Christmas Bird Counters 2006- check in here

[semillama]

I know that many of us will be out this weekend, trying to count every last robin and chickadee while hoping for a nice rarity. Post your highlights here!

[semillama]

1. It was pretty quiet on my count

The weather was way too nice - got up into the 50s. Waterfowl were virtually absent. We did get 3 Barred Owls and 2 Bald Eagles, but otherwise the woods felt pretty empty. Not even a Yellow-Rumped Warbler. Last year, it was about 25 degrees colder and there was snow on the ground, and we had about 5 eagles and tons of Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Northern Harrier, etc.

In the region, the out of place Western Tanager hung around for count day, which was good, and a Merlin showed up as well.

Anyone have any good sightings or numbers on your counts?

[XemaSab]

2. Hate to say it, but I don't think I'll be joining a count this year.

Last weekend I had two parties I needed to go to, and next weekend I will be on the road. Ditto for the weekend after that. I have no idea what counts are going down the first week or so of January. :P

[semillama]

3. Audubon.org has a good look-up utility for CBCs

says the Santa Barbara one is 12/30.

[XemaSab]

4. I am going to be in Redding, CA on 12/30

:P

[eleny]

5. I saw what looks like a long tailed bushtit

Being a novice, I'm not sure. And my bird book is out in the camper that's up to its gills in snow. But the bird in the yard looked like the bird in the third photo down on this page - left side
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/longtailedtits.html

It's underside was a very pale, creamy yellowish color. Top was brown. No remarkable markings. It had a tiny head like the one in the photo. It flew in an erratic pattern and liked to cling to the underside of the apple tree limbs.

We live 8 miles west of Denver in an older suburb with lots of trees of all kinds including giant cottonwoods that grow along the irrigation ditches.

[Hotler]

6. I have a haapy yard here is the usual group for this

time of year. Most are year rounders.
1-Merlin (pigon hawk)
10-12 pigons
4-crows
3-4 blus jays
hand full of flickers
2-3 downy woodpeckers
hand full of those little bastard starlings
mixed bag of sparrows and finches
slate colored juncos