The 62nd annual Christmas Bird Count was held on Jan. 2, and as reported last week the weather was not bad, nor was it good, for finding birds. There was rain in the early morning and for in the afternoon. So it is not too surprising that eight species not seen on count day were found this week.
Snow geese are still migrating. For most of December we had at least one snow goose. The day after the count — Jan. 3 — was a half-day of school, so after it, I went to Katama to look for the snow geese. Amazingly, I found an adult and an immature white phase snow goose within a flock of Canadas at Muskoday Farm. Two days later, Jeff Bernier found the adult snow at Katama Farm. Then, on Jan. 10, Allan Keith reported a flock of seven came to his farm fields. Seven is a large flock for the Vineyard.
American bitterns are secretive marsh-dwellers that we often do not see until they fly away. So it was a pleasant surprise when Matt Born found and photographed one out in the open near an Aquinnah marsh on Jan. 6.
My team’s territory on the bird count included Deep Bottom Cove and Middlepoint Cove on Tisbury Great Pond, which is where bald eagles are most regularly found. We searched those coves carefully but they were not there. Fortunately, Martha Moore had spotted a pair of adult bald eagles perched on the Long Point osprey pole on Dec. 31.
On Jan. 8, Nelson Smith found an American coot at Crystal Lake. This is just the latest of a few nice species that have been found there; more sightings below.
Two greater yellowlegs have been hanging out in the marsh at West Basin but they could not be found on count day. Warren Woessner found them in a small pond near Menemsha Crossroads on Jan. 6.
Tony Lima’s Chappaquiddick beaches team spotted two species of alcids, a northern hemisphere penguin-like pelagic species, during the Christmas Bird Count: dovekie and razorbill. A black guillemot — a third alcid — was seen by Allan Keith at the Gay Head Cliffs on Jan. 10. It is rather unusual to have three species of alcids seen from the Vineyard in early January.
Fox sparrows were scarce last fall but are now starting to show up. One was seen on Jan. 7 at Cynthia Bloomquist and Thaw Malin’s feeders. Luanne Johnson found one in her yard on Jan. 9.
The eighth species is a Baltimore oriole. Allan Keith had one at his feeders on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, and Lisa Maxfield spotted one on Jan. 6 at her feeders.
Crystal Lake has hosted some nice ducks recently. On Jan. 3, the quartet of Alan Kneidel, Alex Lamoreaux, Emily Renaud and Lauren diBiccari visited there and found northern shoveler, gadwall, mallard, northern pintail, ring-necked duck, common goldeneye, and hooded merganser. The next day, Jeff Bernier found the shoveler. On Jan. 5 Sharon Simonin spotted the hooded merganser, gadwall, mallard and ring-necked duck while Thaw Malin and Cynthia Bloomquist found the shoveler and gadwall. Then the next day Lanny McDowell spotted ring-necked duck and gadwall while Warren Woessner found ring-necked duck, hooded merganser and common goldeneye. The species you will find there depends on how well the ducks are hiding from view.
The Barrow’s goldeneye is still hanging out near the drawbridge. Nelson Smith, Connie Alexander and I each found it there on Jan. 8.
The foursome of Alan Kneidel, Alex Lamoreaux, Emily Renaud and Lauren diBiccari birded several other locations on Jan. 3. Their highlights were five razorbills in Vineyard Haven harbor, a peregrine falcon on Chappaquiddick and a merlin at Wasque.
Warren Woessner’s highlights from Jan. 6 — in addition to the greater yellowlegs discussed above — include green-winged teal and gadwall near Menemsha Crossroads. On Jan. 7, Olsen Houghton found green-winged teal, great blue heron and the lingering great egret at Mink Meadows Pond. And on Jan. 8 John Nelson counted 48 black ducks sheltering from the wind at Sarson’s Island at low tide. They were foraging on Morton’s cockles, also known as little duck clams.
Gus Ben David has not had a white-throated sparrow visiting his yard for several years. They finally showed up on Jan. 10. He also spotted his first house finches in quite a while. a dark peregrine falcon, and a flock of 80-100 robins flew over. On Jan. 6 Lisa Maxfield also saw a flock of robins and a cedar waxwing near Brush Pond.
How much longer will the tree swallows hang around? Phil Edmundson spotted a flock of 40 at the south end of Watcha Pond on Jan. 5,. On Jan. 4, Tracy Winn also spotted a flock of 17 at Lucy Vincent Beach, as well as a purple sandpiper and two ring-necked ducks.
Five snowy owls have been reported. Joyce McCormack spotted three on Chappaquiddick beaches on Dec. 31 and Matt Born spotted two in Aquinnah on Jan. 6.
Brad and Tracy Winn report that the American woodcocks that they spotted on the Christmas Bird Count were displaying. In January! It was a warm evening, which may explain the courtship displays. Will they stay and continue their courtship throughout the winter? They also spotted two eastern meadowlarks at Dogfish Bar on Jan. 4.
Finally, Joyce Collins has been seeing a leucistic black-capped chickadee at her feeders since early November. It is recognizable as a chickadee even though it has a mostly white head. And I have heard Carolina wrens singing on most days. Is there any week when they do not sing? I was surprised to hear a tufted titmouse singing on Jan. 8. Is it way too optimistic to think these are signs of spring?
Please email your sightings to birds@mvgazette.com.
Robert Culbert is an ecological consultant with Nature Watch LLC living in Vineyard Haven.
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