The Waterville CBC was completed on Sunday, December 20. Temps stayed mostly below freezing, precipitation was 0, and a few inches of old snow lay on the ground. There was very little frozen water, and the air was calm for much of the day. The participants persevered despite COVID and the requirement for social distancing. Some territories were sub-divided between extra vehicles which showed up as an uptick in "miles" and "distance driven" in effort data.
20 field observers and 10 groups of feeder watchers identified 7,085 individuals including 61 species of birds. 3 species were later added as count-week species.
New Highs: Red-tailed Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Mockingbird, and Northern Cardinal
New Lows: There were no new lows. Cedar Waxwings were absent, however.
Irruptives: Winter finches and irruptives had flocked into the region this fall and were seen with some regularity. It was good to see Evening Grosbeaks in the count again after 16 years of being mostly absent. Other irruptives included Pine Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins, Bohemian Waxwings, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Horned Larks, Lapland Longspurs and Snow Buntings.
Notables: Notables for our area were a Common Loon, a Northern Goshawk, a Northern Flicker, 2 Carolina Wrens, a Hermit Thrush, an Eastern Bluebird, 4 Northern Mockingbirds, 5 Barrow's Goldeneyes, and a count-week Gray Catbird. This year we recorded both Iceland and Glaucous Gulls. Another possible Red-shouldered x Red-tailed Hawk was documented and is being studied for a positive ID. A Great Cormorant had been ID'd several times in the area, but since it went hiding from any CBC participant, it was not able to be counted.
Trending: Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen for the 11th consecutive year and Eastern Bluebirds have become more reliable winter residents this past decade. A few Northern Mockingbirds have been spending the winter here. Carolina Wrens have returned to the area after a few years absence. Peregrine Falcons have continued at the old Scott paper mill.
Next year's Waterville CBC will be held on Sunday, December 19.
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