Today (Tuesday) Lysle, Robby, and I participated in the Southern York County CBC, which was originally scheduled for yesterday. It was wicked cold out there, especially along Ogunquit Beach early this morning!

This LOOKS how my toes FELT early this morning; I clearly had not worn thick-enough socks today.

Deep snow, covered with an inch or two of ice, made for brutal post-holing when attempting to walk off of roads or the beach. In fact, my shins are rather painful right now – but no (CBC) pain, no (CBC) gain! Also, huge piles of snow in a few pullouts and other spots that we take advantage of did not help either. However, when all was said and done – especially considering we could only spend ½ the day on our effort – we had an absolutely tremendous day of birding!

48 species in all, including some real surprises. A flock of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings in crabapples at the Anchorage Inn in Ogunquit, a pair of Gadwall in the Ogunquit River (first at the river mouth, a little later from just north of the Beach Road Bridge), and two Harlequin Ducks in the surf at the River’s mouth got things started.

Ogunquit-Moody Beach produced 8 Horned Larks and 28 Snow Buntings, which we think joined up to form a flock of at least 70 that we encountered in the marsh later in the morning. Three Bald Eagles (one adult, and two immatures) were soaring over Moody Beach, causing all of the gulls and ducks in the marsh to lift off. A total of 5 species of raptors on the day was excellent, including the eagles and a young male Sharp-shinned Hawk with its brunch.

Despite frozen toes and frigid faces, we continued on, making our last and final stop at the Wells Waste Water Treatment Plant off of Eldridge Road at the northernmost end of our territory. The three of us split up, tallying things like Dark-eyed Juncos and Black-capped Chickadees in the brushy edge of the facility.

As I rounded the southwestern corner of the building, an immature Northern Shrike flew across the road, landing in a nearby bush. Enjoying this for a moment, I followed it as it flew up into the top of a nearby cluster of trees. Taking my binoculars down from the shrike, I noticed a bright (relatively) yellow bird perched in a young Paper Birch. Pale yellow undersides, brightest on the throat and undertail; a fairly hefty, bright yellow-orange bill; medium size; and gray back and wings with two distinct white wing-bars.

Whaddaya know? A WESTERN TANAGER!!! She (or a young he) was frozen still, with her head cocked up keeping a close eye on that shrike that was perched only about 30 feet above her. It’s unlikely a shrike would take on something this large, but she wasn’t about to take the chance. I looked over my shoulder in excitement, but could not see Lysle or Robby.

After a few minutes, the shrike took off, and the Tanager began to look around a bit. I gambled, slowly backed up, and then sprinted towards the car for my camera and companions. We returned to the west side of the building, and there she was, not having moved more than a neck muscle. Lysle and I were able to digiscoped it extensively, before she took flight, passing over the building, and heading into the neighborhood to the east.

Now that’s the way to end a Christmas Bird Count!

Moody/Ogunquit Beach Sector of Southern York County CBC
Observers: Derek Lovitch, Lysle Brinker, and Robby Lambert

Start: 7:30am. Clear, NW 5-10mph. 9F.
End: 12:30pm. Clear, NW 10-15. 28F.

Snow Cover: 12”++
Miles by foot: 3
Miles by car: 20
48 ½ species in total.

WESTERN TANAGER: 1 (See above)
Common Loon: 3
Canada Goose: 68
GADWALL: 2 (pair at mouth of Ogunquit River)
American Black Duck: 35
Mallard: 116
American Black Duck x Mallard: 2
Common Eider: 40
Harlequin Duck: 2 (Ogunquit River Mouth)
Long-tailed Duck: 11
White-winged Scoter: 8
Common Goldeneye: 2
Bufflehead: 2
Common Merganser: 6
Red-breasted Merganser: 1
Hooded Merganser: 7
Bald Eagle: 3 (2 imm, one adult, soaring over Moody Beach)
Northern Harrier: 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1
Cooper’s Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
Sanderling: 16
Ring-billed Gull: 23
Herring Gull: 416
Great Black-backed Gull: 21
Rock Pigeon: 93
Mourning Dove: 11
Downy Woodpecker: 1
Horned Lark: 8 (Ogunquit/Moody Beach)
Blue Jay: 26
American Crow: 17
Black-capped Chickadee: 47
Tufted Titmouse: 2
White-breasted Nuthatch: 2
Eastern Bluebird: 3
American Robin: 74
Northern Mockingbird: 6
Cedar Waxwing: 45
NORTHERN SHRIKE: immature at Wells Waste Water Pollution Control Facility off of Eldridge Rd (my 10th of the season already!!!)
European Starling: 109
Northern Cardinal: 5
American Tree Sparrow: 8
Song Sparrow: 3
Dark-eyed Junco: 34
American Goldfinch: 25
SNOW BUNTING: 70+ (28 on Ogunquit Beach, and 70 a short while later in Moody Marsh thought to include the beach birds).
House Finch: 56
Common Redpoll: 11
House Sparrow: 71