Goshawk and Merlin. One shorebird was seen—a Wilson's Snipe in Pawling. Among the corvids, our American Crow count was a healthy 1,114 (hopefully indicating minimal incursions of West Nile Virus), and our count of 29 Common Ravens appears to reflect the growing expansion of this species into our area (the previous high count was 9). One Fish Crow was found.

The expected thrushes were seen, along with a Gray Catbird. Our bluebird count of 208 was an all-time high. Also of note, 12 American Pipits were spotted, the first on the count since 1977.

Except for White-throated Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco, our sparrow counts were down this year (likely due to the lack of snow cover, which kept the birds out in the fields instead of at the roadsides). While we had no Fox Sparrows, there were two Lincoln's Sparrows spotted separately in Connecticut, the first time this species was found on the count since 1992.

Many thanks to our 42 field observers (another all-time high!) and 14 feeder watchers. The field observers were:

In NY: John Askildsen, Barbara Butler, Betsy Carswell, Binnie Chase, Nancy Decker, Dot Fleury, Carol & Ken Fredericks, Steve Galloday, Sibyll Gilbert, Jean Green, Kelly Liao, Ken Marcellus, Allan & Barbara Michelin, Maryanne Pitts, Carena Pooth, Jane Prendergast, Laurie Taylor, Herb Thompson, Jim Utter, Chet Vincent, and Bill Wallace.
In CT: Marc Audette, Pat Bailey, Don Breeger, Bob Cartoceti, Angela Dimmitt, Linton Hamilton, Carolyn Hartel, Seth Harvey, Jenabay Hupman, Bill Liedlich, Carolyn Longstreth, Larry Marsicano, Sheila McMahon, Russ Naylor, Andrea Norfleet, Linda Potter, Dave Rosgen, Sally Spence, Nick Thold.

Angela Dimmitt compiled the Connecticut results and Carena Pooth handled the NY side of the count. See Angela's entertaining writeup below.

Wings Over Dutchess, February 2004

Pawling -Hidden Valley Count (NY-HV)
January 1, 2004

by Angela Dimmitt

The New Milford-Sherman-New Fairfield portion of the Pawling Christmas Count on New Year’s Day was once again an interesting exercise of Man (or Woman) versus the Elements, only this time it was almost too warm! Some contrast to the LHAS count December 14 that was snowed out for the first time in living memory! A huge crowd showed up for the compilation at Mario’s Pizza in Pawling where usually only a dozen stalwarts do - any snow or ice and we cannot get over the mountain into New York State. Pat Bailey and Linda Potter were with me.

We now have good coverage of the CT third of the circle, this time with 19 birders in 8 parties. We found 70 species plus 1 in the count period, while Putnam and Dutchess Counties had 67, for a combined total of 80 species plus 2 in count period. Last year the total was only 71 species. Numbers of birds were also nicely up - 13,923 vs 9,391, though the weather conditions were not much different. The increased numbers were mostly geese, Ring-billed Gulls, Common Mergs and crows, though chickadees, titmice, nuthatches had doubled, and goldfinches were way up.

Strangely, there seemed to be less birds out in the fields, woods and hedgerows, but the main oddity was there were no feeder birds! My 18 feeder watchers, some who’ve been doing it since the circle’s inception (they see some pretty interesting stuff sometimes) all complained. And I had to come back to my own house 3 times to get my 2 Hairy Woodpeckers and all the other birds I’d been fattening up for the occasion. Bud saw nothing..... but then neither did we, so I know he wasn’t really goofing off.

Good birds included 9 Bald Eagles and 2 Snow Geese (Seth Harvey), 2 Northern Goshawks (1 Nick Thold and Sally Spence); NY had 1 American Kestrel, 1 Merlin and 1 Wilson’s Snipe plus a Red-breasted Merganser in count week; CT added the first-ever American Pipits - my party on top of the New Milford dump! Bill Liedlich/Bob Cartoceti and Nick/Sally each had a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Pine Siskins were found in 5 places, as were several Purple Finches. Candlewood Lake’s raft of 1,000 Common Mergansers was back. One of my feeder watchers had the count’s only Barred Owls.

Personally, I found my record 16 Screech-Owls and 2 Saw-whets (Dave Rosgen and Russ Naylor also had several) and I had a witness to every single one, including a chap who actually came looking for me at 2:30am. We also encountered a policeman who turned on his flashing lights on finding our empty car outside a town park, known more for summer shenanigans than frigid winter. He also heard the two owls responding to my tape (I know, shouldn’t use one, but Screech-Owl calls are a guy thing, I cannot do it! I do a mean Barred or Great Horned or Saw-whet, but not Screech. You need an Adam’s Apple). Anyway, at the compilation, the New Yorkers finally came out and said it: they did not believe my owls!!!

This is a terrific way to start the New Year, the weather is usually kind and we always get some great birds. Plus there’s my house in the middle for coffee and muffins!

CT participants included Marc Audette, Pat Bailey, Don Breeger, Bob Cartoceti, Angela Dimmitt, Linton Hamilton, Carolyn Hartel, Seth Harvey, Jenabay Hupman, Bill Liedlich, Carolyn Longstreth, Larry Marsicano, Sheila McMahon, Russ Naylor, Andrea Norfleet, Linda Potter, Dave Rosgen, Sally Spence and Nick Thold.

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