The 2016 Greater Portland CBC last Saturday, December 17 provided plenty of challenges for the 38 participating birders with single-digit morning temps, steady snow throughout the day, and optics that needed almost constant wiping. Low visibility kept the waterbird totals down, but the only regular species miss was Black Guillemot. A total of 88 species were seen, plus 5 for count week. A single Snow Goose was perhaps the most unusual of the 21 waterfowl species recorded. A lone Northern Gannet materializing out of the snow-fog close to shore provided a token representative for seabirds. Land birds proved easier to find, particularly American Robins with a conservative total of 969, and the 40 Golden-crowned Kinglets represented a high count for the species in this CBC circle. Among the six woodpeckers were 13 Red-bellieds, 2 YB Sapsuckers, 6 Flickers, and 4 Pileateds. A Merlin, Northern Shrike, Gray Catbird, 2 American Pipits, and 3 Rusty Blackbirds were good finds. Hanging on at feeders were a female Black-throated Blue Warbler and a count-week Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the latter being a new addition to the count. Other good count-week extras included a Snowy Owl, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Good birding,
Bill Hancock
Gray
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