[Tweeters] Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count results

[Bob Boekelheide]

Hello, Tweeters,

On December 18, 2023, Olympic Peninsula Audubon held its 47th annual Sequim-Dungeness Christmas Bird Count (SDCBC). We ended up with 146 species, three species above the average species count for the previous 30 years. Total count of individual birds was 71,949, much higher than the average of 61,096 for the past 30 years, and the seventh highest count in the history of the SDCBC. An extraordinary group of 122 field counters, along with 25 diligent feeder watchers, participated in the count. 

Weather was mild and benign, reaching a low temp of only 39 degrees at 5 am in the foothills of the Olympics, and at high of 51 in Sequim during the afternoon. Rain and increasing winds thankfully stayed away until after dark.  

The most abundant species, as usual, was American Wigeon, with 15,661 birds.  Other species in the top ten, in decreasing order, were Mallard (5964 birds), American Robin (4820), European Starling (3228), Glaucous-winged/Olympic Gulls (3190), Dark-eyed Junco (2573), Pine Siskin (2453), Dunlin (2257), Northern Pintail (2204), and Green-winged Teal (1816). These 10 species made up about 61 percent of all the birds we tallied.

The count established record or near-record high counts for several species, particularly small forest birds. Counts of Black-capped Chickadees, White-crowned Sparrows, and House Finches were the highest ever for the SDCBC. Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bushtits, and Brown Creepers scored their second-highest counts. Among water birds, Red-throated Loons rebounded from only five counted last year to their second highest count ever at 71, the highest since 1995. 

Several noteworthy species appeared for the count, particularly species that usually spend winters further south. A Turkey Vulture soared through the middle of the count circle, reported by no less than four different field parties. Shorebirds included a Whimbrel and a Spotted Sandpiper at Dungeness Spit, and a Ruddy Turnstone at Protection Island. Perhaps the result of the developing El Nino, two different coastal groups spotted Brown Pelicans, a first for the SDCBC. A wayward Heermann’s Gull roosted with other gulls at Dungeness Spit, only the fourth record for the SDCBC and the first since 2006 (not coincidentally also an El Nino year). The beautiful adult Lesser Black-backed Gull is here for at least its third winter at Washington Harbor. An unidentified dark shearwater flew by offshore of the base of Dungeness Spit. A Bohemian Waxwing perched for photographs in downtown Dungeness.
 
It was a mixed story for irruptive finches. Remember last year’s dearth of Pine Siskins, when they were practically non-existent? This year they returned in swirling flocks, totaling 2453 on count day, but still far below their record count of almost 9000 in 2020. Both Evening Grosbeaks and Red Crossbills made appearances this year, but scored below their average count for the last 48 years. At the other end of the abundance spectrum, it was the lowest Purple Finch year since 2012.

A few “recent arrivals" to Clallam County, Eurasian Collared-Doves and Anna’s Hummingbirds, seem to be reaching their upper population limits. Collared-Doves have declined from their peak of 342 in 2015 to this year’s count of 118. (Perhaps not coincidentally, Mourning Doves rebounded this year to their third-highest count ever). It was a big deal in 1994 when the very first Anna’s Hummingbirds occurred on the SDCBC. Like most of western WA, the count of Anna’s here increased over the next 25 years to peak in 2021 with 404 hummers. Over the last two CBCs, however, Anna’s Hummingbirds have retreated a little, down to 386 this year. 
 
A few species recorded very low numbers or we missed them altogether. The Trumpeter Swan count was the lowest since 2015. The American Coot count was the lowest since 1978. We missed Greater White-fronted Goose for the first time since 2019. Reliable Ruddy Ducks at Diamond Point have dwindled to none, missed for the first time since 2009. Black Oystercatchers, which occur on the SDCBC about 50 percent of the time, did not show this year. No Northern Saw-whet Owls replied to our toots in the pre-dawn forests, the first time Saw-whets have been missed since 1987. We missed dowitchers on count day, but three dowitcher sp. joined other shorebirds in Dungeness Bay a couple days after the count, qualifying them as the only “count-week” species.

A huge thank you to all our stalwart field observers and feeder watchers, and particularly to all the owners and agencies that allowed us access. Get ready for the next Sequim-Dungeness CBC, coming up on Monday, Dec 16, 2024.

Bob Boekelheide
Dungeness 

 
 
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