NH.Birds for Friday, December 18, 2009

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Time   Errol-Umbagog CBC results   Christian Martin   4:06pm   Three Swans, crossing the border NH > ME   Phillip Augusta   5:10pm   Isles of Shoals CBC - RESCHEDULED   Benjamin Griffith    9:51pm

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Subject: Errol-Umbagog CBC results
From: "Christian Martin" <CMartin(AT)NHAudubon.org>
Date: 18 Dec 2009 4:06pm

The 52nd Errol-Umbagog Christmas Bird Count was held on Wednesday, December 16,
2009. The Errol-Umbagog CBC was first organized by the late Vera Hebert and run
solely by her and her husband Richard in 1958.  This year's count fielded 6
teams of 16 capable birders that tallied 32 species (plus one elusive count week
 species) and a total of 970 individual birds.  High counts were 38 species in
Dec 1998, and 2649 individual birds in the very first year of the count, of
which nearly 2000 individuals (almost 75%) were pine siskins or purple finches! 
 Last year's count was 28 species and only 583 birds.  Long-term averages for
this count are just over 26 species and 806 individuals, and this year's results
 increased both of those avaerages slightly.

The weather this year was cold and windy with temperatures holding steady at 12
degrees F and with strong NW winds and some blowing snow in open areas, but less
 severe conditions in the woods.  Snow squalls were falling at dawn, but the
skies soon cleared and most of the day had brilliant sun.  Lakes were skimmed
over with thin ice and blowing snow.  Portions of the Androscoggin River with
current remained mostly open.  Snow depths generally were near a foot of soft
unconsolidated snow.  The cone crop on red spruce was good, but there was only a
 modest crop of wild fruit and catkins.

 
CANADA GOOSE  12 (previous High Count was 9 in Dec 2006)

Hooded Merganser  1

Common Merganser  14

Ruffed Grouse  5

Bald Eagle  3 (2 adult, 1 sub-ad)

Red-tailed Hawk  2

GOLDEN EAGLE  1 (ties High Count set in 2007 and 1983)

Mourning Dove  4

Downy Woodpecker  4

Hairy Woodpecker  5

Black-backed Woodpecker  1

Pileated Woodpecker  1

Gray Jay  4

Blue Jay  45

American Crow  13

Common Raven  46

Black-capped Chickadee  351

Boreal Chickadee  8

Red-breasted Nuthatch  64

White-breasted Nuthatch  3

Brown Creeper  1

Golden-crowned Kinglet  35

American Robin  1

European Starling  count week only

American Tree Sparrow  2

Dark-eyed Junco  8

Snow Bunting  1

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD  1 (Unusual species, 4th time found, last was in 1979,
never more than 2)

Purple Finch  143

White-winged Crossbill  6

Pine Siskin  2

American Goldfinch  116

Evening Grosbeak  67

Thanks go to the following RECORD NUMBER of participants:  Leslie Bergum, Mary
Boulanger, Phil Brown, Peter Davenport, David Govatski, Ben Griffith, Lauren
Kras, Jason Lambert, Chris Martin, Stan McCumber, Robert Quinn, Craig Repasz,
Sam Stoddard, Rebecca Suomala, Lance Tanino, and Julie Tilden.

Chris Martin, Count Compiler (NHEU) 

Newbury, NH

Chris Martin, Senior Biologist, Conservation Department
New Hampshire Audubon, 3 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH  03301
 
Phone:  603/224-9909 x317;  Fax:  603/226-0902; 
E-mail:  cmartin(AT)nhaudubon.org;  Web:  www.nhaudubon.org
 
New Hampshire Audubon -- Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for
wildlife and for people.


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Subject: Three Swans, crossing the border NH > ME
From: "Phillip Augusta" <phillip(AT)fetchingbirds.com>
Date: 18 Dec 2009 5:10pm

I photographed 3 swans flying over the Piscataqua River from Newington, NH
to Eliot, ME this afternoon. I don't know if there's enough info in this
pic to distinguish Tundra from Mute and would appreciate any comments or
ID one way or the other.

http://www.fetchingbirds.com/2009/dec/3swans.jpg

I have a bit higher rez of this and a couple other blurry shots if anyone
wants to see them. Reply offline.

------------
Phillip Augusta
http://www.fetchingbirds.com
Bird of the day http://blog.fetchingbirds.com


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Subject: Isles of Shoals CBC - RESCHEDULED
From: Benjamin Griffith <bgriffith(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 18 Dec 2009 9:51pm

The Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count has been rescheduled for
December 27.  The price will remain $40.  There are still a number of
spots available.  If there aren't enough people signed up by December
23rd, I will have to cancel the trip, so please sign up soon!  I've
included the original announcement below.

Ben Griffith
Merrimack, NH

Attention CBCer's:

I am the compiler for the Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count.  The
count will be held aboard UNH R.V. Gulf Challenger on Sunday, December
20th, with a tentative weather date of December 27th (pending crew
availability).  Steve Mirick has agreed to narrate the trip (Steve
won't be able to attend on the 27th, so Lauren Kras will be dutifully
filling in).  Conditions permitting, we will be landing on Star
Island, NH for about an hour. We will then circle Boone Island in York
County, Maine for Purple Sandpipers and larids.  We will be chumming
for seabirds as well.  Some species which we have observed on previous
endeavors have been multiple Snowy Owls and Harlequin Ducks as well as
close views of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, and
Razorbills.  The price of the trip is $40 per person ($35 for the boat
and $5 for CBC fee).

We will meet at the Coastal Marine Lab pier in New Castle between 7:00
and 7:30am and the UNH Gulf Challenger will leave at 8:00am and will
return by 1:00pm or 2:00pm on December 20th, a Sunday. Please inform
others who may be interested. I will provide directions to the dock
upon confirmation of the reservation.

To reserve a spot please email me with the name(s) of the
participants, contact information (phone and email), and whether
you're able to attend the 20th, 27th, or both.  You can also call me
at 603-801-1856, however, I would prefer email reservations.

Ben Griffith