ASE Web

Nearly 60 hardy birders, on 15 teams, ventured into the brisk outdoors Saturday, January 3, to take part in the annual West Palm Beach Christmas Bird Count.  A cold front had passed through the previous day, leaving morning temperatures in the 40′s and a northwest breeze blowing 10 to 20 miles an hour– conditions not ideal for some smaller species, but certainly no wash out either.  The day warmed and our counters persevered, producing a respectable list and decent numbers.

We had at least 132 species, with rulings to come on a couple more.  This is just below last year’s 136.

The most incredible sighting was a beautiful male Harlequin Duck, way out of its normal range.  The spotters took photos to verify their find.  Its appearance on a small freshwater pond is not typical, and the question is:  Is this a wild bird or one which escaped someone’s collection of waterfowl?  We may never know for sure, but what a bird!

Another excellent sighting for our count was a Black-necked Stilt, seen at Green Cay Wetlands.  Although common here in summer, Stilts almost all leave by winter, and there have been only two previous records on our count.  Turns out this is likely one of several rehabilitated Stilts, recently released in the area.  The bird will likely carry a special designation.

Summer Tanager was seen for only the sixth time on our count.  And our spotters came up with a Bonaparte’s Gull, difficult to find in recent years.

Although their numbers were still low, we at least had a few flocks of American Robin this year.  We completely missed them last time.  Many teams remarked about the incredibly low numbers of Fish Crow.  And even the common warbler species, Palm and Yellow-rumped, were scarce in some areas of the count circle.

Thanks to all who participated and hung in there.  You made this year’s count a success.

–Chuck Weber, compiler