78th Bronx

84th Bronx-Westchester Christmas Bird CountDecember 23, 2007

The Bronx-Westchester CBC has seen well over 220 different species.
Summary of birds seen over its 80 plus year history.

1999 Results	2002 Results	2005 Results
2000 Results	2003 Results	2006 Results
2001 Results	2004 Results

2007 Results are below

^{The
84th Bronx-Westchester Christmas Bird Count held Sunday December 23, 2007 found
a record 126 species on a very wet miserable day.
    The previous count record for species was 125
found in 2001. There were many highlights.
- An Eared Grebe found by Steve Walter off City
Island was a new species for the count. The count has seen 223 species in 84
years.

- Two Eurasian Wigeon were reported - one on
Premium Mill Pond, Larchmont and one in Mamaroneck Mill pond.

- All three species of scoter were found off
Rye along with a Red-necked Grebe and 3 Northern Gannets. It was the first time
in 44 years that we recorded all three scoters.

- A Great Egret was near Hunter Island in
Pelham Bay Park, 6th count record.

- Two Common Raven over Lenoir Nature
Preserve in Yonkers was the 3rd count record; the other sightings were in 1941
and 2006

- Three warblers were found; Palm Warbler in
Rye, Common Yellowthroat in the West Bronx and a Yellow-breasted Chat near
Woodlands High School, Hartsdale.

- Chipping Sparrow was in Woodlawn Cemetery,
Bronx

- White-crowned Sparrows were at Lenoir
Nature Preserve and the bridle path in Pelham Bay Park.

- Two Lapland Longspurs were found, one in
Van Cortlandt Park and the other in Read Sanctuary, Rye, and first records since
1974.

- An Indigo Bunting was found in Ward Acres,
a park in New Rochelle, 3rd count record.

- The bridle path in Pelham Bay Park also
hosted a Baltimore Oriole - oddly our 6th record in the last 9 years.

- 46 Common Redpolls in 4 locations, Rye,
Wave Hill, Botanical Gardens and Pelham Bay Park, a 30 year high.

- Pine Siskins in the Bronx Zoo and in Rye.
    Other species included 2
Red-shouldered Hawks, 3 Merlin, 2 Clapper Rail, 3 Laughing Gulls., 3 Long-eared
and a Northern Saw-whet Owl, 3 House Wrens, 2 Eastern Bluebirds, 3 American
Pipit.
    New record High Counts
included 3235 Brant, 75 Wild Turkeys, 45 Monk Parakeets, and 156 Snow Buntings.
Other highs included;

- 43 year high of 439 American Wigeon

- 35 year high of 67 Horned Lark
As expected with this weather many lows were
recorded:

- 44 year low of 4 Northern Shoveler

- An all time low of 477 Herring Gull, we had
a low of 750 in 1996

- 55 year low of 85 Great-black-backed Gull

- 39 year low of 6 Belted Kingfisher

- 29 year low of 137 Downy Woodpecker

- 37 year low of 354 American Crow

- And for the first time in 84 years we
missed Ring-necked Pheasant, it was recorded count week though
    It always seems that the worse
the weather and the lower numbers for common species the more rarities are
found. I suspect that the more you have to work for your birds, the more likely
you’ll notice an unexpected species. Or in other words the busier you are
counting common species the less time you have to look for a rarity.Thanks for
all those that participated, especially for your effort in uncomfortable
weather. We had a good turnout with 77 participants. Next year’s count falls
on a more convenient day, Sunday, December 28, 2008 (after the holidays)
Michael Bochnik

Compiler

BochnikM@cs.com

Species

Hudson Valley

Yonkers

West Bronx

East Bronx

Scarsdale

Rye

Total

1

Snow Goose (white form)

2

2

2

Brant

1161

1846

228

3235

New High Count, 1508 in 2001

3

Canada Goose

62

399

1073

2617

2139

946

7236

4

Mute Swan

4

2

17

56

18

97

5

Wood Duck

1

5

9

8

23

6

Gadwall

12

28

90

130

7

Eurasian Wigeon

1

1

2

8

American Wigeon

37

311

91

439

43 year high

9

American Black Duck

15

17

4

288

172

227

723

10

Mallard

44

102

202

330

498

315

1491

Mallard hybrid

1

3

4

11

Northern Shoveler

1

3

4

44 year low

12

Northern Pintail

1

1

13

Green-winged Teal (Am.)

6

6

14

Canvasback

1

3

4

15

Ring-necked Duck

2

2

16

Greater Scaup

1182

146

470

1798

17

Lesser Scaup

20

32

52

scaup, sp

91

91

18

Surf Scoter

6

6

44 years since we had

19

White-winged Scoter

33

33

all three scoter species

20

Black Scoter

6

6

in same year

21

Long-tailed Duck

45

45

22

Bufflehead

2

146

136

231

515

23

Common Goldeneye

18

1

40

59

24

Hooded Merganser

6

26

31

6

101

120

290

25

Common Merganser

2

3

5

26

Red-breasted Merganser

72

32

438

542

27

Ruddy Duck

3

6

1

60

1

34

105

Ring-necked Pheasant

CW

CW

First time missed on count

28

Wild Turkey

5

9

5

20

36

75

New High Count, 47 in 2004

29

Red-throated Loon

33

33

30

Common Loon

1

2

3

31

Horned Grebe

14

14

32

Red-necked Grebe

1

1

33

Eared Grebe

1

1

New to the Count

34

Northern Gannet

3

3

Ties high Count

35

Double-crested Cormorant

4

16

20

36

Great Cormorant

17

3

12

32

37

Great Blue Heron

1

3

4

4

7

55

74

38

Great Egret

1

1

6th count record

Bald Eagle

CW

CW

39

Northern Harrier

2

1

3

40

Sharp-shinned Hawk

5

2

4

2

5

18

41

Cooper's Hawk

1

5

2

3

3

14

42

Red-shouldered Hawk

1

1

2

43

Red-tailed Hawk

8

15

18

18

11

19

89

44

American Kestrel

2

2

4

45

Merlin

1

1

2

4

46

Peregrine Falcon

1

2

3

1

7

47

Clapper Rail

2

2

48

Virginia Rail

1

1

49

American Coot

2

2

50

Killdeer

1

7

4

12

51

Ruddy Turnstone

1

1

52

Purple Sandpiper

62

62

53

Dunlin

8

8

54

Laughing Gull

3

3

1st record since 1990

55

Bonaparte's Gull

57

57

56

Ring-billed Gull

250

598

561

1521

360

313

3603

57

Herring Gull

6

14

78

79

164

136

477

All time low count

58

Great Black-backed Gull

5

3

36

5

36

85

55 year low

59

Rock Pigeon

37

205

357

655

462

147

1863

60

Mourning Dove

52

119

96

152

229

200

848

61

Monk Parakeet

6

39

45

New High Count, 25 in 2006

62

Eastern Screech-Owl

1

5

1

7

63

Great Horned Owl

1

1

1

3

6

12

64

Long-eared owl Owl

1

2

3

65

Northern Saw-whet Owl

1

1

66

Belted Kingfisher

2

4

6

39 year low

67

Red-bellied Woodpecker

6

12

22

18

32

35

125

68

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

2

1

4

2

3

1

13

69

Downy Woodpecker

5

16

21

29

37

29

137

29 year low

70

Hairy Woodpecker

2

9

8

7

8

19

53

71

Northern (Yel.-sh.)Flicker

1

1

3

8

5

18

72

Pileated Woodpecker

1

1

73

Blue Jay

39

39

207

131

116

127

659

74

American Crow

36

36

32

56

137

57

354

37 year low

75

Fish Crow

1

6

5

5

8

25

76

Common Raven

2

2

3rd count record, 1941,2003

77

Horned Lark

6

39

22

67

35 year high

78

Black-capped Chickadee

37

68

196

108

130

179

718

79

Tufted Titmouse

27

20

168

73

79

106

473

80

Red-breasted Nuthatch

4

6

2

4

16

81

White-breasted Nuthatch

4

14

47

15

55

30

165

82

Brown Creeper

1

4

3

1

1

10

83

Carolina Wren

10

4

11

23

25

26

99

84

House Wren

2

1

3

85

Winter Wren

2

2

2

3

3

7

19

86

Marsh Wren

5

5

87

Golden-crowned Kinglet

5

9

14

88

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

5

3

2

10

89

Eastern Bluebird

2

2

90

Hermit Thrush

1

2

6

5

14

91

American Robin

5

5

290

77

50

290

717

92

Gray Catbird

4

1

3

4

1

5

18

93

Northern Mockingbird

17

8

30

27

17

18

117

94

Brown Thrasher

2

1

1

4

95

European Starling

328

508

3708

416

671

803

6434

96

American Pipit

3

3

97

Cedar Waxwing

5

9

12

8

8

42

98

Palm Warbler

1

1

99

Common Yellowthroat

1

1

100

Yellow-breasted Chat

1

1

101

Eastern Towhee

1

1

6

4

12

102

American Tree Sparrow

38

18

9

64

1

68

198

103

Chipping Sparrow

1

1

104

Field Sparrow

4

1

5

105

Savannah Sparrow

2

2

106

Fox Sparrow

1

1

8

11

2

8

31

107

Song Sparrow

38

24

64

33

90

107

356

108

Swamp Sparrow

4

5

7

16

109

White-throated Sparrow

88

141

703

637

386

399

2354

110

White-crowned Sparrow

1

1

2

111

Dark-eyed (Slate col.) Junco

83

156

245

90

124

220

918

112

Lapland Longspur

1

1

2

Last seen in 1974

113

Snow Bunting

50

50

56

156

New High Count, 40 in 1966

114

Northern Cardinal

33

40

80

31

92

67

343

115

Indigo Bunting

1

1

3rd count record, 1975,2006

116

Red-winged Blackbird

123

47

10

25

205

117

Rusty Blackbird

12

7

9

28

118

Common Grackle

1

45

488

223

757

119

Brown-headed Cowbird

18

72

4

94

120

Baltimore Oriole

1

1

6th time in 9 years

121

Purple Finch

1

8

CW

9

122

House Finch

5

42

68

35

90

83

323

123

Common Redpoll

CW

14

3

29

46

30 year high

124

Pine Siskin

8

2

10

125

American Goldfinch

7

44

71

120

91

82

415

126

House Sparrow

75

123

493

113

228

142

1174

Hudson Valley

Yonkers

West Bronx

East Bronx

Scarsdale

Rye

Number of Saves

0

1

4

6

3

21

Number of Species}

	Species	Hudson Valley	Yonkers	West Bronx	East Bronx	Scarsdale	Rye	Total
1	Snow Goose (white form)				2			2
2	Brant				1161	1846	228	3235	New High Count, 1508 in 2001
3	Canada Goose	62	399	1073	2617	2139	946	7236
4	Mute Swan		4	2	17	56	18	97
5	Wood Duck		1	5		9	8	23
6	Gadwall				12	28	90	130
7	Eurasian Wigeon					1	1	2
8	American Wigeon				37	311	91	439	43 year high
9	American Black Duck	15	17	4	288	172	227	723
10	Mallard	44	102	202	330	498	315	1491
	Mallard hybrid	1		3				4
11	Northern Shoveler			1		3		4	44 year low
12	Northern Pintail						1	1
13	Green-winged Teal (Am.)						6	6
14	Canvasback				1		3	4
15	Ring-necked Duck			2				2
16	Greater Scaup				1182	146	470	1798
17	Lesser Scaup					20	32	52
	scaup, sp					91		91
18	Surf Scoter						6	6	44 years since we had
19	White-winged Scoter						33	33	all three scoter species
20	Black Scoter						6	6	in same year
21	Long-tailed Duck						45	45
22	Bufflehead			2	146	136	231	515
23	Common Goldeneye				18	1	40	59
24	Hooded Merganser	6	26	31	6	101	120	290
25	Common Merganser			2			3	5
26	Red-breasted Merganser				72	32	438	542
27	Ruddy Duck	3	6	1	60	1	34	105
	Ring-necked Pheasant						CW	CW	First time missed on count
28	Wild Turkey	5	9	5	20		36	75	New High Count, 47 in 2004
29	Red-throated Loon						33	33
30	Common Loon					1	2	3
31	Horned Grebe				14			14
32	Red-necked Grebe						1	1
33	Eared Grebe				1			1	New to the Count
34	Northern Gannet						3	3	Ties high Count
35	Double-crested Cormorant					4	16	20
36	Great Cormorant				17	3	12	32
37	Great Blue Heron	1	3	4	4	7	55	74
38	Great Egret				1			1	6th count record
	Bald Eagle				CW			CW
39	Northern Harrier				2		1	3
40	Sharp-shinned Hawk		5	2	4	2	5	18
41	Cooper's Hawk		1	5	2	3	3	14
42	Red-shouldered Hawk			1			1	2
43	Red-tailed Hawk	8	15	18	18	11	19	89
44	American Kestrel			2	2			4
45	Merlin			1	1	2		4
46	Peregrine Falcon		1	2	3		1	7
47	Clapper Rail						2	2
48	Virginia Rail						1	1
49	American Coot						2	2
50	Killdeer				1	7	4	12
51	Ruddy Turnstone						1	1
52	Purple Sandpiper						62	62
53	Dunlin						8	8
54	Laughing Gull						3	3	1st record since 1990
55	Bonaparte's Gull						57	57
56	Ring-billed Gull	250	598	561	1521	360	313	3603
57	Herring Gull	6	14	78	79	164	136	477	All time low count
58	Great Black-backed Gull	5	3		36	5	36	85	55 year low
59	Rock Pigeon	37	205	357	655	462	147	1863
60	Mourning Dove	52	119	96	152	229	200	848
61	Monk Parakeet				6	39		45	New High Count, 25 in 2006
62	Eastern Screech-Owl	1				5	1	7
63	Great Horned Owl	1		1	1	3	6	12
64	Long-eared owl Owl			1	2			3
65	Northern Saw-whet Owl				1			1
66	Belted Kingfisher					2	4	6	39 year low
67	Red-bellied Woodpecker	6	12	22	18	32	35	125
68	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	2	1	4	2	3	1	13
69	Downy Woodpecker	5	16	21	29	37	29	137	29 year low
70	Hairy Woodpecker	2	9	8	7	8	19	53
71	Northern (Yel.-sh.)Flicker		1	1	3	8	5	18
72	Pileated Woodpecker					1		1
73	Blue Jay	39	39	207	131	116	127	659
74	American Crow	36	36	32	56	137	57	354	37 year low
75	Fish Crow		1	6	5	5	8	25
76	Common Raven		2					2	3rd count record, 1941,2003
77	Horned Lark				6	39	22	67	35 year high
78	Black-capped Chickadee	37	68	196	108	130	179	718
79	Tufted Titmouse	27	20	168	73	79	106	473
80	Red-breasted Nuthatch		4	6		2	4	16
81	White-breasted Nuthatch	4	14	47	15	55	30	165
82	Brown Creeper	1	4	3	1		1	10
83	Carolina Wren	10	4	11	23	25	26	99
84	House Wren			2	1			3
85	Winter Wren	2	2	2	3	3	7	19
86	Marsh Wren						5	5
87	Golden-crowned Kinglet					5	9	14
88	Ruby-crowned Kinglet	5		3			2	10
89	Eastern Bluebird			2				2
90	Hermit Thrush	1		2		6	5	14
91	American Robin	5	5	290	77	50	290	717
92	Gray Catbird	4	1	3	4	1	5	18
93	Northern Mockingbird	17	8	30	27	17	18	117
94	Brown Thrasher				2	1	1	4
95	European Starling	328	508	3708	416	671	803	6434
96	American Pipit						3	3
97	Cedar Waxwing	5		9	12	8	8	42
98	Palm Warbler						1	1
99	Common Yellowthroat			1				1
100	Yellow-breasted Chat					1		1
101	Eastern Towhee		1	1	6		4	12
102	American Tree Sparrow	38	18	9	64	1	68	198
103	Chipping Sparrow			1				1
104	Field Sparrow	4		1				5
105	Savannah Sparrow						2	2
106	Fox Sparrow	1	1	8	11	2	8	31
107	Song Sparrow	38	24	64	33	90	107	356
108	Swamp Sparrow			4	5		7	16
109	White-throated Sparrow	88	141	703	637	386	399	2354
110	White-crowned Sparrow		1		1			2
111	Dark-eyed (Slate col.) Junco	83	156	245	90	124	220	918
112	Lapland Longspur			1			1	2	Last seen in 1974
113	Snow Bunting			50	50		56	156	New High Count, 40 in 1966
114	Northern Cardinal	33	40	80	31	92	67	343
115	Indigo Bunting					1		1	3rd count record, 1975,2006
116	Red-winged Blackbird			123	47	10	25	205
117	Rusty Blackbird			12	7	9		28
118	Common Grackle		1	45	488		223	757
119	Brown-headed Cowbird			18	72		4	94
120	Baltimore Oriole				1			1	6th time in 9 years
121	Purple Finch				1	8	CW	9
122	House Finch	5	42	68	35	90	83	323
123	Common Redpoll		CW	14	3		29	46	30 year high
124	Pine Siskin			8			2	10
125	American Goldfinch	7	44	71	120	91	82	415
126	House Sparrow	75	123	493	113	228	142	1174

		Hudson Valley	Yonkers	West Bronx	East Bronx	Scarsdale	Rye
	Number of Saves	0	1	4	6	3	21
	Number of Species