The Winter Season December 1, 1980 -- February 28, 1981
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CONTINENT,\IJ SURVEY The Winter Season December 1, 1980 -- February 28, 1981 Abbreviations frequently used in Regional Reports ad.: adult, Am.: American, c.: central, C: Celsius, CBC: Refuge, Res.: Reservoir, not Reservation, R.: River, S.P.: Christmas Bird Count, Cr.: Creek, Corn. Common, Co.: State Park, sp.: species,spp.: speciesplural, ssp.: subspecies, County, Cos.: Counties, et aL: and others, E.: Eastern (bird lwp.: Township, W.: Western (bird name), W.M.A.: Wildlife name),Eur.: European, Eurasian, F: Fahrenheit,fide:rcport- Management Area, v.o.: various observers, N,S,W,E,: direc- ed by, F.&W.S.: Fish & Wildlife Servicc,Ft.: Fort, imm.: im- tion of motion, n., s., w., e.: direction of location, >: more mature, 1.: Island, Is.: Islands, Isles, Jet.: Junction, juv.: than, <: fewer than, _+: approximately, or estimated number, juvenile, L.: Lake, m.ob.: many observers, Mr.: Mountain, cr: male, 9: female, •: imm. or female, *: specimen, ph.: Mrs.: Mountains, N.F.: National Forest, N.M.: National photographed, ]': documented, ft: feet, mi: miles, m: meters, Monument, N.P.: National Park, N.W.R.: Nat'l Wildlife kin: kilometers, date with a + (e.g., Mar. 4+): recorded Refuge, N.: Northern (bird name), Par.: Parish, Pen.: Penin- beyond that date. Editors may also abbreviate often-cited sula, P.P.: Provincial Park, Pt.: Point, not Port, Ref.: locations or organizations. NORTHEASTERN MARITIME noses were scarce or were not adequatelyre- REGION ported; 15 N. Fulmar / Peter D. Vickery were seen off Rockport, Mass., Feb. 7 (fide RPE). Two imm. Great Cormorants were unus- This winter was one of the quietest in re- ual inland along the Ag- cent years. Perhaps that was fortunate for the awam - Holyoke stretch birds because bitter cold weather arrived in on the Connecticut R., December and remained, unabated through Jan. 13-28 (fide SK). A much of January. The Region experienced Great Egret on the Nan- one of the coldest 30-day periods since tucket CBC Jan. 3 ap- weather records have been maintained. Many parently possessed a reportersnoted a steadydecline in feeder-de- particularly sturdy con- pendentbirds as the unusuallylarge earlier stitution as did single numbersof winteringsparrows gradually suc- Black-crowned Night cumbed to the severe temperatures. Grate- Herons on the Grand fully, winter ended early and by February Manan, N.B., CBC and temperatureswere well above normal, going near Agawam, Mass., above 50øF for nearly a week. Jan. 11 (fide SK). Coastal observers considered waterfowl numbers to be below average. Information WATERFOWL-- on Common Eiders appeared contradictory: Two Whistling Swans U.S. Fish and Wildlife aerial surveys cen- were unique on the sused above-averageeider numbers in the Martha's Vineyard CBC. Rhode Island DIURNAL RAPTORS--In Newfound- Boston harbor area and in Maine but Christ- observers noted unusual numbers of Brant land, Goshawkswere unusuallynumerous in mas Bird Counts (hereafter, CBC) indicateda wintering all along Narragansett Bay and in Terra Nova N.P., with at least 17 sightings clear decline. A comparison on ten coastal the same state 39 Snow Geese was an unusual reported this winter (RB). Rare at any season counts showed a threefold decrease from concentration for the date at Watch Hill Dec. and especiallyso in winter, a Cooper's Hawk 59,728 Common Eiders in 1979 - 80 to 19,151 3 and 20 Snow Geesewere equally surprising was photographed at Amherst, N.S., Feb. 15 individuals in 1980 - 81. Indeed, the Cape on the Newport CBC Dec. 20 (v.o., fide {fide FS). Rough-leggedHawks appearedin Cod CBC dropped from 22,256 eiders last DLE). European Wigeon were found in above-averagenumbers in s. New England; at year to 1103 this winter. However, local ice Rhode Island at Sachuest Jan. 15 and wat- least 18 individuals were reported from conditions were largely responsiblefor this chenoket Feb. 7-27 (fide DLE) and on Nan- RhodeIsland in January(v.o.,fide DLE). In- particular decrease.Only the Greater Boston tucket (EFA). Waterfowl n. of their usual terestingly, Rough-legged numbers seemed area and Martha's Vineyard counts showed rangedincluded: 28 Wood Ducks on the Nan- somewhat below average farther n. in Maine. any increasein eiders. Reasonsfor this ap- tucket CBC and nine on the Greater Boston An early migrant Ospreyappeared at Pt. Jud- parent general decline remain unknown. CBC, a single Wood Duck in Tilton, N.H., ith, R.I., on the astonishingdate of Feb. 21 Jan. 15 {fide KMC) and two Ring-necked (fide DLE). Eight Gyrfalcons in New Eng- Ducks in Hants County, N.S., Jan. 25 (fide land and the Maritimes was perhaps a bit LOONS THROUGH HERONS--The CRKA). In Rhode Island, Harlequin Ducks above average: Maine (3), New Brunswick winter's only Arctic Loons, both in Rhode Is- wintered in unprecedented numbers at (3), Nova Scotia(1), Massachusetts(1). Gyr- land, were seen at Pt. Judith Feb. 12 and Sachuest Pt., with a maximum count of 18 falconswere not especiallynumerous around NarragansettFeb. 14-18(v.o.,fide DLE). An birds Feb. 15 (v.o., fide DLE). Some 18-20 L'Anse-aux-Meadows,Nfld., only eight indi- Eared Grebe was unique at Race Pt., Pro- Harlequins, about average, were reported vidualswere noted (BMacT). Wintering Pere- vincetown, Mass., Jan. I (fide RPE). Tube- from Massachusetts(fide RPE). grineFalcons were the highestin recentyears. Volume 35, Number 3 279 At least 21 were reported, not surprisinglyal- *to N B M.) Snowy Owls did not appear in Hoary Redpollswere reported. N B. (3), N.S most all on or near the coast: Conn. (4), R.I. sizable numbers again this winter, however (1), Me. (2), N.H. (1), Mass. (1). (1), Mass. (8), Maine (1), N.B. (1), N.S. (6). 4-5 individualson Cape Cod and 1-2 on Mar- A Grasshopper Sparrow displayed great tha's Vineyard were considered above fortitude in survivingthe winter in Ellsworth, RAILS, SHOREBIRDS--Single King average (fide BN). In Maine, single Hawk Me., Dec. 25 - Feb. 28 + (fide WCT) and in Rails were notable winter discoveries at Owls were found in Veazie Jan. 17 - Feb. 14 the same state a Lark Sparrow was late in Weekapaug, R.I., Jan. 1-3 (fide DLE) and on and nearby in Hampden Feb. 14-19 (v.o., KennebunkportDec. 1-4 (JF). A Lincoln's the Old Lyme-SaybrookCBC and the Strat- fide MKL). No fewer than 22 Long-eared Sparrowwas also a late lingererin Economy, ford-Milford CBC. Owls were found roostingtogether in Lexing- N.S., Dec. 13-14 (fide PRD). Fox Sparrows A window-killed Am. Woodcock in Te- ton, Mass. (fide RPE). were found in extraordinary numbers on nant's Harbor, Me., Dec. 31 was very late Woodpeckers well n. of their usual limits three e. Maine CBCs--the Mt. Desert I., (ftde MKL). A Greater Yellowlegsin Orleans, were a Red-bellied in Biddeford, Me., Dec. Jonesport and Machias Bay counts totalled Mass, Feb. 7 & 19 was presumably a hardy 21 (DWF et al.) and an imm. Red-headedin 116 individualswith 48 on the Machias Bay local winterer rather than an early migrant Albert, N.B., late November - mid-December area count. Presumably many of thesebirds (BN et al.). A LesserYellowlegs at Chatham, (fide DSC). as well as many other marginal wintering Mass, Dec. 21-22 (BN et al.) and another in sparrows did not survive the extended Janu- Weekapaug,R.I., Dec. 6 - Jan. 4 (fide DLE) KINGBIRDS THROUGH WAXWINGS ary freeze, as many feeders reported reduced were both remarkably late. In recent years --A W. Kingbird was a hardy fall lingerer in numbersas the seasonprogressed. small numbers of Long-billed Dowitchers Chatham, Mass., Jan. 2 (fide RPE). Boreal have overwinteredin s. New England. Again Chickadees occurred in moderate numbers in ADDENDUM--Please note that Blackpoll this year, a singleLong-billed Dowitcher had s. New England; some 5-6 birds were re- Warblers were found feeding young near the constitution, if not bad judgment, to sur- corded in Massachusetts and 2-3 birds were Savoy, Mass., July 20, 1980 for a first known wve a bitter winter at Weekapaug, R.I. (fide reported from Connecticut. A Carolina Wren statenesting record away from the Mt. Grey- DLE). Other late shorebirds included: a was an unusual and probably unsuccessful lock area (fide BH). Short-billed Dowitcher on the Stamford, winterer in Bethel, Me., Oct. 15 - Dec. 26 Conn., CBC Dec. 21; the previously re- (fide MKL). For the secondconsecutive year CORRIGENDA--Note that the maximum ported, remarkable Buff-breasted Sandpiper a Short-billed Marsh Wren was recorded on count for Snowy Egrets at Plum I. was not on Nantucket to Dec. 1 (RRV) and a Wilson's an e. MassachusettsCBC, this time on Nan- 870 July 30, 1980 but was 985 countedAug Phalarope on Plum I., Dec. 1 (DWF et al.). tucket Jan. 3 (RRV et al.). 26, 1978 (RSH). Secondly,880+ Snowy Eg- Varied Thrushes were conspicuousin the rets were recorded at Plum I., Aug. 23, 1979 GULLS, TERNS--Perhaps the severewin- Region; no fewer than eight were reported: (fide RSH). ter was responsiblefor the increased number Me. (5), N.H. (1), Mass. (1), Conn. (1). A of Iceland Gulls; Massachusetts recorded late Swainson's Thrush was reported from SUB-REGIONAL EDITORS, (boldface high counts of 118 at Plum I., Jan. 31,140 in Halifax, N.S., Dec. 13 (fide PRD) although italic) Contributors (boldface), Observers GloucesterFeb. 22 (RSH) and 111 on the none was recorded on any New England and other abbreviations--Dennis J. Abbott, Nantucket CBC. A single Lesser Black- CBCs (three in '79 - '80). A count-period Charles R.K. Allen, Edith F. Andrews, Bon- backed Gull was identified in Warren, R.I., Wood Thrush photographed in Millis, Mass., nie Bochan, Roger G.B.